Pony Updates

We are feeling rather sad in our house at the moment. Foggy, our littlest pony, has gone off to a new loan home. He has been utterly outgrown, and we have lent him to friends with small children who will adore him, but never-the-less he leaves a big gap behind him.
Now we are on the lookout for a suitable ( and affordable!) bigger pony, something around about 12.2 hands. Marlene is in foal for next year, so we will have to stop riding her later this winter. She went to stud to visit Glenmuir Buzzard , a beautiful Highland stallion, who is the sire of my Piper, and also of this gorgeous fellow below. He is Holmedown Austin, who belongs to my aunt, but is staying with me for a couple of months while she is away. He is 6 months old, and one of the most chilled out foals I have ever come across!

And below are pictures of my friends foals. These are dartmoor hill ponies, which were brought down in the drift at the beginning of the month. They are all sired by the spotted stallion shown here. She separated out her 5 and kept them back at the farm to wean as she didn't want them to have the stress of going through pony sales. They will be for sale once they have been halter broken.

The chocolate and white filly is just stunning, and every time I go to visit I come home wanting one.

And here is a commission piece I have just finished. It is not my usual subject matter, but I have always felt that dogs are my weak point when it comes to painting, and as I have turned down dog portraits a couple of times recently I thought it was a good opportunity to practice. It has certainly given me confidence and I think I am now happy to paint dogs!

What's hiding behind the freezer?

When I opened the door to let the dogs out this morning, instead of racing down the garden with Jack, Magpie snuffled around the porch, excitedly telling me that something interesting was behind the freezer. To be honest, my heart sank, as I had visions of a repeat of the rat episode, but still, small son and I carefully moved all the welly boots, and gingerly moved the freezer. There, in the hole below the freezer, was this little fellow ( well, actually he seems pretty large for a hedgehog!). It's been a long time since I've seen a hedgehog round here, so we were thrilled!
After removing the dogs from the scene, small son and I got him out, while he made the strangest noises I have heard. First it sounded like air deflating from a balloon, every time I tried to clear the leaves and sticks away so that I could get hold of him, followed by a series of cat like hissing and spitting noises. We took him to the bottom of the garden and put him under the shed where it should be warm and dry for the winter.

Jack' o lanterns and crows by moonlight

"The Mouse Lantern"
ACEO 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.
For sale HERE

A couple of ACEO's to get me back into the swing of painting. I am just thrilled with the vibrancy of colour my new paints give.
I can't believe how this term has flown by, and I have struggled to get any of my own work in. That is the trouble with working from home - it is too easy to put work off till another day, especially at this time of year, when preparations for winter are so time consuming, both inside and out. Still, the rain has come now, the harvest is in, my hay is all packed in the barn, the horses rugs are sorted out and mended ready for use, the cupboard is packed with preserves, the wood pile is still very low, but my husband is on the case. I think I am nearly there!

"Pride"
ACEO 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches
for sale HERE

How do YOU negotiate gates?

Jack, the anteater, with his snaky tongue, manages to insinuate himself through the smallest of gaps.

Magpie, the canine ping pong ball, shows him how real dogs do it.

Hazel thinks they are both hilarious.

Chagford Hill Pony Sales

A week of clouds lying low around us, fog on the high moor, and mist and perpetual dampness on the low moors signalled the begining of October, and the pony drift.
Today dawned cold and clear, and as always, I walked down the road to watch this year's crop of foals auctioned.

There were at least as many coloured cob foals as true Dartmoor ponies, with the larger ponies in much greater demand. It's a poor year, recession hangs over everyone's heads, and the prices were lower than usual, with several unsold. I always leave my wallet at home - it's so hard not to feel tempted to bring home the unwanted colts!

This fellow though, is one I would have stood and bid for had I been in a position to do so.
A 14hh , 7 year old piebald stallion. I didn't stay to watch him go through the sales ring, but I'm sure he was snapped up!