2 extra NF ponies added today - total now 6 ponies & 3 cows

The New Forest grazier came up today with 2 more NF ponies so there are now a total of 6 ponies on site. The others came to meet them at the trailer and they all went off together straight away and as Steve says, they have settled in very well already with their mates.

Hopefully we will have 2 more ponies arriving early next week, possibly Monday, but I'll blog that if and when they arrive. 

Checked the 3 British White and they're looking well.

Thanks Dave

All 9 seen

The cows were happily grazing on the eastern slope of Brock's Hill at 2.30 this afternoon.  They look well and seem to be growing larger.  They are extremely clean around their rear ends so something is working in their diet!  All six ponies were just a short way off in E4.  They paused briefly while we looked at them then set off towards the test track side of the site.  It was if the old hands were showing the two freshers around.  They all seemed relaxed and well.

Sunday 27th November - All 7 seen

Three of the ponies were found in the area around ///warnings.broom.flattery at 11:55 this morning.  The fourth was lying down alongside them.  After some initial concern, I checked her and she seemed fine.  She was awake, alert and didn't seem in any pain or discomfort.  I watched her from afar and after about fifteen minutes she got up and walked off with no visible problems.  I wandered past them again at 12:50, and they were all eating grass and gorse.

The cows were found in the far southwest corner around ///array.teaching.fools at 13:00.  They were all lying down, relaxing and chewing their cud.  Cow 234 got up and had a scratch against a tree before lying back down.

Went back and checked the ponies again at 13:15 and this time another was lying down, the one with the neckband.  Again, she seemed absolutely fine and appeared to just be relaxing.  The other three were busy eating.  After about ten minutes, I noticed she was rolling around and appeared to be having fun.  She rolled a few more times before getting up and wandering off.

The cows were good today.  The ponies all appeared to be ok, with today being the first time I've seen them lying down.

Saturday

 Easiest spot ever! All the cows and all the ponies were together just inside the main entrance by the corral at 8am checking on the pipeline workmen. All looked fine. 

All found

The cows were watching the pipeline contractors close to the fence at the crossing from Velmead car park this afternoon.  They looked healthy and I saw them moving well later when they met me coming back across the site.  The ponies were nowhere to be seen during a circuit of the site, including the far SW corner, but luckily I spotted a swishing white tail as we were leaving the site.  They must have been behind the cows somewhere when we arrived.  After a wander around I finally found all four, though the one with the collar played hard to get in the tall gorse.  All appeared well.

Friday 25th November - All 7 seen

The ponies were all busy munching on gorse in the area around ///permit.piled.fallback at 15:20 this afternoon.   They were all looking really well.

Cow 234 was found munching on long grass around ///including.stuffy.gear a short while later.  Cows 214 and 215 were munching on leaves and gorse a bit further on at ///chugging.starters.watches. 

The contractors have obviously been super busy and have cleared a massive amount of scrub from the site during the course of the week.

The ponies and the cows were all good today.

Sunday 20th November - All 7 seen

The cows were all happily grazing on the side of Brock's Hill in the area around ///wriggled.tests.loaning at 13:20 this afternoon.  

The ponies were munching on gorse, deep in the bushes in the southwest corner around ///tolls.hides.united.

The cows and the ponies were good today.

Saturday

 All found at 9.30. Ponies at the foot of the hill and the cows along side the fence into Tweseldown. All looking good. 

Wednesday 16th November

 All found at the bottom on the hill just off the main track. No issues and as you can imagine, plenty of water

4 ponies fine

Saw the 4 ponies in the NE corner of Brocks Hill today while checking contractors. All looking well. Approaching slowly they allowed me to get close up to them. Didn't see the cattle.

Contractors are clearing birch and gorse scrub today and tomorrow. They should be back to clear more birch on the Tweseldown side next week.

Sunday 13th November - All 7 seen

The cows were grazing in the sunshine on the side of Brock's Hill around ///proves.subsets.zones at 13:30 this afternoon. They were all happily munching as they made their way to the top. No idea where the ponies were initially, but after some fifty minutes of searching the entire site, they were found right back where I started! All four were busy munching on gorse in the southwest corner, in the area around ///absorb.broker.waltzed. The cows and the ponies were good today.

Saturday

 All 3 cows found at 8.30 all looking fine in the newly cleared area near the corral but no sign of the ponies. 

Ponies on parade

The cows were easily visible on arrival today lying down and chewing the cud under a pine next to the fence close to the cattle grid.  The ponies on the other hand were lined up for inspection along the path just beyond the grid. All looked well and content. 

Monday 7th Nov. All 7 Seen.

All 4 ponies were seen at the bottom of Brocks Hill (D5) enjoying some fresh grazing. I found the 3 cows just down the main track a wee bit in E5. Gave the cows some nuts to keep them sweet! 

No issues to report, new ponies look happy and healthy as do the cows. 

Sunday 6th November - All 7 seen

The four ponies were grazing in the southwest corner of the site in the area around ///strapping.merit.civic at 11:15 this morning.  Two were busy munching on gorse, while the other two were eating grass.

The cows were found about 15 minutes later in the area around ///every.masks.lyricist.  They were all happily munching on grass.

Despite being rather wet, the cows and the ponies were good today.

Friday 4th November - All 7 seen

The four ponies were busy grazing in the sunshine in the area around ///blockage.spray.cooks at noon today.  They seemed happy to have a visitor and despite me keeping my distance and not approaching them, they all wandered over to say hello.  They certainly seemed to be enjoying their new home and are a lovely addition to Long Valley.

The cows were found grazing in the area around ///roses.atomic.sunblock about twenty minutes later.  They were busy munching on grass, gorse and leaves from trees.  Cow 215 had a pink patch on the right-hand side of her neck where it looks like she's been bitten by a tick.  It wasn't causing her any issues.

At one point, the ponies wandered by the area the cows were grazing.  Both groups stopped and looked at each other with interest before carrying on.  I gave the ponies another check before leaving site, and they were happily munching on grass and drinking from the large puddles near the footpath around ///resolves.smug.chips.

The ponies and the cows were good today.