'Luke' Has An Underling At Last!

Its this time of the year again, the grass is growing and the horses are moved into their spring grazing fields.

'Madam' and 'PL' have left 'Buttercup Farm' for a few weeks to go to 'Lady Jane's home where they are enjoying their spring pasture with the juicy spring grass.

I don't let 'Mr F' onto pastures with rich grass, although he is not necessarily prone to get laminitis, I prefer to make the change over slowly and give him soaked hay to eat as well. They will be moving into their spring pasture this week. As other visiting horses have been in that field, the grass has been eaten fairly regularly and is not too high. The first week or so they will be given hay as well, while I will be watching their weight closely.

With the girls gone, little 'Sam', a pony of the wise age of 22, will be joining the boys again like he did the previous year.

Little 'Sam' - a clever little pony, aged 22

Although the boys had been with little 'sam' the previous year, it is best to watch horses for a while if they have not been together for some time. Things can change as the mature ('Luke').

When 'Lillian' and I put little 'Sam' in with the boys, 'Luke' was VERY interested in little 'Sam' who already knew what he was in for, always being the bottom of the pecking order.

As I said, things can change ... it appears that 'Luke' was this time determined to emphasise his place in the pecking order: for once he is no longer at the bottom! 'Luke' was VERY much enjoying being able to chase someone else around. He had found himself an underling and was strutting his stuff while he was chasing little 'Sam' around the field. The field is just about big enough so that they can get out of each other's way. This is important so that no horse get cornered.

'Lillian' and I watched the going ons.  'Sam' is a wise little pony and wasn't arguing with 'Luke'. The wild chase lasted about 10 minutes, until 'Luke' needed a rest ... ('Sam' is clearly fitter than 'Luke'!). 

Meanwhile 'Mr F' stood in the pasture, watching them and looking at us as though to say; "This is a bit silly, no? I have got nothing to do with this."

And suddenly, all was settled and peaceful. 'Luke' was happy that he had an underling, 'Mr F' was pleased that it all was quite again and 'Sam' could do what he loves most: eat!

Little 'Sam'