In which Ponies move fields.
It's been a very busy weekend. I owe massive thanks to my family who have all helped with getting the pones moved over to their new pad. First Dad and I got an area of fencing set up at the new place. Then Dad strimmed all round the edge of it; to discourage pones from trying to find out if the grass is greener on the other side. Then we moved the energizer over; and sorted out a tub of water for them. And then finally yesterday; with the sun shining, it was time to move the pones themselves. Rather than ride Staro over, as had been my original plan, we decided to make it a family walk so with Dad in the lead, me leading Staro and my sister leading Saffy, and Mum taking photos, we set off:
It was about a half hour walk, by road (if that). Arriving at the new patch, the ponies couldn't believe their luck. Actual grass! Staro was momentarily distracted by his new surroundings:
But soon decided that stuffing his face was a better idea. Ponies nom. Family watch.
The neighbours were quite keen to say hello; but Staro and Saffy were more interested in all the green stuff. Though Staro did manage a dramatic pose for us, when another horse was ridden past, neighing its head off:
As nothing very exciting seemed to be happening, we decided to head home for our well-earned Sunday lunch. Without the ponies in tow we were able to use the footpaths which cut across the fields, and discovered that on foot, it's no further to the new field than it was to the old one - about fifteen minutes. Looking back across the neighbouring allotments to the ponies:
As you might be able to see, they're in a VERY small penned off area to start with, as I'm a bit worried about Saffy on all that lush grass. However, she seems fine so far. I've taken their rugs off as well, so that their bodies can be working a bit harder now they've got better food available.
Staro had great fun early this morning, demonstrating how well Saffy could run about when he chased her (I went to try to say hello to her, she ran away, Staro said "oo, are we chasing Saffy? Woo! Running! Biting! And so on). Hmm. Think the grass has flipped someone's silly switch.
I went back again at mid-day to check on them again (paranoid, me? Never...) and was met by a very cute sight:
- she had been laying with her front legs curled very sweetly round, but got ready to leap to her feet as I approached. Couldn't possibly risk me actually getting near her or anything. I reckon she's terrified I'll move her off the grass again so isn't going to take any chances...but, she's still running around well. ;D
This evening I went back to do some more strimming (I've decided to top the grass before I move the fence. Not sure if I need to or not... ??? ). Then I took Staro out for a wander round the field perimeter. He wasn't entirely convinced and spent quite a lot of time being daft and was VERY unhappy about being asked to go hear the allotments but I convinced him in the end that it might not be SOOO bad. Going to have to do a lot of work on that though.
We also investigated the silage bales that have been left in one corner of the field:
- he wasn't convinced about these either, to start with, then decided that they were okay and that actually he was more worried about the allotments after all.
Golden Pony: Plan view. Whether standing on a silage bale and taking pictures of one's pony when he's wondering whether or not he needs to run away from the neighbouring allotments is a good idea or not I don't know:
Finally another pic of one of the missis-es next door. I reckon they're preggers - the guy who owns them (who has the peculiar nickname of Budgie....) breeds these little gypsy cobs:
...and there you go. I have to say, I feel so much better driving to the new place than I was feeling at the old one. I don't have this feeling of pressure....
It was about a half hour walk, by road (if that). Arriving at the new patch, the ponies couldn't believe their luck. Actual grass! Staro was momentarily distracted by his new surroundings:
But soon decided that stuffing his face was a better idea. Ponies nom. Family watch.
The neighbours were quite keen to say hello; but Staro and Saffy were more interested in all the green stuff. Though Staro did manage a dramatic pose for us, when another horse was ridden past, neighing its head off:
As nothing very exciting seemed to be happening, we decided to head home for our well-earned Sunday lunch. Without the ponies in tow we were able to use the footpaths which cut across the fields, and discovered that on foot, it's no further to the new field than it was to the old one - about fifteen minutes. Looking back across the neighbouring allotments to the ponies:
As you might be able to see, they're in a VERY small penned off area to start with, as I'm a bit worried about Saffy on all that lush grass. However, she seems fine so far. I've taken their rugs off as well, so that their bodies can be working a bit harder now they've got better food available.
Staro had great fun early this morning, demonstrating how well Saffy could run about when he chased her (I went to try to say hello to her, she ran away, Staro said "oo, are we chasing Saffy? Woo! Running! Biting! And so on). Hmm. Think the grass has flipped someone's silly switch.
I went back again at mid-day to check on them again (paranoid, me? Never...) and was met by a very cute sight:
- she had been laying with her front legs curled very sweetly round, but got ready to leap to her feet as I approached. Couldn't possibly risk me actually getting near her or anything. I reckon she's terrified I'll move her off the grass again so isn't going to take any chances...but, she's still running around well. ;D
This evening I went back to do some more strimming (I've decided to top the grass before I move the fence. Not sure if I need to or not... ??? ). Then I took Staro out for a wander round the field perimeter. He wasn't entirely convinced and spent quite a lot of time being daft and was VERY unhappy about being asked to go hear the allotments but I convinced him in the end that it might not be SOOO bad. Going to have to do a lot of work on that though.
We also investigated the silage bales that have been left in one corner of the field:
- he wasn't convinced about these either, to start with, then decided that they were okay and that actually he was more worried about the allotments after all.
Golden Pony: Plan view. Whether standing on a silage bale and taking pictures of one's pony when he's wondering whether or not he needs to run away from the neighbouring allotments is a good idea or not I don't know:
Finally another pic of one of the missis-es next door. I reckon they're preggers - the guy who owns them (who has the peculiar nickname of Budgie....) breeds these little gypsy cobs:
...and there you go. I have to say, I feel so much better driving to the new place than I was feeling at the old one. I don't have this feeling of pressure....