Moonlight Walks

Busy, busy. Wilderness has been full with guests for what seems like forever but is probably only about 10 days. Lots of people horse riding, including two children who are here for six weeks who love to ride everyday and especially like to have lessons. Hard work for me, but they took a day off today so I finally got to go out with the syces and exercise the polo ponies. 9 out of 10 of them are fit – long may it last – although with two of the polo syces on leave that means having to ride one and lead two each which can be hard going. However, despite that I never fail to be amazed by the rich variety of game here. On just a 45 minute ride this morning, we saw five white rhino very close, more rhino in the distance, lots of giraffe, waterbuck, zebra (the common and the Grevy), Grants gazelle, impala and jackals. One of the giraffes just looked so majestic with Mount Kenya in the background. Would have made a great photo if only I had my camera with me and wasn’t trying to control three horses. For those of you asking for photos, I have tried to upload some but the connection is so slow that ten minutes later you are still waiting for one photo and then the internet connection drops out so it just never happens!

Moonlit walks. Well, last night it was decided that we should try out a new option for guests of offering walks in the bush under the moonlit skies (only around full moon when there is enough natural light). Naturally I volunteered to come along. It was just beautiful albeit a little scary walking through the bush at night with just the moon to light the way and the guides listening carefully for the sounds of animals close by. It is just amazing what noises they can detect such as the sound of a rhino munching on grass. Lo and behold as we stood on a rock on the hill looking out over Lewa, we could make out the bulk of a white rhino and her calf beneath us. Such an incredible experience to be out there in the bush at night. The sounds and the starry skies are just beautiful to behold.

Now for those of you with no interest in horses, read no further. For those of you who would like an update on the foals and other injured horses, please read on! Coco’s foal is doing well. Still small but she is filling out. It has to be said that her legs are still a little wonky but this doesn’t deter her from cantering and bucking. She now lives with the other mares and foals and looks so sweet and tiny next to them, but she is full of character and very bold so is not deterred by the fact that they are bigger than her. Santa was fascinated by her when they first met although was soon sent packing by Coco when he started to make a nuisance of himself. Champagne has been rather a subdued little foal since her injury, limping round sadly but still showing an immense amount of spirit and fight when it comes to daily injections. Her rearing is impressive and it takes three syces to hold her for injections. The twitch option worked for a couple of days but she soon figured that out and rears as soon as they attempt to get it on her. Anyway, the wound is healing but she is now more mobile and the stitches aren’t holding so well. She had to have a little re-stitch job yesterday which meant sedating her. She was so sweet, desperately trying to keep her eyes open and not go to sleep. Unfortunately, more stitches seem to have come out today so we’ll have to see how it goes. I think she is going to end up with rather an ugly scar.

So that’s the foals. The other horses are generally okay – a few lame ones but that is nothing new. Sij’s horrific neck wound is finally healing (after a couple of re-stitch jobs). Fortunately, he really is the easiest horse to treat. We didn’t even bother to sedate him for the last lot of stitching – just gave him local anesthetic - as he just stands there and doesn’t move. I wish all the horses were as well behaved as him!