Duck Launching

2006 will go down in my memory as the return to "Flaming June". The weather really has been fantastic over the last few weeks in particular. Long days of unbroken skies, light breezes and heavy dews has meant that the growing season has now taken off in earnest.


One of the best years for the May Tree blossom too; it really is stunning with the rich scent and vivid white emblazoned on the landscape.

Last year we were cutting hay by the second week in July, but looking at the fields now, I think we are not far away from having to make a start. This year we are planning to make small bale hay and sell some of our surplus. Nowadays it is very hard to find farmers who are still making small bales - they all prefer to do the large round bales which is all fine and dandy if you have all the heavy tractors and forks to lift them. For horse owners in particular this format is completely unworkable. The top fields now produce some really lovely hay; when you consider our first season saw just 1000 or so poor bales, this year should reap nearer 5,000 and the smell - well, there's just nothing quite like it.

After a clutch of Aylesbury Ducks finally hatched out a couple of weeks ago, we had been keeping them in a stable whilst they were so vunerable, but today Henry and I transported them in buckets to "launch" them on the pond. They loved it and hardly got out all day. As their mother was fox fodder just before they hatched out, they seem to have been "adopted" by a broody goose whose eggs all went bad, so things have turned up trumps for all concerned.


Henry and I made a treck over to Emsworthy afterwards to check out the Dartmoor Pony herd. We had a ramble en-route in the mire which is looking stunning with all the rare orchids and bog flora. We found nearly 10 varieties of frog in the reeds and lots of the saught after Marsh Frittilery Butterflies. Damsel Flies and Dragon Flies could also be spotted flitting from leaf to leaf.



Those of you who are following the progress of Batty Two after her unfortunate episode with a bog, will be relieved to hear that she is now well on the mend. She had a plate put in her leg at Bristol Vetinarary School and it is healing well. We had to rush her back up there last week as an absess had developed under the splint, but that seems to be improving now too.

Copper and I went out for a ride this evening but momentarily parted company when we were set upon by a herd of "playful" cattle. Stampeding towards us, Copper took off in the other direction and I was not as prepared as I should have been so ended up on the deck. Fortunately she didn't tank off too far and I was back on before long, but I know I will be feeling it tomorrow and the "Deep Heat" has just run out!

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Top of the World

Wow what fantastic weather we are having at the moment on Dartmoor. The sun has been pouring in through the windows from dawn and the chorus that accompanies it includes contributions from cockerels, donkeys, sheep, ponies, ducks, geese, cows as well as the rich bird life here at Holwell.

This weekend we have seen the British Horse Society TREC event which started on Holwell Lawn and then took in a whole day's riding in this amazing scenery around us. We had a few of the participants at livery with us here in our new stable block which is now coming in to its own.

This evening I took a guest out for a ride below Pill Tor and over towards Buckland Beacon which gives the fantastic view down into the Widecombe valley. There really is nothing quite like riding on Dartmoor and from the top of the tors you feel on top of the world. We happened upon one of my herds of Dartmoor ponies together with foals and the stallion Another Lord who has sired about half of this season's progeny, now up to 9 in total.

Batty Two is up with Bristol University Vet School and will have her leg operated on tomorrow so fingers crossed she will be home soon.

Another one in the wars is the stallion donkey Martin; he has an absess in his fore hoof so I am poulticing it to draw the puss out. He is being very good bless him, and I have used the little boot that Batty Two was given for her splint and it is keeping his hoof nice and clean. Aston the Jenny is really very worried about him and keeps licking his leg for him.

With the hot weather now with us we have been caught a bit short in the BBQ department so over the weekend we have rapidly been clearing a lovely spot down by the brook and have put a picnic table there too; just hope too many people don't discover it !

The wet spell we had a week or so ago has produced perfect fly fishing conditions on our beat of the River Dart. There is a great run of Sea Trout up with our water at the hotel and a few salmon have also been spotted together with loads of brownies. It looks like we could be in for a good season. We have been busy cutting back on the banks to help the fishermen and women cast and also the paths beside the river. As Sea Trout are caught when it is dark, we have to make sure people can navigate safely. Sebastian was asked recently by Health and Safety how he knew if the guests night fishing made it back safely. True to form he replied that he wasn't that bothered because he always makes sure they leave their credit card before they go fishing; it avoids getting caught up in probate !

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