Thursday 31st August

 A wet morning, and no sign of the Deacon Hill 3 by the corral.  After a walk along the top path and a slippery descent, I turned back and finally spotted an equine silhouette below the top path, but not visible from the path.  Flam was there as were the other 2.  Flam seems to have taken a liking to blackberries. They were happily grazing, undeterred by the rain, and my arrival only seemed to interest them for a few seconds.  All 3 seemed in fine form.  The wet weather meant almost no flies.  Troughs full.

I cannot do my round in 2 weeks, but Fiona is aware.

Saturday 26th August

No sign of the ponies in the corral today, so had to go on a pony hunt. I did suspect they might be sheltering under the trees at the bottom of the site, but the thought of having to go up the hill deterred me from taking the lower path. So in the end walked all the way around until, sure enough, found them huddled under a couple of trees by the lower fence. They looked pretty cosy and all was well so left them to it. Not so many flies today and they look really well. 

On a positive note, found one of Misty's toys (the orange Mr Tickle toy), so I've put it in the corral (out of pony reach), for Fiona to pick up next time she's on site 😀.

Wednesday 23rd

 All 3 were by the corral. Looking well, not too bothered by all the flies. Trough full.

Thursday 17th Aug

 Ponies were conveniently by the corral when I arrived - it's a humid morning and they clearly like the shade.  I watched for a while, and they wandered over to check me out, but after a huff or two, went back to a bit of mutual fly-whisking.  They seemed well and alert, and so nothing adverse to report.

Saturday 12th August

After yesterdays exertions on the far part of the hill (the 1:2 slope 😊) I was hoping the ponies would be by the corral, but of course they weren't. Then a 50/50 decision about whether to go along top or bottom path, and chose the lower one. But of course having never been a great gambling it transpired they were along the top path, but only found that out after scrambling up the hill before I'd gone too far (couldn't face the steep bit) and walked out right behind them. They barely acknowledged me and just kept nibbling away at the short grass, young and juicy I guess? They looked well, the only issue I could see was the annoying flies, which seemed to result in much tail swishing.

But moving well, healthy coats, no cuts or marks, and back ends nice and clean (ish...it's all relative). Left them just as the heavens opened. 

Wednesday 9th Aug.

 All 3 were by the corral gate swishing flies. Definitely worth checking there first. Looked well. Trough full. 

Thursday 3rd August

 No sign of ponies when I arrived.  However, after an extensive search, I found them by the corral.  Their lower legs were wet and so it looked as if they had recently arrived after walking through long wet grass (call me Sherlock).  All 3 seemed fine and alert - a few troublesome flies, but I couldn't see any obvious harm to the ponies.  Trough levels fine.

Quite a few butterflies about, mainly gatekeeper and chalk hill blue, as far as I could see.