Thursday 30th October

 Ponies were all close to the corral - and so easy to find!  All were friendly and looking very well.  Trough fine, but didn't check the top one.  Nothing adverse to report.

Wednesday 29th

 4 ponies were in the corral, looking fine. Bottom trough full.

Tuesday 28th October

Lovely warm day on the Hill, with just a bite from the northern wind (from the frozen northern reaches of Basingstoke). Spotted a Brimstone and a Large White (at least I think so as it wouldn't settle to let me see its spots and wing tips). Anyway, spotted Kat on the main path about 100 metres along, looking very sleek and fluffy, but no sign of the others. Hunted around a bit and then found them on the upper parts of the hill, Doune and Flam attacking the scrub and Hoopy by the fence line gnawing on the grass. Again they all look in great shape, especially with the new coats. 

 

Monday 27 October

 On this cool and breezy morning the ponies were found at the very top of the hill. Both troughs were full. No issues noted. 

Sunday 26th October

 Plenty of sunshine in a fairly chilly wind today. Found the ponies just of the track leading away from the lower water trough. They all look well I don’t think under nourishment is an issue!

Saturday 25th October

As I drove passed the top gate the ponies were posing for photos, so turned around and came back, but the paps had gone by then. The ponies looked liked they'd had a busy time and were looking a little tired, but otherwise in great shape. Hoopy was having a lie down whilst the others were fighting to keep eyes open. 

Friday 24th - staff check

Was hoping to see the ponies on our work party today, but they seem to be too busy to visit us lately! They were along the top of the site at the end of the day, grazing happily. Hoopy had clearly been having a nice roll in the usual spot as she was covered in mud. Her and Flam were grazing together, and both were really friendly today. Kat and Doune were further along and they both looked in fine form too. Very healthy and content ponies..

Thursday 23rd October

 I was expecting torrential rain, but not a drop, and the ponies were conveniently about 100m along the top path from the M'way gate, grazing - which included mouthfuls of hawthorn (ouch).  They all looked in good form, although Hoopy decided it was time for a lie-down:

Trough near corral full - I didn't check the other one.

Wednesday 22nd

 4 ponies were up towards the gate between the Morstead Rd. fence and the main path. All looked well, browsing and grazing. Both troughs were full.

Tuesday 21st October

I swear when the ponies hear the gate clang they say 'right time for hide and seek'! But it was nice day on the Hill, a damp chill in the air with the ground almost sighing from the recent rains. Not in the corral today, nor on the main path, nor at the eastern gate, nor in the middle sections, nor along the lower path, but finally spotted a bottom heading along the fence line heading for the eastern gate. Caught up with them (Doune's bottom), and they'd all stopped for a grazing break. All looked really well and concentrating hard on the green green grass. 

On the way up spotted a deer resting in the clearing near the eastern gate, I must have been down wind as it didn't spot me for ages, then fell over in its hurry to vanish into the scrub. 

Monday 20 October

 The ponies were in the central lower section. The troughs were full. No issues to report.

Sunday 19th October

 A wet and blustery day. Ponies were out and about grazing with no interest in interaction other than Flam.

Saturday 18th October

 Lovely morning on the Hill, all russets and golden hues, but a bit of a pong from the water treatment works, probably need some decent rain to flush everything through thoroughly. Anyhows, after returning from checking the sheep, the ponies were in the corral, with the triplets all huddled together head to tail, and Hoopy up on the bank having breakfast. Flam and Kat came straight over to say Hello, with Doune watching on. Hoopy was enjoying breakfast too much to care. They all looked well and in good nick, albeit a little dusty. 

Thursday 16th October

 

A bit of a road block this morning, about 250m or so along the top track.  Two seemed a bit weary, with the occasional yawn, but otherwise all 4 were looking very well.  Trough at W end fine - didn't check the far trough.

Tuesday 14th October

After a gentle stroll to the top of the site found the ponies in the vicinity of their trough and in amongst the scrub. They all looked really well and healthy and were concentrating too hard on eating to even give me a head nod. Doune's coat is coming through dark and soon her identifying mark will be obscured. 

Monday 13 October

 The ponies were along the bottom track. The troughs were full. No issues to report.

Sunday 12th October

 Ponies up by the far end on the edge of the Morestead Rd. All looked in excellent health, winter coats showing well. Flam her usual friendly curious self.

Saturday 11th October

Today the ponies were at the trough by the main gate. Doune and Kat were going in for a bit of mutual grooming, whilst Flam was her normal inquisitive self. They all looked super duper, coats all glossy and lovely and I'd almost say they were beaming in the autumn sunshine. Hoopy looks reborn now all the horrible flies have departed and is looking really well, with her coat growing out and starting to cover her brandings.

Thursday 9th October

 It has turned into a beautiful sunny autumnal morning, and all 4 ponies were enjoying grazing in the sunshine around the far end of the top path, with Hoopy near the gate:

 and the others not far away. Thanks to Fiona, the trough at the far end is fine.  The trough near the corral has a film on it, and not looking too enticing.  Not a horror film but almost.

Little flock of great and long-tailed tits flitting about, and some probable chiffchaffs near the motorway.

Wednesday 8th

4 ponies were in the corral, Hoopy a bit apart, the others in a huddle. All looked fine, trough full.

Met Olivia the ecologist as we were leaving. She was waiting for colleagues to do a dormouse survey. Talking about inquisitive ponies, I advised gently waving a stick if necessary. 

We'll be in London next Wednesday, so won't be able to check on them.

Tuesday 7th October

Flam, Hoopy and Kat were in the corral when I arrived. Kat came over for sniff but Flam was a bit standoffish and kept close to Hoopy, who looks really great. A bit further down the path was Doune grazing away, again looking resplendent now her winter coat is starting to emerge. They all looked really well. 

When wandering around in their favourite grazing area found loads of used shotgun cartridges, very old, so looks like the hooves have probably uncovered them. Picked up all those I could find, but I think more will emerge after more treading on. 

The Boss (well imo anyway)

 

Mon 6th staff check

Visited to fill the top water tank as it was nearly empty.  It is now totally full and I caught up with the Fabulous Four too.  Hoopy and Kat having a lovely mutual groom today, and all looking very healthy. So much more happy without the flies too...

Monday 6 October

 The troughs were full, the ponies were along the bottom of the hill. No issues to report.

Sunday 5th Oct

 Ponies assembled by the corral waiting for me! All looked well and Flam particularly friendly.

Winter coats coming on well.

Saturday 4th October

Found the ponies a way up the main path and down the hill a bit. They were all grazing away looking very well and happy. Looks like Doune and Hoopy had been rolling in the mud a little. 

Thursday 2nd October

 Autumnal misty morning, and 2 ponies were in the corral when I arrived; as I checked the trough (which was fine) the other 2 emerged from behind bushes, and ambled to the corral - and then there were 4.  They were using the gates and the fence as scratching posts.  They looked well and so nothing else to report save that  I didn't check the far trough.

Wednesday 1st October

 4 ponies were a short distance up the main path. They all looked well but Kat had a spot in her right eyelashes. Hardly detectable and wasn't bothering her.

As we were leaving Stephen noticed an iron bar sticking up near the gate. He tucked it out of the way in the hurdles.

Also cut back some of the brambles by the gate to the Dongas. Said hi to the work party.