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This is my blog about the semi-feral welsh mountain common ponies. I have been studying them for a few weeks and have been incredibly fond of the whole herd, the more time I spend with them the more I want to help them. It started on 22nd April 2015 when I was out hacking a client's horse.
THIS IS MY CAMPAIGN I HAVE STARTED FOR THE HERD.
These are the photos I took on the 22nd April 2015. After I saw this herd I became concerned for them, especially one of the heavily pregnant mares.
concerned for the her I went and got some food and a few salt licks and went back the next day.
23rd April 2015
I arrived in my car at the scene I saw half the herd where out on the common the others where in the field. The herd walked and collected together in the fields, my appearance had spooked them. Giving them time to walk away I followed behind slowly so not to scare them more. I got my food and followed the herd into the fields. Scattering food as I walked.
Upon entering the fields with the herd I saw this.
Nearing the herd I became more cautious not wanting to scare them. I felt comfortable at this distance so sat down and waited. I threw a few handfuls of food onto the ground catching some of the ponies’ interest.
After sitting down for quite some time, this little guy came over only to be spooked by some of the herd he ran through this gap to those few in the photo above. Spooking them the whole herd scattered running past me. As the herd are very weary of me. Well who can blame them this is my first time doing this. So after the herd ran away from me I slowly followed them with my bucket of food. Passing me buy a couple of ponies had found my line of food and had stopped to munch.
The rest of the herd weren't bothered about the food, they just didn't want to be near me. Though the majority of the herd was very weary of me. They moved around the fields away from me so I slowly followed them. I sat and watched these two until they moved on followeing the herd. I slowly followed keeping my distance so they didn’t feel threatened by me. Once I had caught up with the herd something very wonderful happened. I sat down with my bucket of food and took a few photos.
I felt completely at ease sat on the floor amongst these ponies as they were grazing. I was able to have a closer look at their condition and saw different things than from the day before, as the sun was shining illuminating them more vividly. After sparking some curiousness from the ponies I threw some more handfuls out and watched.
Clementyme, she is the one I am concerned about the most, I had spoken to a farmer about the ponies and had almost bought Clem out of pure concern for her. Though after spending a bit of time with the herd it’s not just her that I am now concerned about. Though she is the worst as she is close to giving birth and is very, very thin. |
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This is why I am concerned for her, as she reminds me of a pregnant cow. She also waddles, moving is great effort to her putting one foot in front of the other looks like hard work to her. Mange covers her face her back legs and udders, some patches on her body too. After watching for a few moments I left the herd alone. I was riding high from this experience it was all I could talk about for days in fact I’m still raving about it now. Though still concerned for Clementyme but feeling a bit better knowing that I am trying to help. It wasn't until I got home did the names Magpie, George, Brownie, Fi-Fi, Clementyme and Bandit come to mind. George's name came first then Magpie, Bandit was easy due to his face markings. Brownie because she is velvety brown, Fi-Fi short for Fiona.
Meet George, he is a funny character. When it comes to eating he's very bossy turning his back towards who ever is around. When I first saw him I said aren't you a georgeous boy. Then once I'd started feeding he showed me his greedy side, and after saying these two words repeatitively the name George sprang to mind.
Since these pictures were taken so much has happened. Let me start off by showing you a few of the new born foals. There are three in total. Nipper, Maen and Juniper. This is teh order in which they were born.
Since these pictures were taken so much has happened. Let me start off by showing you a few of the new born foals. There are three in total. Nipper, Maen and Juniper. This is teh order in which they were born.
Maen Juniper and his mother Fi-Fi Nipper