Exercising Her Priority


Soon after lunch today we set out on a forest drive.

A pair of ponies with their foals occupied corner of the bank of Beaulieu River. One rose to its feet and trotted off for a feed.

On our way into Brockenhurst several cattle stretched above a fence to crop garden shrubs; while a photographer examined her mobile phone to investigate the pictures she had produced of two ponies at the crossroads by the bank.

More ponies with their offspring wandered over the moorland at South Weirs. The last of my pictures in this set is of the prone foal lifting its head when startled by the sudden cough of a passing cyclist; Jackie’s are the last five images including the suckling foal and the last image of the pony exercising her right to priority over oncoming vehicles.

When driving home through Lyndhurst Jackie parked the car and photographed donkeys attracting attention on the opposite pavement.

A cow guided her calf across the road outside The Rising Sun, while

around the corner in Tiptoe Road, another mare and foal grazed on the verges.

This evening we dined on roast breast of lamb; boiled new potatoes; firm carrots; and tender green beans with which I finished the Cahors.

54 comments

  1. You and Jackie live in a wonderland, Derrick! Great photos in every gallery. The one that really stood out for me is the cow cropping the shrubs. I’ve only seen deer do that around here.

  2. I have to smile when seeing you photos. Sometimes a little jealous. There’s always some pony, horse, pig, cow or other creature meandering across your path over there. Here, when there are any creatures around they hop, jump, run or scurry. Way to fast for photos. 🙂

  3. It’s comforting to see the ponies, cows and donkey’s coexisting peacefully with humans. At least in your photos, they seem to be accepted. My favorite is Jackie’s foal #3.

    1. Thank you very much from each of us, JoAnna. I would have chosen that picture as the header, except for the theme.

  4. Derrick, what a lovely post and I love how the ponies and other animals take centre stage with such abundance! The photos are terrific and I was right there with you!

  5. Such wonderful photos, Jackie and Derrick! Who wouldn’t love to see the ponies and their babies! They are so sweet! 🙂
    Thank you, Jackie, for photographing the donkeys! They are my faves! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) and ❤️❤️ to both of you!! 🙂

    1. We are always discovering new ones, but I suppose we have 10 or so basic ones, mostly local, north, west, and east. This was local, but we don’t usually stop at South Weirs. Thanks very much, Andrew.

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