Author Archives: Frances

Dentist Aftenoon

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Today the equine dentist arrived.  I had everyone all ready.

And gave them a pep talk mentioning good behaviour, and that I would be there, etc.  This was the first time the ponies had met our equine dentist, Stuart Lindsay, or had anyone look in their mouths.

First up was Waffle – I thought I would break the dentist in gently.  Waffle, though not thrilled, was a good boy.

The others were around and watching, which we felt was important, so they could see and hear the drills and dental gag.

Then it was Tiddles’ turn, who completely let the side down.  He reared and looked like a little chess piece, managing to make a fuss about everything.  Stuart worked with what he had and didn’t give up. We then discussed sedation for the next visit (oh, the shame).

Albie next – and, again, not great.  Maybe it is a skewbald pony thing.  He’s another candidate for sedation.

Silver objected right at the start and I thought “here we go”.

And then he settled down.  Although jumpy, he wasn’t as bad as the previous two.

I did lots of hanging on, scratching backs and saying encouraging/calming things to try and distract.  It seemed to work.

And lastly there was Newt who actually again wasn’t bad – not quite as good as Waffle, but definitely better than Silver.

I won’t lie, I expected better but it could’ve been a lot worse.  No one had any horrors in their mouths, just a few sharp bits and no one is a worry, which makes a change.  A huge thank you to Stuart Lindsay, Equine Dentist.

 

Trigger Happy

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I am a great believer that sleep is when your body does its best healing so when Pepper finally switched off this afternoon, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

But mostly she is awake, trigger happy and desperate to be off. Anywhere.

And then at about 3.30 p.m., the trigger arrived in the form of Monster who was looking for someone to give him his tea (tea-time is 4 o’clock and not a minute sooner – he knows this).  I opened the shed door to his pathetic scratchings and Ted rushed off into the house. Pepper was now awake and rather wishing she had gone off with Ted because she could go hunting, which I am trying to discourage what with her poorly paw.

Anyway, I tried to ignore Monster but the paw was out, the prodding adding to the pathetic mewing.

Shouting in case I hadn’t got the message. The very loud message.

Wanting just a few more moments of peace, I picked up Monster and dumped him on the chaise-longue (read dog bed).

I can so no to Monster very easily but not that enchanting little Pepper face with the pink bandage (pink really suits her).

I went into the house and gave everyone their tea.  Phew. Monster will live to see another day.  I think we are all thrilled there.

Out again, I fed the ducks/hens and gave the ponies their hay but this time in piles so they could enjoy it rather than spend hours fighting it out strand by strand from their very small haynets.

I just thought they might like to have an afternoon treat.

As you can see, they’re not exactly fading away either.  All I do is give out food, I think. That’s my job.

Da Gairdins Visit

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I spent a lovely, if blowy, morning at Da Gairdins in Sand, 4 miles north of Skeld. A 60 acre site of woodland and gardens open all year round for everyone to visit.

And I had never been before (I have no idea why but I haven’t).

So, apologies for the photo drop but I had the best morning walking around with our visitors enjoying everything.  I only managed the first garden – there are three different areas to discover.

From Lonely Planet – “Four miles north of Skeld, a side road leads to Sand, where you’ll find Da Gairdins i Sand, a brave attempt to create a colourful woodland garden amid the bleak moors of western Shetland. Various environments, including grassland, wildflower meadows, rhododendron walks and wildlife ponds, have been created in the lee of conifer shelter belts. Pick up a leaflet at the entrance for a description of the various walks.”

Well, all I can say is that it was a lot more than “a brave attempt”.  This patronizing review was written by someone who obviously has never actually tried to cultivate, let alone grow, a brussel sprout in Shetland.  This is a true labour of love.

The Shetland weather is unhelpful in the extreme and the love and hard work put into achieving this truly awesome environment is evident at every turn of the peaceful trails.

So here are my photos of the first “gairdin”.

I must go back and explore the other two.  And I know I say this and never go back, but I will. I am determined to explore.  I had the best morning.

From Da Gairdins’ website – “Come and enjoy a variety of garden walks, discover thousands of trees and plants and appreciate open views across the sea. Watch the wildlife in three large ponds teaming with frogs. Take pleasure eating outdoors at one of the many picnic areas. Stroll through woodland, Pampas plantations and Rhododendron beds. And much, much more! Dogs are welcome on a lead.”

                            

Greasy Forelocks and Manes

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When I was in the field this morning, I noticed that the old horses and ponies had greasy clumpy forelocks and thought to myself I must do something about this.  I’ll do it later – Mañana.

Later arrived and, after I had made my statutory hand-felted sheep, I was in desparate need for some fresh air so I went outside armed with my small bucket of grooming tools.  I knew I would probably be in for a long walk to find everyone but, as luck would have it, the horses and ponies had all come down to the paddock for water, or use of the little shed.

So I grabbed my chance.  Some took no time at all to brush out like ↓↓ Haakon ↓↓. I finished him in seconds.

Bibble (aka Iacs) needed a lot more attention.  His mane was forming clumps from old finer winter hair that had matted in and was turning into knots. I diligently brushed them all out and he was instantly transformed into a handsome beast.

Kolka was another who didn’t take long.

Mostly because she left and I hadn’t bothered to bring a headcollar so couldn’t catch her.

 

Still, I got them all done in that field.

Including Fivla and Vitamin who then took to their shed.  I might have a go at the other Shetland ponies.  They have the equine dentist (first check up ever) on Thursday so that might be a good time to do a spot of grooming as well.

Day Changes

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My usual Saturday has had to shift to Sunday, if that makes sense.

Packing vegetables for Transition Turrifield (that I used to do on a Thursday afternoon) is now weekly and on a Saturday morning. My Saturday afternoons used to be set aside for flute duets but I never knew when I would get home after Turriefield, so we changed it to Sunday instead.

It doesn’t really matter when I play the flute as long as it is convenient for the First Flute (I am Second because my top notes are a bit suss and I am too lazy to ever practice!)

Anyway, as today is Sunday, we got the silver flutes out to murder Mozart. We had our usual audience. Obviously Pepper was grounded because of her poorly paw so I gave her “Lamb Chop” to keep her company.

Monster just slouched about and left when it all got a bit much. He just gets in the way anyway.

And that is why my Saturday has become Sunday (and in my head it all makes perfect sense, even if you are left scratching your’s).