Although I've bred a number of horses over the years and kept Highlands for riding since the late 1970s, I only started breeding Highland Ponies on the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage in 1996.
SNH advised that the best way to provide the invertebrates needed for Choughs (rare birds of the crow family), was to run a herd of ponies which would provide the necessary dung along the coast where Choughs breed.
My aim is to produce quality ponies which can compete in any field, but especially as good riding ponies. Youngsters usually run on the 400 acres of natural permanent grassland and moorland for three years, so that when they leave, they are well adjusted ponies which have learnt to socialize in small herds, to negotiate rough terrain and to live outside in all weathers. Occasionally, weanlings are sold.
The farm (600 hundred acres in all) covers nearly three miles of coastland on the Isle of Islay - which is due west of Glasgow in Scotland, UK. Islay has a mild climate and although it can be wet and windy from time to time, it also has a good level of sunshine. Frosts and snow are rare here. We have two or three ferries a day, and two flights a day from Glasgow (a two hour ferry journey or a forty minute flight).
I'm Jane Dawson, the boss ! With my Wiemaraner, Aneka.
Above is Gilbert, who's been my right hand man and chief assistant since the mid 1980s. Here he's talking to Storm, with Mist just behind her.
This is Andy, farrier, fencer and chief pony handler. This photo was taken some years ago, of Andy riding Money Spider (daughter of my "best horse in the world" Branta, who was the daughter of my late husband's Irish Draught mare Solway.
Money Spider's daughter Miss MoneyPenny (by Whitefield King Duncan) is now rising four years old and is the fourth generation of her family.
In the distance you can see a new house being built. "An Linnean" will be five star standard self catering accommodation, run by my daughter Lucy, in addition to the old farmhouse at Easter Ellister. http://www.easterellister.co.uk
Above you can see Easter Ellister farmhouse with the waterfowl ponds to the left and the triangular reservoir at the top of the picture. The new house is shown diagramatically, to the right of the reservoir. (This photo is a very old one, taken in winter). My own new house (below) is shown above as a plot opposite the ponds.
I have now moved into my new house, although it is still unfinished. The kitchen, den and my study all look out over the foaling fields and my study has fantastic views over Lochindaal and to the Mull of Kintyre as well.
My older daughter, Heather, will now be running self-catering accommodation from my old house - Lagmore House - which is beside the Atlantic, in possibly the best position on the Isle of Islay.
