Cold ponies

At 0930 this morning the ponies were alongside the racecourse (C6) while the cows were again to the north of Brock’s Hill in the grass (D4). The ponies emerged from the cover and came to stand in the sun on the track to warm up. The ponies looked well but sad at being cold. The cows on the other hand were full of beans and followed us back round to where the ponies continued to stand. The Gelvert is still flowing fortunately as all the puddles were frozen solid and dry once broken. To trump the partridges from last week, I thought I could hear a nightjar on the top of Brock’s Hill [it didn't occur to me that it was January and they don't arrive until April - anyone know what it might have been?] and disturbed a snipe when breaking the ice on the stream.