The ponies are doing fine. Buttons has got a swollen and weepy eye so he's getting it bathed and antibiotic eye drops in twice a day. He's very good about it, he enjoys any extra attention and obviously the little treat he gets afterwards. I didn't know whether to keep him in the stable because of the flies, but thought the dust might irritate it and he doesn't want to stay in when it's decent weather. I've ordered him a little fly mask to keep the flies away from his eyes. I hate flies, midges and cleggs. They have been worse than usual this year and are giving the horses no peace. There are a few horses at the yard which have been coming out in various lumps and have mottled, scabby skin because of them.
Occasionally I feed the ponies in the field. The other day I took the feeds and hay down for Buttons, Honey and the mare G that they share the field with. Buttons had finished his dinner first and wandered over to G who was still eating. I was tying up the haynets, but glanced at him, thinking he wouldn't be daft enough to go near G whilst she was eating. G has no time for other horses and doesn't think twice about telling them who is boss particularly when there is food around, but for some reason she adores Buttons and when Honey came, she took her under her wing too. I turned around just in time to see Buttons march right over and stick his head right in G's feed bucket, I was holding my breath waiting for carnage, G just stood and stared at him in utter disbelief, she then took another mouthful. Buttons then grabbed the handle of the bucket in his mouth and started walking backwards dragging the bucket with him and away from G. G just stood there staring as if she couldn't believe what she was actually seeing. Bold or what?! And he got away with it.....mind you he pretty much gets away with everything he does.
Honey has her full summer coat and it looks in much better condition than her winter coat did. She's a funny little thing. She's not shy now in letting you know what she wants. She nickers all the time, at me, other horses and her feed bucket. She talks to her feed as she's eating it. She has a gleam in her eye now and she seems to be very happy. I think she's enjoying her life and is really unrecognisable to the pathetic pony I went to see at the SSPCA centre 6 months ago. She still has a way to go, particularly with her feet, but she has made amazing progress. They both had the dentist a couple of weeks ago. Honey was done without sedation and was very good. And Buttons was also good. The Dentist has a really nice way with horses and it goes to show what horses will accept as long as they are treated fairly and with kindness and not given a bad experience.
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