On Good Friday the first Exmoor foal was born. She's a filly foal. Amanda Howlett (Goldsmith), a good friend from my schooldays at Benenden, was staying in our holiday cottage with her family. Her husband, Mike, took these photos:

The foal's dam is called Claret, and her sire is called ?!

Here is a brief explanation: we had a two-year-old colt called Knightoncombe Swift who ran with the mares until the end of April 2006. He failed his stallion inspection in spectacular fashion when it was discovered he had an undescended testicle, but he could have sired some foals before he was sent to Northumberland to be transformed into a riding pony. Our current stallion, Acreswild Zeitgeist (Ziggy) arrived at the beginning of June 2006. The average gestation period for horses and ponies is eleven months, so either this foal was one week overdue or three weeks premature. A DNA test will probably confirm my suspicion that she's by Swift but, whatever the outcome, she's very beautiful. Yesterday, Ivy also had a filly foal. If the sire is Swift, he obviously made the most of his last days with the mares!

Bernie, our 'Number One Shepherd', left West Ilkerton yesterday after his annual holiday helping with lambing (yes, he is insane, and luckily it's incurable because we couldn't do without him). Other helpers during lambing were Lawrence & Sophie Perks and Alex & Charlotte Howlett. Sarah was really ill with tonsillitis and a ear infection for a couple of weeks, but she's better now and working hard in between driving lessons.

Bernie and Sarah with two newborn lambs: little and large(above)

Chris, Bernie & Sarah (left) Sophie Perks having a ride on Tempo (right)