Wild Carneddau Foal and Mother - Pensychnant Nature Reserve, Sychnant Pass, Conwy, North Wales - 21.6.2022 by Kenneth Simms Via Flickr: En route to Penmaen-bach Headland, to capture the Summer Solstice Sunset, I came across this newly born Carneddau Foal and its Mother three quarter of one hours earlier in the 148 acre Pensychnant Nature Reserve. It's can only be a few months old. Compared to the rugged and open surrounding hillsides and mountains this area offers distinct advantages for raising young. In fact I saw several parent groups with much older foals too. There are thought to be around 200 Carneddau Ponies living wild on the Carneddau Plateau between Aber and Conwy on the North Wales Coast - of which the Pensychnant Nature Reserve is a part. They are a sturdy and hardy breed capable of surviving even the harshest of winters. Research has shown them to be one of the rarest breeds in the world - having lived in the mountains for thousands of years and being around since the time of the Celts. Such lovely and endearing animals - long may they continue!