Dorset bound this morning, I first saw the ponies that have been released on Holt Heath by the National Trust and National England. They cover 400 hectares of natural heathland which is both a Nature Reserve and a SSSI site.
Like ponies on the New Forest (and most of them are New Forest ponies) they have to contend with the traffic which zooms through even though limited to 40 mph.
First port of call was to see Arab cross Lusitano, Inara, who is seven years old and has only recently been started. She lives with her Mum, and her 'uncle' Sam.
She also has Ryeland and Shetland sheep for company. Owner Karen uses their wool for yarn and has a website selling yarn, knitting accessories, jewellery and bags. Find her at: Wildcraft
Karen has done a thorough job of her groundwork so that Inara is soft to all points of the compass. We were very quickly out on the tracks long-lining her. She's pretty independent when she's out.
The family were pleased to see her home again.
Next we were off to explore the wilderness of Creech where Rachel's ability to go out for a long circular ride is being hampered by a nasty little stream, thick with mud and vegetation.
Both of her horses, Fleur and Ruby, have been adamant that they would not, no, could not, go through it. She was equally adamant that no-one was going to hit them to make them and that's why she called me.
Fleur took a while to get up her courage and any attempt to put pressure on as she was teetering on the brink meant that she went backwards. Although I kept her feet moving from the left to the right and back, there was no point in trying to haul her across. Instead I waited until I spotted that little moment of indecision and, keeping the line taught without pulling, imagined pushing the line towards her. With that she was over.
Ruby followed without too much hesitation.
We agreed that we would take each horse through ten times. By the end Fleur was walking through really gently and slowly, and Ruby wasn't leaping so high or so far.
"Had the most amazing day, found a wood mouse nestled in the straw, was so cute, fawn hiding in the long grass and Sarah Weston came over to help my to girls get over a very difficult stream that was 10 miles wide and 6ft deep, in reality it was 4" deep and 2ft wide, but we achieved are goal ten times big thank you" RC on FacebookI've known Julie for seven or eight years and in all of that time I have never met her ponies until today! Now in the second half of their twenties they are semi-retired.
Genaro is a New Forest pony who originally came through Beaulieu Road Sales where he was diverted from the meat man.
Lucky is a Welsh Cob and he was actually bought from a slaughter house.
