Eric wins his first rosette at Mirfield Show

28/08/2009 The National Coal Mining Museum for England is proud to announce that Eric, one of its rescued Welsh ponies, has won two rosettes and a trophy at the Mirfield Show on Sunday 24 August.

Eric, who is a Welsh Section A Pony, was entered into two classes in the Horse and Pony Show. He won 1st place in Best in Condition in-Hand and 4th in the Mountain and Moorland In-Hand. Eric and his companion Ernie came to live at the Museum in 2007, after having been rescued and rehabilitated by the RSPCA.

Wendy Priest, Horsekeeper Supervisor, commented, “Eric and Ernie were very nervous when they first arrived two years ago, but they have responded well to consistent handling and training from the Museum’s Horsekeepers. They are now much more confident around people and are now being trained for carriage driving.”

Eric was abandoned along with his friend Ernie on winter grazing in a coalfield area in Wales by his owner and was rescued subsequently by the RSPCA. Following a year on probationary adoption from the RSPCA, Eric and Ernie now live at the Museum permanently.

Dr. Margaret Faull, the Museum Director commented on the achievement, “I would like to congratulate the Museum’s Horsekeepers on an excellent effort. There is always a great deal of competition at the local shows and the standards are always very high. So it is a real achievement to get a rosette in each class entered and especially to come first.”

Through the Pit Pony Adoption scheme you can adopt any of the ponies, including Eric, for a year. Don’t worry we won’t ask you to muck them out!
For more information about the pit ponies visit the Museum’s website www.ncm.org.uk


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