A Day on the Moors

I have just been on holiday in Cornwall and have been exploring the beautiful Bodmin Moors. Naturally, being completely mad about horses, I had to investigate the herds of ponies out there. Being June, it is one of the best times of year to see these ponies as many of the mares have a foal by their side. I thought I would share a number of my favourite photos from my weekend away.

"I'm watching you. I'm a big brave boy, but I'll stick with Mum just in case!"

Two of my favourite photos. The little skewbald was quite a character and definitely kept an eye on us for quite a while! We got quite close to the other little one. She was very interested in us and we almost got to stroke her, but mum soon got worried, told her off, and took her away. 

Me and my Minotaur!!

Ok, so this is not a horse photo, there are obviously also cows on the moors! However, this photo of me and my highland friend is a necessary addition, as the episode that caused this photo to be taken created much embarrassment and laughter!! My housemate and I took this trip to Cornwall immediately after a rather stressful University exam which finished at 6:30pm. It was about 1:30am when we were driving across the moors to the place where we were staying. I was very tired and I had literally been doing Greek and Roman mythology for about three weeks and I think I had gone a little mad by that point! We caught sight of a highland cow on the road and had to break quite sharply because it made us both jump as it seemed to come out of nowhere in the dark and mist! My immediate response was that it must be a Minotaur, a Greek, half man, half bull, monster! Clearly not, but revision had obviously sent me a bit crazy! So this is my Minotaur! :) Still, I maintain that it is more logical than recognising one of these as a buddhist monk, like someone else I know!!! Alcohol may possibly have been involved in that one....

Clearly it's a hard life on the moors!!! 

Something wrong with this picture?!

"I know you are there. You are disturbing my sleep!"

Beautiful mum and baby :) 

Oh dear! Stretch!!! :)

I am also curious about these ponies. I am told they are not always the same ponies from year to year. What happens when the ponies are rounded up? What happens if someone has a car accident with these horses who are allowed to roam all over the country roads as part of the moors? Who owns them? How do they select which ones to leave our and which ones to bring in, apart from obvious reasons such as health? Lots of questions! I shall have to do some investigating :)