Sunday 7th December - All 6 seen

At 14:05 this afternoon, the ponies were grazing contentedly in the pasture west of the stream. They were all incredibly friendly, each taking a turn to come over, say hello, and enjoy the first of many strokes and scratches. They were soaking wet, but thankfully the rain had stopped, and they were beginning to dry off.

After our greetings, the ponies alternated between grazing and returning for more attention. They loved long neck and ear rubs, followed by having the water brushed from their backs and their coats ruffled to help them dry more quickly. Several gave themselves a good shake after their grooming session to speed things along. They were an absolute joy to spend some quiet, relaxing time with, and they made sure I was never without company. Tilly and Poppy especially enjoyed having the sides of their necks and withers rubbed—both relaxed completely, resting a hind leg. Each pony, during her turn, ended up resting her head on my shoulder while enjoying her neck scratches and thanked me with the sweetest nuzzles.

At around 15:30, the ponies began moving to the eastern side of Brock’s Hill to browse on the gorse. Poppy lingered for a few extra strokes before wandering over to rejoin the group. The girls continued to take breaks from grazing to come over for more rubs and scratches. They were all happy, relaxed, and in good condition.

I said my goodbyes at 16:00, leaving them peacefully grazing as darkness began to fall. As I walked away, it became clear they had been sheltered from the gusty wind by the hillside. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the car, it had started to rain again—hopefully the girls found some good shelter.

The ponies were all good today.