It is the first morning after the last yow has lambed, and I am thinking that I don’t need to slide out of bed at first light, when my phone lights up to say that I have an answerphone message. A neighbour has phoned to say that one of her fell ponies should have foaled during the night, and do I want to meet her at the bottom of the fell to go up and see?
It is a morning of all pervading dampness as I make my way to the fell. Mizzle is falling and having the effect of “bouncing” everything around me into life. Blue, white and violet bluebells stand nodding in the rain, and the grass seems to have woken up after the dry spell. It is very “growy” weather – just what is needed after lambing to revive the meadows. To help, we keep the sheep stock off so that the grass can grow and we can make hay.
Fell ponies are a rare breed and intrinsic to the farming system around the Howgills. They have been part of the landscape for as long as anyone can remember – certainly the Romans remarked on the hardy ponies here – but they are all owned by individual farmers.
Before we can get close to the newborn foal, we must first pass the inspection of the rest of the herd that are surrounding and protecting the foal and mare. After they have smelled and examined us, we can then stand and watch as the foal unfurls and stands beside his mother.
He is lively despite the wind and rain, and stands to drink for a minute before moving off with his mother. All is well.
He is the first foal born in the Westmorland Borrowdale Valley this year and all the mares are very curious about him as well as protective.
One is guarding the mother and foal, and when another mare tries to come too near, an argument breaks out. They have a quick scuffle, kicking and squealing at each other. The curious younger mares are reminded that they live in a matriarchy and must wait their turn to inspect the foal later, when he is stronger.
For now, he remains safely protected between the fell wall and an older mare, his downy coat glistening in the rain.
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