The New Forest - Home to
Tallauders Miniature Horses, Rafferty &
Church Park Victor

My grandmother used to breed miniature horses in about 1915 and I grew up on stories of her tiny equines. I always had a dream to own one, and my husband longed to go back to riding, however we were in the services and our lifestyle precluded this happening, so we dreamed of the day that he would retire from the Army and we could have horses.        

That day came when my mother sadly suffered a stroke in February 2000 and we moved into my family home to look after her. Michael was still working but I soon had not one but four miniature horses.

This grainy photograph shows my mother and grandmother out for a drive in about 1930. If it had four legs my grandmother, we all called her Gar,  would drive it. Her big horses, her miniatures, the donkey, the goat and the cocker spaniel. The problem with the dog was that his passenger was a jack russell and every time he stopped to cock his leg he tipped the russell out!

My mother as a teenager with some of the ponies.

My mother out shopping with the groom driving.  Don't you just love those cars?!!!

Another wonderful old vehicle in the background of the miniature's field.

My grandmother, Gar out driving a tiny pair in the Park Phaeton, just because she could.

A picnic with the miniatures, my grandmother on the left, my mother in the middle.

Outside her house with one of the little ones, their groom can be seen in the background holding another of her equines.

My mother is the little girl in the white frock. Gar, my granny is on the far right in the tailored jacket.

Gar in one of her carts, the Governess cart I think.

My mother as a teenager, giving 2 little people a ride.

My mother with some very "Nora Batty" stockings on!

My mother with her donkey in the Governess cart.  Get that hat!

 Out driving in the Park Phaeton, previously owned by Edgar Wallace.

Gar messing about in her covered wagon.  She was a complete nutter, lived in jodphurs with spats and smoked a pipe.  She divorced her husband when my mother was a teenager and lived the rest of her life with her "lady companion" - nuff said!!  Sadly she died when I was only 7, I would have loved to have known her better.