Jo is babysitting Mario Lanza, while his owner is on holiday (a wonderful chatty cockatoo!)

I had to meet him.  So, via the girls who are in the hill park en route, I popped by to meet the bird.

First, I had a chat with each of my girls.  It was good to see them getting their winter woollies on and interesting to watch how they interacted when I am around.  Vitamin is still the head of this herd and she swings her pants at the slightest misdemeanour.  They are all darling girls but I know that the geldings/stallion would never do that around me or if they did, I would not be nearby.  Suffice it to say, I would never risk sitting down amongst the mares and fillies without a quick exit route planned.  But that’s girls for you.  I know that.

So let me introduce you to Mario Lanza.  He is a lovely boy and I was instantly charmed by him.  His vocabulary is good and so we chatted away while he threw his food on the floor, showed off and was perfectly enchanting.

This pic is for his Mum, who I know is missing him.  She rescued Mario many years ago in Australia and he is her special boy.  I can totally see why.

“Hello Cocky”

A little known fact about The Minions….

If you say the sound “Hirrup” (roll the r’s), they all go galloping off at top speed giggling.

So I stood well back and said HIRRUP ….

…. And off they galloped.

(note the naughty boy, Storm, and his rampant teeth – ever the optimist)

And then the babysitter (Taktur, my Icelandic stallion) has to go rushing after them.

Just to check everything is alright.

And off they all go again.

All together giggling this time.  One happy little group without a care.

It is lovely to watch.

But with this knowledge comes great responsibility.  Do not use the word “hirrup” lightly as they are all impossible to catch afterwards!

I love Waffle’s little bunchy bottoom!

I think I have it sussed.

I have one handsome baby-sitter who needs green grass.

The Minions are happy with my choice and, as long as they don’t eat the babysitter’s mane or tail, they can stay together, get fat and ready for winter.

The field is big and has a burn (stream) that runs through it.  After some recent heavy rain, the burn has changed shape and thrown up a large clod of earth which has entranced Storm.  He decided to eat it.

It didn’t participate much so he dug a bit at it too.

He discovered that he now had a mouthful of earth.

It didn’t taste nice either.

Silver wanted to see if he had something nice.

They love this field.  It is big and they can run and play.

And then the babysitter has to go rushing after them. Its his job after all.

Sadly, the fatties looked on sulkily but as I said to them today, they are each the size of a small bus and until some of the wobble shifts, they are staying where they are with an electric fence to stop any leaning over.

Taktur does visit and they discuss the latest news.

I want the fatties to get thinner and the rest to keep the weight on or add to it.  Look at that little munchy scrunchy bottom – woof!

Some very kind friends sent me a variety of tea bags from America and amongst them was the most yummy tea I have ever tasted.

Chocolate mint oolong tea by Stash.  Yum.  I thoroughly recommend.  If After Eight’s were a tea, this would be it.

Having finished my tea selection, I decided to buy myself a box as a reward for my “lifestyle change” – 18 whole tea bags instead of alcohol, butter, refined sugar and reduced carbs.

Relatively easy you would think….

….. until I saw the postage.  Holy cow!  So I phoned them up to ask if they could perhaps reduce the charge and use Royal Mail who just charge a blanket rate no matter where in the UK.

I mean does a tea bag seriously need a courier and yes, I did ask this question.

Apparently it does.  Well, surprisingly this internet company lost the order and probably many more.

To get over my abject disappointment, I popped over to Bergli Stud to take some photos of their gorgeous Shetland ponies.  I did the posh stuff and then enjoyed watching the little curries bounce about!

Delicious and what movement!

I fell in love. Sorry, but I did.  He was soooooo handsome!

I love it when I capture them flying too.  This little lady moved beautifully.

So I am still ranting about the postal charge.

*** grumble, grumble ***

I split up the herd yesterday into fatties and non-fatties.

The fatties were left in a smaller field with less grass and they hated it. They missed their friends (and grass).

I caved in this afternoon and reunited them in the smaller field, which is not that short on grass anyway.

My dilemma is not dissimilar to the fox, wheat and the goose on the boat going back and forth across the river.

Ok, this is Iacs (19yo) = fattie, fairly fit and never going to get his youthful manly figure back.

Next up is Haakon (20 yo) = fattie.  Fit, if not more, as Iacs, his cousin.  It is his build.  He is the old-fashioned Icelandic farm horse type.  Built for function.

Then there is Klængur (11yo) = fattie – He arrived much thinner, had 2 years off and turned into a Suffolk Punch when I wasn’t looking.  His weight worries me.

This is Kappi (10yo) – Bjørn’s horse = fattie.  He needs to lose weight.  He is a very good doer.  He is worked daily and no weight is dropping off.

And then there are the not-so-fatties. This includes The Minions and Taktur.  The Minions are a good weight, they are happy, bouncy and going into winter just right.

Taktur, on the other hand, has daily hard food and is ridden daily to build muscle.  He is well covered but needs to get back into condition.  I don’t want to starve him as he needs his grub and is prone to slim down.

So what to do?  They all want to be together.  If The Minions are left with Taktur, they will probably eat his mane and tail and Taktur likes being with the big ones more than baby-sitting.  Kappi is the main baby-sitter and if he is in Fat Camp then he can’t be with them.

I told you this was a dilemma.  I hate splitting up the herd.  My answer so far is to keep them all together in slimming field.  Watch like a hawk anyone losing weight (yes please fatties) and feed Taktur and/or Minions if they look like they are losing condition.  Then, when filthy weather arrives, move them into grassy field so they can eat and burn fuel keeping warm!