HAMPSHIRE, P.E.I. — Island Hill Farm petting barn is one of the cutest places to visit on the Island, but maybe even cuteness needs a break.
Early Monday morning, two of the Hampshire farm’s miniature horses went for a walk and ended up in Richmond.
Missy and Sedona’s little hooves didn’t carry them the nearly 70 kilometres to West Prince, though.
It all started around 4:30 a.m. July 22. The gate was left open and, with Missy in the lead, the two took off at a trot.
“She’s got a little personality. She’s the ring leader,” said Island Hill Farm owner Flory Sanderson, describing the little bay mare’s temperament.
Sedona, a chestnut-coloured stallion with a blond mane, was happy to follow.
“We joked and said it was a lover’s escape,” said Sanderson.
The farms’ two alpacas were still inside despite the open door, apparently not interested in stretching their legs.
Sanderson was busy off the farm on Monday, when the business is usually closed to the public. She was in Charlottetown helping her mother collect belongings from the fire-ravaged apartment on Harley Street where her mother lived.
But when two of Sanderson’s staff discovered the missing miniatures, she searched with them until around 11 a.m. when she got word of their whereabouts.
Police first discovered the wee walkers roaming near East Wiltshire school.
After corralling them in the baseball diamond, officers tried to figure out who owned them.
Unable to babysit two small horses all day, the police asked the department of agriculture to call in an animal rescuer to care for the horses at his farm in Richmond until the owner was found.
“They’re naughty," Sanderson said.
Her scolding quickly relented though, and she’s glad they’re both home safe and uninjured.
“They jumped off the truck no problem. I think they were happy they were home too.”
