Friday 13th February - All 8 seen

At 15:10 this afternoon, five ponies were happily grazing in the pasture near ///slopes.whisk.sting, to the north of the main path by the stream. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Tilly was particularly interested in the plants floating on the surface of the large pools of water in the area. The other three ponies were browsing gorse deep in the bushes to the east. When they heard me approaching, they soon poked their heads through the branches, greeting me with soft nickers. Each of them then emerged from the thicket to say hello and enjoy plenty of attention. By 15:50, the ponies had gathered to rest along the edge of the main path, close to where I had first found them. The chestnut pony had a small amount of white discharge in the corner of her left eye, but overall her eye looked much improved, and she appears to be on the mend. The girls were more than happy to be approached and thoroughly enjoyed long neck and back rubs. They quickly relaxed, each resting a hind leg. After a while, a few drifted off to graze in the surrounding area. Tilly, however, was content to remain, enjoying seemingly endless strokes and even dozing off at one point. She was especially affectionate, offering the sweetest nuzzles and cuddles in return. I said my goodbyes just after 17:00, leaving a few ponies still resting by the path, while the others grazed peacefully nearby. The ponies were all good today.

Friday 13th - STAFF VISIT

All 8 found by the stream near the tweaseldown fence. All happily grazing. The chestnut pony's eye looked a bit snotty, but too bad.

Sean

Thursday 12th February - All 8 seen

At 12:40 this afternoon, the ponies were sheltering from heavy rain under the trees in the southwest corner of the site. They had clearly been grazing before I arrived, as they were all soaking wet. The girls were especially friendly, each taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Despite the weather, they were all happy, relaxed, and looking well. The chestnut pony was the first to greet me, and I was delighted to see that her eye was looking much better today. The girls were content to stand for long neck rubs before I brushed the rain from their backs and sides and ruffled their coats to help them dry. Around 13:00, Nicky, the ponies’ owner, arrived to visit them and check on the chestnut pony’s eye. About ten minutes later, the rain eased, and the ponies wandered out to graze briefly before making their way to the northern side of Brock’s Hill to continue grazing along the hillside. Tilly paused near the main path for a roll in the soft, muddy grass before carrying on. As a precaution, Nicky applied antibiotic cream to the chestnut pony’s eye. The ponies were all good today.

Tuesday 10th February - All 8 seen

Shortly after 16:30 this afternoon, the ponies were sheltering from heavy rain beneath the trees near ///splints.meant.shatters, to the east of the path along the side of the racecourse. Tilly and Poppy spotted me approaching and kindly poked their heads out through the branches, letting me know I’d found them. The girls were more than happy to share their shelter, with all of them coming over to greet me.

After around ten minutes, the rain eased and the ponies ventured out into the pasture to graze. They took turns coming over for long neck scratches and to have gorse removed from their forelocks and manes. It was clear they had been caught out in the open when the rain first started, as they were all thoroughly soaked.

My main reason for visiting was to check on the chestnut pony. Her eye was definitely worse than yesterday, although it didn’t appear as bad as when Steve saw her earlier in the day. The rain seemed to have helped clean the eye slightly, with some of the earlier discharge having washed away. I was able to take some close-up photos, which I have shared with the owner, who plans to visit in the next couple of days to check on her.

The ponies continued to alternate between grazing, foraging for acorns beneath the fallen leaves along the fence line, and returning for strokes and rubs. I said my goodbyes just after 17:15 as the rain became heavy again, leaving them to finish grazing before moving back under the trees for shelter.

Aside from the chestnut pony’s eye, the ponies were all good today.

Tuesday 10th February - all 8 ponies seen

I found all eight ponies straight away this morning tucked up in the SW corner at 1015. They all appeared OK except the chestnut pony mentioned by Gordon yesterday. She came over to show me her left eye which is very gungey. She was reluctant to turn so that I could get a clearer photo.

3pm, Mon 9 Feb, all 8 on the side of Brock Hill, eating gorse

All looking relaxed and very friendly,a couple came over to say hello and received a stroke

Monday 9th February - All 8 seen - The chestnut pony has a sore left eye.

Despite the sun being out and it being the first dry day in a while, the ponies were gathered in the southwest corner at 12:40 this afternoon. Three were foraging for acorns among the fallen leaves at the woodland edge, one was browsing gorse, and the remaining four were resting among the trees. They were all very friendly, taking turns to come over to say hello and enjoy plenty of strokes and rubs. Everyone appeared happy and relaxed.

I was pleased to see that Tilly’s eye was looking much improved today. However, the chestnut pony had a teary left eye with some white discharge from the corner. When I first noticed her, a leaf was caught in her forelock and partially covered her eye; once this was removed, the issue became more noticeable. She didn’t appear to be in any discomfort, but was understandably nervous about me getting too close or attempting to clean it. I have shared photos with the owner.

The ponies continued to drift between foraging for acorns beneath the trees, browsing gorse in the surrounding bushes, and returning regularly for long neck and back rubs. I said my goodbyes at 13:30, leaving them peaceful and content in their surroundings.

Aside from the chestnut pony’s eye, the ponies were all good today.