It feels like we haven’t done this in an age.  Well I haven’t and won’t but just to watch others….. go riding.

The tidy-up has made a huge difference.

Everything is in its place and a place for everything.

The control freak in me likes that.  I just hope I can remember where all these places are!  Lucky for me, I have BeAnne who will find anything including otter shit!

Anyway, Jo rode Haakon, Fiona rode Iacs and Bjørn rode Taktur frå Velli II, my 4yo stallion.

They started by a spot of grooming.  Fur everywhere as their winter coats are now beginning to come out.

Then they did a spot of training in the school together to loosen up the horses and yes, the caravan is still in the middle and that reminds me, I must get it moved but no one minded.

Once kitted up with Hi-Viz for safety on the roads (to state the bleedin’ obvious) in case anyone mistakes Jo for a Mounted Policewoman astride her (my) noble steed of a Police Horse that is 13.3hh, small, fat and very hairy.

For crying out loud, would you mistake this as a policewoman? I mean seriously?  Would you?

Are you now hiding your hessian bag done up with string marked SWAG in huge letters (hopefully wearing your pale blue pyjamas with arrows on) as you cower at the thought of being arrested by this?

If so, get some glasses and maybe get a life.  Rant due to ridiculous Daily Mail article – Whoa! Horse riders wearing hi-viz could be arrested for impersonating police  It is laughable. It truly is.

Anywho, Jo escorted her prisoners, sorry, friends, out on a trek.

And then they all came back with big cheesey grins.

Well, I’m glad someone enjoyed themselves.  The tail-end Charlies were too busy learning to tölt.  Remember this is a 4 year old stallion who was sitting in a field in Iceland last August having never had the hand of man upon him.

I am just so impressed with my boy (Taktur, obviously).  He is an absolute treasure. This is his listening face.

Did your kids have Tidy-Up-Time at Nursery?

Well, mine did and that phrase has stuck.  Jo and I have been meaning for ages to have a tidy-up-time in the indoor school, putting stuff where it is meant to be and not where it has ended up.

The new dog club in Shetland, Utlima Canis, arrived in droves today to help, sort out and settle themselves in a corner of my agricultural shed/indoor riding school.  The corner we set aside for them needed to be sorted out first so Jo and Richard attacked it with gusto.

Our dogs stayed out of the training area and they happily got in our way.  This is Snati’s pathetic face while we try to move the benches while he sits on them.

BeAnne did some Meet and Greet but, to be honest, she was not keen. She liked the idea far more than she liked the dogs.

This darling little Border Terrier got told his manners in no uncertain terms.

But mostly BeAnne stuck with me and I wandered about ineffectively (please don’t give me another bollocking, honestly, I touched nothing – if you don’t believe me ask Jo)

Meanwhile Ultima Canis did some of what they do, like Ringcraft and stuff (stuff means I was not watching so haven’t really got a clue).

The caravan is on its way out but the battery in the Land Rover has mysteriously died so it will go to its summer location sometime next week.

They all seemed happy enough working around it.

Luckily, for our non-working dogs, a lovely gentleman turned up and BeAnne spent her time talking to him since he was not busy.

Once he had fallen under her spell, Snati (Jo’s collie pup) decided he could join in too.

I suppose none of our dogs are used to other dogs being in the shed.  It is their territory and they are happy enough with each other’s company and know the drill.  To see other dogs inside must be very strange and disturbing to them.

This is BeAnne retreating having investigated the training scene.  You can see her think no, this was not her type of thing.  Her face says it all.

I really do need to go for a ride.  I need to, but I won’t. If you knew me, you would understand why. BeAnne has had some Rescue Remedy.

The phone rang late last night.  Jo told me that Velvereta had foaled.  The foal was dead.

Poor, poor Velvereta.  There was no reason that we know of or could see. It looked like the foal was born dead as her eyes were not open.  A beautiful filly foal too.  

Last night Velvereta was incandescent with rage.  She would’ve killed Jo so she was left alone to stand over her dead baby as the bag was out, there was nothing anyone could do and this was the safest course of action.  She had Melinda with her who was keeping a very low profile.

It is a horrid time for all of us, mostly for Velvereta, obviously.  She is cross and doesn’t understand.  You can see it in her eyes and her stance – hard and embittered.  She is grieving for the filly she would’ve loved.  Velvereta has always been an excellent mother.

Her filly was not some random result for the sake of breeding either. We are totally aware of the market at the moment. We already had a buyer lined up who desperately wanted a filly from her and Indy.  Their combined breedlines are highly sought after.

Although last night she would not let Jo near her or the baby, by this morning Velvereta had slightly mellowed.

She said she could accept a carrot, (I had brought a bag), but she was still very unhappy and we did not crowd her and read her body language all the time.

We will leave Velvereta with her foal until she walks away.  When she does, then we will move her back into the big field and bury her baby.  She is allowing Melinda nearer so it shouldn’t be too long.

I feel very sorry for her. It is Vitamin all over again and we don’t know why.  She looks terrible too.  We will give her time and then put her out with Indy again. She does think he is gorgeous so hopefully he will take her mind off this horrible experience.  Next year, I will be better and I can set up camp and we will watch her 24/7 to try and prevent this tragedy happening again.  Like Vitamin. we know she has had live foals before.  Last night, it was all so quick.  One minute she was walking around, the next, a dead foal beside her.

I apologise for such a sad post but I wanted to show any of you that are thinking of breeding from your mare, that it isn’t a done deal.  You don’t always end up with a fluffy darling foal and sometimes there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.  When you make the decision to send your mare to the stallion for this to happen, think it through, I beg of you.  Think of all the what-ifs because there is always the risk no matter how hard you try.

You have livestock and therefore, it is inevitable that you could have dead-stock.  Shit does happen.  Would you be ready for that?

Poor Velvereta. I am so sorry, my darling girl.

I need to make my millions and I need to make them quick, like now!

(says in a very small voice – “I’ve been shopping and bought myself another camera, but I do neeeeeeeeeed it” and it will make me happy)

I have always dreamed of owning a Leica camera and I will admit to looking at Hasselblad cameras but, after I had picked myself up off the floor and applied for a mortgage, I decided not to go down that route.

I laughed out loud when I saw those prices.  Anyway, I like my new Leica mostly because it has this…… a swivelly out viewfinder thingy which will help my back for those weird angle shots I like to take.  I know, I know the Canon EOS 600D wotsit has that too but then it would just be a slightly lighter base unit for all my lenses so no different, just slower and still heavy.  

To finance this photographic frippery, I have decided to open an Etsy shop and put only my best photos on it for sale.  Your thoughts and any help would be gratefully received.

Etsy – ThordalePhotography – http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ThordalePhotography

I am concentrating on having a few different sections and the shop will grow bigger.

First there is the Shetland ponies in Cardigans Section. I have chosen only the best of the photos I took but will put up some more shortly.

Next there is the Northern Lights and Shooting Star Section. I am not sure whether to flood the market with my billions of “Merrie Dancer” photos or just put up a few superb ones.

And, lastly, so far, there is my Arctic Tern picture with the most beautiful quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry from The Little Prince.  That is in my Flowers and Fauna Section.

There will be other Sections – like Shetland ponies from Shetland, Shetland Scenery, etc.  This is just the beginning.  

I am keeping prices low and realistic and there is a dirty great big watermark across every picture too that doesn’t detract but does hopefully stop thieving little barstewards.  This time the watermark can’t be taken off like someone once did when they stole my photo rather than pay and announced it on Facebook with pride.  I was so disappointed.  My first day out in my new venture too.

Please go and look at my Etsy Shop and, if you want to see more of my photos or have a particular favourites you think should be included, go to Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/pencille/sets – and let me know.

It would be good to get followers, feedback and a few sales to finance this new equipment (never, toy).

And yes, I fully intend to have PingPong in all his dancing glory!  Watch this space.  Perhaps even a whole Section devoted to his gorgeousness.  And what about one for BeAnne and/or Wuss?  Do you think there is a market or will I end up on Regretsy?