A review by oceanxbluess
The Ponies At The Edge Of The World: A story of hope and belonging in Shetland by Catherine Munro

emotional informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.0

 Catherine Munro, studying the concept of domestication for her Phd, moves to the Shetland Islands to research the connections between Shetland crofters & their ponies and sheep.

She discovers the unique relationships the islanders have with the animals & the importance of allowing them to grow into hardy, independent individuals, whilst still maintaining healthy bonds and respect for both animal and human. 

At first moving from bustling city life, where everyone keeps to themselves, to the community-focused Whalsay, (just off mainland Shetland) where every door is left unlocked for unannounced guests to visit at any time of day & the only way on or off the island is a questionably small car ferry, Munro starts her island journey feeling like she doesn't belong.

Whilst carrying out her research, connecting with neighbours, crofters & pony breeders and getting used to island life, she finds herself unwinding from the stress of chasing jobs and the trauma of a personal loss and begins to find peace in walking the island, reconnecting to the natural world and ultimately healing in nature - with the wind & waves as her medicine. 

Learning to notice, to look up and see interactions between pairs of seabirds or a herd of sheep welcoming a newcomer, Munro learns the ability to read the nature and landscape around her -  knowing the time of day by which birds are calling, knowing when a storm is due by where the ponies & sheep decide to take shelter, knowing where the biggest swarms of fish are by where the birds are circling the water. 

This was a beautiful book, a love letter to Shetland and all the animals and people that live there. The Shetland Islands have now been added to my life list of places to visit.
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