THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

28 April 2014

LOCKER ROOM HORSEPLAY


Those of you who have been following this blog for a LONG time might remember tiny Foal number 3 from the first lot of foals I followed back in 2012. He was born in March of that year and here he is back then with his mum:


He is the only remaining member of that herd. Most have gone for meat I imagine. So sad. I haven't dared ask what became of Lizzy and Betty. I know the farmers who owned them have got rid of their ponies because they're just not viable. Anyway, depressing thoughts aside, today I saw Foal number two who must be just two himself now, indulging in some Alan Bates and Oliver Reed style shenanigans with one of last year's colts. 







Will he ever get any bigger? Probably not. 


On Sunday, I saw a very big herd of yearlings with some mares and geldings in the rain and mist. SO nice to see so many of them together.




This afternoon I took Trigger down to spend the night with the Madams. The leading lady heard us coming:


As soon as Trig gets through the gate, he rolls and rolls:


And shakes:


What a mess:


A ewe and her lamb have taken up residence in the field but every time I go down there, the lamb looks keen to escape:



Caught in the act. 


The Sparrows in the garden are incapable of eating with their mouths closed:






The Magpies are getting more brave but rarely dare to actually take any food; just looking. 




I can't take too many Nuthatch pictures........in my opinion anyway!


You'll be inundated with Meadow Pipits too this summer I'm afraid. I like Kestor all blurry in the background of this one:


On Saturday we all went to our Tourettes group meeting in Exeter. It was a pretty poor show which is really sad. At first there were quite a few boys of OB's age there but they've gradually fallen away leaving a small core of young adults. I really fear for its survival. 

Tomorrow I'm taking some card samples to a local shop in Chagford to see if they would be interested in stocking them and I really will get organised selling them here as well soon. It's just been so busy. So until next time, here are the dogs in our beautiful landscape - my sanity. 


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46 comments:

  1. Jenny28 April 2014 at 21:00

    Love the magpie, what a handsome fellow! Mine do an early morning raid on the bird food, stuffing their beaks, but we don't see them again until next morning.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:13

      I think these are the same ones that hang around Trigger when he's eating too.

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  2. ChrisJ28 April 2014 at 21:01

    That last photo of the dogs in all that vast, empty but beautiful space just evokes such yearnings in me. I'm not sure for what, but I feel the same when I sit on the cliffs and gaze out to the sea. Must be the adventurer in me! Wonderful! Our house finches and sparrows have developed a taste for grape jelly(jam) which I actually put out for the orioles.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:14

      I never think to put our sugary stuff but I'm sure they'll eat anything. I feel that yearning every time I go out Chris.

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  3. Jane and Chris28 April 2014 at 21:39

    It's getting busy bird wise now as they are returning from their winters hols.Oh, I do LOVE magpies..thanks for the fix. I love the pic of Jack watching the ponies.
    Jane x

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:16

      Magpies certainly split the population. I like them too - that flash of iridescence is so exciting I think.

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  4. Amy at love made my home28 April 2014 at 21:43

    So lovely to see your beautiful photos of the horses, they look as though they are having a wonderful time! Good luck with the card sales, I hope that it goes really well for you. xx

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:17

      Not bad....Snippet will be sold in the shop!

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  5. rusty duck28 April 2014 at 22:24

    Ouch for the meadow pipit on that prickly plant.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:18

      The dogs crash through the stuff too and never seem to get hurt. It's agonising!

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  6. John Going Gently28 April 2014 at 22:39

    The first phot reminds me of a novel I read when I was 14
    The Brumby

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:23

      I've emailed you the cover I think you mean....x

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  7. Terry29 April 2014 at 00:43

    The leading lady is lovely, as is Trigger.
    That spiky plant looks wicked!

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:24

      That leading lady can be quite nasty.....I've nearly been kicked a couple of times!

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  8. ~Kim at Golden Pines~29 April 2014 at 02:05

    Another enjoyable post from start to finish -- I love seeing all the ponies and the birds, the magpies were always my favorites when we lived in Alaska. But I'm sorry about your group not being so well attended, I'll hope that it change, and I hope you have a good week.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:25

      You too Kim. I'd love to see Magpies in Alaska!

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  9. The Three Muleteers29 April 2014 at 09:59

    Ah your sanity = same as my sanity! Aren't we lucky to live somewhere so beautiful? Thanks for the lovely pics!

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  10. thelma29 April 2014 at 10:42

    It is like a great photo story unfolding with all those pics of ponies, living their lives in such a bleak landscape (I know it is beautiful but it can be very hard at times).

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:26

      Hard for us too in winter! Now though, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

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  11. Dartford Warbler29 April 2014 at 12:41

    Wonderful to see at least one of your foals growing up and thriving!
    The Colt Games of Spring.......my NF geldings played these together when they were youngsters and they still do. This week I caught the 16 year old and the seven year old nipping ankles and trying to get each other down on their knees!

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:28

      I never expected it to be that foal funnily enough. I still have no idea who he and his mother belong to as they're not branded or marked. They are absolutely tiny! I love the idea of your NF geldings playing at that age.

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  12. Little Red Hen29 April 2014 at 17:20

    That's a nice picture of the horse in the mist - very atmospheric.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:28

      Nothing like a bit of mist to blur any photographic mistakes!

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  13. angryparsnip29 April 2014 at 18:22

    Beautiful !
    Really enjoyed your post today. I remember foal #3 he looks so much like his Mum.
    When I see Jack with the horses, it looks likes his manners are better, or not ?
    I am also so envious of your bird photos. You make me want to be a better photographer.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Em Parkinson29 April 2014 at 19:30

      Jack is getting better VERY slowly. He's such a strong character!

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  14. Wendy29 April 2014 at 21:51

    Lovely photos of the ponies and the birds. Still no nuthatches here, so I'll just enjoy the sight of yours!

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    1. Em Parkinson30 April 2014 at 15:53

      I can't resist them Wendy. Not quite sure why they set the pulse racing but they do!

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  15. Gail H. Ragsdale29 April 2014 at 22:05

    Always love the Dartmoor madams. So sad to hear many of the ponies went to horse meat. Something I don't think I could ever eat.

    We've had horrid storms and tornadoes. Haven't gotten my latest batch of photos sized yet to post.

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    1. Em Parkinson30 April 2014 at 15:55

      Glad to hear you've made it through the tornado Gail. As for horse meat, I'd be quite happy to eat it if it was all done properly. There are so many horses and ponies in this country being abandoned because people can't afford to keep them. At least if they were being raised for meat they'd be well looked after!

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  16. DeniseinVA29 April 2014 at 22:43

    A very enjoyable study on the Dartmoor Ponies Em, and along with your other lovely photos, they all make another marvelous post.

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    1. Em Parkinson30 April 2014 at 15:56

      I got some shots of a foal yesterday which I'll post tomorrow. Probably the only one we'll see this year.

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  17. Ragged Robin30 April 2014 at 11:25

    Love the Dartmoor ponies - great photos (and still so envious of your nuthatch!!!). Sorry to hear that support for OB's group is fading away :( Do hope more attend of OB's age.

    re: your last post - sounds like you had a lovely day out :) Love the Yellow Archangel photo and the Rusty Ducks :)

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    1. Em Parkinson30 April 2014 at 15:57

      I'm trying to feel the love for yellow Archangel but it's fast taking over my dry shade border. I keep tearing it out and it keeps coming back. No sign of the dreaded Enchanter's Nightshade yet but I know it's in there somewhere.....

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  18. Naquillity30 April 2014 at 18:59

    it always looks as though the horses and dogs are having such fun gallivanting around... your images are great. hope all is well. have a great day~

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    1. Em Parkinson30 April 2014 at 19:09

      Today could have been better! Hope tour's is going swimmingly. X

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  19. Willow1 May 2014 at 00:02

    I have so loved watching the ponies on the moors the past year .
    Sad to know some go for meat .
    The madam at Triggers field is quite a good looking mare.

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    1. Em Parkinson1 May 2014 at 15:00

      She looks much better for being alert like that; she can be a bit of a lump when she's relaxed!

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  20. Friko1 May 2014 at 11:28

    What a splendid series of pictures. How wild Dartmoor is compared to the very tame hills of the Shropshire/Welsh Marches. All we have is sheep and raptors. Wonderful raptors like red kite, buzzard and goshawks, praise be.

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    1. Em Parkinson1 May 2014 at 15:01

      How great to see Red Kites! Very envious.

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  21. SeagullSuzie1 May 2014 at 22:11

    I love horses and seeing the ponies has been great, although I don't want to think about what has happened to some of them! Great pictures of Trigger and love to see all your visiting birds, the Meadow Pipit is a beautiful subject...happy to see more.

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    1. Em Parkinson2 May 2014 at 19:20

      They're like tiny Thrushes close up - so pretty.

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  22. Down by the sea2 May 2014 at 18:22

    It must be sad getting to know the ponies on the moor and then seeing them no more. Lovely pictures of the ponies. What a shame if the Tourettes group meeting in Exeter continues to receive lower numbers. We always try to avoid Exeter on Saturdays as the traffic is always bad from this end. Sarah x

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    1. Em Parkinson2 May 2014 at 19:21

      I miss those two I mentioned so much. They were very special and I was offered the foal by the farmers in question but had nowhere to put her and no money to keep her either!

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  23. Mark Elderkin4 May 2014 at 01:31

    The mare and foal in the second photo and the sheep series are wonderful! Do the farmers cull wild ponies? All best to you Em.

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    1. Em Parkinson6 May 2014 at 17:39

      They sell them for meat on the continent where they are far less squeamish than us about eating it than us!

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