Arthur, a rescued Shetland pony with an irresistible charm, has been selected as the cover star for the National Equine Forum’s (NEF) 2025 programme. His heartwarming image, captured by Amy Newton, a volunteer at Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue, won the NEF’s recent photography competition and will feature prominently on the programme for the 33rd annual forum, set for Thursday, 6th March 2025 (#NEF25).
The competition attracted over 100 stunning submissions from talented amateur equine photographers worldwide, showcasing evocative images of equine life. Entries ranged from the UK’s native ponies in their natural habitats to playful donkeys and majestic horses, and came from as far afield as Ireland, the Isle of Man, the USA, India, and Australia. Notably, three of these remarkable images have also been shortlisted for the British Equine Trade Association’s 2025 calendar competition.
Arthur’s story is as captivating as his photograph. Abandoned in a cow field in the Devon countryside, he was rescued and now thrives at Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue, a charity established in 2014 to support miniature Shetland ponies suffering from neglect, abandonment, or abuse.
“Arthur is a very calm, gentle pony who is extremely empathetic towards other people and horses,” said Amy Newton. “We are all so excited that he has won the competition and that we will see his gorgeous face on the NEF programme!
“Given his lovely temperament, he has undergone training to become our flagship therapy and petting pony. In short, Arthur is an all-round superstar and is very popular with the sponsors of our permanent resident ponies.”
NEF publicity officer Sarah Shephard expressed the committee’s delight with the winning image: “We all agreed that the composition and quality of the photograph of Arthur would make for an excellent cover image for NEF’s 2025 programme. Not forgetting the overall handsomeness of the subject himself! It’s also great to be able to celebrate one of the UK’s precious native breeds in this way.”
As the winner, Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue will not only see Arthur gracing the cover of the NEF programme and promotional materials but will also receive a special hamper for Arthur and his equine friends.
The National Equine Forum is a prestigious annual event that unites key representatives from across the equestrian sector, including government, equestrian sport, veterinary science, and welfare. Now in its 33rd year, NEF continues to serve as a vital platform for discussion and collaboration within the equestrian community.
For more information about NEF and the upcoming #NEF25 event, visit www.nationalequineforum.com/forum-2025/.
P.C. Amy Newton/Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue