Kind, gentle, sweet Sofie melted my heart when I first met her in February 2024. She was 31 years old and had retired (at the age of 26) from Manege Hoogvliet as a riding school pony. Prior to the riding school she had worked hard pulling carts. Sofie was such a sweet natured girl, preferring to spend her days quietly, in her own stable nibbling on hay, rather than out in the paddock with the other horses at the sanctuary. Sadly she passed away in October 2024, but thanks to Rika and the team at Olde Manegepeerd she had a wonderful retirement of 5 years. 

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The proceeds from Sofie's portrait are shared with Stichting 't Olde Manegepeerd. For more information on this fantastic sanctuary please visit www.manegepeerd.nl