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Posted: 2nd January 2024

Nature reserve welcomes Highland pony foals
Shellesder and her mother, with Fhuarain laying down behind.
Two foals have joined the herd on the Isle of Rum.

Two rare Highland pony foals have joined the small herd living in the Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR).

The foals, named Fhuarain and Shellesder, were born earlier this year as part of the NNR’s long-term breeding programme.

Both of the foals have been given Gaelic names, which they share with glens on the island. Fhuarain means spring and Shellesder means iris.

Lesley Watt, NatureScot’s Rum NNR manager, said: “We are delighted to welcome two new Highland pony foals to the island this year as part of our long-term breeding programme which aims to preserve the ancient, rare bloodlines of Rum’s ponies.

“One of our Rum Highland ponies Soay produced a colt foal in the summer that we have named Fhuarain while another pony Minishal produced a filly foal in September that we have named Shellesder.”

The foals join a herd of around 20 ponies on the Hebridean island. The existence of the herd was first recorded in 1778.

The ponies are used to help manage the island’s deer population, transporting deer carcasses from isolated areas to be processed and sold as venison.

Lesley Watt, NatureScot’s Rum NNR manager, said: “Both of the foals are settling in well and will eventually join the rest of the herd helping with the deer management work on the reserve.

“Visitors and locals alike can look out for these much-loved residents as they roam freely about the island, most often to be spotted at Harris or Kilmory.”

Image © NatureScot



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