Thursday 25th December - All 11 seen

Merry Christmas everyone. 🎅🌲🎁

At 12:15, after a lengthy search, five of the ponies were found resting or grazing beside the northernmost path near ///slices.hook.jubilant. I was joined by Nicky, the ponies’ owner, who wanted to give them a thorough check. Despite the sunshine, it was still quite chilly, with a strong, cold breeze blowing. The ponies were very friendly and moved onto the track to the south, where they enjoyed plenty of strokes and rubs. The remaining two ponies were further along the path to the southeast, not far from the cattle grid, but they soon made their way along to join the others. They were just as friendly, happily accepting long neck and back scratches and offering the sweetest nuzzles in return. All seven ponies were relaxed, content, and in good condition. At 12:30, yearling 278 was standing on the path near ///flexed.cookies.refilled, peacefully chewing his cud. He enjoyed having loose gorse brushed from his face, shoulders, and back before leaning in for a long neck scratch. The other three yearlings were grazing among the gorse bushes behind him. Yearling 276 soon came out to say hello and gladly accepted plenty of strokes. Yearlings 282 and 283 also stepped forward to greet me, although they initially preferred to stay within the thicket. All four were calm, relaxed, and looking really well. None of the cattle’s trackers were active when I arrived, but yearling 278’s began working again later in the afternoon.

Before I left, all four boys gathered on the path for a final round of strokes and rubs. As I began to walk away, they hesitated briefly before following me all the way to where the ponies were resting. They were very vocal in making their presence known. After spending a little more time with each of the ponies and each of the boys, I said my goodbyes to all eleven at around 12:50. The cows and the ponies were all good today.