Tuesday 27th February - All 8 seen

Four of the ponies were visible from the top of Brock's Hill at 1430 this afternoon to the NE grazing at the edge of the woods in E4.  Once we got over to them, requiring acute bog-hopping skills, Tilly ambled over to say hello.  I then located the other four hidden amongst the silver birches.  The were all relaxed, grazing or browsing, and appeared well.

Tuesday 27th February 2024 - midda

Weather was overcast but with good visibility.

Located all 8 ponies near Brocks Hill close to cattle grid in B6 and C6. All looked healthy and enjoying grazing on the gorse.

Couple of dog walkers with multiple dogs running off lead and close to where the ponies were grazing. Ponies were unfazed 

Many thanks.

3.30-4.45, Mon 26 Feb, managed to find 6/7

I got to explore the site today quite thoroughly trying to locate them!  Finally spotted 3 from the top of Brock Hill in the distance to the left of the gate into the Test Track area.  It was a very wet area so couldn’t get in too close but counted at least 6 and I think 7.  I definitely didn’t see Tilly.  

They looked well.  3 exited onto the pathway as I was leaving and no doubt all there now in plain sight :)

Sunday 25th February - All 8 seen

The ponies were happily grazing in the swampy area around ///voices.tango.snores at 11:50 this morning.  They were enjoying lots of long grass, gorse and holly.  They were all relaxed and looking well.  

About forty minutes later, six of the ponies started to rest.  They were standing in two groups of three, facing Brock's Hill.  They quickly started to relax, all resting a hind leg.  Two of the ponies wandered off to the south and continued to graze together around ///buck.soaps.outsize.

The ponies were all very friendly today.  They all came over and said hello, which made it nice and easy to check them, even though the ground was really soggy.  Several were happy to receive ear and nose rubs.  Tilly was happy to stand and be made a fuss of as usual 😄.  It was lovely to spend some relaxing time with them today, with me saying cheerio just before 13:30.

The ponies were all good today.

8

 Spotted 8 way off in the tree line.  All 8 were standing and grazing. 

Saturday

 All found at 9.30 at the bottom of the hill in the north side. All looking fine. 

Friday 23rd February - All 8 seen

The ponies were all happily grazing along both sides of the track on the northern side of Brock's Hill at 14:45 this afternoon. They slowly made their way back to the main path at the entrance to the site. They were all happy and relaxed and looking really well. The frequent rain showers weren't putting them off their grazing. 

They had all made it back to the area by the entrance half an hour later. Four ponies stood at the side of the path and started to relax. The others continued to graze in the gorse bushes, and in the area beyond. Several ponies wandered over to say hello and receive ear rubs, despite being rather wet. Sadly, the rain intensified and by 15:45 wasn't showing any signs of letting up, so I said goodbye. 

The ponies were all good today.

Looker update 1pm

 Tuesday 20/02/2024

First time out around Long Valley. Excuse me if I ramble on a tad too much as this is my first Blog attempt.

Start:1.00pm

End: 2.15pm

Weather: Overcast with cloud and occasional sun creeping through the clouds.

Visibility was good.

Had a good search on the tracks through the gorse and bracken and brown brush. Still quite a lot of water underfoot and plenty of muddy areas next to main tracks. On the return leg of the walk paced up Brocks Hill and checked to see if any of the Ponies could be seen from elevated position.  Continued with 2 loops walking around the base area of Brocks Hill and adjacent tracks through the gorse opposite to Tweseldown.

Plenty of Pony tracks and signs of recent activity.

No Ponies to be seen at all.

Several dog walkers seen with a couple of dogs not on leashes.

Spoke with Groundsman who was clearing brush and sawing up small logs. He had not seen any sign of the ponies either.

No fencing damage in the areas I walked through.

Hope this is helpful.

Best,

Ronnie

Saw all 8 today and all looking well

Tuesday 20th February - All 8 seen

All eight were kindly arrayed along the track at E5/6 in weak sunshine at 1530 today; a nice change from last week's hide and seek in the rain.  They all appeared to be very well either browsing the gorse or tugging at the sparse grass beside the track.

2.30pm, Mon 19 Feb, all 8 ponies seen in D4 area, all looking well

Today is my first day as 'looker' on Long Valley.  I was pleased to spot the ponies straight away from the top of Brock Hill!

Initally 6 ponies were close together with 2 slightly adrift but they caught up with each other.

They looked to be well.  I watched them for quite some time and they became curious and a couple of them approached me whilst the others looked and stared .. then went about their business of grazing.  

Carolyn

Sunday 18th February - All 8 seen

Five ponies were relaxing under the trees in the area around ///reason.height.deed at 12:45 this afternoon.  Three ponies were lying down, with another two standing close by resting a hind leg.  They were all very chilled out.

The other three ponies were grazing in the occasional sunshine a little further east around ///dorms.stitching.still.  They were all happy and relaxed.  After about fifteen minutes, the first five ponies joined them, and they all grazed together.  The ponies continued to graze in a north-easterly direction, getting to the forest at the end of the pasture shortly before 14:00.

 

When the sun would break through the clouds, the ponies would stop and have a rest.  Victoria was loving the warm afternoon sunshine and was struggling to keep her eyes open as she relaxed.  Tilly was happy to stand and receive an ear rub while she rested in the sun.

The ponies were all good this afternoon.

Possible 2

 Way off in the tree line.  Couldnt really get a clear visual on them so unsure.

Friday 16th February - All 8 seen

Four ponies were standing just inside the entrance, at the side of the main path, at 12:45 this afternoon. Another was standing just behind them, just beyond the first layer of gorse bushes. They were all happy, relaxed and looking really well.

The other three ponies were grazing in the area behind. They were enjoying lots of grass and gorse. They, too, were looking good. A short while later, they were joined by a couple of the others. They all continued to graze, occasionally stopping for a rest. The darker of the ponies had a bit of a roll around and looked to be having fun.

Tilly was her usual friendly self today and wandered over to say hello and was happy to be made a fuss of. She enjoyed a long ear rub. The hair on her face continues to grow back thicker, which is wonderful to see.

The ponies were all good today.

Tuesday 13th February - 70 mins of Hide and Seek and they won.

Arrived on site just after 1500 in drizzle that only just let me see the NE corner of the site from the top of Brock's Hill. I wandered the site for 70 minutes looking for the ponies and did not get a sighting.  But looking at the GPS track from my watch once I got home I could see that I'd missed a big sections of the trees in the north where they must have been hiding (though not where they could be seen from the road).  So it was one nil to the ponies today!

Sunday 11th February - All 8 seen

The ponies were all relaxing in the sunshine in the area around ///moats.heaven.punks at 12:15 this afternoon. They were drying out from the earlier rain. They were all happy and very relaxed. I received a lovely welcome as I wandered around checking them. All eight ponies were looking really well. When the sun went behind the clouds shortly after 12:45, most of the ponies started to graze in the surrounding area. Tilly was far more interested in receiving a long head and neck rub. She was super friendly today. Her hair continues to grow back on her face, which is great to see.

The ponies were all good today.