It’s been a very windy day today with sporadic violent showers, thankfully very quick, but the type that can soak you to the skin in seconds.  We have all experienced this.

Can you tell that I am totally obsessed by the weather?  (sorry, but I am. It’s the time of year).

Anywho, I am being tough.  Floss reminded me that everyone is very well-covered (*** cough – fat – /cough ***) so I don’t need to bring them inside.  Nope, they must grow a thick winter coat and get on with it.

Even so, I am glad the old ladies are using their shed.  They know it’s there if they want or need it.  I don’t need to lie awake at night listening to the bad weather and worry.  I can think of them choosing to get out of it instead.

My one strand fence is holding up in the wind and possibly even being respected.

I realise it is only Day 1 but I remain the optimist.  There is a tiny part that is not electrified as it was impossible.  Tiddles and Albie do not know this.  Say nothing!

Instead, I have a feeling that the full force of the zap on the nosey touching the wire to see if it is actually on may have been felt.  Respect the fence then!

To town this morning for pony supplies, drop off some sheep, eat haggis and chips, and then swiftly home.

The sheep field always needs filling but things should calm down now Wool Week and the cruise ship visits are over for the year.  I can go back to transcribing my Great Great Aunt Kate’s diaries again.  I am up to 1930 and in Italy.

Once home, we unpacked the van and quickly constructed a single strand electric fence around as much hard-standing as safely possible.  It was not easy because fence posts need something to stick into and hard ground is impossible.

I also invented a rather nifty gate effort that divides the two doors to the stable and the indoor school so the old men could have use of the indoor school if required while Tiddles and friend can use the stable if the weather gets really rough.

However, I am not confident that one strand of electric wire will be enough to contain Tiddles and friend and am fully prepared to put up another over the next few days.

But, for the time being, I remain an optimist or possibly a rather stupid naive owner of Shetland ponies who should know better by now!

We spent our morning getting everyone in the right place for our impending farrier visit today. The old men were unimpressed with their holding pen. Tough.

We put the Minions in the stable.

Havoc was wreaked…..

…. as well as revenge (Storm, No!)

Pepper spent her day going round making friends.

And the bad news.  Tiddles has hoof capsule rotation (last year’s laminitis and now soft ground have not helped).  He has to live on hard-standing for a while for everything to sort itself out after the trim.  But now all his hooves have been remedially trimmed, Tiddles is much happier.  Painkillers have helped as well.  We will inter-change his companion.

Today it is Albie who has drawn the short-straw.  He is not thrilled but they will all take it in turns.  Meanwhile poor, poor Tiddles.  Off we go again.

“Hairst” is the Shetland dialect word for Autumn.

It is my most favourite time of year.

I love all the muted colours, the everything.

Shetland just looks perfect to me.  This is my time of year.

But, best of all, Floss is home for a ten day holiday (yes, we are still testing positive for Covid but it is her choice and hopefully as we are two weeks on, we are not contagious).

So we took the dogs for a walk in Leradale.

Although it was overcast, Pepper and Ted had a lovely time running and running and running.

As well as digging.  Absolutely no one came when they were called, either. Little baskets.  We were both hoarse from shouting.

Leradale is perfect this time of year.  Very special.

And this rock bridge spans a very deep burn. I held my breath, prayed and walked across it.

But Floss refused and found an easier place upstream (I bet she also held her breath when she crossed – scary stuff).

After our walk, I took Floss to visit Klængur and she agreed with me that he looked much better but needed to stay a bit longer. It’s always good to have a second opinion.

Anywho, it is lovely having Floss home. Let’s hope we don’t infect her with our plague.

While we were waiting for our equine dentist, Stuart, to arrive, I let Fivla and Vitamin out of their field so they were close by and easy to catch.

Vitamin had a lovely chat with Haakon who drew in his stomach and looked beautiful.

Then Fivla came swishing past in a rage to tell her friend not to talk to the riff-raff.  I love Iacs’ hopeful face – a double date, perhaps?  You can almost hear her shout “No chance!”

The old ladies were first in – Fivla…. who had nothing done.

And then Vitamin who had some rasping done.  When Stuart returns next Spring, she will need sedation and two teeth removed.  It needs to be done.

Note – one small dog who “helped”, ie got in the way horribly and was almost trodden on. She will learn somehow if she doesn’t get killed in the attempt.

I love this photo.  It just shows that nothing much has changed in over 20 years.  Everyone just waits patiently and there is never any trouble.  I think Iacs was still hopeful of his “date”.

Haakon had quite a bit done. He had a fracture in his tooth, which had left a sharp bit casuing an ulcered cheek.  Hopefully with everything smoothed down, it will heal up in a week.  My poor boy.  He never said.

Lastly was Iacs who had some rasping and spent the whole time walking backwards in circles (sorry, no photo).

Anywho, I am glad Stuart has been.  I feel much better knowing everyone is the best they can be for their age and there are no unknown nasties lurking.