Saturday 4th January - All 12 seen

Seven ponies were grazing along the main path near ///ounce.tweezers.mimic at 14:10 this afternoon. They were keeping warm and enjoying plenty of gorse. One by one, they emerged from the bushes to greet me, happily accepting strokes and rubs. They seemed to enjoy having the gorse brushed off their backs and picked from their manes. All seven were very affectionate, offering gentle nuzzles and head rubs. The eighth pony, the darkest of the group, was grazing deep within the gorse bushes north of the path. Although I couldn't see her, I could hear her snapping branches in the distance. She didn't appear in any rush to join the others. The seven ponies eventually moved to the pasture south of the path, where they grazed on an abundance of heather and gorse.

After spending some relaxing time with each of the ponies, I walked southeast along the path to check on the cattle at 14:55. Yearlings 276 and 278 were munching on gorse in the bushes near ///sofas.laces.tropic, while yearlings 282 and 283 grazed a little further southwest near ///amps.stutter.apart. The second pair soon joined the first pair, and all four continued to graze together in the gorse. They were friendly and came over to say hello and be checked. All appeared happy, relaxed, and in good condition, despite being quite wet.

On my way back to the ponies at 15:15, the darker pony emerged from the thicket onto the path to greet me. She wasn't particularly interested in being stroked but chose to stand right beside me and relax. After a few minutes, she bowed her head, closed her eyes and dozed off. I stayed by her side until she woke about ten minutes later. Shortly after, she returned to the gorse bushes north of the path to graze alone.

The other seven ponies were still grazing in the pasture to the south of the path at 15:30. I found a route through the gorse bushes to join them. They welcomed my approach and enjoyed back rubs as they continued to graze. They were happy, relaxed, and looking really well. As the light began to fade, I said my goodbyes at 16:15.

The cows and the ponies were good today.