5th June, 2017 Born Free

I think I have heard every theory there is now for when Nelly's foal is likely to be born, and of course, eventually, someone will be right and be able to say "I told you so." Yesterday I was assured that the baby had turned, and dropped, but I think it has taken one look at the weather and decided to stay where it is!

Despite the horrible weather, Lorraine and I took Zoe and Zelda out for their first proper walk. In order to build up their confidence we wanted to familiarise them with the inclosure once again and took them out together. There were calm and interested all the way round.

3rd June, 2017 Moving On

I was delighted to be able to get on Théoden again this morning for the first time in nine months. We didn't go very far but he feels perfectly sound.

I was lucky to have the company of Julie, who is now immersed in a university course, to help me with this and Zoe and Zelda. They were tied up outside for the first time since they came back to me and seemed very relaxed about it.

Over the last couple of days I have introduced both ponies to long reining, something I never imagined we'd get round to in their very first week. They were totally unfazed about the two reins. We have two things to work on - accepting direction, and learning a cue, since both ponies are a bit immune to body language and have been left to their own devices for a while.

Zoe

Zelda

Zelda in particular is completely distracted at the moment by her own hormones. She fails to realise that Bella is a mare, and her sister, and is ever hopeful that they can get jiggy with each other! Accordingly, it was much easier to work in that area of the field today where I can engage with her yeses and her maybes, rather than an outright 'no'!

Yes, well, that's novel

2nd June, 2017 Masai Mara

It's been over a week since we got back from the Masai Mara. Nine days in paradise. The grass was so long that animals 'disappeared' within ten feet of our truck so we had to bide our time but it paid off and we saw some amazing animals. It's been hard to choose the best photos out of 2,000!

It's hard to express just how beautiful the Mara is at this time of the year, and how wonderful it is to spend time watching, listening to, and being able to actually smell the animals. I love to see how physically fit they are, their responses and emotions.

We were looked after beautifully by the staff at Elewana Masai Mara Sand River Camp and became real friends with them. Most people whizz in and out of the Mara hoping to see the big five but missing out on the other beautiful and fascinating animals.

1st June, 2017 The Secret of Happiness...

...according to Charlie Brown is having three things to look forward to and nothing to dread. Well, I still have Nelly's foal to look forward to!

I had to make several enquiries in order to locate her this morning...

...but was given a good lead.

All happy families but not foal of our own.

So I lay on the ground and Blue came over to give me a foal's eye view...

...and I admired this little one instead.

Then it was over to Zoe and Zelda. They haven't been separated since last year when I had to do it very incrementally in order to avoid a battle over it. Just three days into their current stint I was able to take each of them out on their own in turn, just turning left out of the back gate, going along the edge of the Forest and back in through the front gate. Great start.