The Story of Rusty - From Rosie Fitzgerald

We have an old Welsh Mountain pony called Rusty, whom I believe is now 42 years old. I bought her from a local farmer in 1999 as my then 10 year old daughter Lucinda's first pony. The farmer "warned" me that she had been in his family for years and he was sure she was "about 30". I bought her anyway because several children in the district had learnt to ride on her and I knew she'd only be an interim mount for Lucinda.

In June, 2009, as her eyesight and hearing started to fade, a Gympie vet examined Rusty's mouth and concluded that she was, in fact, about 40 years old, given the state of her teeth. (This confirmed the previous owner's estimate of her age in 1999.) As the vet examined Rusty's mouth (under the olive tree in our garden because we don't have yards), two teeth came away in his hand and he informed me that she had very few left! So I inquired whether I was being self-indulgent in keeping her alive (by that stage she was existing almost entirely on Mitavite Gumnuts – any grass chewed would usually be expelled in the water trough after being rinsed from the cavities where her teeth used to be!).

His response was to comment that she looked very well for her age. He then released her and, as if to prove there was lots of life left in the old gal yet, she immediately neighed loudly, cantered out the front gate and headed down the hill and around the corner towards town! I followed on foot, halter in hand, and as I trotted around the corner, Rusty passed me at a gallop – she had obviously reconsidered and was on her way home again! After all, where else would she get three à la carte meals a day and endless treats?!

Rusty is now a retired, honoured family member who is cherished by us (along with two other "youngsters" - a 26 year old stock horse & a 20 year old quarter horse). She and my partner have developed a feed-time dialogue (he neighs to her and she replies in an animated, emphatic manner) (she thinks he's speaking Welsh, I'm sure!); she trots excitedly towards us for her bucket of Gumnuts, and spends much of the balance of her day monitoring the back door for signs of (feed) action! If we sleep in, she doesn't hesitate to neigh until we wake: after all, the Wonderful Welsh Woman needs her breakfast!

Despite her now-failing eyesight and hearing, and consequent wariness, she retains enormous charm and spirit, and is an excellent example of the significance of nutrition, love and good feet to equine longevity and quality of life. Rusty enhances our lives enormously and she has a (small) fan base, due to featuring on our 2010 Xmas card!

Unfortunately I don't have papers to verify her birth date but maybe age doesn't matter when you're a sassy lassie?!

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