The little shed is popular.  I usually find someone is living in it when I come with my buckets.

Today it was Vitamin and Newt’s turn.

And in the corner was a new room-mate – Penthesilea – my Muscovy/Amazon duck from last year’s hatch.  She had moved in and was refusing to budge.

Everyone seemed perfectly happy about Penthesilea living with them so who am I to say she must move?

If the ponies are happy, I am happy.

Tiddles was outside today.

So I fed them all (Vitamin her  big bucket, Tiddles and Newt their mere whiff of food), and left.

When I got back from feeding the Minions, I went back to the shed to see if Penthesilea had taken up permanent residence. I already have one duck nesting so I could understand if Penthesilea wanted to sit.  Plus, the other night I had managed to shut her in the indoor riding school all night. She was thrilled and has been trying get locked in ever since.

No duck sitting but instead I found a beautiful duck egg (before Pepper did, which is a huge achievement in itself).

Earlier, I opened the big gate out into the big field and the ponies eventually found it and so they spent the day eating but quickly came home when I called them in later this afternoon.

I went out first thing this morning to feed everyone. Added to my list were now Vitamin and her field-mates.

I found Vitamin, Waffle and Newt having taken up permanent residence in their wee shed and they were not coming out for anyone……. oooh, look a bucket!

Eventually I coaxed them outside to eat and Pepper got to meet three Minions.  Everyone behaved beautifully, which was nice. She has never met Shetland ponies before.

Then onwards to see the rest of the herd who were miles away and cross with me, I could tell, but I had brought big carrots and so was quickly forgiven.

I left them all to their munching and went back home to hear Vitamin shouting her head off. Newt and Tiddles have a new trick now – they hide and Vitamin thinks they’ve gone, shouts endlessly for them, while they stay quiet and say nothing.

Poor Vitamin. Her holiday is not quite as she imagined it.  Still, she has a lovely bedroom (but she has to share with two naughty boys).

Last night the weather forecast looked bad.  Lots of rain coming.  Lots.

So I opened up the stable and brought the old men (Haakon and Iacs) up to have free access to the stable if they wanted plus all the grass around the house that needed eating.  I also messaged my neighbour with a potential plan to bring Vitamin home if I found her the next morning shaking with cold. My van is at the garage and she has a horsebox.

This morning, I woke early (4 a.m.) with worry about Vitamin and the rain had arrived.

So I messaged my neighbour who brought her horsebox, daughter to help and husband to drive and we went to the Minion field and found them all shaking.  So we took the three worst – Vitamin, Newt and Tiddles home (and, yes, I told Fivla she would’ve been coming home but that ship had sailed when she ripped up Vitamin’s rug yesterday).

The Old Men were still in their stable and the little ones made their acquaintance.

I brought buckets for them. Haakon and Iacs had had their’s earlier and of course had forgotten and instantly felt hard done by.

Haynets all round.

Extra string on the gate.  Haakon and Iacs couldn’t decide if they liked or hated their new neighbours.

When the worst of the rain had gone, I put the little ones out into a small grassy paddock.

I opened up the shelter too and made a point of showing Vitamin.  One of the reasons I chose Tiddles and Newt as companions was that I knew none of them would hog the shed or get in Vitamin’s way if she wanted to go inside.

The weather cleared up fairly quickly but while it was lashing down, I felt very sorry for everyone.  A huge thank you to my neighbours who gave up their Sunday morning to work tirelessly for my ponies.

I am not talking to Fivla. She is in total disgrace.

Yesterday was Farrier Day so Stephen and I duly walked up the hill to trim the Minions’ feet.

We took two rugs with us as torrential rain is forecast tomorrow. Vitamin shakes when it rains so I wanted to fit Vitamin with one.  The light rainsheet was a perfect fit and, as she was rather anxious when I put it on, I decided to leave it on her.

So everyone chased Vitamin around the field, which was not nice and all I could hope was that they would calm down after we had gone.  Fivla was the worst.  All teeth and ears flat back.

I went up early this morning to check everyone. I gave Vitamin her bucket and could see that the herd had calmed down now.

While Vitamin was eating, I noticed a strap was loose, so I started tightening everything up….. until I found a massive rip at the back (other side).  The rug was now unwearable.

Furious, I took off the rug.  I had no choice. It was useless in this state.

And Fivla is still being a cow.

Vitamin is on her guard all the time.

And I have had words with Fivla about this.

But, on a good note, I did notice as I was leaving, Vitamin giving two massive bucks kicking Fivla in the teeth.  Inwardly I cheered.  I hope Fivla will back off now.

The damage.

And white hairs all over it – that points to one pony!

And I am saddened by this. Fivla and Vitamin were always the greatest of friends.  Now they are the greatest of enemies.  If this goes on, I must try and get Vitamin home (no van = garage). Meanwhile, during the wind and rain, I will feed her twice a day and hope that is enough.  *** sigh *** – what to do?

Klængur is fat. I’m not going to sugar-coat this. He looks like a hippo on the verge of laminitis.

So today he went to live with my neighbour’s mare who needs a fat companion. Yup, I have one of those….

Luckily Klængur thought Hekla was luffley.

Hekla can’t eat green grass and a fat on-the-verge-of-laminitic friend was required.  Ta da! Here is one I prepared earlier.

The couple have a variety of paddocks with no grass.  Perfect.

And this is just what my ginger hippo needs.

He tried to suck in his belly to impress.

He convinced no one, I told him!

I am pleased these two get on well. This set-up benefits us all.  Klængur is only over the road and I can even see him from my house.

I am being cruel to be kind.

He will thank me for this.

Hekla and Klængur sort of know each other – they have been ridden out together.

Meanwhile the Old Men are trying to miss Klængur, but mostly think they will get his food!  Nope.