Category Archives: Cats and dogs

Farrier Today

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We had Jay, our farrier, coming today so, after their breakfast, I put everyone where they could be easily caught.  The old horses and ponies were grazing the green grass around the outside of the house while the little Shetland ponies were in their paddock with a haynet to stave off the boredom from waiting.

First up was Haakon and Pepper duly got in the way.

Then clutching my same cob-size headcollar, I caught Fivla….

And lastly Vitamoobag.  Again, note Pepper.  I did ask Jay if he wanted me to put her in the house but he said he didn’t mind. Honest.

The old ones all done (those that needed), and we headed to the  Shetland pony paddock avec le petit chien who dutifully got in the way.  It was a full time job for her.

At least I managed to find a smaller headcollar – one that actually fitted.

Pepper “helped”.  She also recruited a friend – Newt.

Looking at this photo of Albie, I have to ask myself how is Pepper still alive?

I mean, seriously?

But no one kicked her, she didn’t get her nose cut off and she remained unscathed.  A ruddy miracle if you ask me.

And once finished with the horses and ponies, Pepper was ready to annoy another victim!  Poor Monster – he was chased into the house but don’t worry he will get his revenge. He always does.

Grubby Little Boys

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Last year I took down part of the Shetland ponies’ track and put all the plastic fence posts into a big tonne bag in case I needed them again.  The bag was left securely tied to the fence post. Since then, every time I walked past the bag, I thought to myself that those fence posts would be better off in the shed.

It was a big task so I split it up into doable bite-size chunks and every day (if I remembered) I would go down the hill and take up a few fence posts to put in the shed until it was empty.  And then today, I went down with a knife and a pair of strong scissors to cut the tonne bag off the fence post, dragging it up the hill to put in the shed.

The ponies spent their morning staring at the vacated spot from the tonne bag.

They knew something was different but they couldn’t quite put their hoof on it…

So far, the track is working well.

Everyone is happy if revolting. Tiddles will not let me brush him so I that’s his choice.

The farrier is coming on Thursday so I might have another go then when Tiddles can’t argue.

Newt is sporting his sleek summer look.

And Albie is also revolting.

Silver is the perfect little white dream pony.

And Waffle optimistically followed me up and down the hill after my tonne bag.

In other news, Little Herself is back on form.

And note-to-self, I must remember to check my brakes!

What Have You Eaten?

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A small ginger someone didn’t eat her breakfast this morning, I was told.  Pepper has been going around all day with a very rumbly and noisy tumbly whilst occasionally dashing outside for obvious reasons.

My poor little girl.  When she is ill, it makes me anxious and I worry for her.  She wouldn’t go on the dogwalk either.

This afternoon, I took Pepper into my shed and she eventually went to sleep. I could hear her little tumbly settling – the industrial process noises growing less.

I have absolutely no idea what has set this off.  Pepper honestly hasn’t been out of my sight (with the caveat “that I know of”) and I thought her latest diet of no chicken, beef, or lamb was the answer. Pepper had been doing so well for the longest time.  But something got her. Now I think about it, I wonder if rabbit is considered a novel protein (a “novel protein” simply means an animal meat your pet has rarely or never eaten before) so I suppose rabbit isn’t because Pepper regularly catches them though I usually get them off her before she can eat it.

But good news, after her long sleep, Pepper had a little supper and has kept it down, so far.  I am hoping she is now feeling a little better.   There has been tail-wagging when I asked her so that’s obviously a good sign.

Oh Pepper *** sigh ***.  Off we go again.  I hope this is not the start of something, please.

Turning Good(ish)

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I was looking back trying to remember how old Pepper is.

According to Google (it does have it’s uses), Pepper arrived in Shetland in 2021 as a just-weaned puppy so, by my maths, she must be 5 years old now.  I know, where has the time gone?

Pepper was never brought here to replace in my heart the gaping hole left by BeAnne Duvet, but she has managed all on her own to wheedle her way in by herself.

I would love to say Pepper’s behaviour has improved, but I would be lying and many a neighbour has announced they’ve only just recently had a visit from her totally unbeknownst to us.  It is a constant battle.

But we have successfully managed to stop the early morning vanishinments as Pepper is now on a long dog lead at night tied to the foot of the bed. I tell her it’s because she is a criminal and she happily wags her tail and agrees!  By stopping her constant egress means we can leave the cat flap open for Monster’s nightly comings and goings happy in the knowledge that Pepper is still with us. She honestly doesn’t mind and has resigned herself to a life of being a prisoner if she has first dibs on the bed. It’s a fair trade.

Meanwhile Monster has developed a terrible habit (we are on Day 3 now so it is classed as a habit).  He lies on my pillow in the early morning and then prods me with his barely sheathed claws while purring exceptionally loudly.  Once banished from the bed, he then retaliates by making loud puking noises instead.

But at least we’ve won the Pepper battle – sort of.