Daisy and I mucked out the bebbies’ original stable. At the time we had gone down the deep litter route.. It needed doing, they had moved out and Jo/Fiona were working on the trailer ramp. So Daisy and I rolled up our sleeves, shovelled and moved the festering contents of the stable floor. No more deep litter ever. I refuse to discuss it as an option. Just a pile of shit mounting up every day. Loathesome and very hard work. There is no avoiding the work and my back suffered.
Two co-codamol later, you could eat your supper off that stable floor and I was dead. So I grabbed my coat, my camera and went into the Icelandic horses’ field. Everyone was having a snooze so I thought I would join them.
I walked a wide circle around the snoozers, found a dry(ish) spot, put my coat on the ground and lay down to catch some rays and Vitamin D.
One by one, Hetja, Esja and Klængur stood up and walked up to my prone body. They investigated me very carefully. I was sniffed and breathed on. My glasses were fogged up by Hetja who had never seen any human resting in her field. It worried her, I think.
Klængur was very interesting – he stood in between Hetja and Esja and let them know what was acceptable behaviour and who was invading my space. He would stop them and get in their way.
I felt very safe and relaxed. Eventually, the girls were bored and walked away, but Klængur stayed, gently nudging me while I kissed his nosey. He is very orange.
I took a few “weird” photos from strange angles, i.e. lying on the ground.
Meanwhile, once the trailer ramp was mended, we took the bebbies back home to Thordale.
Life is good!
Oh if only I had a pound for every minute (hour) spent at the stables discussing the merits and pitfalls of different types of bedding, how to lay a stable etc. , etc. I used straw for years, skipping out every morning and evening and mucking out every other day. Then someone told me about this new fangled idea of using shavings (I’m talking a lot of years ago here folks!) I was an instant convert and never went back. Shavings are dearer but just so much easier and if you had big greedy horses like mine, they couldn’t eat their bed! Well, they could, but after the first mouthful they thought ‘hmm…maybe not.’
they are great pictures. our ponies were ignoring there hay yesterday is this a sign that the grass is growing. well i hope so. we have had the sheep in for a couple of months because of the weather and hungry ponies raiding their food. they were let out this morning and yo see a 10 year old ewe leaping around like a lamb was a good sight. those babies of yours are going to love spring. watch out they don’t get to fat.
Yes. Ours are leaving their silage bale and looking for the green peck of spring grass.
I do love these “odd angle” shots! What would happen if you were with the Bebbies and did this??
Oh, what beautiful, and interesting shots. Such wonderful critters. I’ve only recently found your blog (through Renee, and Ravelry) and now it’s something I count on to relax me at the end of my day. Thank you!