After 30 years spent managing and showing Welsh and Dartmoor stallions, Shull can’t envision a future without ponies.

Hershell Shull leads me into a field of yearling ponies. Soft roans, fuzzy bays and winter grays look up as we walk toward them, their tails swishing, interested. A few take a first step in our direction, and within moments they’re all ambling as a herd: not rushed, just eager.