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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