Maree of Baronshill - Cow Pony!

Now that my Fell Pony stallion Kinniside Asi is almost four years old, it’s time to bring him slowly into ridden work.  The very first time I sat on his back, it was a non-event, which is exactly how I like it.  It means I’ve done a good job preparing him for that multi-faceted experience.  And I’ve sat on his back in various ways every day since.  And each of those days I’ve also been working with my pony Rose, getting her used to being around cattle in case we should ever have the chance to work them (beyond the few little jobs we’ve already done.)

Also around this same time, I ran across a story about Asi’s paternal great granddam, Maree of Baronshill.  I never got a chance to meet Maree, but I have met two of her sons, a daughter, and three grandchildren, including Asi’s father, all in England or Scotland.  I would have been honored to own any of them.  So having the story about Maree come at this time was especially meaningful because it is about Maree as a cow pony.

The story was told to me by my friend Joe Langcake about Bob McCaw, breeder of the Burnhead ponies.  Bob used his gelding Burnhead Border Reiver to herd cows, but according to Joe, Reiver’s mother Maree of Baronshill was even better.  One day Bob went out to herd cows on Maree.  A calf broke away from the herd, and Maree turned quickly to give chase.  Her quick movement unseated Bob, who landed backside down on the ground and proceeded to watch his mare go out solo and fetch the calf back into the herd.  Maree then returned to Bob and stopped, as if to say “what’s up with you?!”

It would be great if Asi took after Maree and became a cow pony for me (though preferably always with me remaining mounted).  We’ll see!

© Jenifer Morrissey, 2020

More stories like this one can be found in Fell Ponies: Observations on the Breed, the Breed Standard, and Breeding, available internationally by clicking here or on the book cover.