Thursday 12th February - All 8 seen

 

Tuesday 10th February - All 8 seen

Shortly after 16:30 this afternoon, the ponies were sheltering from heavy rain beneath the trees near ///splints.meant.shatters, to the east of the path along the side of the racecourse. Tilly and Poppy spotted me approaching and kindly poked their heads out through the branches, letting me know I’d found them. The girls were more than happy to share their shelter, with all of them coming over to greet me.

After around ten minutes, the rain eased and the ponies ventured out into the pasture to graze. They took turns coming over for long neck scratches and to have gorse removed from their forelocks and manes. It was clear they had been caught out in the open when the rain first started, as they were all thoroughly soaked.

My main reason for visiting was to check on the chestnut pony. Her eye was definitely worse than yesterday, although it didn’t appear as bad as when Steve saw her earlier in the day. The rain seemed to have helped clean the eye slightly, with some of the earlier discharge having washed away. I was able to take some close-up photos, which I have shared with the owner, who plans to visit in the next couple of days to check on her.

The ponies continued to alternate between grazing, foraging for acorns beneath the fallen leaves along the fence line, and returning for strokes and rubs. I said my goodbyes just after 17:15 as the rain became heavy again, leaving them to finish grazing before moving back under the trees for shelter.

Aside from the chestnut pony’s eye, the ponies were all good today.

Tuesday 10th February - all 8 ponies seen

I found all eight ponies straight away this morning tucked up in the SW corner at 1015. They all appeared OK except the chestnut pony mentioned by Gordon yesterday. She came over to show me her left eye which is very gungey. She was reluctant to turn so that I could get a clearer photo.

3pm, Mon 9 Feb, all 8 on the side of Brock Hill, eating gorse

All looking relaxed and very friendly,a couple came over to say hello and received a stroke

Monday 9th February - All 8 seen - The chestnut pony has a sore left eye.

Despite the sun being out and it being the first dry day in a while, the ponies were gathered in the southwest corner at 12:40 this afternoon. Three were foraging for acorns among the fallen leaves at the woodland edge, one was browsing gorse, and the remaining four were resting among the trees. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Everyone appeared happy and relaxed.

I was pleased to see that Tilly’s eye was looking much improved today. However, the chestnut pony had a teary left eye with some white discharge from the corner. When I first noticed her, a leaf was caught in her forelock and partially covered her eye; once this was removed, the issue became more noticeable. She didn’t appear to be in any discomfort, but was understandably nervous about me getting too close or attempting to clean it. I have shared photos with the owner.

The ponies continued to drift between foraging for acorns beneath the trees, browsing gorse in the surrounding bushes, and returning regularly for long neck and back rubs. I said my goodbyes at 13:30, leaving them peaceful and content in their surroundings.

Aside from the chestnut pony’s eye, the ponies were all good today.

Sunday 8th February - All 8 seen - Tilly has a sore left eye

Shortly before 15:30 this afternoon, the ponies were grazing among the gorse bushes on both sides of the path leading up Brock’s Hill. One by one, they emerged from the gorse and wandered down to greet me, enjoying plenty of strokes and rubs. The ponies were all dry, though their coats were matted from all the recent rain.

I noticed that Tilly has a sore left eye, with the surrounding soft tissue appearing puffy both above and below it. The eye itself looks clean, with no cloudiness or discharge, but she was keeping it partially closed. It appears she may have bumped it or irritated it on something such as a branch or gorse. The owner has been made aware.

The ponies alternated between grazing and returning for longer grooming sessions. They thoroughly enjoyed long neck and back rubs, especially after the loose gorse had been brushed from their coats and untangled from their manes and tails. Several offered cuddles and gentle nuzzles in return. They were all happy and relaxed.

The girls continued to wander over to spend time with me, clearly enjoying the attention. I said my goodbyes just after 17:05, leaving them peacefully grazing.

Except for Tilly's eye, the ponies were all good today.

Saturday

 All found at 10am in the woods alongside the racecourse. Rather wet but all ok.