After putting in that gif of Sven the reindeer trying to get the snowflake a few days back on the blog, I have been wondering if I could make a gif from some of my films.

I trawled the inter web, asked techie friends and found myself a lovely little piece of software that did just the job (I hope).

So here goes…..

Feel free to steal and use them but credit me if you can.

Another of the bebbies eating.

And another…..

I feel a whole new hobbie coming on!  Hours of entertainment.

P.S.  Haakon is much improved.  He is back to factory settings – doing everything as fast as possible (turn on a the forehand at 100mph), snatching the reins and stopping dead when I take my feet out of the stirrups).  My boy is back. I am so relieved.  I will admit that yesterday I was worried because he was so stiff, not right.  I have started him on glucosamine as it can only help him.  I hate the idea of him getting old.  Not my boy.  I have had him since he was 3yo.  Now he is 20.

They looked like a boy band waiting for their X-Factor audition!  So handsome.  So gorgeous.  So please don’t sing!

We brought the boys indoors.  The Fatties had straw in a haynet to share.

The Skinnies, yes you heard me right, The Skinnies had silage in a haynet.  Fákur (on on the right) is quite skinny under all that fur so he is allowed to share the net with Taktur.  He is also there to encourage Taktur to ruddy well eat.  Taktur has had a growth spurt and appears a bit taller.

Haakon, who has been hopping lame (the kind of lame that has you sucking your teeth) since losing a front shoe, had it replaced in the hope that this would make the difference. He came into the school on three legs, was shod, and then instantly looked much better.  A huge difference.  Phew!

BeAnne supervised to check everyone was doing their jobs correctly.  She is very fussy.  You can tell.

So Daisy rode her stallion, Taktur.

I rode Haakon and we rode together in the school.  Then I gave up.  Better to give in gracefully than compete with the beautiful people!

Daisy asked Taktur to tölt.  She has not done this without instruction from Bjørn.

It was lovely to watch and I have slowed down the film so you can see the sequence of the footfall.  It is actually very interesting if you are not used to seeing tölt.

A day of shite but much to do today.

1.  Bought straw for the bebbies, feed for Taktur from the feed merchant.

2.  Dug hole and buried friend’s dog who sadly died this morning.  He was Jack and Celt’s “love-child”, the very spit of both of them.  Rest in peace and run with the lads.

3.  Mucked out stables and dished out silage for everyone.

4.  Threw fresh straw in the bebbies’ house. I was very pleased to see their coats are not sodden through and are now doing their job properly.

5.  Sat with the bebbies for hours who refused to talk to us as they were very busy eating so I took photos instead.   Still thin, under their fur.  You can see in this photo.  Ick.

Played “Rumpelstiltskin” with Daisy (told her to weave the fresh straw into gold but she failed – such a disappointment).  She also did a mean Donald Trump impression with the straw but has forbidden me to show you the photo.

6.  Gave up waiting for the bebbies to talk to us (they had huge quantities of food) so went back home, called up the horses and fed them.

7.  Walked the dogs.

8.  Came home and removed Taktur from the muck-heap.

9.  Met Daisy who was kindly walking Jack for me – she is now forgiven for the lack of spun gold.  Removed Taktur from the muck-heap.

10.  Put Fakur out (who was given special silage to put on weight).  Removed Taktur from the muck heap.

11.  Put back Kappi who had escaped to eat silage.

12.  Removed Taktur from the muck heap.

13.  Gave up and put them all out in their field.

14.  Removed Taktur from the muck heap.

15.  Shouted at the horses to go down to their proper field.  Shut their gate behind them.

16.  Had a lie down.  I am exhausted now.

Boring video of the bebbies eating.  That seems to be all they do but it is good.  Anything to get the weight on them.  Listen to the wind blowing.  Loud and never-ending.

Some people have a Bucket List.

I have a Fucket List.  This consists of things I should not do because someone has said it is not a good idea but I really, really want to…..

1.  Ride my stallion, Taktur.

Since he has been backed, a few folk have ridden Taktur – Jo, Bjorn, Daisy….. but not me.  I watch him being ridden and wonder if I will ever ride him.   All I get to do is to take photos.  Never actually get on board.

I am the kind of person who wakes up one morning, rolls up their sleeves, makes a decision, doesn’t think about it and then does it.

Yesterday, my waking decision was to ride Taktur.  Even if I just sat on him and he wandered about the school, I trusted him to look after me and I wanted to ride him at least once.

At present, his rider is Daisy.  She is regularly riding him in the school while she is home.  Jo has been riding him out on treks recently too.

So, after Daisy’s training session, I clambered on board.   My initial reaction was that half the width of a horse was missing (Haakon could be described as a Fat Bastard).  But Taktur stood there, like a rock, while I made myself comfortable and got myself ready.

Off we went in a slow plod.  Wow!  Bless his little cotton socks, Taktur looked after me like a beach donkey, never breaking out of walk and looking after me with my useless riding.

BeAnne watched Taktur to check he was doing it right too!

This is an absolute first for me.  I have never ridden Taktur and although we have a great on-the-ground relationship, it was wonderful to take the next step.

Bebbies, bebbies, bebbies – where are you?

Cue:  Look up, spy us and then gallopy, thunder, twinkle-toes, gallopy, neigh and then a cartoon skid to a halt…

(I adore the way Torbjorn’s four little hooves are off the ground, like a spring lamb).

They flew straight into the arms of Daisy and Flossie who have been well brought up and know the best way to talk to a Shetland pony is to be the same height.  To achieve this, the girls had to kneel/sit on the wet ground.  As  this is a field in the middle of Shetland, no one cares – whatever it takes to have a Shetland pony snog.

This is the first time Flossie has met the bebbies and of course, after the initial “who is this new person in our field?”, being the bebbies, they instantly adored her.

She was quickly inundated and investigated thoroughly by the little furry noseys.

and, in turn, Flossie promptly fell in love.

Daisy resumed her usual posture of being nibbled and tickled by her favourite little guy.

So that’s good – there are now enough hands to scratch and hug the bebbies.  Mission accomplished.