out for a stroll

fox crossing

near the zebra?

natural framing

one doesn't have to try very hard around here to find a photograph.

wild life

On Penny's Piece this morning

pony nekking

Ponies on Bodmin Moor this (lovely) morning. The stack of Kit Hill can just be made out to the left on the far horizon. The bracken is turning, and the leaves are falling, Autumn is upon us already.

walking with Lottie

 Lottie will do almost anything for a carrot, and was impressed by how quickly a human was able to learn her trick.

 She then had to work off all those extra calories by giving free bareback rides (only one, actually)

and of course champions make friends with champions (you know what I mean)

again for more information about this epic journey, please see the link to walkingwithawen and give generously!

walking with Lottie

We were honoured today by a visit from Jan and Lottie who are walking from the furthest point East in England to the furthest point West, both for charity, and for the life enhancing experience (see link to walkingwithawen (aka Lottie)). They have walked from Dartmoor, via Sydenham Damerel, and over Horsebridge into sunny Cornwall.  Dartmoor can be seen in the distance just above the granite gate post.

Lottie quickly made herself at home

glad to be out!

not only the magpies are frisky today

Burell farm 3

and Summer out for a gallop chasing a rainbow

Burell farm 2

dogs, cats, doves....

Burell farm near Trematon

 At Burell farm today where a friend keeps some horses. It is the site of an old tudor house, now in ruins, and its origins go back to William the Conqueror. The yard is full of animals large and small.

yum yum

William, the new kid on the block, tucking in to his mare's milk, and showing signs of his curious and friendly temperament. He was born 3 months ago.

giving way

a traffic jam on a sunny evening (large dog behind pony is Sox, not visible is shetland pony on leading rein, and Jess, spaniel of Goosewell, below, who was all dressed up in hot pursuit of Harriet, who also is feeling quite hot)

too hot to stand

Cash, dreaming of lying in a field of buttercups. He sometimes gets up and does riding for the disabled.

ash springs to life

Ash is a particularly badly behaved horse who is in the field next door to us. Spring juices are running in his veins and he has spent most of the day chasing rooks and rabbits in his field. And he doesn't like having his photograph taken or anything/person in his space (defined as the whole field and all surrounding fields).

we are not the only ones

who think Spring has arrived

on the moor

it has been a lovely warm clear blue-skyed day today and there is no where better to enjoy the day than up on the moors. The standing stones are the Hurlers.

hope springs eternal

the new kid on the block, with friendly human and mum. Filly is about two weeks old. She was an unexpected arrival in autumn, everyone thought mum was just getting a bit fat.

daguerrotypes

rather pleasing effect from PaintShop pro, making this fearsome pony look much more benign. He chased us out of his patch!

Trojan

horse

these striking sculptures were exhibited at the Eden Project when it first opened. It is the antithesis of wooden.