A lovely huge rainbow appeared this morning while I was feeding the ducks, hens and sheep.  I rushed inside to find my camera only to find the rainbow had diminished to this by the time I came out again.  Still, it was fairly good. I do like a rainbow.

After breakfast, I said I wanted to move the duck pond and re-gravel the bit up to the school as the ducks are making it very slippy for both people and horses and it will only be a matter of time before I end up on my arse.

The pond was moved and refilled and the ducks are now being lured to go near it again.  They are always very resentful of change and now mooch about in their usual place looking furious.  I will feed them in the mornings near their pond and hope they get used to it, get over themselves and go for a swim.  The new place is much better.

After lunch, I rode Klængur in the school. Recently I’ve noticed he is lacking basic good manners and schooling. Daisy gave me a lesson and then, as we were whizzing around totally out of control, she asked if she could get on. I did not say no.

And then Daisy, of course, got him going very nicely.

When she offered to regularly school Klængur for me, I definitely didn’t say no!

On my way back with Klængur to his field (I told him, as he couldn’t be nice, he would have to deal with Daisy – so another resentful animal), I saw these very pretty duck feathers.

So, that’s me and that’s hopefully Klængur sorted in the next few weeks.

Lilja is truly stunning.

She followed me back to the gate after I had checked, fed, kissed, hugged and did it all at least three times again, everyone else in her field.

So, to thank her for her true devotion, I took some photos of her uphill while I stood in a ditch.  Whatever it takes for a good photo.

The view on my way home was dramatic. “Winter is coming” – in my book, it is already here.

Once home, Daisy and I thought we would give the old men a whirl in the indoor school to see what like they were.  We haven’t ridden either of them for a while.  One thing and another – that’s our excuse.

Anywho, Iacs was most keen on this riding idea.

While Haakon feigned mild interest but was then very whizzy once I was onboard.  It was great fun and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Iacs is a glass half full kinda guy!   You can tell.

Monster and Her Maj were also mooching around mouse-hunting.  It was just like old times.

Apparently the equine dentist is not likely to come up to Shetland in the near future so we arranged for the vet to come to look at Efstur because we wanted to have the all-clear on his teeth.

Although Efstur started his training in a bitless bridle indoors, Daisy would prefer to ride him with a bit as he has absolutely no brakes outside.  I can see her point entirely.  Brakes are always useful, possibly essential!

So Morag, the vet, visited and gave the young man a quick once-over before she started.

This was a first for Efstur and Mr Dental-Equine-Speculum was gently introduced and accepted with no argument or discussion.

Morag had a good feel inside Efstur’s mouth.

Daisy had a good feel inside too.

The gag came off and his alignment looked at.

The diagnosis was that there were no wolf teeth lurking or anything untoward. So all is good in Efstur’s mouth.

Carroty rewards and lots of “what a good boy”.  He was – we were proud of him.

Efstur thought it was great to be the centre of attention.  So now we have to work out what bit will suit him best because we know nothing is wrong and he needs to get going again with his training.

To the Bit Bank and don’t spare the horses!

Daisy and I are keeping busy, even we didn’t feel much like riding. Today was windy and blustery and neither of us are particularly keen.

So, to make up for our lack of ridingness, Daisy said we (well, mostly she) would trim Hetja and Brá’s hooves.

Obviously Hetja oversaw proceedings.

While I was on rope duty and moral support with occasional rasping.  My back is not fully recovered but I could hang onto a rope.

First up was Brá because she is can be the most difficult of the pair.

Today she was a total star.  Maybe the wind has changed or something but Brá these days is easy and nice to work with.  She has mellowed.

Hetja was less helpful and bit crashy.  Words were had and toes were trodden on.

Anywho, the view was nice.

I took this photo for my mother so she could see her car living a completely different life to the one it was used to. Poor car. Rather a shock to its system.

So, job done and it needed doing.

Despite raining all day and being thoroughly dreich, I decided to go and check the Minions taking the horse-van for a run.  The chaps were standing in the far corner of the field over the burn (stream).

But I showed them my pocketful of carrots and they duly stirred.

Lilja was their leader.

And the others followed in dribs and drabs.

Well, everyone except for Waffle, so I threw his carrot over to him.

Once checked, noseys duly kissed, more carrots dished out, pocketses emptied, pocketses confirmed to be empty, I left them all to it and walked back down the hill.

Of course I was followed – Newt and Storm having a quick game en route.

Albie was very determined to come home with me.  He would sit in the van, if he could.

I said goodbye at the gate feeling, as usual, incredibly guilty that they had a fine field, full of hill grass, fresh water and friends.  How they suffer.

And my van?  Well, what I thought had been clever off-road parking turned out to be one wheel now wedged in the ditch and I was totally stuck.

Dammit!  Luckily the postie was passing and, as he was going next door to the mill, he told them of my plight and they brought a tractor and rope around to tow me out.  Huge thanks to Jamiesons Mill.  On a useful note, I was shown the van’s towing point and the location of the tool box.  I never knew I had one.

Next home and I spent my afternoon making a sheeple to feel better.

However, I am not sure that I do feel better. I feel rather embarrassed about the van.  Hey ho. Live and learn. I’m not having much luck with vehicles these days.