Of Mud and Ladybirds

It was a glorious and warm autumn day, a relief after the heavy down pours we have had recently.

When 'Jane' and I went riding in the fields the other day I noticed hundreds of ladybirds along the stone wall and I made a mental note to return there the next day.

And so, today I made my way up to that spot equipped with my camera. In passing I went to take off 'Madame's and 'Mr F's rugs as it was a beautifully warm autumn's day.

 'Mr F' lazily nibbling grass while lying down.

Of course the first thing most horses do when the rug has come off is to roll in the mud! 

Which is exactly what both of them did. As I have been taking photographs of 'Mr F' regularly, I felt it was time to take some of 'Madame'. She is a wonderful mare and great to have in any herd. 

I quickly dropped the rugs and grabbed my camera which I had in its bag ready for the ladybirds. Although it was equipped with the wrong lens and not necessarily for fast moving objects but the pictures turned out quite OK:

And she can still do a full turn!

 ... and stretch ... 

'Madame' remained in this 'seated' position for quite a while, seemingly relaxed.

 'That feels better!!'

Looking at both, I knew I would be busy later on trying to get all the mud off! 'Mr F' holds the record so far: one time he was so coated in mud that he looked like a chocolate brownie! It took me a good 40 minutes to get it all off! Thanks!

After this nice little display I went to hunt for the ladybirds. My fascination with the ladybird goes back to my very early childhood; my grandmother bought me a little ladybug radio (back in the 70s) that would open its wings when switched on. I refused to go to bed if that radio was not next to me! Apparently, so my grandmother said, I would wake up each night at midnight, turn that little radio on and sing for an hour. After that I would go back to sleep ... I don't remember though.