Beneath cloudless cerulean skies we took an early drive into the forest this morning.
A cool breeze blew along sun-dappled lanes like these named
Rodlease
and Church.
At a corner of the latter a tractor ploughed a field some distance from a couple of grazing workhorses within view of adjacent woodland.
Along the road to Beaulieu a number of pools scooped out by generally regular rains have been dry for most of this year, which must be disappointing for
foraging ponies and their foals.
Peering ahead along St Leonard’s Road we discerned that a developing traffic delay had been caused by a modern day cattle drove executed in a more comfortable manner than the cowboys of old by a couple of motorised farmers herding them to their home field fronting the Isle of Wight. At one point I disembarked and attempted to keep pace with the animals while slaloming round splatted pats littering the tarmac. I had no chance of catching them.
Further along the lane a familiar string of ponies trotted on the edge of the verge. The little Shetland had no trouble holding its own.
We carried out a late afternoon watering session before dining on Jackie’s splendid chilli con carne and my plain boiled rice, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Rioja.
I like a holyday with horses, that was and is still my Big Love. Paarden zijn mijn Grote liefde … Ja … , I love all annamals = Ik hou van alle dieren en honden knuffel ik dood. Tante Friet uit Amsterdam * 20 juli 2020, 20.25 uur … Hollandse tijd … * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com *
Thank you very much, Frieda
Those ponies in the first couple of photos do look very thirsty, Derrick. Interesting shots of motorized cowboys driving cattle.
I’ve not seen that before, Dolly. Thanks. very much,
My pleasure, Derrick.
Your wooded roads look enchanted, the ponies look regal, and happening upon a cattle drive is amazing (to me). Perhaps they weren’t unheard of some years past a bit farther south in New Jersey–there is a Cowtown rodeo.
A first for me, Merril. Thank you very much.
The weather has been perfect today. Long may it last! Lovely photos as usual, Derrick 😊
Many thanks, Sandra
Delightful scenes – all of them!
Thanks very much, Anne
We too drank some Rioja (chilled) this evening.
Thanks a lot, Sheree
Yippee-ki-O-ki-yay!!! Visions of the old west right in your backyard (so to speak), eh Derrick?! I love it!
🙂 Thanks a lot, GP
With our oppressive heat and humidity the past couple of days, a drive on the tree lined roads sounds wonderful, Derrick. Great photographs today!
Thanks very much, Jill. I hope your weather cools down soon
So do I, Derrick!
Rather you than me, trying to avoid the splattered pats on the route. You sound very game in your efforts to keep up with herd. Beautiful photos of the ponies again. The little Shetland is adorable.
That is a good word for the little Shetland. Thanks a lot, Sylvia.
That’s a lot of life on the hoof!
Indeed, Liz. Thank you very much.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
We see shepherds buzzing about our hills on quad bikes, covering ground that would have taken hours in the old days in no time at all now. The pictures of horses on the heath were very fine.
Thank very much, Tootlepedal.
Wonderful, Derrick; though we had a close encounter of the bovine kind recently, so are not feeling well disposed toward cattle at the present.
Do tell, Mike. Thanks very much.
“…slaloming round splatted pats…” is a job in and of itself! 😉 HA! 😀 And whilst doing THAT you snapped such amazing photos…Way to go, Derrick! 🙂
Looks like everyone…man-kind, animal-kind, and vehicle-kind are all trying to get along and share space. Good! 🙂
Love the modern day cattle drive! I’ve never seen that before. Just glad the cattle were not the ones driving the vehicles. 😉 😛
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Good point about the drivers, Carolyn. 🙂 Thanks very much X
Ranchers here will use trucks for herding occasionally, but horseback’s still pretty common, especially when they’re having to move cattle quickly, as in a flood. The ones you’ve pictured look as though they’d be perfectly able to take care of themselves, sans trucks or horses. Well-behaved, and cute beyond words, especially that Shetland.
Thanks a lot, Linda. The drover certainly kept the cattle on the move.
What a string of cattle and ponies today! I love that little Shetland. I learned to ride on a pony, although she was a bit bigger than that one.
It is hot here today, 90 degrees F last time I looked at the porch thermometer.
Wow – 90 in the shade. That is hot. I love the way it keeps up with the big girls. Thanks very much, Lavinia.
What a traffic 🤪
🙂 Thanks very much, Ribana
You have such interesting adventures! I’d be tempted to bring the ponies and foals some water, but I guess they manage to find what they need.
I guess they do. Some people do put bowls of water outside their gates. Thanks very much, JoAnna
Nice country scenery Derrick!
Thank you very much, Arlene.
You have captured an interesting event with the alacrity of an ace journalist. The exodus-like movement does look amusing.
Thank you very much, Uma. The driver of the dark blue car was not amused 🙂
As always, the foals steal the show, but that trotting Shetland isn’t far behind.
Agreed, Laurie. Thank you very m much.
Looks like an intresting day.
Thanks a lot, Mrs W.
Your welcome.
delightful string of cattle! beautiful countryside dotted with foals and ponies! i love chili con carne 🙂 🙂
Much appreciated, Lola. Thank you very much.
Cerulean…I love that word! And, as usual, I love your photos. Horses are my favorite!
Thank you very much, Diane
The large animals you see on a regular basis never cease to amaze me. They are such a welcome sight.
Thank you very much, Luanne. I’m pleased
Your finale two photos were wonderful Derrick…. Fascinating to see the ponies in single file and orderly along the verge of the roadside…
They were going at a fair trot, too, Ivor. Happy continuing birthday season 🙂 Thanks very much.
Yes.. another lunchtime party today…. and I had to eat more cake !!
So cruel 🙂
And I ‘had’ to wash it down with ‘more’ red wine…
Cheers
Great photos Derrick, looks like a beautiful day! 🙂
Thanks a lot, Julie
Your Forest looked very busy today, Derrick. Great pictures.
Thanks very much, Roland
They do that car cowboy thing here as well. Great photos sir.
Thank you very much, Gary.
The Shetland pony thinks he’s one of the big boys.
It’s been part of the gang for a while. Thanks a lot, Leslie
Moving a dairy herd to and from milking twice a day is quite a common sight on country lanes if you happen upon the right time of day. There used to be a dairy farm at the top of our lane and I thoroughly enjoyed following them up the lane. My place used to be a dairy farm too but that was a few years before we moved here.
It is such an age-old part of life which we should all appreciate. Thanks a lot, Sue.
The one you saw is a slightly more modern way of moving the herd than ours. Wonderful way of traffic calming!
🙂