Soon after lunch we took a forest drive in hot temperatures between overcast clouds beginning to leak intermittent drizzle which called upon little stirring of the windscreen wipers until gradually requiring more regular rhythm, especially when large blobs gathered on branches splashed down beneath trees.
Heather is now colouring the moorland as seen on a slope at Crow Hill and the verges of Holmsley Passage
hugged by walkers as we passed.
A pony and foal grazed beyond the house at the bottom of the hill. Note the brand on the mare’s shoulder.
The pony planted on the road at Mockbeggar disdained to move from the time we approached; when Jackie negotiated us around her; while I disembarked to photograph others; to the time we departed. She may be there still.
Perhaps she considered there were too many equines and bovines on the green already.
One unfortunate animal blended freckles and flies.
Other carloads of people also disembarked to wander with the ponies;
a young heifer joined in the fun.
Cattle dotted the landscape alongside Abbotswell Road where an intriguing path led into the inviting woodland.
A very new donkey foal on Blissford Hill, its mother apparently unconcerned further up the slope, seemed unaware that anyone might be expecting it to budge.
Did you remember to note the earlier brand? Neither of the foals with branded mothers have yet received one. Their turn will come at the next annual roundup, known as the drift, when all ponies have a health check. https://derrickjknight.com/2016/08/30/the-drift/
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy pasta arrabbiata with tender broccoli in bowls in front of the TV whilst watching highlights of the second and third days of the second Test match between England and West Indies.