This month we must start with Starlight. Thank you to all the people who have written and spoken with us about her in response to our letter. Together with Abba she was put in a field adjacent to Bellever to settle. Lorna observed her and it was soon obvious that she did not need much acclimatisation; so Lorna opened the gate. Talk of light the touch paper and stand back, wow, she was gone; off like the wind. She and Abba careered around the various commons having a fantastic time. Seeing her out on Bellever we can see that we made the correct decision. She has adapted back to the foraging life as if she had always been there. She does come back to the field near to Lorna’s farm from time to time, just to check we have not left any food out. This is not a bad thing because she will bring the others with her and we will then not need to organise a drift to round them up. A fitting conclusion to this part of her new life.

Now then, young Charlie, or should he be re-named Houdini; has done it again. We called the ponies in to be groomed and to be given some hay and they duly obliged. After Charlie had been groomed and he had put both front feet in the clean water in the drinking trough(the latest annoying trick) he went and stood on top of a wall at the far end of the adoption paddocks. He was there for about an hour and would only come back if we called him. A little later Andy Bradford came down and said that two days previously contractors had felled some trees where Charlie was standing and they had forgotten to put the fence back up. Charlie had taken the opportunity to lead the others into some prime silage grass. The fence having been put back up, he was now disappointed that he could not get out into the field again.

Golden Flame has been away with George at Lorna’s farm for some extra work prior to the Jubilee Challenge. They are both back now and are in A1 super condition. When we put them back in the paddocks, it was quite touching, because George whinnied and Charlie came trotting over to his lifelong friend. They made a fuss off each other and then wandered off to graze together.

Rolo is almost into his summer coat and he is going to be a stunner, with a rich depth of colour. We will post a picture of him soon. He is off to do the Jubilee Challenge this year for the first time.