Food

Local Deliveries

/ ponydreamer / 2 Comments

During lockdown we have of course been limiting our trips out shopping as much as we possibly can.  Given that it is difficult to buy all of our own food and the ponies’ food from the same place I have been so grateful that a local tack shop has been driving around to make deliveries in the area.  Not just of pony food either – I’ve been able to top up my fly spray, training treats and even dog food too.

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We’ve been getting all of our deliveries dropped off at the gate which meant I had an excuse to drive the lawn tractor too which was fun.

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I very much appreciated getting the delivery – I do not cope so well with the heat and standing for an hour or so in blazing sunshine queuing to get into the shop would have made me feel terrible.  This way was a lot less stressful and I am so grateful.

Super Samples

/ ponydreamer / 2 Comments

I love feed samples.  It is just so fun to try out different food for the ponies.  Of course, they usually come with a short conversation about the ponies and what they need, which means I get some samples of food that are actually recommended for them and not just random food which would not be suitable.  I lugged a huge range of samples all the way back from Burghley and I tried every single one.

It works too – I have actually bought a bag of Allen and Page’s Fast Fibre to try on the strength of the sample I got at Burghley.  It has lots of things to recommend it but I have to admit that the fact it can be served warm was a huge draw for me!

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This week Christmas came early for the ponies as we received a huge box of samples from Mikholl Ltd.  This is a new feed company based in the UK who makes organic horse feeds from what sounds like great ingredients.  They come in recyclable packaging too which is a excellent point for me – I love the sample bags!

They have only just arrived so I can’t comment much on them yet except to say that the ponies seem to like the alfalfa treats and the apple flakes went down well too.  I am very excited about trying them though.

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Relaxing Rambling

/ ponydreamer / 2 Comments

My sister and I recently took advantage of the weather to go for a little mini picnic ride.  She was in charge so all I had to do was get my pony ready.  She even carried the food!

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We rode up the hill to a little patch of woodland.  It is rather overgrown but that makes it all the more perfect for picnics – it is secret and seems suited to a fairy tale.

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The ponies were very interested in the food and Cookster actually managed to find – and attempt to eat – an apple which should have been safe inside the bag.  He made proper teethmarks in it!  They were pretty cross not to be allowed the chocolate biscuits but were pleased with the apple cores!

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Having eaten I could have quite happily settled down for a nap but of course Galahad couldn’t allow that!  The view from the log was simply stunning though and I could have stayed there gazing at it for hours.

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Escape!

/ ponydreamer / Leave a comment

Two days ago, when I was calling the ponies in for their dinner, a gate got left open.  It only led into another enclosed paddock so it wasn’t an issue and besides, they wanted their dinner.  They wouldn’t be going away from the stables.

It turns out that fresh grass – greener than the stuff in their current field – is much more interesting than hay or even hard feed.  Both ponies went straight out of the gate and were soon munching away happily.  Sadly the excitement was a bit much for them so they also had to run around a bit.  The thing is, there’s a reason they haven’t been allowed in before to eat all that lovely juicy grass.

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It is on a pretty steep slope which is lovely in the summer but all the rain we have been having lately has made it just a tad slippery.   The ponies are both fine – they are not exactly delicate creatures – but the ground got surprisingly cut up in five minutes.  All gates will be kept firmly shut in future!