I’m opening the pony X-Files: mine may be psychic

My ponies may be psychic. I think they are communicating with each other telepathically. And before you call me delusional, let me tell you I have witnesses.

It has happened three times now. The first time, I had taken Darcy on her first hack alone without Grace. Normally, a friend and I ride the pair of them out together. But on this occasion I had decided to get Darcy used to doing things for herself.

I should explain that the two are very closely bonded. Despite being much smaller in stature, Gracie is a mother figure to Darcy because they were turned out in a field together when Darcy was growing up. Grace, the worldly-wise ten-year-old, took the thoroughbred yearling under her wing and taught her everything she knew: chiefly, how to avoid being caught on sunny days when the grass was nice and sweet by running round and round in circles, and how to queue up at the gate to be brought in when it was raining — ‘That’s it, look miserable. See, here she comes!’

Now Darcy is three, and nearly 17 hands, but little 14.3 hands Gracie still shows her sister what to do. With Grace left behind, therefore, Darcy was very nervous on her first hack out alone and kept startling at every rustling leaf or dog in the undergrowth. When we returned to the yard, Grace was anxiously pacing in her box. As I walked Darcy past her, she reached out and sniffed her then made a furious screaming sound. I could have sworn she said, ‘Don’t you ever go to the woods without me again! I was worried sick!’

Of course, sceptics will say Gracie had no idea where we went. She was simply fretting about Darcy being gone.