Big shock...

[harveydales]

I had the fright of my life yesterday. I'd just come back with Harvey from a lovely ride with Sue and Sheila, turned the trailer into the drive and opened the yard gate as normal. Then a young couple appeared from the public footpath direction, ice creams in hand and really excited saying how sweet and lovely she is. I had no idea what they were talking about, Harvey was still in the trailer so it wasn't him. They then walked off down the road smiling and saying a few more pleasantries to me.

I then got Harvey out of the trailer and walked him towards the yard when all of a sudden Lily was standing there in front of us! Lily was supposed to be in the field of course. She is my semi-feral Dartmoor who can't be caught unless in her field shelter. I went into panic mode. If Lily got out onto the road, she would go into "silly" mode and there is no way she would be caught. She would gallop down the road, possibly causing an accident. I had visions of having to contact a police marksman!

Fortunately she just stood still looking smug as I rushed Harvey in and closed the gate. I then led Harvey down to his field and Lily followed, barged past and did her "I'm being chased by lions and need to run as fast as I can" mode. I was very cross because what had happened was, the gardener had been strimming the fence line, forgotten to put the electrics back on, not closed the field gate properly (admittedly it does need adjusting) and left the second field gate open! Lily must have rubbed against the first gate and pushed it open. She then had free access to the yard, ate all Harvey's tea and goodness knows how many ice creams from passing walkers! Dolly and Frankie were going nuts with frustration and excitement. Thankfully there was still one more gate preventing Lily from getting onto the road but she didn't need all that extra food. I will now worry about lami and colic!

[dalesnfellfan]

Oh that must have been frightening, thank goodness she didn't get onto the road, it doesn't bear thinking about.

Glad it all ended well.

[cadeby]

Oh heck - it's a horrible feeling when they are not where they are supposed to be, and it always seems to be the ones that are either hardest to catch or the most excitable to lead

Glad she's safely back in the field and hopefully ok after her stolen treats!

[tinkerdorisalison]

that's quite funny Pam, I bet Lilly had those walkers patting and stroking her, (not knowing how feral she is!!!)


Its a week for norty girls.......

[zeldalithgow]

Oh heck, thank goodness it all ended well it's that moment of panic when you have a wee dither wondering what to do first

[Fi]

yikes, heart in mouth moment! Norty Lily, quite amusing that she'd been charming walkers all afternoon tho.

[valerie n scout]

:: typical ponies, ok when the owners not around then

[colmworthdales]

Week for naughty animals all round, I reckon. My 4 bullocks escaped from their field (a wire on the electric energiser had broken but not come off the box so looked as though it was working) walked at least a mile cross country and finished up into a local farmer's horse field. When we went to retrieve them the next morning they would not drive down the field to the farmyard at the bottom, but rushed back up to the top and through the hedge next to the gate they had entered by. After a couple of hours fruitlessly trying to round them up from large arable fields full of lucious cereal crops and field beans they totally disappeared! The farmer and family kept going out all afternoon to see if they could spot them - nothing. I was all set to go down early the next morning on Mollie and ride all round the farm searching.

However, it all ended very well as the naughty boys obviously did not find anywhere to drink so took themselves back over the next night to their own field where they nearly emptied the water tanks. Seen by a dog walker early in the morning lying down in their usual resting place so shut them back in! I rushed down with a different energiser and a new fully charged battery - and all remains secure, and the boys are none the worse for their adventure.

I was exhausted as this happened the day I was at the Sandringham Show so got home tired (but elated) to find a message on the phone asking if I had lost any bullocks. I did not sleep much for the next two nights through worry, so slept very soundly on Monday night!

So glad your little girl did not get onto the road - it is such a worry just imagining the chaos that could cause. Trust your gardener got a firm reminder about gates!!

[Debbie]

Oh my stars!!!!! I'm so glad it all ended well for you. As you say, why does it have to be the semi feral one? Yikes! I hope she's not the worse for wear for her adventure. I'd be worried sick about lami after countless ice creams, but there's only so much you can do.

LOL, reading about the four bullocks off on their adventures as well. It must be mischief time for critters