Tuesday 10 January 2012

Quiet January Morning



This morning was mild and still. No wind blew and the rainfall of last week had drained away, leaving the Forest dry again. Under the tall hedge of holly trees, a group of ponies came to browse on the lowest branches.



Through a path where gorse bushes are flowering again.....



...and through lichen covered branches, I caught sight of an old bay mare, dozing.......




.....while Spice, her friend, was breakfasting on tender young gorse shoots.




Back in the yard, Spice`s younger brother, Woody, had his hooves trimmed by the farrier........






....and breakfast was served while they worked.



12 comments:

angryparsnip said...

What a beautiful place you live in.

Since I have just started reading your blog last year, who do the ponies belong to ?

Wonderful photo walk.

cheers, parsnip

helen tilston said...

Your horses are beautiful.

Such a peaceful image of the horse having breakfast
Helen xx

Morning's Minion said...

I am always amazed at the prickly, raspy things which horses find edible.
Going outside on a winter morning, especially if there is wind or rain such as you described in previous post, is rather exhilerating, as long as one doesn't have to linger.
I like to watch the farrier work on Pebbles feet--he scarcely pauses to rest. She has had a better year with her poor old feet and frisks about on chilly mornings when she sees one of us coming along the path to dish out her grain.

The Weaver of Grass said...

What a lovely blog yours is today - blissful.

Kath said...

Horses have such soft mouths you wouldn't think they'd eat gorse.
The ponies look very well.

Bovey Belle said...

Lovely photos. The mares are looking well for January. It's been SO mild here - I hope we're not about to pay the price!

Pam said...

How I wish I lived somewhere that rural. It all looks lovely.

RDA Pony Tales said...

Calm after the storm..... hope it lasts!
I always love to see your pictures of the horses and ponies looking so happy in their surroundings.

WOL said...

Reading about Woody getting his hooves trimmed reminded me I need to trim my hooves -- LOL! Lovely pics of the ponies.

Anonymous said...

Is there ever a time when Gorse isn't flowering?

Crafty Green Poet said...

what lovely ponies

Dartford Warbler said...

Hi Parsnip - the ponies grazing out on the New Forest are all owned by commoners .People who live in the Forest who have property with Commoning Rights. Many of the commoners belong to families who have kept ponies, cattle and sometimes pigs on the Forest for centuries.

The New Forest Pony Breed Society website tells more about the ponies ( and how versatile they can be when trained) and about the New Forest itself.
www.newforestpony.com

I don`t have ponies on the Forest but over the years I have bought or rescued young colts in need. They have grown up into our current little gang of New Forest geldings. Woody was my first New Forest colt but he has been owned by my friend for several years. He was ill with laminitis last summer, but we hope he will be back being ridden again in a month or so.

Toffee Apple - yes, there are times when the gorse is not in flower, which disproves the old saying

"When gorse is not in bloom , then kissing is out of fashion."

During November and early December the hills were dull without the bright yellow gorse flowers. It is always lovely to see them coming back again.