Bronze is very unwell with an injury to his leg. Martial came from the Crézancy stables to examine him. At first it was thought that he had picked up a sharp thorn and had an abscess in his foot but when the hoof was drilled to release poison, there was none. Now it seems that he may have twisted his leg on frozen ground.

This morning we found him in great pain. He spends most of the time with the damaged leg lifted off the ground and could hardly stagger to his shelter where Ingeborg and Hugh thought it best to keep him.

Raymond, our farmer neighbour, delivered hay. We filled a net for Bronze and left him chewing fairly contentedly. Bronze is nineteen years old and very fit for his age; we all desperately hope he will pull through soon.

The four females look warm and healthy in their fluffy winter coats. Augive, whose foal is expected in May, is beautifully round - an elegant mother-to-be.