Well I bought myself a new in-between camera.  A Leica.  This is my work space last night, trying to find out how it works. It took me 2 hours just to attach the lens hood string to the camera body.

The result of Day 1 – Wussums who was the only victim, sorry, model available.  That’s his face of pure loathing with a smidgen of condescension.

Today, I went out and about with my new Leica dangling around my neck at a very low angle (I must get used to that or doctor the neck strap).

The usual chore has to be done.  My camera is set on Automatic at present, ie point and squirt mode, as I have still to understand Page 1 of the Manual which is written for those who already attended university studying photography (or is that Medja Studies?)

The usual audience was watching me carefully to check I was doing it right.  Helpers, I like to think of them as helpers.

Bozz-Bozz was overly keen to say Cheeeeeeeeese (endlessly)!

Here are a few snaps of my surroundings while Taktur ate his stallion food to make him big-and-strong.

It was a stunning Shetland Spring day, perfect for taking photos so that is what I did all afternoon, finding new buttons to press and just generally playing. Obviously I took you-know-who. She entertained herself by playing in the burn (stream).

This is how good the lens is.  Taktur visible.

Taktur where he actually is (the black dot in the distance – no, on the horizon distance in the middle!)

Then I photographed my flowers and scenery in the field.  Now I am very proud of that daisy.   A test of a good camera, imho, is the single daisy shot.

And then I found this button marked C for Colours and I went mad experimenting.  Knocks the socks of Instagram and I can make my house look very scary indeed.  I like this button!  Loads of potential there.

I see endless mileage with this camera.  Small, easy to hold, fun and I need to RTFM!  No more mediocrity when it is raining and I can’t take my big camera out.  Now I have this Leica (imagery to denote banging my head against a wall here) the world is out there.

But one thing this camera cannot do, which I am very disappointed with and may well be writing to Leica about, is to make BeAnne look beautiful when she has been swimming and then rolled in something unmentionable (depressed, again).

When he was caught, it was very evident that Hammie was in a bouncy mood and in no frame of mind to be ridden

Jo and Fiona harnessed him up instead.

We used an Icelandic rubber saddle pad thingy to go under the “saddle” of the harness because this set is not designed for his non-Shetland frame (Jo has a better one at her house which she will remember to bring next time).

Today’s training was getting Hammie used to the feel of shafts on his sides, especially when turning corners.  He went in both directions and was made to do small circles.

Then Jo rattled the “shafts” on his sides and Hammie thought that was fairly scary so she did it some more until he was bored.

Next, the dragging wood which, having just become bearable, made things worse again.

Plus some more “shaft” rattling by his sides.

And then, relief, a carrot for the bravery.  Phew!

and off they went again.

We let Hammie see the rattling things as he is not in blinkers and not the type of pony who would go well in blinkers either at the moment, if ever.

Jo decided to show him the crashing and the banging of the shafts being lifted up and down over his back, as if the cart was being put to.

A few scared moments but he got used to it.

As long as Fiona told him he was speshul!

We are getting there. It is a very slow process, and Hammy needs constant reassurance and time. We don’t rush him and often go back a stage to go forward one, if you see what I mean.

The next step of the cart should be fun.  Look at his face?  OMG!  It is all about trust.  We will keep working away and take it at a speed Hammie’s little pea-like brain can cope with.

And my other big black stallion, I hear you ask?

Well, Taktur is doing brilliantly. He just goes from strength to strength learning and reading situations all the time.

Bjørn is Taktur’s riding trainer and I am Taktur’s on-the-ground trainer.

Bjørn is teaching him his gaits – that is a good walk, trot, tölt and canter.  There may  be pace but we are not sure yet.  He is getting him to engage his back-quarters and Taktur needs more muscle and topline, hence the extra feeding.  Taktur moves naturally very well.  He shows this “willingness” that Icelandic trainers want to see and is essential for a good stallion with potential.

I teach Taktur from the ground.  I work on his manners and his attitude.  He likes me and trusts me which is essential but to be honest, Taktur has a lovely nature so anything I ask of him, he is happy to oblige without an argument.  If there is an argument (a rare thing indeed), he listens, takes it on board, thinks about it and then learns.  I have yet to meet such a nice chap.

He likes routine but he doesn’t pressure you into it.  Instead of loitering with intent for his food by the gate, he just “happens to be in the area”.

I call him, he comes wandering over by himself, having left the herd behind and I open the gate.  He walks through, does a perfect turn on the forehand, while I close the gate. He will then follow me over to his food, waits for permission to begin (sometimes at this point I will put his headcollar on) and eats.

When he has finished, he lifts his head up and lets me clip the rope on or put on a headcollar.  Then he follows me back to his field where I slip him and he wanders off again to find his friends.

I could not ask for more.  There is no barging, no attitude, no anything but peace and perfect manners.  My gorgeous gentleman with exemplary manners. Oh, and by the way, he is only four years old.

(and yes I do chop off everyone’s heads if I can, in a photograph!)

Yesterday we decided on which mares to put Indy out with.

First we collected Indy and drove him 4 miles down the road to Sandness where he screamed and belly-ached that he could smell his girls.

Luckily the trailer is divided into a front and back section. He was in the front so there was nothing he could do when we collected Millhouse Verona en route.

Millhouse Verona is a darling 10 year old mare who is the nicest of our Millhouse mares.  So off she went in the trailer with Indy shouting and we let them out together in a nice small(ish) paddock where they could reacquainted.  Verona has already had three lovely foals out of Indy including the gorgeous Sweetums and the and unforgettable Ermintrude.

So while Verona and Indy got to know each other, Jo and Fiona went off to fetch Threapwood Velvereta.  We thought since losing her foal, it might cheer her up to have another run with Indy this spring.  She always fancies him something rotten and makes it perfectly clear.

Indy was beside himself with happiness. Having lived with the boys for the winter, and not had a sniff of a girl for months, I think he was beginning to think we had forgotten about him and his “needs”.

He danced and pranced about for his laydeeeeeez!

You would’ve thought they would be impressed but no, they just lured him in like Sirens on the beach and then beat him up!

He loved it!  The best day he’s had for ages.  He was covered in mares’ squirt (there is no nice way of putting it, sorry) and he was happy as a pig in clover – look at the face on that!

Everyone has a wonderful sea view of Papa Sound looking over to Papa Stour, not that anyone is going to get much of a chance to stand still to admire it, if you ask me.

I think Indy will take Velvereta’s mind off her stillborn foal.  She did look very pleased to see him.  It was lovely to watch as she trotted enthusiastically into the field.

They were all beginning to get on well by the time I was leaving.

As long as no one sits down on the job, I think they will be fine.

(and lying down is not acceptable either)

Fiona and her kids came round today. Rohan, her eldest lad, had a guitar lesson with my OH and his 12 guitars (aka kindling).  I left them to it, having printed out the chords and tabs for Smells Like Teen Spirit when I heard Rohan play a riff (trendy Mum, me, I know the lingo) so they could have something to practice and work with.

Meanwhile the girls, Amber and Arwen, were put to work brushing and tacking up their noble steeds.

Amber’s noble steed was Iacs, aka Mr Bimble.

Together they bimbled around the school going brilliantly.

There was much concentration from both of them.

I think it was Amber’s first time off the leading rein and Iacs looked after his rider kindly.

And I think you can tell by the big cheesey grin that Amber had fun.

Meanwhile, after a difficult start, we found Arwen’s speciality.  Bearing in mind her mother, Fiona, is her qualified Gymnastics’ coach at Shetland Gymnastics Club, Arwen decided to do some gymnastics on Haakon.  Like I do so often!  This was the basics we first started with.

And then a bit of this (walking, look while walking)

Finishing with this….

Darling Haakon, he was so good and did everything required and Darling Bimble did his very best too.  Both got huge thank-you’s from their riders.  That is the most important bit if you ask me.

Snati watched.  I doubt he could do that but we all know BeAnne would!