As you know, I am worried about my little boy Storm.  He is not as rotund or mobile as the others so I brought him indoors to give him extra food and love.

Jo and Fi had brought Tór and Hreyfing over for some practice in the school.  This was Jo’s first real go at riding Tór since he had arrived from Iceland a few months’ back.  Everything was very laid back.

Storm was wandering around too adding to the relaxed ambience in the school.  He is always rather intrigued by this riding thing and is not sure if it will catch on.

When Tór stopped, Storm was keen to say what ho!

Storm is not feared by other horses.  He is not an aggressive or confrontational pony and likes to make friends rather than enemies.

And then he discovered Jo’s coat hanging up.  In the pockets he could smell horse nuts and made it his mission to get them.

There was even a small temper tantrum (stamping his hoof) because the food was far down in the pocket and he couldn’t reach it.

Luckily Jo distributed the contents of her pockets once she had dismounted and untacked Tór.

When Fi had finished her work on Hreyfing, Storm went racing up to chat up this new girl.  I have never seen him with a mare or filly but he thought they were rather nice!

Hreyfing was distinctly unimpressed.

That afternoon, we went down to Fladdabister (the south end of the island) to see some errant Shetland pony stallions who had broken through their electric fence to ravage a bale of silage.

You could see they were hoping we wouldn’t mind and to be honest, they didn’t care much either.  Jubilant, the ring leader, couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

After all, he could almost fit his whole head in it (as he kept showing us, over and over again).

This little lad managed to look very embarrassed and was apologising profusely that he had been easily led.  Of course, he was forgiven.

This is Odinn who is a youngster and obviously another one who learned what to do.

So while Bjørn mended the fence, I did the usual pottering to take pics.

Look, look a very rare sight in Shetland – a tree.

So the unrepentant boys were moved from their bale back into their field.

They were told not to go back (but don’t hold your breath).

These Shetland pony stallions are wonderful boys – very easy going and very comical but they look for the chink in the armour and exploit it hugely, laughing while they lull you into a false sense of security.

In case you are wondering, we had to return to the field a few hours later and found the same lot trying to get back to the bale!

I love this picture because I think it sums up what Shetland is all about.

I had a wonderful day today with a new job – being a chauffeur.

Bjørn needed help and, as I was at a loose end all day, I happily offered my services.

We took Amina and BeAnne along with us and, while Bjørn was filling his trailer with silage for his ponies, I played “ducks and drakes” on the beach with them.  The stones at Grunivoe are particularly good and Amina was very happy to race after everyone and not bring it back!

BeAnne had an opportunity to display one of her many particular talents too!

So off we went back with the trailer to feed the Bjørn’s ponies.  I just hung about taking photos here and there.

Onwards and upwards and off we went again.  This time to see some ponies in a different part of the village.

Bjørn’s ponies come to him when he calls.  It was lovely to see them running over the hill looking all wild and woolly.  They just really wanted to say hello but were not going to turn down food.

These are true fairy tale ponies. Utterly magical and so, so pretty.  Very photogenic.

Once more into the breach, and we fed the last pile of silage to his older mares.

I took hundreds of photos today and will bore you more with them over the next few days.  This is just the best bits from the morning.

I enjoy meeting other folk’s ponies.  It is a rare treat and this Stud has some beautiful ponies.

For crying out loud.  Haakon is now lame.

This was last Friday – we were mucking around testing out a new emergency braking system.  Haakon was a joy to ride.  Fast, funny and with a huge sense of humour.  We were both smiling and happy.

So today, I brought him in (he follows behind me so I don’t see him walk).  I planned to do a little pottering and perfect our tölt.  I tacked up and got on.  Instantly I knew something was wrong.  Haakon’s head nodded when he walked – that I-am-lame kind of head nodding.

I instantly dismounted, untacked and walked him round trying to decide which leg it was.  His front feet smelled badly when I picked them out.  The front left was worst and I could see what I thought was an exit hole on the hoof wall with a sinus from the sole.  I think the abscess has burst or is in the process of draining as Haakon is not hopping lame like Iacs was – to the point I thought he had broken his back or leg!

So a hot soak and a poultice.  Haakon is sporting a purple bandage and taken up residence in the stable with Klængur, who always enjoys a Duvet Day.

I am not happy.  I have poured another free sample vial of Floris over myself to take the filthy smell away.  It does linger.

The boys are still in their filled rugs and they refuse to go out without them.

Certain small ponies are quite determined that their rug is their’s and it can be changed when wet but that is it.

This is Storm’s second best rug.

If I make the executive decision to remove all rugs, Storm and Tiddles take to their shed in a joint huff and refuse to budge until another rug of acceptable standard is put on.

Both Tiddles and Storm are very stubborn little characters and, although they both very much enjoy being outside during winter, this is only acceptable with a rug.

I would love to say “No Rugs” – I am not a rugging person but these rugs have probably saved Tiddles and Storm’s lives this winter.

Tiddles is doing much better than Storm, weight-wise.  He is a healthy weight – a furry round ball of single-minded attitude.  Storm remains ribby, thin and not very steady on his feet.

His real fur coat underneath is made of sub-standard nylon and he has not filled out like the others.  I suck my teeth when I look at him.  Hopefully he will pick up in Spring.

As well as their huge field, the Minions have ad lib hay/silage as well as a daily hard feed.

But they are still my little bebbies!