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Date Posted: 06:36:41 01/09/04 Fri
Author: Sharon Packer
Author Host/IP: 81.135.48.81
Subject: Simon King and Poppy (your front page)

I noticed with shock that you still had information regarding Simon King's journey from LandsEnd to John O'Groats on your front page.

Why with shock? - because I am Poppy's owner. I let Simon take Poppy on the trip on the basis that he would look after her and bring her back safely - and a Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe - who I assume is something to do with this site offerred to arrange transport for Poppy once she had arrived at her destination. The day Simon and Poppy arrived Simon (1st September) Simon left Poppy in a field in Scotland and travelled back to England(Crawley) by train. - which I thought most strange at the time - but there we are...

He paid no livery and simply asked the land owner if she could stay a few days while waiting transport back to England. After two days I finally received contact details from Simon for the person who was bringing Poppy back to me. He was a Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe. I rang him and in 10 days spoke to him twice about the arrangements. Each time Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe said Poppy was well and he woud ring me back - he didn't. He also gave me the distinct impression that he actually had Poppy. - and bearing in mind I hadn't a clue where she was I simply accepted that was the case.

Then I received a phone call from Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe's mother who said that as far as she was concerned she rued the day she ever gave a bucket of water to Poppy and Poppy had been abondoned and I would never see her again. When I rang back again Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe put the phone down as soon as he heard my voice.

I did speak to his mother again and all I could make out is she took offence to my posting a notice on this very site asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of Poppy - this was done just after Poppy had finished her journey and I was extremely worried about her as I had no contact details and Simon had left her. She also said I had been on the phone all the time about Poppy and she was sick of it - but in fact I had only rung twice.- but that's by the way....

Anyway - once this happened I was motified - I actually thought they had Poppy and that they were goin gto dump her! I had to get the police involved to find Poppy and was amazed later to find out that Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe lived nowhere near where Poppy had been found. (Near John O'Groates') I also had to pay a transport company to bring Poppy back to me. The lady who had let Poppy stay in her field said that no-one had contacted at all about Poppy - not even to find out how she was until I had. - which was some ten days after her arrival in her field. - Simon did ring her later as I had left her phone number on Simon's message service - but not to ask about Poppy - to make sure that I was not collecting the cart as well!

When Poppy arrived back the insides of her back legs were covered in sores from the sweat which had never been whiped away from the last day of her journey.

Poor Poppy - it was 3 weeks from the day she arrived in the north of Scotland to the day she came back. She must have fretted every day wsiting for Simon to return - but he didn't and to this day despite being only a few yards from Simons house - he has not to my knowledge ever visited her. I tried to be civil to Simon and left messages asking him to ring me and said hi when I passed him when I was out in the cart - but nothing. He had obviously used me and Poppy for 3 years to enable him to fulfil his dream and then discarded us.

Yes I am upset - more so because he passed my house just the other day , galloping past down the road on someone elses pony. When I stopped the owner and asked how she could let Simon ride her pony after what she had done she told me that Simon had told her he had paid for Poppy's livery in Scotland, and her transport and she had returned and been sent out to livery somewhere else.

As for Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe and his mother - they obviously don't think much of ponies judging by their actions. ...

Maybe Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe could give me a nice Christian explanation as to his actions and why he still has Poppy and Simons story on the front page of this site when he knows full well that it didn't have a very happy ending.

Oh and the reason why I've suddenly decide to post this is Simon's getting cheeky and has got one of his friends to email me saying "Saw Simon King the other day, great guy, and a good friend of mine.Shame about the situation you caused over getting poppy back" - that about took the biscuit. If Simon now wants to try to blame me for the situation I will fight back!

Shame on you Mr MacDonald-Wagstaffe

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Replies:

[> Re: Simon King and Poppy (your front page) -- Scottish Polo Editorial Team, 14:58:45 01/20/04 Tue (213.78.120.183)

How one is castigated when providing free care for strangers’ people or animals!!

The missive above talks of spite and deliberate malice, yet Scot-polo provided free succor for both animals and traveler, giving freely of water grazing and all requirements as requested by Simon King whilst on his travels past us in Lanarkshire.

We then used our network of friends throughout Scotland to keep a watchful eye on their travels as did many others throughout the UK.

We did the same for a lady from Hexham who also walked on her travels with pony and dog piglet from Hexham up through the highlands and back in 2002
.
Simon King walked with Pony Poppy, Dog Prue and Ferret La-La, from Lands-end to John o Groats No mean Feat Eh!! Collecting moneys for, and Promoting charities including the Riding for the Disabled (RDA). Each of those organizations both approved and welcomed his initiative.

Quite rightly we at Scottish Polo did our bit in Scotland to boost the funds by advertising their efforts, and alerting local press, and we make it very clear at no gain to our-selves.

The above dissertation demeans their efforts over the four-month journey, and the whole effort made by both man, animals, and associates.

We rightly continue to bring the project to the public eye, since it took a lot of planning help and courage from all parties more especially since Simon King apparently new nothing of horses 'till 2000 and of course there are still those charities hopefully benefiting from the continued publication and publicity.

If Sharon Packer has a personal problem with Simon King regarding Poppy it seems somewhat silly to advertise it on the chat page there by demeaning all the efforts of man and beast.

As to the libelous statements made against the MacDonald-Wagstaffe's; incidentally they are actually both competent and experienced equestrian operators, in teaching, eventing, dressage, show-jumping and polo, of many years standing, we are sure they will access their rights to remedy the matter in the courts.
Scottish Polo Editorial Team
Written entirely 'WOP'


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