MR FUDDLES DRIES HIS MANE BY OUR LOG FIRE

ELEANOR MARTIN, 34, lives in Burford, Oxfordshire. She owns a company that offers event management and bookkeeping to rural and equestrian businesses. She says:

FEW people will have experienced the joy of having a pony cosy up to them while they’re eating lunch in the kitchen, but my miniature Shetland stallion Mr Fuddles does it regularly, always with one eye on whatever I’m eating in the hope he’ll be able to pinch some.

Technically, he’s supposed to live with my two Cotswold rams in the field that neighbours my cottage, but prefers to be in the house with snacks, fuss and room service on tap.

I bought Mr Fuddles, who’s 30in tall, eight years ago for the grand sum of £30 after seeing him advertised for sale on Facebook. At the time he was 18 months old and seemed like the perfect companion for my dressage horse, who was lonely away from other animals.

That was until he started leaving her in the field and making a daily beeline for the house whenever he spotted the door was ajar.

I often take Mr Fuddles to visit patients in care homes and hospices and while they stroke him, he stands patiently and quietly, which is very different to the extremely noisy pony he is at home, neighing loudly to make his presence known.

Because I take him out and about, he has regular showers under the hosepipe in the garden with shampoo and a good scrub to make sure he’s fragrant and well groomed, but he’s not up for drying off in the fresh air.

Oh no. Only the warmth of the open fire in the living room or the Everhot oven in the kitchen is good enough for my pampered house pony.

Everyone in the village knows who Mr Fuddles is as he’s often seen out on walks with me and the dog, or attending local events.

He’s also escaped from his field a couple of times and been found four miles down the road.

But despite his mischief, he’s pretty well behaved, doesn’t bite or kick, is great with children and — touch wood — has never pooped in the house.

He’s a tiny pony with the biggest personality and I’m pretty sure he’s convinced he’s a dog, which might explain why he ate my cocker spaniel’s food the other day.

My house wouldn’t be the same without him.

In fact, I am going to teach him how to climb up onto the sofa so we can have proper cuddles while we watch TV together.