Last night I worried about Brisk and his future.

On one hand, the mare (Tor) and foal (Camus) hate him nursing. It is very stressful for everyone. Based on this, I put Brisk out with Tiddles (a 2yo gelding who was weaned at 3 months and would understand rejection)  but then Brisk did not settle and Tor, the mare, started shouting for her orphan.

So back Brisk went with Tor and Camus. I leave out milk but no one is interested.  Brisk is not asking Tor for milk either now.  He is content eating grass, hard feed and hay. He also drinks water.

It is, of course, not ideal.  No foal should be weaned at 8 weeks old but then what is best?  Brisk has attached himself to this mother and son combo.  The rejection has lessened and they are a happy little unit even if he never gets any more milk from the mare, Tor.

I have tried to give Brisk bottles of milk but he only sucks a little with no enthusiasm.

He has bonded well with Camus, Tor’s foal and Tor is far less hostile.

Whatever Camus does, little Brisk follows.

And that is very good.

Floss’ summer job is to tame down both foals.

She was happy when I told her this.

Camus has learned the Thordale nose-kissey.

He is a very quick learner.

25kg sack of Foal Creep from Bailey’s Horse Feeds will arrive soon.  Even if Tor never allows Brisk to nurse from her, he will still get the right nutrients in his diet to develop and grow. However, I am glad to see that Tor will continues to let her son feed. I would hate him to suffer because of her intolerance of Brisk.

All I want is for this little family to be happy, content and showing no stress.

Brisk is a large robust skewbald miniature Shetland pony foal of 8 weeks.  His mother died yesterday and he is still drinking milk.

We thought of the options and decided firstly to try and go with Plan A.

This is Plan A – to put him with a lovely peaceable miniature Shetland mare called Bergli Tor, with her foal Camus.  Of all the mares in all the world who wouldn’t mind another foal, Tor is that mare.

If Tor will allow Brisk to feed from her, as well as her own foal, then all will be very wonderful and we breathe a sigh of relief.

To be fair, Tor was not hugely amenable but when we heavily bribed the front end with hard feed and lifted her back leg and tail, then she let Brisk drink.  Camus was not very impressed, either so Flossie kept him away.

At the moment Brisk cannot live in the same pen as Tor and Camus so he is in the next pen and can see them.

Brisk is already trying hard feed and has a bucket of water, a tray of “mare and youngstock” hard feed as well as bucket of milk.  He likes hard feed but we haven’t seen him drink the milk. It is very early days anyway.  He has so much to get used to.

Brisk is not going to be a Minion.  I am happy to care for him until he is weaned but then his owner will decide on his future.

I hope Plan A works.  Failing that, then it is Plan B -bottles and live with Tiddles and Storm in Clothie for the summer.  Not ideal but it might work.

We have a problem at Thordale.

Hetja won’t let Taktur near Brá.

Hetja makes it her business to always be in between Taktur and Brá.  I don’t think it is to protect Brá’s foal, Efstur, as Taktur is not an aggressive stallion and he gets on well with this little one.  He would never attack or kill him. He is not that kind of chap – just in case you are thinking he might.

It is strange, since Hetja, two years ago, didn’t really give Taktur the time of day let alone houseroom.  To be perfectly honest, I am surprised that Hjalti even appeared ten months’ later considering Hetja’s disdain for Taktur and his Handsome Prince advances.  These two spent most of their summer at opposite ends of the field.

This year, having served Hetja, Taktur is looking elsewhere.  His mind is occupied with another mushroomy smell and waving bottom.

Brá who, already with foal at foot, is very keen to make Taktur’s acquaintance.

She has lots of come-hither looks for Taktur.

For a few days now, I have been watching the whole situation very carefully  If Hetja has her way, I will end up with only one foal next year.

So, armed with a headcollar, I have been removing Hetja from the bedroom.

Today, as Flossie had just come home, she was given the job of babysitter……

…..  while Taktur and Brá got it together, without Hetja’s perpetual nterference.  Three times today!

So, fingers crossed, we have two foals next year.  That is the breeding plan.

A cardboard box arrived from Denmark today and in it was……

…. my crofthouse, Thordale, beautifully made by Jogalong & Pogwash (multimedia art)

Complete with my beloved sheeps and Land Rover.

I love it.  I have cleared (and even cleaned, because that is how much I adore it) the shelf below the window where I sit and write on my laptop.  This house has pride of place.

What a lovely present from my friend, Barbara of Lille Rosendal and Riccarton DK Shetlandspony Stutteri.  She is the artist who made it – a very talented lady.

Look at the fencing?  I wish we had fencing as nice as this.  The bird table and the seat are perfect.  The only artistic licence is the two stable doors (front door and back door).  I have always wanted stable doors but my OH has always said no!  My Theory: maybe if OH sees how nice they look on this house, then perhaps I could have them in real life on my house (if you catch my drift).

This house is so nice I could almost live there.  Oh yes, but I do!

Thank you, Barbara, for making me go round for the whole of today with a huge smile on my face.  Every time I look up from my desk and see my house, I grin all over again!

It is perfect.

What a wonderful present.  My perfect little crofthouse.

Yesterday, I knew a friend was visiting my neighbours so I phoned to see if they would like a visit.

Apparently, they would.

Since Lambie has been sheared/shorn/whatever, his cob-sized headcollar is a bit loose but he pottered along happily with it.  I only put it on to stop him from eating my neighbour’s beautiful garden!  Lambie is rather partial to flowers.

En route, we practiced our “winning smile”.

Willie and Evelyn were thrilled to see Lambie.

They totally understand caddie lambs – they are part of the family.

Gwen, who was visiting, had a good chat with Lambie.  She, too, had a caddie lamb called Jacob and Lambie did his best to remind her of the friendship of sheep.

It was hot indoors, for Lambie, so he sat down, while we had a cup of tea and a good chat.

BeAnne sulked gently on the sofa (as ever, she likes all the attention to be on her).

I was very proud of Lambie. He behaved beautifully and did not put a cloven hoof wrong – polite, kind and very loving.  There was no barging, no attention-seeking and a huge amount of generosity and patience.  He was even almost continent (I brought an incontiniece pad with me which was plonked underneath him when he did the world’s biggest pee).

Being crofters, Willie and Evelyn took it all in their stride.

Evelyn brought Lambie some water to drink (hugely appreciated) as well as some fizzy apple juice (not quite so appreciated, but worth a try).

Having put the world to right, had a good chat, a cup of tea and made ourselves totally at home, I thought we had better not outstay our welcome and so we said our goodbyes and walked home.

‘Ster was pleased to his Lambie again.  If ‘Ster could walk happily on a lead, rather than have a total hissy fit, then he could come too.  At the moment, this is not to be.

Darling Lambie – so proud (sniff).