THE patter of tiny hooves has caused quite a stir in Bilbrook area after an 'old mare' had an unexpected delivery - which at first was mistaken for a newborn fawn. Owner Sarah Towells had no idea her 30-something Connemara Arab cross pony Lucy was even pregnant so assumed a small hairy bundle cowering in the grass of her field was a baby deer. It was only on closer inspection several days later that she realised her pony had had her first foal at an age when, comparably, most humans would be putting their feet up with a cup of cocoa. "We rushed it back to the barn and it was bit touch and go the first night as the mare didn't have much milk, but we bottle fed him and he's just gone from strength to strength," Sarah said. Lucy's exact age is not known, but Sarah is certain she is in her 30s and had previously let her out as a companion horse for 14 months, getting her back at the end of November last year. And with a horse's pregnancy lasting 11 months, it did not take Sarah long to track down the new arrival's father - a New Forest thoroughbred cross. Sarah said: "It was such a shock as we had absolutely no idea she was in foal. "We went up to feed the horses last week and noticed they were acting strangely then my husband saw what he assumed was a baby deer in the grass and we thought that was what had made them act a bid oddly. "It was only when we investigated a couple of days later we discovered the foal. "He's a very lucky lad and I'm amazed Lucy managed to do it all on her own, completely unaided." As yet, the newest addition to the Towells family does not have a name and Sarah is keen to hear what young Free Press readers would like to call him. Anyone with a suggestion can telephone Sarah on 01984 641132. Photo: Steve Guscott.