Perfect end to a chapter

At the foot of the mountain, brushed with pine trees, lush green grass grew calf high. Towards the edge of the clearing, bilberry bushes had already flowered and were starting to bud berries. Birds sang from the silvered birch trees and rabbits ran through their burrows. A fox edged through the bushes, hoping to remain unseen. 

The sky's edge washed with the tinge of haze. The circling of a bird of prey cast a stark shadow in the long grass. A gentle breeze gave relief to the quiet heat of the day.

A small herd of Teddy Cobs grazed on the emerald blades. The group had been earmarked for the community's bell ringing that evening. Whilst all of the horses had at least one bell, a couple of the mares already had several dotted throughout their hair, showing people's eagerness to buy them. They would be pushed down to town later in the day, to arrive just before sundown. 

But for now, they munched silently, tails flicking lazily in the afternoon sun. 

The two buckskin tobianoes stuck together, the gelding occasionally grooming the mares wither, flicking his dark hair. They looked so similar, you could question if they were related. 

A fluffy dark bay stood at the head of the little group, sometimes shaking his thick woolies. His long eyelashes shading his eyes as he gazed out over the valley, surveying. He didn't graze as much as the others but kept look out. He eyed the small fox as it padded through the cover of the trees. Planting his single white hoof to warn it off. 

Two roans trotted around together, giving a gentle buck or jump. Their cream tails flying in the wind; one short and curly, one long and straight. The belted roan flicked her white heels as she jogged past, spooking the tobianoes into a little canter. Snorting and whinnying as they caught wind.

From the back of the group, a little belted caramel bay mare was uncovered. Feeling energised from their playfulness and her sudden lack of cover, she cranked it up a notch. Flicking up soil as she happily leapt her fluffy rump around. The bells in her mane rang as she threw her head around, blowing hot breath from her nostrils. The bay gelding trotted up behind, feeling left behind by the herds sudden bout of fun. He hastily called down after them.

The belted mare continued on down the gentle slope, nearing the rest of the cobs. She held her streaming black tail high, like ribbons of ebony lace. The sun shone through her gorgeous caramel coat splashed with white. Sun rays kissed the soft fibers turning them a heart sap orange. She breathed deeply, smelling the rush of pine, grass and dirt. Her chest flexed over her breath, the wide band of white rippling smoothly. She bucked again, her black and white feathers flaying. The strength of her legs and hooves hummed as she stretched out.

She had already passed the rest of the cobs, and she did not care. She continued her fun and frolicking, eventually coming to a prance at the far treeline. The shrill rasp of her nose reverberated off the trees. Tail and head held high, and her hooves flashing in the sun.

The rest of the group stood on the higher ground, the mares already calmed and eating. The geldings nipping at each other teasingly, still a little full of it. The bay gelding nickered down to the belted bay, trying to call her back to the group. Having come to a stop, she lazily sniffed the air, and gave her coat a gentle shake. 

He tried again, unwilling to leave the rest of the group, but clearly unhappy to have a member separated. Her stubbornness showing through, she turned from him and dropped her head to nip at the grass. She didn't eat it, but tried to show her disinterest. A jackdaw cawed from the trees in front of her, he hopped from branch to branch. Tossing a seed at her, goading her to leave his range. She snorted at the bird, flicking an ear in disapproval. Seemingly realising she wasn't going to leave, nor was she a threat, the Jackdaw then turned and flew up to roost with the rest of his flock. 

She only, slowly, came up the slope when the Bay stopped watching. She took her merry time and flicked her ears haphazardly.

Back at the little herd, she returned to what she was doing before their little run… eating. 

The grass was full and rich from the spring rain. Small flowers were springing up between the fingers of grass. Soon foals would be born whilst the grass is nutrient dense enough to support them. Baby rabbits, birds, foxes and deer would be playing and wandering the grasses under their hooves. 

But tomorrow the cobs will be going to their new homes. 

They will have one final run through the countryside to town, followed by awestruck people. Their hooves and bells ringing as they trot over the cobblestones of the town. 

They will be bid on by people with amazing plans for them. 

Then they will go off in shiny trailers to their new homes, to live in pastures with lakes, rolling hills or to be by the sea. To be carriage ponies, dressage, pleasure, a little girl's wildest dream. 

Learn new tricks, what their new favourite foods are, their new herd mates.

Some may stay here, even be returned out onto the open land they run on today. 

Thankfully it was a perfectly simple and beautiful day. One of those mundane days where you can get joy just from noticing how happy a bee is gathering pollen and nectar from a flower. So even if they go onto their own different beautiful lives, they'll have the perfect end to this chapter.