I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO thank all the crofters, pony breeders, friends and neighbours who were part of my pony research. I was welcomed into people’s homes and given the opportunity to spend time with their animals. The warmth and generosity of the people I met was truly overwhelming.
I was very lucky to do this research with ponies as a PhD student with Aberdeen University’s Arctic Domus Project and I would particularly like to thank supervisors Prof. David Anderson and Dr. Robert Wishart for all their advice, support, patience and encouragement through the PhD process. Being part of such a project put me in touch with researchers working in some fascinating fields. Joining this group as a new PhD student, I expected such a gathering of academics to be intimidating however I could not have wished for a more welcoming and supportive group.
I am incredibly grateful for the support of my agent Jenny Brown for believing in this book from the very beginning and supporting me through the development and publication process. Thanks to my editor at Rider Bianca Bexton for her advice, support and encouragement and for making the journey to publication a really positive experience.
Huge thanks to my family, particularly my sons Rohan and Finn Mercer who joined me during this journey. You have filled each my days with excitement, joy and inspiration. Thank you to my husband Steve for all his support and for his willingness to join me on this adventure to Shetland. Thank you to my father Robin Munro for inspiring a love of books and reading from my earliest days and for taking such an interest in the work and offering advice and support, I would not have been able to do this without you. Also thanks to my mum Moyra Martineau for all her support and for her inspiring stories about the northern isles. I am also very grateful to the non-humans, particularly Sugar, Yukon and Yoda, who had such an impact on both my academic and personal life.