Meet 46-Year-Old Twiglet: Britain's Oldest Shetland Pony

Twiglet spends his time at Forde Abbey, near Chard in Somerset, England. The aging animal freely roams the historic former monastery, including permission to munch on any of the grounds' plants. 

Twiglet wasn't always allowed to have power over the pastures of Forde Abbey. He was originally kept in a stable there. His owner, Alice Kennard, gave Twiglet access and grazing rights to their salad bar of a property after the pony's health started to diminish.

Kennard said before the switch, Twiglet was dropping an alarming amount of weight and was only given a few months to live. Wanting to offer Twiglet the happiest retirement possible, Kennard let him out to freely wander the grounds.

Since that moment, Twiglet's health has vastly improved. While the Kennard family tries to keep the historic abbey in pristine conditions, they are willing to have a few pony-related imperfections. 

"We felt a few hoof prints on the grass or a few nibbled plants would be worth it for his sake," Kennard told the Daily Mail. "He’s been such a big part of our lives since we took him in when his former owner died."

Neighbors originally thought the newly released Twiglet was a stray farm animal who found his way to the abbey and continued to call the Kennards to report the pony. Now that locals know the situation, Twiglet has become an adored attraction of the abbey, receiving many returning visitors. 

Twiglet is also helping the success of the property in less charming ways. Kennard shared that the waste the pony leaves behind on the grass is used to fertilize the flowers. This year's blooms have been the best so far.