We tacked up our horses and went out for a ride today.

There is nothing better than a Boxing Day ride.

Ok, the weather was not brilliant.

At one stage it rained a bit but we didn’t melt and it was good to get out.

I love riding with my two daughters. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Haakon was his usual self so I didn’t bother with the reins.  I didn’t need to.  We have an understanding that has evolved from many years together.

Daisy and Taktur set off up the canter track.

And then Flossie and Klængur flew off.

Meanwhile at Ground Control, Haakon put on the brakes and watched while eating a carrot that happened about my person.  These days if he doesn’t feel like it, we don’t do it.  He is an old man.

While he munched contentedly, the girls and their horses walked back down the hill to join me.

We went on for a little while longer and turned round at a suitable passing place on the single track road.  There was little traffic around.

Like I said, there is nothing better than a Boxing Day ride.

Home now to eat Floss’ excellent Yule Log (decorated by OH and Daisy).

Obviously, I bought sheep.

Can you see Fivla and Vitamin on the far side of the field?  Well, they wouldn’t follow me like the others did when I was walking in Leradale.

I crossed the small burn that runs through the field and everyone was coming too so I thought I would show the herd that there is more grass to eat as they always seemed to be in the same place when I visit.

Tiddles had divided loyalties and so turned round to go back to Fivla and Vitamin who refused to move from their spot.  The one where they tell Brá and Hetja about just how bad pregnancy and foal-birth can be.

But the rest of my Minions wanted to come with me.

Then Silver went cantering back to the old ladies who were now shouting unhelpfully.

Sadly Albie and Waffle cantered off too.

Leaving me with Newt and Storm (yes, they are related).

And on we went around the field.

Suddenly Albie returned, having changed his mind – stay with the boring old ladies or go on a big adventure.  No contest.

So off we went again.

I was pleased with my three little lads for coming with me and I had no calorific incentives with me so I told them they were all very intrepid.

Then we had walked the full circle and were homeward bound.

The herd joined up again and next time, I decided, I am taking a headcollar so that Vitamin will not hold them back.  I am taking her with me.  Fivla will follow.

It was a good walk.  Gallopy, gallopy, giggle, giggle.

Another amazingly calm, if cold, beautiful day in Shetland.

So, armed with a pair of small sharp scissors, I went and cut every horse and pony’s tail off!  No, I just trimmed it really.

I was fed up of seeing the long tails dragging along the ground in the mud and dirt and I am sure they equally hate standing on them.  That must hurt.  So a-chopping I went.

It was very satisfactory work made much easier by everyone’s rare exemplary behaviour.  I barely needed Floss and her headcollars.

We arrived ill-prepared (wrong size of headcollars for the big ones) so I was amazed when Lilja stood there having her tail trimmed for, I think, the first time in her life.

What was more odd was that I caught Brá with just a rope around her neck and she never moved or had an opinion.

Feeling inspired, I went out and trimmed everyone else’s tail in the boy herd at home too.

The Gods must’ve been smiling – there was a beautiful rainbow as well.

So that was a job well done – 19 tails now trimmed.  I was very impressed with my horses and ponies.  They all behaved beautifully.  Like I said, most odd.  It must be Christmas!

A lovely calm day.  Everyone was out enjoying the sun and total lack of wind – a rare event this time of year.

Floss and I drove to Leradale for the daily check where we found the ladies taking a siesta.

Floss topped up the water buckets while I fed and checked the Icelandics.  Their field, although perfect, does not have a consistent running water supply and I worry.  So we have two buckets of water extra just in case because you never know and I have a thing about water being available all the time everywhere to everyone.

Anywho, once I had got over my water hysteria, we went to visit the MInions and have a little sit with them.

There really is nothing nicer than sitting on a bum-numbingly cold rock chatting to little Shetland ponies.

Tiddles kept his distance but at the same time managing to look mysterious…..

…. as well as rather splendid on the Shetland hill skyline.

In that heap of ponies is Flossie being loved/mauled.

Waffle is very taken with Lilja at the moment.  He tells he is her Handsome Prince.  She is less convinced but likes being near her Minion friends.

Fivla and Vitamin consistently hang around the gate so that they can frighten and bore Hetja and Brá with endless stories of pregnancies-they-have-known. 

So that’s everyone.  All happy, eating and enjoying their winter quarters.