Meet the Animals at Hop Pickers
Life here is shaped by the animals that share the land, ponds and paddocks. For many of our guests, meeting them becomes a memorable part of their stay. Each has their own personality and background, here is an introduction to the animals you may see during your visit.
The Shetland Ponies
You will usually find our cheeky Shetland ponies grazing peacefully in the field, keeping a quiet eye on everything that’s going on around them.
Shanty (born 2003) is the eldest of the group and joined us in 2021 as a companion for our previous horse, Chubby. She has arthritis and moves a little more slowly these days, but still enjoys watching the world go by.
Rosie is very much the boss and has plenty of sass! (DOB 10/05/2008). She joined us in 2023 from Hopton Rehab and Rehoming Centre.
Toby, also from Hopton, joined us in 2024. His exact date of birth is unknown, but he’s a similar age to Rosie. Originally arriving for temporary winter grazing, he quickly earned the nickname “the escape artist” - and a permanent place with us when we realised we couldn’t let him go.
A Farm Stay Experience
You can see the ponies throughout the year in their field. Rosie and Toby are available for brushing and gentle petting between May and September. We don’t brush their coats during winter, as their natural double-layer coat and oils help keep them warm.
Please always ask before feeding any of our animals - we’re happy to advise on what’s suitable and how to keep both you and the animals safe.
We hope you enjoy seeing and meeting our animals during your stay. If you’d like to arrange an animal experience, we can arrange a time to suit you, the animals, and Rebecca.
Limited seasonal availability - £30 for a one-hour experience.
Ducks, Geese and Chickens
Our Indian runner ducks are great fun to watch on the pond and in the paddock. They can be a little shy, but if you’re calm, quiet, and armed with a handful of food, they may come over to say hello. Pascal is the drake (the boy of the group), and the ladies lay lovely eggs between February and August.
Our goose and gander arrived in April 2024 and spend most of their days on the large pond. Greta lays eggs between mid-February and May. They can be quite naughty on occasion and have even spent nights out on the pond when they’ve refused to come in!
Our rescue battery hens provide the delicious free-range eggs you’ll find in your welcome basket (when they’re laying).
Life on a small holding
As with any countryside smallholding that keeps birds, we are as careful as possible to keep our animals safe and locked away at night. Unfortunately, the wildlife that makes this area so special can sometimes pose a threat, and there are occasions when foxes or mink will attack. This is sad for everyone involved, but it is part of rural life.
Supporting a local equine charity
Hopton is a charity providing care and safe, loving homes for horses in need. We donate to them each month to support their work, and Rosie and Toby have become an integral part of the Hop Pickers family.
If you would like to make a donation towards the care of our animals, we support Hopton Rehab and Rehoming Centre (Charity No. 1173847).
Meet the Animals at Hop Pickers
Life here is shaped by the animals that share the land, ponds and paddocks. For many of our guests, meeting them becomes a memorable part of their stay. Each has their own personality and background, here is an introduction to the animals you may see during your visit.