Animals have needs too

I had already called the RSPCA who said they would visit today, but I couldn't just eat breakfast and forget about them, especially the two babies who are still only half grown. A mile back and a mile there again is a small price to pay, and anyway helps keep me fit!

While feeding them the vegetables I noticed that their water was a solid block of ice, so had to go back with the biggest camping water container I had filled with hot water to melt some of the ice, I took with it a bag of porridge oats, nothing else in the larder being suitable for horses. They ate this with obvious pleasure, except the babies who didn't know what it was, having had nothing but grass and hay all their lives. I heard that the owners live many miles away and only come once a week at best. At this time of year this isn't good enough, yet no one locally knows who owns them or who to contact.

I hope the RSPCA does something about the owners this time, they have been called out before to these horses when stuck in deep snow in the middle of winter with no water or food, if only to tell them how they should be caring for them. Locking animals in a field without the freedom to range in search of food means you have an absolute responsibility to ensure they are fed. Some people take this responsibility too lightly.

Then back home where the birds were waiting for their usual morning feed. We have had a blackbird couple nesting in our garden for two years now, last year they raised two clutches, bringing their babies to where the food is when they fledged. They are so trusting of us now that they come immediately when called, and stand around only inches from us as we put the food out [meal worms and raisins are the favourites], sometimes talking in a soft voice to us, I imagine they are thanking us, but they could be saying 'why are you doing this?' I thin had my own breakfast.

And last but not least, a treat for everyone: Go and have a look at this - http://beboframe.com/FlashFrame.jsp?Size=S&FlashBoxId=3309347442, and wonder at the sheer talent, and obvious enjoyment of showing off! We really aren't so very different.