The winter weather has now decided to arrive.

Wind and rain. More wind. More rain.  This is a Shetland winter, although we have been very lucky recently.  I shall not complain.

I am still not convinced that Tiddles is waterproof after his “little episode” (cough, splutter, splutter, cough – that is what the Allergy Clinic called my anaphylaxis so this small demeaning phrase is now in regular use in our house) so I brought him in with his best friend (Storm) to where there is a shed to shelter in.  The small paddock with Tor, Albie and Fivla.

Storm immediately took up residence.

I told him (and Tiddles) that if Albie wanted in, then he had in and they would smile sweetly and let him be a Minion with them.

Thems are The Rules.

So, I went and sat in the shed to see who appeared.

 

And then a Dragon arrived.

But the Dragon was kept at bay. Those two budge for no one.  Years of training and blocking doors.

That was until they had a better idea.

And then the Dragon took over and none shall pass.  Even if they smiled sweetly.

Only this evening, Fivla, Albie and Tor were put in the stable leaving Storm and Tiddles to have the run of the field with the shed.  I doubt Fivla will ever get in there again.

Cos that’s how it works in this Shire!

Little Albie is rapidly growing into Big Albie.

Though always a very darling little boy, he is still being fed.  I haven’t “weaned” him because I think he needs everything he can get at the moment.

Milk in the morning and evening plus hard feed at breakfast and lunchtime.  He is very cuddly-wuddly and loves being hugged by us.  We still stay with him until he walks away.

He likes his food.

And so do others.  The vultures always circle.

Before Fivla arrived, the deal was always that Tor could wash-up the bowl.  Despite her small size, Tor is not prepared to share this deal with Fivla.

Ever.

One of little Albie’s problems are his hind feet.

He has dropped fetlocks (probably the wrong name – I am crap at horse anatomy and diagnosis but I know bad legs when I see them) since birth which has improved through constant hoof trimming but will never be perfect.  They also rotate when he walks which makes me wince.  Apparently he is not in pain.

Albie is not “stallion material”, as they say in the horsey-pony world.

More cheap nylon.

But we love Albie so he will be gelded probably in the new year and will be one of the Minions.

A Nylon Minion.

So, not dissimilar to other nylon Minions then!

I love my Minions.

We have had some wonderful weather recently – very un-Shetland-like for October so I have tried to make the most of it.

I spend time sitting with my Boyzenberries.

Life is good and I am happy.

You have no idea how wonderful it is now I have my little Monkey home.  I know, I know he is just a Shetland hill sheep so means nothing to many but to me he is my little moorit boy who went a-wandering.  I just pray he doesn’t leave again.  I spend much time telling him this as well as feeding him carrots.  He loves carrots.

Anywho, today, we thought we would do something different with Fivla.

She needs a change from just wandering/trotting aimlessly round and round the indoor school or up the road and down again.  Life is dull if you are a Fivla trying to lose weight.

So today we put on her basket saddle. It is an original antique wicker basket saddle with original upholstery that I bought many years ago off Ebay.  At the time, it was pure folly.  Now it has its uses.  Huzzzah! (to that feeling of buying something just for the sake of it knowing or hoping that one day it might come in useful).

From an early age BeAnne has sat in her basket saddle.

She loves it.

Never asks to leave.

She happily watches the world go past at a very reasonable speed.

To Watsness and back again is the route – around 1.5 miles.

The scenery was nice (and tampered with in Photoshop to look very dramatic, just because I can).

But in a basket saddle on a Shetland pony, is possibly the best way to see Shetland!

At least BeAnne thinks so.

And yes, we did get some odd looks from passers by!

The time has come.

When we introduced Efstur to carrots.

He wasn’t sure and spat the first one out.

But luckily he had some advice from an old “addict”.

The carrot crunching is loud and Hjalti appeared out of nowhere to assist in the corruption and/or education.  It all depends on your perception of the evils of carrots.

And so it begins.

Once the bag of carrots was finished, then other rewards were on offer.  Lots of scratches and kisses (Note the beards.  The boys have great winter beards!)

Hjalti has taught Efstur so much.  They are the best of friends and it is lovely to see.  Just what we wanted.

Efstur is growing his long shaggy winter coat now.  He is growing all the time.

He is a very affectionate little chap and learning his manners.

This herd environment is perfect for him.

But he is also still a baby.

Brá is a very good mother. She loves her son but she wants him to have his independence. Of course, should anything happen that she disapproves of, she wades in, but mostly she leaves him to his own devices, letting him come back to her when he wants.  The perfect mother.

Little Hjalti is now becoming Big Hjalti.

Hetja is happy to have him with her and they still have a strong mother-son bond.

He is very useful too.

So, this winter we will work with Efstur and Hjalti.  We still have Headcollar Wars to win (just for the vet to put in his microchip).  I am hoping his new love of carrots may help.

When in doubt, bribe!

Tis always the answer!

Meet Bergli Gloria.

She is the best Shetland pony filly foal in Shetland 2016 and that is a seriously nice silver rose bowl that she has won.

This is her mother – Bluemull Roseblossom.

You may remember her.  This was Roseblossom in March 2015.  She was the mare we nursed through hyperlipaemia.

During her horrible illness, she aborted her foal (a strong colt) which physically probably saved her life but mentally hit her hard.  Afterwards, after careful thought and consideration, she ran with Wulfert v.d. groote woerd 528 009 05 1119553 (Waffle’s Sire).

This spring she had a beautiful filly foal.  She was thrilled.  Everything was back to normal. 

Darling little Gloria.

And if anyone says to you that Shetland ponies just can’t move like bigger horses and ponies,  well then……

…. perhaps refer them to watch Gloria in action.

This little lady floats with ears pricked and a smile on her face!

Stunning, absolutely stunning.

So effortless.

Serious wow!

I could watch her all day.

 

And she has the most delicious little canter too.

Roseblossom deserves to be happy after all the hell that she went through last year and she is.  She has the most beautiful, talented little girl.

The best in Shetland.

I am not surprised.  The trophy is well deserved.

On the way home, Foula was looking magical.

I never pass up an opportunity to take photos of Foula when it is looking special.