There’s always something exciting happening at Snelsmore but recently it brought a special experience. Cliff and I were invited to take part in some filming about our ponies for Alan Titchmarsh’s popular TV show, Love Your Weekend. It was an opportunity far too good to miss — and sounded like great fun too!
After some thought, we decided that Snelsmore Mystique and Snelsmore Ragdoll would be the perfect ambassadors to represent both us and the Shetland breed. These two beautiful mares capture everything we love about Shetlands and quite to handle in front of a crowd of cameras
Mystique, a familiar face on the show circuit, made her return to the ring this year with great success winning the supreme championship at the Downs group show back in April and then being second only to her own daughter Snelsmore Uylana at this year’s Society breed show and is now looking forward to becoming a mother once again. Ragdoll, meanwhile, has taken on a new role as my granddaughter’s much-loved riding pony — a perfect example of the Shetland’s adaptable and gentle nature.
During our talks, the producer came up with an idea: to scan Mystique live on television! It was quite the challenge, as she was only four months in foal, and had to be done transabdominally — not an easy task. With the help of the experienced vet, Imogen Burrows, we were able to capture something truly magical on camera. Seeing the tiny foal moving, kicking, and that little heartbeat flickering on the screen was an unforgettable moment for everyone.
From the showground to the small screen, it’s been a wonderful new chapter for our ponies — and we can’t wait to see them shine on television… and hopefully return next year, foal by her side! Their newfound fame didn’t go unnoticed! Just a few weeks later, Mystique and Ragdoll made a special visit to my granddaughter’s pre-school, giving the children the chance to meet our Shetlands in person. You can imagine the excitement as our horsebox pulled into the car park — for many of the little ones, it was their very first time seeing up close or touching a pony. Both mares behaved impeccably, soaking up all the attention and showing exactly why Shetlands are such wonderful ambassadors for the breed. It was a heartwarming moment, and one we’ll all remember for a long time.
