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

10 July 2012

DRAW RESULT AND A MAGICAL ENCOUNTER

 THE DRAW


Congratulations to Virginia. If you could email me your details to emparko@gmail.com, I will get it in the post as soon as I can. My son pulled it out of the bowl when he got home from school and was very excited about doing so. He’s also got over the disappointment of my cancelling my operation as I’ve managed to reschedule his staying over with his friend. Only 10 days till the end of term and almost seven weeks of social secretary time. 

This afternoon, I decided to go for one of my non-pony walks into the wilderness. From afar I spotted the rival herd and thought I could see a pony that might be the injured one. I trudged on and ended up sitting on a rock close to them for a rest. To my surprise and delight, a couple came over to us (Snippet busy with mouldy old sheep bone) and got very close. I sat there for half an hour and was eventually surrounded by seventeen of them, including two foals. One yearling colt, kind of splodgy blue roan and white, came in for a nuzzle. Eventually I stood up and, with a lot of calming deep breaths, was able to scratch his withers and then his head and chest. Lots of licking and chewing from him so I felt safe and I have to admit to shedding a bit of a tear at their acceptance. He’s the only one I don’t have a decent photo of because he arrived so quickly and was then too close. It was absolutely magical and an experience I’ll never forget. My hand smelt VERY strongly of pony; that smell we all love (well most of us anyway….), but concentrated. Here are the pictures I took today, without the use of the zoom for once I might add!
When I arrived:



First approach:



Second wave:







The rain coming.....thirty seconds later, it reached us
Views I will never tire of:





If you don't normally enlarge the photos, do it this time, if only to see the close up of the foal's face big; the markings on her face are just beautiful. 

Congratulations again to Virginia and I’ll do another giveaway next month. Till next time....

















9 comments:

  1. How wonderful to be so accepted by the herd like this. A totally magical moment and one I'm sure you'll hold close to you forever.

    Congratulations to Virginia.

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    1. I will. I'm also likely to go looking for them again!

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  2. It`s amazing how readily these semi wild ponies will accept the company of humans who are aware of their body language and their behaviour. That must have been a very special time Em. A lovely herd and some of your photos will be great references for future paintings.

    Congratulations Virginia!

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    1. My reference folder is very full indeed and I think I need to look at it very hard and do some serious editing. We need a new computer!

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  3. Thank you! Thanks for entering the draw too....better luck next time. The good thing about having a smaller following is that everyone has a pretty good chance.

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  4. Congrats to Virginia :)
    Lovely oics Em x

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  5. Replies
    1. I was wondering which oics exactly you were referring to...

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