Another Worry 'Stone'!

Drybarrows Calista, one of the ponies from whom my most recent worry ‘stone’ may have come from.

Over the past few years, I have collected quite a number.  It hasn’t been entirely intentional because most of them I’ve just happened upon in the paddocks while I’m feeding.  They all are on my desk where I can pick them up and handle them when my stress level rises or when I’m on the phone and need something to occupy my hands.  They are not conventional worry stones.  They are pony teeth.

All but one are temporary teeth shed naturally by my Fell Pony youngstock, usually when they are three years old.  The exception is the largest one, a permanent tooth that my smallest, Mya the Wonder Pony, lost when she was 28.  Most of these teeth are caps from Kinniside Asi, my now four year old stallion.  I found them last year and the year before while feeding in his paddock.  Apparently the ground conditions allowed them to stand out so I could see them.  Or perhaps I was meant to find them to assemble this collection of worry ‘stones!’  One cap is from Willowtrail Mountain Honey when she was three. 

I have two three year olds in my herd at the moment:  Drybarrows Calista and PrairieJewel Pearl.  The milk tooth I just found is from one of them.   I am happy to add it to my collection!

© Jenifer Morrissey, 2020

You can find more stories like this one in my book What an Honor, available internationally by clicking here. or on the book cover.