Cool!

On the cooler fringes of the day, the ponies are getting out into the open areas of the reserve. It's good to know that at least one set are getting some good fibre in their diet everyday.

Here they are up by the cricket pitch and the pound.

Poundland

 First job today was to remove everything that might sting or scratch me in the pound. 

Then I went to fetch the ponies who would give their souls away for a barley ring. 

Even so, they are not keen on having the fly repellant on the front half of their bodies so I am going to have to find something less smelly - which is sort of the point of the thing!

Afterwards I went into the farm shop where I must have looked as thirsty as someone coming out of the desert. I got a glass full of ice with my drink!

Homebirds

Life is not exciting for the horses and donkeys at Fritham. The grass is like a dry lawn and they are being supplemented with hay, grass nuts, and barley rings although they are pretty round. They spend a lot of time in the barn or one of the field shelters.  

Once again I cannot believe how lucky I have been to have the reserve right now. This land, 9 acres in total, would not support another five ponies. 

Having our cake and eating it

This morning we met one of the 'Lookers', a delightful lady, at a farm shop near the reserve for cake. It seemed churlish not to try at least three! D has been a Looker for many years, covering two of the Trust's commons, and she also does conservation work throughout the year. 

The ponies were having their first grand maintenance day, and I brought them all across to the pound to check their health and their hooves. Surprisingly, none seem to have put on any weight despite the abundance of grass, tempered I guess by spending so many hours out of the heat and away from the flies; there has been no proper rain since they moved there. 

We slathered fly cream all over Jack, Nelly, Blue, and Pie - Patsy has to live without because she is untouchable, and I painted Pie's nose white with Filtabac. There's nothing I can do about his pink eyelids because the cream would run into his eyes. He and Nelly also had their hooves trimmed but noticeably all of the ponies' hooves are in good shape now and as hard as granite. 

Before...

Painted Pie

For what it is worth, I have put natural insect repellant ties in their manes

Not there!

On the days I don't go to the reserve, it's great to know that the lookers look out for the ponies and have a good checklist of things to watch out for. They also take pictures. 

Jack the Lad

For those who have been reading my blog for years you will remember that when Jack arrived, at the age of 12, he was completely wild. I'd not seen him before he was brought into me to be halter-trained and when he came out of the trailer he resembled a bull crossed with a fiery dragon. Inevitably he became mine and another twelve years later he is still as characterful as he was then.

He was always terrified of lead reins, and although I did lean over him a few times, I knew he had a strong instinct to bolt and decided that I didn't need a dangerous pony to ride. His talents lay in other directions.

He turned out to be a brilliant meeter-and-greeter of humans and other equines alike and after I had clicker trained him I was able to reunite him with the Forest he had left as a foal, taking him for walks, loose, with friends and guests. He also helped wit the rehabilitation of addicts. 

He was good at cantering...and jumping too.

He has spread so much happiness and all I have ever wanted is for him to be happy. 

Saturday Access

The ponies were back at their favourite hideout today when I saw them. Although they are enduring a lot of flies in this hot weather, they have not made the connection with the relief, if any, provided by the fly cream which they think smells too much. Pie would not let me put any on him nor any sun cream so on my next visit I will have to start teaching them to come into the pound. It's about time anyway as today is their three-weekiversary. 

I got a dab on Nelly's face - well away from her eyes - and some around her chest, tail and back legs.

Patsy doesn't seem to suffer so badly.

The cows get sprayed regularly and don't seem to attract many flies. 

...and there's always yoga if they do

I have to resist the urge to pull out every last stalk of ragwort. There's very little on site, the ponies have plenty of other things to eat, and the cinnabar caterpillars are enjoying a meal.