Every year the Shetland Pony Breeders of Shetland host The Viking Shetland Pony Show in Lerwick.

I went off this morning armed with my camera to the Show.

How many horse shows have this for a view? Perfect.

Anywho, the first ponies to grab my eye/camera were Fivla, Charlie and Andy in the ridden ring.  They were very happy with their young jockeys who were doing very well.  So proud (sniff).

Then I pottered about generally taking photos of ponies that grabbed me for various reasons.  If you know me, you will know I am very keen on whiskers and happy faces…..

…. and anyone snoozing!

My friends were in the ring and doing very well.

There is the serious side to showing.

And the fun side (when no one is watching).

The bit about showing that matters most to me is to say thank you to your pony afterwards. So important.

She deserved her win.  A lovely girl.

While I was a-wandering, I came across this gentleman talking to Andy, who was tied, with his friends, around their trailer.

For me, these Shetland ponies are the unsung heroes.  They are the real ambassadors for the breed.  So what if they don’t win huge prizes – they are 100% reliable and trustworthy in any situation and I was very proud of Andy.  He was a true gentleman.  You can’t really ask more of a Shetland pony.

It was a good day and I saw old friends, met new folk and generally enjoyed myself.

Daisy is off to foreign climes for a two week trial for a job.

So she said goodbye to her horses.

Iacs, of course, is devastated.

While Kappi is working out how he will cope in her absence. I mean where will the carrots come from.  They don’t just drop from the sky, you know.

Silver was very demonstrative in his attentions.  He does real kisses.

And then all The Minions decided to pile in, sorry, I mean say goodbye in their own unique way.

Once finished, they had better things to do, ie to annoy Waffle while he had a roll because you do, don’t you, and there is nothing better than jumping on a friend when he is down.

And then it was “party on, dudes”.

(and this is why we don’t have good tails at Thordale – the finger points, Tiddles.  It points!)

Please wish Daisy the best of luck on her travels.  This is the job she wants for the foreseeable but I am not going to jinx it by saying anything.

Suffice it to say my riding buddy has gone away and I know she will miss her horses very much – everyone here will miss her too.

Iacs, oh Iacs, what is the matter with you?

He is presenting with very uncharacteristic behaviour.

When we are out on a trek, Klaengur will dung on the side of the road, and Iacs stops dead, refuses to move forward and paws the ground.

He does this with different riders.  He exhibits no signs of pain, is relaxed but just saying “won’t”.  If he is turned round, he is very happy to go home and if you turn him 360 degrees, he will keep going and even enjoy a canter up his favourite track.

Iacs is 20 years old. He was castrated as a youngster with no complications. He is not a dominant horse in the herd – a glass half-full kinda guy.

So what is going on?

Daisy and I took him into the school and we tested his back, asked him to step through a tight circle on both reins and there was no reaction.  All was fine.

Daisy then tacked him up and rode him round the school on both reins. No bother.

He went along in a long low relaxed frame of mind.

She then tried him bareback to see if there was any difference.

There wasn’t.  Iacs’ ears are pricked forward and he happily walked, trotted and cantered on each rein.

We tried his other saddle (for the wider fit, sir) and he was slightly faster so perhaps his saddle was pinching.

To be honest, we are none the wiser.  The only thing I can think of is that Iacs has no shoes on at the moment so perhaps he is footy.

But why would he stop dead and start pawing another gelding’s dung?  What is he saying?

A Norwegian animal behaviourist came over today and we explained the situation.  She wondered whether he had learned this behaviour and now it was stuck his pea-like brain.

Lambie and Lambert are doing very well.  They are out and about every day and enjoy company as well as the company of real hoomans!

They still enthusiastically come back when they are called and don’t venture far from home.

Lambie remains enchanting. He is made of very cheap fur (possibly nylon?) and he knows he is special.

Lambert is a bit bigger than Lambie and he has come through his operation very well.  Tomorrow the stitches on his abdomen will be taken out.

He lost half a horn a few week’s back but it is growing again and he is less head-shy than he was.  Lambert is more aloof than Lambie but if you sit down in a field, he will come and rest beside you.

Lambie loves everyone.

He adores being made a fuss of and may believe he is a dog.

Kisses are very important in Lambie’s life!

And tickles.  This is his blissful tickle face.

BeAnne has decided to ignore any pet sheep.

She is not bothered by them anymore as long as they don’t jump on her.  That is unacceptable in her life.

It is a pity the Lambs don’t get on with the ponies.  This is because The Minions are mean and chase my little woolly boys.  Lambie refuses to forgive them.  He has a point.

(perhaps I need to get out more!)

It’s my birthday today so I can do whatever I want.

So this morning, I chose to go out for a ride on Klaengur.

Daisy rode Kappi and we had a fast, enthusiastic time tölting to Dale and back.  Way to go!  The perfect birthday start.

Then off to Sandness to see how Hetja and Hjalti are getting on with their new roomies.

Things seem much, much better.

Hetja is relaxed around the other Icelandics.

She came over to me for a chat, which was lovely.

Hetja is a wonderful girl, a natural mother and someone who takes her responsibilities very seriously.

I love this photo – it is a real “Oh Mum” moment.

Little Himself, Hjalti, is still gorgeous.

He seems to have grown some legs.  Real legs that go on forever.

Hjalti is very curious now and it is permitted by Hetja, which is lovely.  Such a relief for us all as it will make our winter plans much easier.  He won’t be weaned until next year as he was a late foal.

A perfect birthday is spending time with my family –  furry, woolly or otherwise.

Flossie is making me a cake (I might’ve mentioned chocolate) while OH is cooking supper.  Daisy drew a card for me.  Wonderful.  For those who know me, that is an iPad I have under my arm and I am wearing my most favourite Finnish boots.

I also have a bottle of gin and all is very good.

Happy Birthday to me!