Keeping Its Balance

The weather today was very dull with a couple of hours of rain of varying velocity early this afternoon.

When the precipitation had desisted we took a drive into the forest.

A group of ponies gathered on either side of Charles’s Lane wandered back and forth across the road. I am normally quite at ease among these fairly large creatures, but when they come clopping and thudding straight for me two or three abreast down such a narrow lane requiring a decision about whether it is them or me on whom it is incumbent to move aside it is somewhat disconcerting.

The bay in this last picture had an issue with the grey which fortunately declined the challenge.

The post boxes on the overgrown verges in this countryside present quite an access problem for the Post Office staff whose task it is to empty them.

We stopped beside this one in Crow Lane so I could walk back and photograph a few deer I had spied. Despite the distance they very soon sniffed me out which meant I needed to poke my lens through a hedge for fear they would be gone before I reached a gate that would have given me a better view.

They then promptly scarpered.

Beside the ford at Ibsley, children played in the stream, while a cow and calf played with the traffic. Every year visitors like these build a dam.

Further on donkeys with a foal kept the verges well clipped.

Along Roger Penny Way the green keepers were the ponies and foals who lined those verges. This little one had difficulty keeping its balance when having a scratch.

This evening we dined on the plentiful left-overs from last night’s Indian takeaway with which Jackie drank Becks and I drank McGuigan Black Label Shiraz 2019 provided by Danni.

70 comments

  1. There is such a variety of species in your open range,and all individuals seem to be in excellent health. (That bay was definitely in ears laid back I’m aggravated mode!)

  2. Wow! These are spectacular photos, Derrick. I particularly enjoyed the horses meandering through the gorgeous ferns. Thanks for sharing! My Derek loved the photos, too.

  3. Animals always get a smile out of me! šŸ™‚ (Although I could understand being worried if a bunch of ponies came at me at once haha). Fantastic pictures, love the deer and the foals! šŸ™‚

  4. Ponies and foals and deer and donkeys and kids (not goat-babies)…Oh, MY! šŸ˜€

    Oh, what beautiful photos!!! All amazing! But, these you took of the ponies among the forest and ferns…wowza…some of your best captures ever! And you know I always love the dear deer and the sweet donkey faces!

    Like that precious little foal…some days we can feel off balance…wondering how much longer we can stand…but, know what?! The photos and words that you and Jackie share help us tremendously AND we greatly appreciate you both!!! šŸ™‚
    (((HUGS))) šŸ™‚
    PS…I, too, thought the white pony in the first photo was a unicorn! And I was like, “Whoa! Cool!” šŸ˜‰ šŸ˜€

  5. You outdid yourself in the photography department! It was hard to pick favorites, but I particularly like the ones of the greys among the green ferns. They have a magical quality about them. It wouldn’t have surprised me to see unicorn horns.

  6. I do love your horses! There are a few shots that are especially gorgeous of one white and then two horses among ferns. I have downloaded them for myself, if that’s fine with you. Seeing the children playing in the water was neat, too. Another enjoyable outing, Derrick, than you.

  7. the ponies and foals are truly delightful! and the deer and cows are lovely bonuses. the children playing in the stream are fun, too. what a lovely world! thanks for sharing, Derrick! šŸ™‚

  8. I would think that the rules of right of way on a narrow road are contrary to those on water where small craft takes preference over larger craft. Two or three ponies abreast are definitely larger than one Derrick, thus they should own the road.

  9. So many ponies! All of the representatives of the animal kingdom are scattered in your countryside. How wonderful is that?!!!

  10. Just wonderful pictures Derrick, despite the clouds…. Same here too, a dark dismal week with rain šŸ™‚ and very much cooler…
    Sending you and Jackie hugs your way <3

  11. I love all these forest scenes! The gray ponies against the green swords of ferns make very artistic scenes, quite restful to look at.

    Any sign of Nugget Sr.?

  12. Oh Derrick, I left a comment on one of your photos, and you’ve either missed it, or it didn’t get through.
    I was asking for permission to use one of lovely horse photos, (the foal balancing) for a poem that I’m about to post.. ?

  13. Oh my, I would find it disconcerting to say the least if I had two or three horses abreast coming down such a narrow lane right at me! I’d be the one to move aside, too. Wise decision, Derrick. I love your assortment of animals today. Beautiful! I hope you get some sunshine for your garden and your spirits tomorrow. <3

  14. Such wonderful photos of your local wildlife! I particularly liked the ponies in the forest, but then the group of deer, and that little cow–all so wonderful.

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