Friday 31st May - All 4 seen - the foal has had some treatment applied to his bald patches

The ponies were all found near the pond at 15:50 this afternoon.  The girls were spread out enjoying lots of fresh grass.  As is becoming the norm, the palomino pony came over to say hello and receive an ear rub.  She was very friendly today, with me receiving some gentle nuzzles in return.

The foal was initially lying down, but soon got up and came over to say hello.  After an initial neck rub, he went off for a run around, doing loops of the pasture, complete with little hops, skips and jumps as he ran past me.  He soon returned and enjoyed another long neck and back rub.  There was a little bit of biting to begin with, but he got told off and was then on his best behaviour.  By 16:20, he had laid down beside me, wanting to be stroked some more.  Only to then doze off.

The girls all continued to graze in the surrounding area.  They were all happy and relaxed.  The palomino pony came over and said hello again and stood and received a head rub.

Sadly, the little ones bald patches were much the same today as yesterday.  The patch on the front left side of his head was perhaps a little bigger.  Nicky, concerned that he might have the same fungal infection that we've seen previously, asked me to apply the same treatment we used on Tilly.  After he got up from his rest, I applied the treatment.  He was fine both during and after, although he was not too keen on me touching the front left patch.  I managed to get some applied, but it's likely that area will require more attention.

I said goodbye to the ponies at 17:00 with them all still happily grazing.  The little one joined in and was eating some grass.

The ponies were all good today.

Thursday 30th May - All 4 seen - the foal has some scrapes and the corral gate wasn't padlocked

The ponies were all found grazing in the southwest corner at 16:50 this afternoon.  The girls were all happily munching on fresh grass.  They were all happy, relaxed and looking really well.  The palomino pony was her usual friendly self and came over for a long ear and neck rub.  Despite the very changeable weather conditions, the girls all continued to graze.  One minute it was nice and sunny, the next it was pouring with rain.

The foal came straight over to see me as soon as I arrived.  Sadly, however, he had a few scrapes on him today.  He has a scrape on the right side of his face, some scrapes on the top right of his head and a few little scrapes on the top left of his head as well.  I've made Nicky aware and shared some close up photos.

The little one was otherwise all good.  Throughout my visit, he thoroughly enjoyed receiving numerous neck, ear and back rubs.  He was super friendly and was giving plenty of cuddles while standing being stroked.  I did notice that he was being a little bit bitey today, with my boots getting the worst of it.  He needed to be told to stop a few times.  He was also seen biting Megan on her rear legs and sides a couple of times as well.  The little one was seen eating grass today as well.

While standing stroking the foal, I noticed that the gate on the perimeter fence at the corral wasn't locked.  I went and had a look and found the padlock and chain lying under some long grass to the side.  I secured the gate by applying the chain and padlock (apologies if it's not done right, but I can't remember how it was locked previously).  Alex at HIWWT has been made aware.

The girls were all still happily grazing when I said goodbye to them just after 18:00.  The little one was nursing from his mum.  As I was wandering off, nearly at the bushes facing the main path, I heard the thundering of hooves and looked round to see the little one running towards me.  He wanted a few final strokes and to say cheerio.

The ponies were all good, despite the little one's scrapes.

Tuesday 28th May - all 4 seen

Fortunately no rain this afternoon (sorry Ronnie!).  Found the three adults and the foal close to the gate to the Test Track at 1540. All appeared well and happily grazing, including the foal.  

I'd only been there a few moments when the foal bounded up and started to chew my coat - not sure what other members of the public might make of this.

Tuesday 28th May 8 -9am

 Ventured out in the rain this morning. Trusted brolly in hand to ward off the constant showery rain.

Good visibility though in spite of the weather.

Located the 4 ponies, including the foal, to the east of Brocks Hill close to one of the main tracks - f4 area.

The foal was sheltering from the rain underneath his mum. They all looked well.

Thanks

Ronnie,

Monday 27th May - All 4 seen

The ponies were found on top of Brock's Hill around ///slightly.registry.blink at 10:35 this morning.  The girls were all happily grazing, eating lots of grass and gorse.  The little one had been lying down, but came running over as soon as he saw me.  He was happy to be stroked all over and generally be made a fuss of.  He was super friendly today, giving cuddles and gently nuzzling as he was receiving a long neck and back rub.

By 11:00 the girls had moved down to the area around ///beads.sides.ramps where they continued to graze.  The foal followed me down to join them, where we played some more.  He was nibbling the tongue of my boot again and managed to undo my lace.  Not long after, the ponies wandered out to the main path and started to graze on the grass at the side.  The little one crossed over into the southwest corner and went for a run around, completing several loops at top speed.  The thundering hooves, coupled with a few gentle neighs, brought the other ponies in to see what he was up to.

The ponies soon wandered back out and down to the grassy area at the start of the track up Brock's Hill.  The palomino pony went and lay down behind some bushes just off the main path.  The other two girls continued to graze.  The little one, who had been enjoying another long back rub, lay down at my feet, wanting me to continue to stroke him.  After a while, Megan went for a roll about, causing the foal to get up and go and see what his mum was doing.  The palomino pony also got up and came over to see me and received a nice ear rub.  I said goodbye to the ponies just before noon, with them wandering off down the path toward the racecourse.

The ponies were all good today.  It's difficult to believe it's already four weeks since the little bundle of joy came into our lives 😄.

Sunday 26th May - All 4 seen

The ponies were all found at the side of the main path around ///ordeals.actor.another at 11:00 this morning.  They had found a lovely warm spot and were all relaxing in the sun.  The foal was sound asleep.  It was so nice to see Megan taking some time to rest, instead of eating to keep the little one with a plentiful supply of milk.  I mostly spent the first thirty minutes of my visit with the palomino pony, who was delighted to stand and be stroked.

Just after 11:30, the little one woke up and nursed from his mum.  Then it was straight over to me to say hello and to receive his neck and ear rub.  Megan went off to graze on the patch of grass on the other side of the path.  The other two ponies joined her after a while.  The little one stayed with me and was giving lots of cuddles and gentle nibbles while being stroked.  Just after noon, the girls crossed back over the path and started to graze in the pasture.  I said goodbye to all four just after 12:20 when they were wandering down towards the pond.

The ponies were all good today.

Saturday 25th May - All 4 seen

The ponies were all found in the pasture to the side of the Test Track gate at 14:50 this afternoon. The girls were all happily grazing in the warm sunshine. The foal came running over to say hello as soon as he saw me approaching. He was super friendly again today and wanted to be stroked all over. He has discovered that ear rubs are nice and relaxing. The little one wanted to be the centre of attention today, with him leaving me only for a short time to go and nurse from his mum. The ponies proceeded to graze westward towards the pond, while the little one continued to be made a fuss of. He occasionally nibbled at some grass while being stroked. The little one had been enjoying a long back rub, when he decided to lie down at my feet. He soon fell asleep as I stoked his side. I quietly got up and went and spent some time with the girls before saying goodbye to them just after 16:00.

The ponies were all good this afternoon.