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)