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.