Very occasionally, you meet a Shetland pony stallion that takes you breath away – this is Waffle’s dad,  He is gorgeous.  Seriously gorgeous – a super model.

His PEDIGREE. is Transy and Marshwood breedlines.   Whilst having been awarded high marks for assessment in Norway, the majority of his progent have gone on to do very well

(including Waffle, in my eyes – it is not his fault that he was starved to near death in his formative months and might be a little bit on the small side).

So , let me introduce you to Waffle’s Sire –  Wulfert v.d. groote woerd and he is a gentleman in every way – temperament, good looks, conformation, etc.  The type of Shetland pony to take your breath away.

I think I am in love (**** sigh ****)

Today Wulfert returned to Shetland from Norway and I instantly liked him.

However, to be very honest,  I think Waffle perhaps takes after his mother more in looks but he definitely has his father’s temperament – laid back while taking everything in his stride and forever offering to help. So really the best of both worlds for me.

I hope to see more of Wulfert.  He is just my type of guy.

The best bit about having The Minions (apart from the obvious) is meeting new people who have read The Blog and want to contribute in some way – not in a financial way, as obviously, according to some, I have made thousands of pounds out of my self-promotion, but in a spare-piece-of-kit-that-might-be-useful sort of way.

Today, Yvette appeared with a fabulous barely-worn warm rug for Storm and some little headcollars.  I like to put a dry rug on him if required every day.  It means I can sleep at night knowing he has some protection against the Shetland weather.

(Stardust lost his goat-coat overnight and Storm’s hood was falling off this morning).

I called the boys into the shed and introduced Yvette and her bag of carrots to them.

They were very keen to meet the bag of carrots (and Yvette too).

Now this is very interesting – little Stardust came up to ask for a carrot.  He has never done this before, usually staying at the back saying nothing.  So this is a first for him.  A little step.

Luckily Yvette is a horsey person so therefore used to trying ridiculous ideas out.  I wanted to see what Waffle would do if I put BeAnne on his back.

The result was absolutely nothing.  He wandered off, ignoring his new passenger, even when she jumped off.  So that is Waffle lightly backed.

While Yvette was here, I asked her to help me measure the boys in height and bone (the size of a horse’s bone is an indication of its strength).

Silver is 34.5″ high with 6.5″ of bone
Waffle is 33.5″ high with 6.25″ of bone
Storm is 31″ high with 6″ of bone
Stardust is 27.5″ high with 5″ of bone.

My little boys are growing.

Another day of grot.

Everyone had a hard feed (Stardust fed by himself).

While they were eating, I rode Taktur for his 20 minute 80’s disco workout and re-educated Klængur on the necessities of half-halts.  After that, I brought the little boys into the school to let them run round, warm up and play.

I think Stardust is looking less wormy-bellied.

A new set of toys today including a very good little cardboard box, which was conveniently just the right shape for nose-wearing. Yellow brushes were carried about and Silver practiced his circus tricks.

There was some rolling in the sand – ugh!

Hay was out in different places so everyone could have a pile without hassle.

And there was even some “lovely sharing”.

This photo speaks volumes to me.

Stardust, feeling full, went to sleep and was quickly joined by Silver and the revolting Waffle.

Storm, on the other hoof, did not feel sleepy, so made it his life’s mission to annoy.

He spent his time trying to work out what constituted acceptable nibbling rather than biting while I sat on my bucket.  We had words.  In the end he curled himself round the back of me, munched hay and draped it gently on BeAnne.

I had put a call out for a 34″ rug yesterday and Jo had come round with Toggle’s old rug.  Toggle was my ancient Toggenburg goat.

While too big for Stardust it will do until his own rug arrives (ordered yesterday).  He didn’t seem to mind and it will keep the worst of the rain off for the time being.  The rug is not as tight as it looks – the straps are elasticated held on with velcro.

And then, as they were getting bored, I put them all outside again for some fresh air.

First up when I called this morning.

Followed by the others.

I gave the big Minions their food separately outside.

(So there would be no hassling)

Poor little Stardust started to whinny while I was mucking out their shed so I moved him, leaving the door slightly ajar so he could see his friends and continue to eat in peace.  By the way, he is not fat – far from it, he has worms and I am worming him gently rather than shocking his alarmingly low system.

Afterwards, as it was a day of grot, I opened the doors wide, opened the toy box and let everyone in to play.

Of course Waffle, Storm and Silver knew exactly what to do and I watched from a distance.

Stardust took his time but carefully and quietly went about investigating all the “toys”.

No one was horrid or chased him off.  There was no foal chewing and he seemed to be part of the herd, although still very much in the background.

The playing was not rough or chasing, just shoving plastic boxes about and making noises, like kids with a drum set.

And suddenly, full of food, they all stopped playing, went to sleep, leaving me to sit on a bucket with BeAnne at my feet on Tiger Watch.

So, being a good mother, I turned out the lights, put on some soothing music and they all slept for 30 minutes.  I continued to sit on my bucket and played an iPad game.

Interestingly, when they woke up, each one came separately up to me for a nose kissey.  Stardust was the first.

As they were awake, and I was feeling stiff and cold, I pushed them outside to eat and went to find some lunch for myself.

Most interesting.

Little steps but definitely steps.

Today Silver was desperate to meet the newbie.  He stood by the gate, waited and whinnied.  So I thought “why not”.

I expected a bit of chasing and hierarchy establishment.

But this was totally unacceptable and my heart bled when I saw what was going on.  We had words and a few reminders.  I brought Loki out who is Silver’s worst enemy and he slunk off in a disintegrating heap.  I thought it would do Stardust good to see that Silver had an Achilles heel.

I fed everyone and Stardust wandered about saying he couldn’t find his food.  I had put out five bowls between four of them and still he was lost.

After a while, I led him to the shed so he could eat his food unhassled or bullied.  He had a good pile and I hope it made him stronger.

I introduced him to carrots, kisses, hugs and talking.  He liked all of that and was following me about by the end, rather than walking away.

As a friend said this afternoon “He needs to feel worthy” and it is very obvious that he doesn’t.

I hope this is his “hatching a cunning plan” face.

The others were a bit boisterous so I ran them round for a while to get it out of their systems and to stop them from involving Stardust. After that, they ignored Stardust and he had a quiet afternoon with them all.

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But it is still Storm he follows and loves.

Anyway, tonight, I went to check on them in their little paddock and shed.  Stardust seemed to be the main shed occupant and he was not budging for anyone.  Good for Stardust.  I am going to measure him tomorrow and buy him a rug.