Mon 2nd Nov staff check

Ponies found along the top of the site all together.  Looking great and i couldn't see a cut of Hoopy's nose or any missing hair... Flam and Kat came up to be sociable and the other 2 were typically less sociable but that's fine 🙂 winter coats looking lovely and warm. Water supply good to all 3 troughs...

Saturday 31st October

The ponies were by the main trough this morning (on the mound above the corral). All busy eating, even Flam gave me a warning 'huff' to not interfere with eating time! Hoopy was by the trough and looked to have a cut on her nose. On closer inspection (and a jerk back to avoid a lunging nose) just looks like a bit of missing hair, possibly been nipped by one of the others? Other than that, they are all looking well, Kat still very muddy. 

Thursday 29th October

 Pleasant autmnal morning, and the ponies were hiding.  Nowhere to be seen along the top path, and after a bit of clambering, I found them on the bottom path, almost directly below the beech copse.  3 were looking well and were on the lower path (photo looking E):

One, possibly Hoopy, was among vegetation which I decided was impenetrable and full of brambles, (I did try!) apparently eating happily, and so I assume all was well.

Troughs were full.

Small flock of redwings - maybe 8 or so.

Wednesday 28th

 4 ponies were near the entrance. Flam and Hoopy in the corral, Kat and Doune by the trough. All looked fine though Hoopy seemed rather dejected. Trough full. Beautiful sunny morning.

Tuesday 27th October

A bit late today, but the ponies were enjoying the afternoon sunshine at the top of the site. They looked like they'd had a nice afternoon nap, Kat was yawning, Doune and Hoopy were lying down, Hoopy got up and stretched, and Flam looked dopey. But they looked beautiful and more fluffy than last time I saw them (Saturday)!

Mon 26th staff check

Ponies all bright eyed and bushy tailed and plastered in mud! All fine on the hill.

Sunday 25th October

 A pleasant but windy day on the hill. The ponies were ambling slowly across their patch on the left of the main track. Winter coats now showing nicely.

Saturday 24th October

After scouring the Dongas looking for the missing sheep I was praying the ponies were quite close, and as luck would have it, they were only a short distance from the main gate and corral. Hoopy was trailing behind the others and looking sad, not sure she likes the rain, and the others were munching away a little way further up the path. All looking well, although Kat's coat goes nearly black when it's wet through, not a problem, just saying. 

Thursday 22nd October

 I found 3 in a row fairly quickly, grazing on the top path, just before the new posts.  The bonus was trickier - and took a while to locate, but finally, there were definitely 4 and they were up and about grazing.

Troughs near main entrance were full.  All good.

Wednesday 21st

 Asked Andy if it would be ok to avoid the worst of the rain and check them at 2.00. He said he'd be moving the sheep to the Dongas this afternoon, so we didn't have to check them.

Wednesday 21st

 4 ponies were in the clearing beyond the water trough. All looked well, Hoopy mildly inquisitive, I waved her away just in case. Both troughs full.

Noticed these posts had been put in.

Tuesday 20th October

Was praying the ponies were in the corral today, due to the heavy and persistent rain, but unfortunately they weren't there. But fortunately they were only a 100 metres or so up the main path. Hoopy was away from the rest, looking very grumpy, and was a bit tetchy and nippy, so give her a wide berth at the moment. All were pretty well sodden and did look a bit sorry for themselves, but other than that all okay. 

Sunday 18th October

 A beautiful but crisp day on the hill. The ponies were spread over about 200 metres along the main track. All looking well.

Saturday 17th October

The ponies were a couple of 100 metres up the main path, eating as they went. Starting to look lovely and fluffy, but Doune's mark is still visible at the moment. Looked well and eating well. 

Thursday 15th Oct

 Ponies not easy to spot initially, but they were about 200m west of the top gate and in the area between the main path and the Morestead Rd.  They were grazing happily and didn't seem to want to be distracted.  They all looked fine.

Trough near entrance was full - didn't check the top one.

Wednesday 14th

 4 ponies were by the top gate, Kat lying down, the others standing, Hoopy in look out mode. They looked fine. Both troughs full.

Tuesday 13th October

The ponies were on the main path just a short way down from the top gate. They were happily grazing away, but they were all covered in mud with matted hair. I guess they've been having a whale of a time rolling in the mud. They looked well though, and far too busy eating to be distracted by me!

Sunday 11th October

Despite extensive searching (well obviously not extensive enough) was unable to find the ponies. They weren't in the corral or at the top, or on the main path or by the fence line. They weren't in the areas up to section 2 of the butterfly transect, and I saw no evidence of hoof prints (as the ground was soft). 

So long and short is, ran our of energy, and haven't seen the ponies today. Sorry.  

Saturday 10th October

 A pleasant if chilly day on the hill this morning, winter coats on the ponies definitely showing. They were all sleepily gathered at the far end of the main track by the gate. Flam her usual inquisitive self.

Thursday 8th October

 All 4 ponies were about 200m diagonally down the hill from the main entrance.  2 were lying down and 2 standing, but doing nothing except, possibly, enjoying the warm sun after a chilly night:

They looked well - and maybe starting to get their winter coats.

Trough near gate was full - top trough not checked.

Wednesday 7th

 4 ponies were near the top by the Morestead Rd. fence. They looked well, grazing. Both troughs were full.

Tuesday 6th October

The ponies were in the corral again today. Kat and Doune were bite/scraping each others flanks (scraping out the dead hair?). Flam was watching but later joined in. Flam and Kat's scraping got a bit vigorous, but friendly. Poor old Hoopy was left out, and again looked incredibly sad. But generally they all looked well. 

Monday 5th October

 All 4 were about 100m along the top path.  3 were on grass for breakfast and 1 chose haws.  Flam had a go at biting my jacket, but failed.  All were looking fine.

Trough near main entrance was full.

I noticed that the "Dogs on leads area" notice on the Dongas gate near Morestead Rd had been wrenched off and was nowhere to be seen.  The notice on the top gate by the bridge was still intact.

Sunday 4th October

 After a misty start to the morning the sun soon came through to reveal a lovely day. Ponies were all clustered around the corral, either trying to eke out the last of garlic or having a good scratch on the metal fencing.

Saturday 3rd October

 The ponies were all nicely contained in the corral. Looked like Flam and Doune had only just woken up, lots of massive yawns and drooping eyes. But all looked well, albeit a little sleepy, no issue with flies.

Thursday 1st October

 It took me a while to find the ponies - nowhere along the top track, but finally. I found 2 (?Hoopy and Doune) enjooying the sun and the others were just grazing nearby, although soon headed towards the corral in the hope of a bit of garlic.  All 4 looking well, and not troubled by flies.  Both troughs were full.

Nice flock of linnets, a blackcap eyeing the haws and a chirping chiffchaff adding to a happy round in the sunshine.

Wednesday 30th

4 ponies were on the track just below the clump. They all looked fine. Trough full.

Hoopy followed us back to the corral and had a go at one of the horslyx, which are getting low.

 

Tuesday 29th September

Reasonably humid on the Hill and found the ponies along the top fence line about halfway up. All eating away and looking well. 

Monday 28th September

 Ponies once again clustered around the corral. All looked well.

Saturday 26th September

Everytime I visit I'm reminded just how beautiful and calming the Hill is (if only the motorway wasn't so noisy). The ponies were by the corral. Flam and Kat were having a mutual grooming session and Doune was watching from by the trough. As I arrived, she came down the slope and positioned herself between me and Flam and Kat. No-one can tell me Doune isn't the matriarch! 😛 Hoopy was out of the group and looked a little sad, I feel sorry for her, as she still seems to be the outsider, even after all this time. But anyway, they all looked well, flies not such a problem. 

Thursday 24th September

 The ponies were conveniently about 100m along the top path and breakfasting enthusiastically, one on the path and 3 between the path and the Morestead Road.  Hoopy was keen on the vegetation beyond the barbed wire fence,  but the haws were popular too.  All looked good.   I only checked the trough near the main entrance which was fine. 

Sunday 20th September

 Another nice day on the hill. Ponies helpfully clustered around the corral, all looking well although flies out in force today.

Saturday 19th September

Found the ponies along the top fence line, about 200 metres down from the top gate. Lead by Doune with Hoopy bringing up the rear, they were slowly grazing and moving towards the top gate. All looked well, still a few flies but not so many today. 

Friday 18th Sep - staff check

The ponies were very elusive today while we had our volunteer task! I did manage to find them though and they all look well! Water supply is fine at the moment too.

Thursday 17th Sept

 The ponies were looking a bit damp but they were happily grazing about 200m along the top path and looking well.  The trough by the main gate was full.

One was camera-shy.

Wednesday 16th

 4 ponies were spread out to the right of the track fairly near the bottom. They all looked ok. Hoopy a bit flea bitten compared with the others' glossy coats. Trough full. Still some flies, plenty of minerals left in the lick containers.

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Tuesday 15th September

Thanks to the rain, it's lovely to see green again on the Hill! The ponies were at the top gate, slightly down the slope. They were very intent on grazing, munching with so much concentration. Even Flam was not interested in saying 'Hi', just snorting as I approached. Hoopy's face was covered in flies, but didn't stop her eating. Overall they all looked really well. 

Friday 11th sep

We were installing a gate in the eastern boundary to enable us to graze the new land once it is also fenced. Thankfully the ponies kept themselves to themselves all day as there was a gap in the perimeter! They were all gathered at the top end at the end of the day and looking really well despite the flies.  I've topped up the garlic supply. Hopefully the flies will abate soon and the ponies will look happier!

Saturday 12th Sept

The ponies were a little elusive today, but in the end found them on the main path halfway between the main gate and clump. They weren't there when I checked the first time. They seemed to be really enjoying all the lovely green shoots, but unfortunately they were still being bothered by the flies. 

Wednesday 9th

 4 ponies were in pairs, first we spotted Flam and Doune on the path half way to the clump. Searched high and low, then Kat and Hoopy trotted up towards them. (I might have got Kat and Doune muddled up, as they weren't together to compare.) They all looked ok, a few flies. Both troughs full. No sign of yesterday's car among the ditches.

Tuesday 8th September

 A little drizzly on the Hill today, but it's lovely seeing the brown and orange giving way to green again. Today, followed a very clear trail of hooves up the main path, and there they were a little way ahead and yomping at a fair pace. In the end had to jog to catch up before Kat and Flam stopped to check out the old fella running after them. They looked well, a little bedraggled and remarkably still a few flies hanging on, but good. 

On the way back down noticed a red car in the middle of the Southern Water channels, not sure if it was an official car or a joyride gone wrong!

Monday 7th staff check

We also checked on ponies on Friday and I forgot to update the blog. Took a while to find them today- they were in the far north East corner.  All of them equally covered in flies today, poor things.  Covered Flam, Kat and Hoopy in supper plus fly gel but Doune was having none of it, and the flies carried on bothering them anyway. Hoping that the flies will agate soon! Otherwise the ponies are in rude health i think.  Slightly concerned that Kat has slightly patchy hair loss on her face but I've been monitoring that for a while and it isn't any worse.  Something to keep an eye on please 🙏 water levels are good as we topped them up again on Friday.

Sunday 6th September

 A lovely day again. Ponies clustered around the corral….and the garlic licks, though not much left in them!

I won’t be able to do checks next Sunday…Swiss Alps and Italian lakes beckon!

Saturday 5th September

Lovely day on the Hill, Doune and Kat were a short way along the main path, and after a little searching found Flam and Hoopy a little further down the slope. They were looking in great shape, but the flies seem to be back and back with vengeance. Other than that all good. 

Wednesday 2nd Sept.

 4 ponies were in the shrubs down from the main track, half way up to the clump. They looked fine, tolerating the flies. Saw a buzzard taking off, further down. Trough full.

Tuesday 1st Sept

Ponies were near the main gate, just down from the main path, wandering along towards the trough and corral. The grass is looking a little greener after some rain, so looks like they were combing it for fresh young shoots. All looking good, and no issues that I could detect. 

(sorry no photo, left my phone in the car)

Sunday 30th August

 Ponies gathered around the corral this morning. Some flies about but not causing too much trouble. 

Friday 28th staff check

Ponies were all around the corral when I arrived which was useful! Flam enjoying some garlic lick and the others taking a break. Kat seems quite bothered by flies this year and her coat is looking patchy on her face- something to keep an eye on. Otherwise all is well and there was a good downpour while I was there. I topped up the water at the western end again. Thanks as ever folks! 

Tuesday 25th August

 Bright and breezy and found the ponies about 100 metres along the main path, eating and moving slowly. All looked good, still lots of flies, but they didn't seem too bothered. 

I noticed with the garlic licks, that the middle section of each block was worn down, but the sides hardly touched. I think that's due to the bars holding the buckets up, i.e. they can't get their noses passed it. Might need  the alignments adjusting, if that's even possible?

Wednesday 26th

 4 ponies were a few hundred meters down the lower path, grazing and browsing, looking sleek. Hoopy had the most flies on her face and was a bit over inquisitive. We'd searched high and low for them so it was about 11.45 when we found them. All 3 troughs full, a muntjack crossed the main path in front of me. As we were leaving we met Chris finishing his butterfly count.

Sunday 23rd August

 Another nice morning. Ponies out and about on the track from the lower trough looking for food in the dry landscape. Some fairly vigorous mutual grooming between Kat and Doune.