March's calendar photo features our beautiful Topsy inspecting the field - just after the first roll of the season with the tractor to flatten out all the mud. Usually I write a little history of each pony on the blog but Topsy's had her own adventure and message for me to write for her 1st March entry! Our followers probably remember that Topsy is supposed to be at least 35 years old and with her older age comes "grand-motherly" privileges which includes grazing in special places on the farm where the other ponies are not allowed to go. One of her favourite grassy patches (where she has been this week) is the "Goose Field" where she can also see all the comings and goings along the lane, farm, and driveway.
Today Ted, Jenny, and Pam went out for lunch and on their return came through the entrance gates with the car. As always, Topsy was keeping an eye on everything from the "Goose Field" and Ted could see she'd come to investigate but wasn't too close, so he went to close the entrance gate...with his back turned to reach for the pin of the gate, Topsy decided that she quite fancied an adventure and scooted past Ted whilst he wasn't watching - that was it...she was straight down the driveway and purposefully turned right at the end of it. I was in the house, finalising a sponsorship of Topsy which a supporter had purchased as a Mothers' Day present (such a lovely idea!). Jenny came to the door and said "You have a pony out and it's heading towards Roger's". At first I thought it was a hoax but soon realised it was actually true - so it was wellies on super fast, a quick ask to Jenny to stay at the end of the drive to help shepherd Topsy when we got her back in the right direction, and running as fast as possible to try to catch up. The first sighting I had was two properties down, just before the Devon lane narrows - Topsy was eating grass and here I had caught up with Ted and Pam who had followed Topsy to try and find her. Ted called "Topsy" - she looked up - it was windy - the wind caught her mane and she said "Come on Ted, this is fun" and she was off at a trot down the narrow part of the lane. I thought to myself there is no quick way to stop her unless we can get in front of her - the lane is too narrow and Topsy was having such an exciting time.
The field running alongside the lane had a gate closeby and I knew it has another gate at the bottom of the field opening onto the end of the narrow part of the lane...so I jumped the gate and ran as fast as possible to get down to the other end...patting my pockets looking for my phone as I was running to see if I could ring Pete further up the lane who could come out of his drive to head her off if necessary...but no phone - I had taken my jacket off indoors to have lunch!
Making it to the other end of the field and feeling totally out of breath I reached the gate to see Topsy had just arrived there - looking through the gate at me as if to say "Fancy seeing you here, this is fun, isn't it?" Thankfully she had decided to investigate a barn and bridleway entrance (to which the gate was thankfully shut). Having exhausted myself from running so far so fast (I'm definitely not a natural sprinter!) my energy was calm and low so it was easy to get near her, not enough to touch, but enough to calmly walk with her and shepherd her back up the lane in the right direction for home. Following behind, it was lovely to observe how well she was moving - mooching along back up the lane. When we reached the gate that I had originally jumped over, I could see Topsy eyeing up the possibility that she could turn back around and head back down the lane...but I asked her to walk on which she did. We could see Ted by now - who was pleased to see us, not having been able to see or know whether I had caught up with her. We shepherded Topsy past the entrance to the property there and she was heading home in the right direction. All was going well until suddenly 2 cars turned up, one going in either direction and neither was prepared to stop or slow down with Topsy in the middle. Pam had blocked the next driveway but the car drivers spooked Topsy and she took an option through a wood as a shortcut bypassing Pam, and onto the neighbour's driveway. The car driver then said "Do you need some help?" which we politely declined! Everything was fine until they barged their way through! So positioning Ted and Pam at the top of this driveway, to cover the likely escape points, I went off following Topsy slowly behind - if you stay slow, then so does the pony...so the calmer you can be, the better...again the lane was too narrow to get in front and Topsy was so forward clearly enjoying taking in the new sights, smells and sounds.
Eventually the drive ended up at the house - there was a field gate open to a side field which I managed to close to make sure it wasn't an escape point once we started for the way home. The driveway ended at the house which opened onto an expanse of immaculate lawn with a large lake set to one side. The sight of the lawn was irresistible to Topsy who starting cantering large circles in joy and excitement - it was that really lovely springy sort of lawn which made it even more exciting! Thankfully I managed to encourage her towards the house, and away from the lake where the lawn was much bigger, and encourage her down across the patio which slowed down her speed. I hopped across a flower bed and that was enough to send her back up the driveway and the direction we needed for home. I couldn't help but notice the hoof prints impressed into the immaculate lawn! Oh no! No divets thankfully...
Now Topsy was thankfully moving in the right direction and with Pam and Ted still positioned in the right places and Pam waving some sticks to make herself bigger, Topsy was shepherded the short distance back towards home and with Jenny in place, Topsy went straight back up the driveway and back home - where we were able to shut the gate, breathe a sigh of relief, and have a cup of tea and have a good laugh about it all! For an age of pony where they are often "written off" because of their age - that isn't our policy, and how wonderful to see her enjoying life so much and feeling so sprightly...running around like a two year old on next door's lawn! Not quite the circumstances I would have liked to see it in but she was looking very beautiful! I had been promising her that we could go out for a walk again soon but with the arrival of Babe and Puffin this had been put on hold...so Topsy sorted it on her own! She'd actually managed to make some rather safe choices - not heading towards the main (countryside) road, and only going places where there were enough people to safely bring her home. We all had some exercise this afternoon!
I rang the neighbours with the immaculate lawn (who had been out) and confessed and apologised about the hoof prints on the lawn. Topsy looked rather pleased with herself in the yard this evening - she had a snooze and then there were some big yawns, tired after her big adventure - she had a lovely time...and in her herb selection tonight she unusually left her hawthorn and chamomile flowers - she thinks her circulation was fine today and no pain relief necessary thank you! I did give her some extra Serrapet to make sure that she doesn't feel it too much tomorrow!
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| Topsy looking very well and very pleased with herself! |
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| A bit tired now! |
We do love you and your spirit beautiful Topsy...I guess her motto would be "You're only as old as you feel!" :0)
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