The ponies have been busy this month with school visits. Even Golden flame and Boss cooperated when being caught and did not play their usual game of “catch me if you can”. I think it was perhaps a bit too hot for them to run around. They seem to enjoy having the children near to them and are always very careful especially when near to children who are in wheelchairs. They seem to sense that they need to be very gentle when around more vulnerable people.

I find it amazing that the ponies do not react at all to the fighter planes that use the valleys around this part of Dartmoor. We all know that the pilots have to train at low level but when they seem to be below you in the valleys and you can see the person inside you do fret a little. I think the ponies hear them coming from a long way off and then are not worried.

All the ponies are being bothered by flies of various sizes, from midge type things to some the size of Brazil. We know the usual culprits and so we put fly protector all over them but it does not seem to be anywhere as efficient as their tails, so they stand head to tail under the trees.

The grass is having a struggle to grow now because of the lack of rain and we decided to give them another field to graze. Andy Bradford went to open the gate to the adjacent field only to find that the ponies had read our minds and were already there. The little hooligans had pushed the gate open and were enjoying the company of some of the Brimpts cattle and their calves.

Golden Flame and Boss have replaced the winter losses around their waists and are in super condition. Smartie and her new beau Rolo are obviously in love (if ponies can be) and are inseparable. They stand for hours under the trees staring at each other. Charlie, apart from his best friend George, is a people pony and loves to be in the company of anyone who will give him time and will always be first to respond when they are called in. George copies Charlie to a degree, but he knows that he is a pony and enforces and accepts herd hierarchy rigidly.

To see them all in the sun is fantastic for us because we do not seem to have the super lustre and shine on their coats for long before the shortening days causes them to change. We are enjoying them while it lasts.

Come to the centre at Brimpts Farm, near to Dartmeet and see them on any Sunday between 2pm and 4pm and remember that an adoption makes a lovely present for anyone.