I visited the ponies at Hook today. I have made a firm decision to bring Pie home, for good, next Monday. He has dropped below my welfare line and now that it has turned really cold again I don't think he will have the opportunity to pick up before the summer. He won't mind retiring with the short-legged long-ears and I expect his Auntie Nathalie will be glad to have him as a lawnmower too.
I'm now starting to monitor Patsy and Jack - Jack in particular. Unfortunately all of that ice, the impact of the cattle who stayed longer than expected, and the continuing cold weather, is testing them all. It's been an interesting first year and this blog provides a record of their condition throughout.
As mentioned before, Jack is deceptive because he has such a thick coat. Let's hope for a warm March and some early grass. Considering he hasn't been wild since he was six months old, and he has never 'owned' his own herd before, he has adapted brilliantly.
Nelly and Blue are their normal glorious selves - like Patsy they turn 21 this year.
'Exhausted' - lovely Julie, picking up ancient car parts. There was very little litter in the reserve today and even the A30 layby was not too bad.
