Newsletter Spring 2010

The End of an Era

Last December we lost dear Bonnie (Katherine’s first pony) at the age of 36. She lay down under the big ash tree below the stables and made it clear she didn’t want to get up. We, of course, respected her wishes, and Katherine and I were both with her when the kind lady vet gently put her to sleep. There were many tears shed and much alcohol consumed that night.

We were privileged to share our lives with this wonderful pony for 22 happy years, and she was guest of honour at Katherine and Mike’s wedding in 2004. Bonnie’s passing has left a huge void that no other pony could even begin to fill.

A tribute page will appear on the website in due course.

Lambing Season

As I write our lambing has just started. We only have 54 to lamb this year, including 16 hoggs (last year’s lambs). All the hoggs are expecting singles, and although the scanning of the ewes only revealed one three, several of those scanned for doubles (twins) have produced an extra lamb! Short term the ewe can probably manage to feed them all, but as the lambs get bigger and demand more, we either have to supplement with bottle feeding, or remove one lamb to rear on the bucket, and leave the ewe with a more manageable double. We were very impressed with the “Lambing Live” programmes on television with Kate Humble and Adam Henson. Lambing really is just like that!

The lamb born last August is called Tiny Lamb, and she is delighted to have some playmates at long last. Compared to them she is not tiny at all, but they don’t seem to mind.

It is lovely to see the ewes with their lambs out in the fields in the sunshine.

Welcome spring flowers!