The Moorland Huddle
By Miles ·
Three Dartmoor ponies gather close together on the open moor, their heads almost touching as though sharing a little secret.
What are these three up to, I wonder?
Dartmoor's ponies are wonderfully sociable animals, and watching them interact can be every bit as entertaining as seeing them galloping across the open moor.
Here, three ponies have gathered in a little huddle amongst the grass. A sturdy chestnut pony stands alongside two companions, their heads so close together that they appear to be exchanging secrets. The piebald pony on the left seems to have noticed the camera, while the darker pony remains partly hidden between its companions.
There's something rather endearing about the scene. Their different colours, shaggy manes and individual expressions give each pony its own character, yet the closeness of the group is what makes the photograph.
Dartmoor's ponies have a habit of making even the simplest encounters interesting. One moment they're grazing quietly, the next they're nudging one another, investigating something nearby or gathering together for reasons known only to themselves.
Whether this was a moment of affection, curiosity or simply three ponies enjoying one another's company, I'll never know.
But I like to think they had something worth discussing.