Saturday 30th November

Mild but overcast day on the Hill, registering a balmy 16 degrees on the car thermometer! Spotted the cows from the main gate, but went off in search of the ponies first. I figured the cows were less likely to move. No sign of them on lower path, and no attempts to knock over the fire defences. Slogged back up the hill, then off to the top gate, again no sign, so tried the middle path. At this point I was back with the cows and who should be behind them up the road fences than the ponies. The cows were okay, very calm and relaxed and alert. The ponies were grazing by the barbed wire fence. First stop Hoopy, whose coat is looking lovely and warm and shaggy. The rest of the gang were further up the road and not easily accessible without disturbing them so watched from a distance. They were moving and eating freely and generally in great condition. 

Thursday 28th November

 Sunny and frosty this morning.  Dolly and Eleanor were grazing close to the path, a few metres up from M'way gate (within their confined area) and seemingly happy.  All 4 ponies were close to the far trough, enjoying a bit of morning sun, and also grazing, interrupted by a brief check of who I was.  Ice broken on both troughs.

Good to see a flock of about 50 lapwings down on the field east of the 'lake', below the reserve.

Wednesday 27th

 4 ponies were near the path about 400 yards up, fairly close together. All looking well. The cows were nearby cudding, in the bushes towards the Moorstead Rd. No visible problems. Both water troughs were full and the fence round the blue bowser was intact.

Tues 26th end of day

I popped in to check on the water supply for the cattle and the sheep hurdle fence around the bowser at the eastern end. I was fearing it would have been pulled apart by the ponies, although we did wgat we could with cable ties on Friday! First off there is loads of water in the bottom IBC - about 2000 litres I think, so that is fine! I was concerned about why the cattle hadn't fully explored yet, and then I found a random green electric fence stake halfway up the track that wasn't marking the edge of their compartment- they had explored up to that point but no further. I have removed this and hope they will pluck up the courage to go beyond it now as they still have a lot more of the site available to them. Thankfully the hurdle fence around the bowser was fine, but I have added some road pins to help keep it together. Saw the cattle looking very content, and Hoopy and Doune, but I didn't look for Kat and Flam as it was getting dark and I knew they had all been checked by Ian today..

Tuesday 26th November

Bright and chilly lunchtime on the Hill, beautiful day. Found the cows where I left them (😀) on Saturday, close to the lower trough. But there was evidence that had explored a bit, if you know what I mean. They looked pretty happy soaking up the rays and chewing the cud. 

Next stop, hunt the ponies, and they were to be found three quarters of the way up the main path, albeit a little spread out. Hoopy was a little away from the others, in the lower part of the clearing, but at least in the sunshine. She tried to hobble up the hill towards me, when she spotted me, still getting used to the terrain I guess. She was pretty friendly and a little cheeky too. But they all looked in good nick, with Flam's coat looking and feeling more like a blanket. 

I'm sorry I forgot to check out the fence around the new bowser at the top of the site. Based on previous pony escapades, I worry for it 😂.

Saturday 23rd November

The cows were near the trough at the lower end of the site, and seemed to be testing the limits of their boundary. They seemed okay, just a little cheesed off with the weather. 

Then tried to locate the ponies, they weren't in the middle section and no evidence of them along the lower path. Headed back up the hill and onto the top gate. No damage to bowser fence, but again no foot prints, so doesn't look like they've investigated yet. Resorted to tracking recent hoof prints and poop, and followed Hoopy's occasion slide down the hill and across and along the middle path. And aha found them, in the middle section that I had already checked. We must have passed on our respective journeys. But I was impressed with my tracking skills, but at this point was totally exhausted. Wind, rain and slippery muddy ground. Not as much fun as in the middle of July! Oh yeah and they were fine, just a bit wet, just like me. 

 

cattle compartment

Cattle compartment stretches length of site - access to both troughs. Marked out by mostly yellow stakes...

cattle are here!!

Spent a while with the volunteers setting up a big compartment for the cattle Dolly and Eleanor today.  Cattle were delivered end of the day. Hoping the ponies won't interfere with the sheep hurdles we've set up around the big bowser at the eastern end too.  Ponies were friendly today and are all looking great. Kat seems to have put on a decent amount of weight over the summer too..

cattle arriving today

We have 2 cattle arriving today - Dolly (mostly black) and Eleanor. You'll remember them from last year:) we are setting out a compartment that stretches across the top of the site.  

Please remember to break any ice in the troughs in this cold weather folks.

Thanks so much!

Thursday 21st November

 I'm dreaming of a white...but it didn't last, after quite a flurry of snow earlier.  The 4 ponies were looking quite bored, but lined up for a photo opportunity:

Otherwise, they were all fine - and up by the far gate.  Troughs well frozen but I broke the ice on both.

Wednesday 20th

 4 ponies were near the main path towards the top, fairly spread out. They all looked well. Both troughs full. Flicked some ice off.

Tuesday 19th November

The car thermometer said 3 degrees, so a CNS day (Cold Nose Syndrome), but luckily the rain had eased off. The ponies were neither at the corral nor at the top gate, so a little trek to find them, but in the end they were along the main path not far from the middle Beech clump. They all looked a bit, well a lot, wet through, but didn't seem to stop them munching away. Other than the matted coats they all looked well, Doune was a little jumpy, but I was wearing a different hat.

Sunday 17th November

 A lovely day on the hill. What I didn’t expect was to find 3 ponies lying down sunbathing!

Saturday16th November

Dark and dreary day on the Hill, and first stop was examining and repositioning their efforts at pushing over sheep hurdles. Partial success 😅😂. 

Found them close to the upper path Beech Clump, munching away like mental. I tried to get some nice portraits of them, but their heads refused to come up from the lush green grass. But the benefit was I could check them out thoroughly. All looking incredibly good! 

Looker support

 Dear all , I can’t make Monday. Is there anyone who can cover for me ? Nick

Thursday 14th November

 All 4 ponies were at the far eastern end of the reserve, close to the gate, and looking a bit sleepy.  Otherwise, they seemed fine, and having discovered that my fleece was not edible, they turned their backs.  Both troughs were OK.

It sounds as if there are skylarks in the field in the other side of the Morestead Rd - just chirruping at the moment, but hopefully singing when spring arrives.

Taken before they got bored with me...

Wednesday 13th

 3 ponies were on the main track, about 400 yards up. Bit of a search for the last one (Kat or Flam, I still have problems telling those 2 apart,) she was not far away, down the slope. All looked well and interacted when she joined. Bottom trough was full.

Tuesday 12th November

Lovely bright and breezy day on the Hill, the sun was warming Hoopy's coat beautifully and it was a great way to warm my slightly chilly hands 😁. Three were in close proximity along the bottom path, digging into the lush green grass. Kat was a little further up the hillside, but still munching away. Hoopy is much more confident now and her character is showing through, a little cheeky and playful (?), and I'd say she's fully integrated into the gang now, and looking really well and happy. The others paid me no heed, but again they also looked great, with coats thickening up smashingly. 

It looks like we need a lot more rain though, as the lake is actually drying up rather than filling, couldn't spot anything out there on the remaining puddles. 

Monday 11 November

 The ponies were at the top of the hill today. A bit brighter but a cold breeze. Not that bothers the ponies. The troughs are full. No issues seen. 

Sunday 10 Nov

 Another grey day! Ponies found on the lower track busy feeding!

Saturday 9th November

Early visit today with ponies by the corral. All looking really well, Hoopy's eye back to normal. They weren't really interested in me today, but maybe they'd only just woken up and it was a dreary morning. But all looking good. 

Fri 8th Nov

Ponies encountered twice on work party today - once while we were filling top IBC and once end of day. All looking fabulous 👌 

Thursday 7th Nov

 Another grey morning.  The ponies were by the east gate, looking a bit morose, but alert and well.  No eye problems visible and no other concerns.  Troughs OK, although the level of the east trough has dropped a bit.

Wednesday 6th

 4 ponies were between the lower path and the slope beyond the bottom trough, Kat or Flam was at a distance from the others. All looked well, eyes cleared up. That trough was full. Some litter between the gate and the road, and near the barrier to the Dongas. Left it as we didn't have a bag.

5th end of day

Emily and I checked on the ponies at the end of the day. We put eye drops in Hoppy's left eye again successfully. It looks so much better, you wouldn't know there was an issue. Hoopy and Doune had a bit of a kicking session but both appeeared fine - I just had to clear out of their way quite fast! Hoopy does appear settled and confident in the group despite this.

Tuesday 5th November

Remember remember...to check on the ponies. They were in their usual place up at the top of the site. Kat was having a fun roll when I arrived, and Hoopy came right over for a sniff. It was almost like she was expecting someone else, and rather rudely didn't hide her disappointment. But she's looking so much better now, her eye looks pretty much back to normal and her coat is growing out beautifully. The others are all looking good too, and they were a pretty close knit group today, which is great to see. Happy days 😁.

Look at Doune - "that's close enough son" - she's great!

Monday 4 November

 The ponies were near the bottom of the reserve. 1 by itself. The troughs were full.

Sunday 3 Nov

 Two firsts today!!

The ponies were split up by more than a hundred metres!

And 2 were seen drinking from the trough!

Fri 1st Nov

Jess booked the vet to come and microchip Hoopy and the get had a look at her eye too.  She couldn't see anything to worry about but has given us eye drops for the next 5 days.  The ponies are all looking really good and seem to be pretty settled with each other.