My darling Klængur came hopping in on three legs.  Now this I do not need. Not another one.  Is there something in the water?  I had him immediately checked out and was told it is the Waiting Game and painkillers.

Nursing duties were assigned to Iacs (short for I Am Completely Stupid) who was very happy to oblige.  We are keeping them both together around the house where there is plenty grass and shelter.  I can keep my eye on Klængur better too.

Today, after 3 days of painkillers, Klængur is walking better and is more enthusiastic about life.

I make him a Danilon sandwich everyday which he happily munches oblivious of the drugs unlike others *** cough *** Haakon *** cough *** who can search out and promptly refuse to eat anything that has a hint of having a “funny” taste.

Iacs is feeling hard done by and follows me ever hopeful there is something with his name on it too.  I gave him an apple for his troubles as he is a tad wide.

And then to amuse myself I took photos of his silly frilly in the wind!

Look – flat…..

Next minute – frilled!  Mwahahaha!

So nothing has appeared yet.  Klængur’s foot is not hot, inflamed or anything, just hoppity.  He has stopped snatching it back so that is a good sign.

It could be anything.  They play such huge games in the field, he could’ve wrenched something.  A few month’s time, when she is shoeing him, Jo will say “there you are, that is why” and point to a hole.  We will find out but there is nothing we can do but wait and feed him Danilon sarnies while he is sore.

He has his friends around.  Just no playing at the moment.

He has to take it easy.  Doctors orders.

More healing vibes please.

Jo, my business partner, took the dogs up the hill to check on the ladies in their park.  One was missing so off she went up to the top to find her.  Poor Velia was all by herself and barely able to walk.  One leg was bigger than the others.  So after an hour of cajoling, pushing and leading, Jo managed to get Velia down to the gate, go home and return with a horsebox.

Rather than take Velia on her own back to the stables, (none of our horses or ponies live alone, ever) Jo looked around for a magician’s assistant – Fivla happily volunteered.  She always does.  Nursing assistance was required and urgently.  Jo is on the Farrier Registry (thank you for your concern) and she had a prod about but nothing looked obvious apart from the fat and obviously painful leg.

I was sent to collect Animalintex (poultice stuff), antibiotics and painkillers.  Upon my arrival, the reason for the hopping had already made itself known.  Custard was pouring out of the top of Velia’s foot at the coronet band.

Today, Velia was sporting a rather fetching ruby slipper made of poultice and vetrap.

She apparently has gone from three feet to galloping and bucking so must be feeling much better.  The swelling has gone down massively and she appears much happier.  She has had daily poulticing.

Velia and Whiffy can stay in this park until all is back to the normal.  They share a stable at night – they are good friends.  There is no mud in this field – we use it for our hospital emergencies. Fresh air and grazing during the day is good for Velia.  She can potter about as she feels rather than trying to keep up with the herd in a 30 acre field, which can be very hard work.

Healing vibes for Velia please.  She is a dear girl and good patient.

We went to Ronas Voe today to do some messages.

Wow!  What a place.  So different to the westside in every way.    This is Ronas Hill sits on one side of the voe.  OH has climbed once or twice.  Not a place to be taken lightly and folk have been rescued off the side of it by both Coastguard and Lifeboat.  The weather can turn very ugly very quickly.

The rock is red granite and the sea bed is red sand, I think.  The water, even on a disgusting wet day like today, was clear and blue.

OH and I were totally entranced with this incredible land and seascape.  I loathe the most over-used word in the English language – “awesome” but this place was just that.

As you can imagine, I took a shedload of photos, even in the rain.  Come the summer, I will be there properly with my camera and tripod trying to do justice to this place.  Apparently the summer sunset lights up the red rock making it appear on fire.  Oooooh!

There is an old herring station on one side which stood derelict on the shore.

OH and I were blown away with this overwhelming Shetland landscape.  The weather was revolting and I had to keep jumping back into the warm car to dry my camera lens and get the feeling back into my fingers.  We were wet and frozen.

I need to come back here.  It is a magical place.

Oh, and there is a gorilla!

A day of weather.  The wind speed today has been “pretty strong” – that is my OH’s official interpretation (gusting 49 knots officially).  The winter gales are just going round and round Shetland for the next few days.  Most tiresome.

Anyway the sea has been spectacular and driving to Lerwick for a back massage proved very interesting for me.  The massages are helping my back hugely and I wish I had thought of this earlier to be honest.  I am back to walking miles and nearly off all my painkillers.  So forwards, forwards.  I push myself a little more each day to see what I can add to my comfort zone.

I had brought my proper camera with me.  Once in Lerwick, I tried to look for my eider duck pair but they weren’t about.  Probably put off by the state of the sea.

I went to see the Turnstones but they had vanished too.  I did find this gull.  Boring.

And then I noticed the neighbourhood crows were having a great time.

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These guys scavenge anything lying around and there was one particular charismatic bird who caught my attention.  It is my dream to have a pet crow or raven.   They are very intelligent and, as a child, I was brought up with Joan Aiken and Quentin Blake’s Arabel and Mortimer.  Nevermore.

The seagulls looked on in disdain at his behaviour.  I took a few snaps so they didn’t feel left out but honestly, they are very dreary and hold no interest to me unless they prove to be a lesser brown thrippet I didn’t know about, which I somehow doubt.

The waves in Lerwick were nothing like what I had seen out west but I did my best.

and went home again.

(Sorry, boring post.  Must try harder)

Yesterday, I suggested to Fi that she tried join-up (apparently Monty Roberts owns this word) with Hreyfing.

It is something we do if we feel it is appropriate to the horse and its relationship to his/her rider or handler.  There are many reasons for join-up, and if you want to know more about it, I recommend you read this – http://www.montyroberts.com/ab_about_monty/ju_about/

Hreyfing is not a “raw horse” but we thought it would be a good thing to try.

“Through body language, the trainer will ask, “Will you pay me the respect due to a herd leader and join and follow me?” The horse will respond with predictable herd behavior: by locking an ear on her, then by licking and chewing and dropping his head in a display of trust. The exchange concludes with the trainer adopting passive body language, turning her back on the horse and without eye contact, invites him to come close. Join-Up occurs when the animal willingly chooses to be with the human and walks toward her accepting her leadership and protection. This process of communication through behavior and body language and mutual concern and respect, can be a valuable tool to strengthen all other work with horses.” – Monty Roberts.

Jo and I guided Fi from the sidelines, telling her what to do and what to look for, ie the signs Hreyfing was giving off and what they meant.  It all went like a text-book and worked very well.

Having not really been around Hreyfing and Fi much, even I could see their relationship instantly move up another level.  We wanted Hreyfing to stop thinking about Hetja and start listening to Fi.

After that success, Fi tacked up Hreyfing and I asked her to casually walk about the school to see if Hreyfing would follow, ie start to reinforce this relationship whilst being ridden too.

I didn’t take any photos of Fi riding Hreyfing but she remained calm and receptive and they were both communicating much better.  That’s the thing about horses, they ask you to learn to listen.

Hetja and Haakon watched on.