Well we are are finally all moved in

[dalesnfellfan]

We got moved to Lincoln last Tuesday and I collected the ponies on Sunday, it's lovely to have them here and they have settled well, once Connie got her own way that is. The fencing in the main paddock is not secure so I put them in a small post and rail paddock next to the house and Sunday night/Monday morning they were content to eat the grass but Connie kept standing with her head over the gate looking longingly up the paddock.

By Monday lunch time she was adamant that's where she wanted to go, pacing up and down the fence, so, not wanting to risk them in the main paddock until the fences had been fixed I fenced off part of the garden with lots of cow parsley along the hedge, Connie's favourite, I was sure that would keep her happy.  She was outraged, and trotted in circuits around the small paddock and garden only stopping each time she reached the gate into the top paddock to look over then off she'd go again, Em really just wanted to eat but Connie wouldn't let her, chivvying her along every time she tried to stop.

After some time it was obvious she was not going to settle so I used some tall fencing posts and 3 strands of tape to fence a small piece of the main paddock off for them and let them through, the little madam settled immediately and they have both been happy since on a sort of a track in and out of the paddock and garden.

It is so lovely to watch them going about their business as I do stuff around the house and garden and so lovely to open the curtains in the morning to see them right outside my window, I have already noticed things about them I didn't know, such as I didn't think they lied down much in Suffolk as I rarely saw them, but in fact they lay down a lot, some times one at a time and sometimes both together for short periods of about 10 -15 minutes but really quite frequently.

We have inherited quite a menagerie, 6 hens, 3 cockerels (now down to 1 and hopefully none by tomorrow), 6 ducks, 3 Aylesbury, 1 Indian runner and 2 small black/green ones, and 2 elderly cats.  Our dog Storm is having a whale of a time and learning not to mess with the ponies or the cats.

We are slowly getting unpacked although there are still boxes everywhere but I hope to take Connie out for a ride on Friday, Emeralds breathing is back to normal and I haven't heard her cough since the first day they arrived so fingers crossed she is over the worst now.

We had a visit from our neighbours large ginger sow yesterday, she strolled through the ponies paddock and into the hen pen, banging their feeder against the side of the hen house trying to get their food, much to my amazement both ponies just stood watching not at all bothered and when my neighbours son came to retrieve her with a bucket of feed she walked back through their paddock right under their noses.  I was so pleased with Connie, Em has never minded pigs but Connie used to be terrified, shaking from head to foot, just shows how far she has come on in 2 years.

I'm so pleased we made the move, it is lovely here and feels like home already, we have quite a lot of work to do, mostly outside but we'll get there.

[harveydales]

Glad to hear you are all settled in your new home. It's true, it is wonderful to be able to see your ponies from your house and you do learn such a lot about their habits that way. Do post some photos. Re pigs, Harvey has always been fine with Tanya's pet pigs wondering around the yard, even right under his nose but he hates going past intensively reared pigs in housing. I think it is a combination of the smell and the noise, but mostly the smell.

I can't wait to meet up with you. Just say when you are settled enough for a visit or even a little ride.

[Debbie]

Happy move in day!!! I'm so happy your family made the move safely

That Connie, so funny she insisted on being in the big paddock. "Noooo, that's where I'm supposed to be!" I'm glad she settled quickly with being given a portion. And how brave of her to meet the sow in her paddock like that!!! good girl!

I noticed the same thing when we brought Blossom and Dundee to our home in Oregon. Back in Missouri, it was so rare for Blossom to lay down, let alone stay laying down. One of my first photos out here was of the two laying down, deep in sleep right outside the window there's nothing like looking out your window to see your ponies! I'm sure you're going to adore your new home! Congratulations!!!

[dalesnfellfan]

It would be lovely to meet you soon Pam and have a ride, maybe the week after next when we are a little more straight you could come over with Harvey and we could have a ride and some lunch. I hope to have the fencing sorted by then so the ponies can go in the top paddock properly then Harvey could go in the little paddock while we ate lunch the other problem will be parking and turning your trailer as the man we bought the house from still has the workshop full of his stuff and also a large swing frame he needs to remove on the grass which would be an ideal turning area. I will email you when I think it is doable, really looking forward to it.

The last cockerel has been dispatched this morning so we can now look forward to peaceful mornings, 2 of them were really pretty but very noisy, we'll just stick with the hens in future.

I will get some photos taken when I can find my camera.

[dalesnfellfan]

I had my first ride on Connie since moving this morning, it was lovely, just a few yards to the end of the lane and past the dreaded pigs in the next paddock and onto the bridleway which is lovely headland and a section of green lane to make me feel at home (we had a lot of them in Suffolk). There are a network of bridleways at the back of the house, well signed at each junction and I'd had a look at the map before leaving, but still I managed to get lost, well not exactly lost, just not where I thought I was or where I'd intended to go. When I reached the road at the other end of the village I just turned round and came back the same way, rather than doing the circular route I'd intended, I'll try again tomorrow.

Connie was absolutely full of it, nothing naughty, just strong and wanting to go, only to be expected as she hasn't been ridden for a month, she did manage to contain herself and although I had intended to just walk and trot as the ground is pretty hard, she had other ideas and we had a lovely canter on the way back. It's a strange feeling being run away with at a steady canter, she wasn't exactly going to take off, but she had no intention of stopping or even trotting either until she felt she'd had a good canter.

Can't wait to explore more, it really is lovely to be straight onto the bridleways and not to have to worry about traffic, the volume of traffic seems to be much less here than in Suffolk anyway which is surprising as we are so close to Lincoln and that should only improve when Lincoln gets the planned southern and eastern bypass, I had really started to dread riding on the road at the old place.

[Fi]

So pleased everything has gone well with the move. It sounds so fantastic having lovely bridleways so close. Am v jealous!

If you have a smartphone you can download maps for footpaths and bridleways. Sometimes I'll photograph a map on my phone if I don't want to take a full map out.

[harveydales]

Wonderful! Dolly can "take off" in walk so I know what you mean! I can't wait to come over and do some exploring with you.

[Debbie]

Brilliant! I'm so happy to hear how much you're enjoying your new home

and just last night I was telling my Mom how fast you offed those roosters! She's got a mean one (as in, it got her face) and she still hasn't duffed it just miles of excuses. I told her how fast you finished yours off and how peaceful your new home is already. I'm secretly hope it will give her the oompf to bump hers off too

[dalesnfellfan]

Yes Debbie it is so peaceful in the mornings now, we had the advantage of the old owner coming in daily to catch and dispatch them, it took several days to get them all but we said we didn't want any cockerels leaving, I think he was hoping we would just take them as well as the hens. It worked with the ducks, Mike had said he didn't want the ducks leaving as he wants to make the pond into an ornamental one with a filter and waterfall and have fish again, but they were still here when we moved in and after a couple of days he said they could stay as he liked to watch them waddling around the garden, eggs are good too. But 4 cockerels in competition with each other at 3.30am was no fun.

I have now had 3 rides out on Connie and I have discovered the shortest circular route which is partly headland and partly shady green lane and very pretty, it takes about 30 min doing quite a lot of trotting and some cantering, we've had quite a bit of rain so the going is really good now. Connie has calmed down now and is back to her old sensible self. Going to try a longer route tomorrow, weather permitting.

[Debbie]

It really makes my heart sing to hear about how happy you and your whole family are in the new place

In their own way, I think watching ducks on and around a pond is very soothing. They come and go, and they are always up to something, but just the quiet sounds they make are soothing and fun.

Ornamental ponds are fun too, but speaking from experience they are a lot of work to maintain

That's brilliant that you and Connie have had so many rides already! I'm glad you worked out a circular ride and that she's calming back down I'm sure you'll both enjoy getting to explore the new pathways. This is just so brilliant for you! I'm truly happy for you

[tinkerdorisalison]

Sounds like your own bit of heaven

Happy days xxxxx

[harveydales]

I'm so glad you are all settling in and you've been able to do lots of exploring with Connie. I can't wait to come over to visit. I haven't ridden in that area for some years now.

Yes ducks are lovely to watch. Such characters. We are over run with foxes so I daren't risk ducks. cockerels are another matter although the tiny Old English bantam I got last year is really cute and not too noisy. He is about the size of a pigeon and I love watching him organize my full size hens.

[ikklecob]

Sounds wonderful. Hope you continue to enjoy your new home.