Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

Snow Gone Today

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The snow has now just about gone from our fields, and so has the 4 hourly waitress service, much to the horror of everyone when we threw them back out into their fields this morning.

We put the oldies’ rugs back on and led them down to their field that hasn’t been grazed for two years. They seemed pleased to be back.  Freedom and food.

And yet, when they saw us putting the ducks to bed tonight, they came rushing over and assumed we would arrive with buckets of lovely food.  It didn’t happen.  Sorry, guys.

We put the Shetland ponies back in their old field, which started life as their winter track and they now have access to the whole place.

After a cursory glance at the grass, they spent their day in their containers grumbling, coming out only to ask for a spot of tea.

Daisy and I thought briefly about giving them some haynets and then decided no, it would set a preference, they are fat, they had a loads of hay yesterday and they can go and look for grazing in their field.  So, again, no.

For now, we stand firm on this decision and it’s not easy (though I would’ve secretly given them hay if I was on my own).

 

Duvet Day Inside

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Today, weather-wise, has been unspeakable – sleet, a freezing gale force wind, and we are all very miserable and bored of this.  Apparently Shetland has been stuck in a bad weather system for a while now.

So, Daisy and I decided to get everyone inside for a rest from this.  A Duvet Day, if you will.

No one needed asking twice.  The Shetland ponies were straight in and with no mucking around either about which stall to go in.  Oh, no. In they went and waited quietly while Daisy took Tiddles’ rug off.

Silver was a white/grey pony before he rolled.

But the ponies are happy and eating unlimited hay to their hearts’ content.

Then it was the turn of the old folk.  Straight in, no questions asked and, again, waiting patiently while I undid all their rugs without rolling first, which grosses me out (I have a thing about wet sand).

It is the first time anyone has had their rug off for many weeks and it was good to see a) how well they looked and b) how perfectly dry they all were.

And lastly, the old ladies trotted enthusaistically in, once Daisy had been to catch them because they were determined to wait by their bowls rather than follow the others like they should’ve.

Again, nice and dry and also looking rather good for the time of year. I am pleased.

The sheep are also having a Duvet Day.

They don’t believe in going outside and quite honestly, I don’t blame them.

Daisy and I went back to the big shed after lunch to find everyone was just fine (and had poo’ed a lot).  Seeing Waffle having a snooze was exactly what I wanted.  It is important that everyone has a rest from the weather and relaxes for 24 hours.

I am intending to throw them all out tomorrow as it should’ve thawed considerably by then and normal service can then resume.

Snow Here (Again)

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We woke up to snow…. again.  Ugh.  I’m not a fan.

Also, we found Iacs had managed to get stuck in the not-working electric fence.  From the look of it, he had only been there a few minutes from when he saw us arriving with our buckets.  We lifted his legs out and I led him by his chin hairs back through the gate and gave him his breakfast.  At least Iacs never panics.  Just stands there looking hopeful or embarrassed.

The little ones had long finished their breakfast and raced down to gaze longingly at everyone else eating their’s.  I told them they could always go back onto the track again if they wanted.  They said no thank you.

The rugs are proving a great success.  No one feels cold or wet underneath and they seem pretty oblivious to the bad weather with them on.

And, luckily, there’s not enough snow to actually stop anyone from eating.

Currently, I am liking the high-necked rug on Haakon best and thinking of increasing my extensive (yes, it may well be an addiction) rug library by getting some high-necked rugs for Iacs and Kolka too.

They don’t make high-neck rugs for ponies that I can find, much to Fivla’s disgust.  I don’t like full-necks, though.

So that’s us at the moment.  Daisy and OH are doing all the lugging while I flit about doing sheep and ducks/hens.  We may give in tomorrow, depending on how it looks, and get everyone inside (again). I am trying hard to hold off on that decision as much as I can as that is actually the kiss of death for my back.

Hopefully the snow won’t stay long.  Please.

Grot Day With Hope

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It remains horrible outside and I am beginning to feel sorry for the Shetland ponies.

Should I move them perhaps over to this field – 5 acres I was saving for the old horses and ponies.

Daisy arrives tomorrow to take over from Flossie and I will ask her then.  I could always give the Shetland ponies haynets hung on the gate.  That’s a possibility but it involves lugging.

Meanwhile, I remain pretty much bed-bound as I find sitting for long periods very difficult.  I try and do a different chore each morning just to see if I can, and mostly end up taking to my bed to lie flat because my back puts in it’s objections.  I feel sore all of the time and painkillers really are my last resort. I am trying to avoid them if I can.

I phoned the Pain Clinic to be told I might be seen in mid-March but was on the list if there was a cancellation.  I resigned myself to the long wait when the phone rang this afternoon, and I was told there have been a cancellation and I will now definitely be seen on the 16th February.  So that is excellent news.  I am hugely relieved and I know I said previously never again, but I’ve hopefully negotiated immense knock-out sedation this time so the procedure should be bearable.

But my worry now is the animals. There seems to be no let up in this weather for the time being.

On my inside, I threw some carrots at the Shetland ponies and told myself things could be a lot worse for them, and me.

Always Fair

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I left my pit to pop down to see how the little boys were fairing in this cold weather (wind chill today of at least -5℃).  It was the sort of freezing cold wind that makes your eyebrows hurt.

Anyway, everyone was surprisingly perky – I think it’s because they’re in their new-to-them field and they love it there.  They can also see the others too, which they like (not that the others care or want to be near them).

I had in my pocketses five Pasture Cookies, which I had brought thinking they could have one each as a very special treat.

I fed one to each of them and of course they loved them.

One for you, I said and a kiss on the nosey…

And you….. and you and kept going….

… until I reached Silver. I put my hand in my pocket expecting to find the last carefully counted out treat but nothing! I felt awful.  What to do?  I could leave Silver feeling a bit out of sorts with me and go back to the warmth of the house (my poor hurty eyebrows by now).  But no, I am not that person. Life should never be unfair and I would’ve laid awake all night knowing I had created an injustice. So of course I climbed back up the hill, telling myself all exercise is good exercise, found the errant Pasture Cookie and took it back to feed Silver.  Fairness for all!