As I was passing by Long Valley, I stopped off to spend a little extra time with the ponies due to the Bank Holiday.
At 16:00 this afternoon, the ponies were grazing contentedly in the warm sunshine to the east of Brock's Hill. They were very friendly, each coming over in turn to say hello and enjoy long neck and back rubs. The girls were especially affectionate, offering gentle nuzzles, cuddles, and the occasional lick. Encouragingly, the lumps and bumps on the ponies looked less pronounced today. All three appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition.
After our greetings, they returned to grazing but stayed close by, frequently coming back for more attention. As it got warmer, they gradually moved into the shade, using the gorse bushes for cover. By 16.25, they had crossed the path and made their towards the bushes near ///ripen.frog.secret, where they enjoyed the long grass and various leaves in the cool shade.
A little later, Pandora wandered deeper into the thicket, reaching the racecourse fence line, where she began foraging for acorns. In all the time we've had ponies at Long Valley, this is the first time I've seen them seeking out acorns, which are poisonous due to their high tannin content. Fortunately, it appeared she only found a few before following me back to the others, who were still munching on the long grass among the bushes at the edge of the pasture. Hopefully, she quickly realises there are far better things to eat, but this will need monitoring closely to prevent it from becoming a problem.
I said my goodbyes at 16:45, leaving them all grazing peacefully.
The ponies were all good today.
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