Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

A Beautiful Evening

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When I came out of my shed this afternoon having made my hand-felted sheep, the sun was just setting and the light was beautiful. Really special.

I fed the ducks and hens who were around while my Fan Club looked on.  I left a bit out for them as well.  After all, the Fans have to be fed too.

This lovely evening quite took my breath away.  Truly magical.  So calm too.

Pepper appreciated it with me.

Once everyone was fed, I went to call the sheep home.  Gussie and Ster were mucking about and refusing to come home, and the ponies heard me shouting, which is never good as it puts the sheep off too.

But I did think Silver looked beautiful as he strolled up with all the glorious colours around him.

And then the others arrived too, like a small group of thugs.

Of course, they demanded my attention.

And obviously I could not say no.

Nose kisses for all.

And then this three had a row and all the peace and quiet abruptly ended because that’s what always happens.

The sheep came home eventually despite pony interference.

Still, it was a beautiful evening and I appreciate that.

That Wee Shed

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That wee shed is proving very popular at the moment.

I think it is because I hung the salt lick in there.  ‘Bert loves a salt lick and always makes a point of stopping off to get his ration.

Today the sheep didn’t want to go out into their field because the weather was filthy.  That was all except for Dahlia.  I went to ask her if she wanted to join the others but she said she was fine with the ponies.  It was then that I noticed that someone else had taken up residence in the wee shed.  This is the first time I’ve seen a pony in there since they moved fields.

Newt had decided to install himself.  This was Newt’s Wee Shed.

Outside it was raging – a good Force 11 and everyone else (Tiddles) had to be make themselves content with using the high walls for shelter.

So, does anyone need a bouncer for their Halloween Party?  Newt will be available.  Reasonable rates too.  You can almost hear Newt saying “If your name’s not down, you’re not coming in!”

(just look at those short little hairy legs – oof!)

(And why don’t you let the old ones inside, I hear you ask?  Because they wouldn’t go even if I told them, is my reply)

 

Leaving These Here

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Here are a few films that Daisy found on her phone the other day.

A freshly shorn Lambie eating biscuits (lovely sounds of munching)

Lambie in the kitchen (cough) eating toast and marmite.  He’s very partial.

Lambie, Bert and Ster when they were young playing in the school.

More playing.  I think this must’ve been in the spring/summer after Bert came back from his life in the hill (where he nearly died).  His coat is not as good as the others but they are all still young because Ster’s horns are very little. So sweet.

Everyone a little older playing outside (and that’s BeAnne barking in the background which I find very triggering – sniff).

And lastly, my very favourite film of best buddies (then) Albie and Newt having a mad playing session outside the house.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen this film.  They both sit down if they’re not winning, which I love (and no one is ever hurt).

Flooding

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Dahlia had the right idea today when she asked if she could come inside.  Sadly I had to say no, because apparently sheep can’t live in our house.

Pepper also had the right idea. The fire was on, again apparently, and I felt nothing.  Not a joule.

So I made myself a nice cup of tea and ate my statutory two Tunnock’s, as is my right and felt much better.

I am glad I put the rugs on the old horses and ponies because we have had a huge quantity of rain all day.  All the bottom fields are flooded but luckily no one is living there so apart from the electric fence, nothing should be too damaged.  I will do a fence check once all the water has subsided.

I fear for the old bridge, though. It will have taken quite a battering.  I don’t think I have seen water this high before but never gets over the top of the bridge. Even so, it is pretty impressive.

The sheep are all mooching about looking for any food opportunity, especially the duck food.  We have had words.

The old horses and ponies, in their rugs, are happy enough eating on the hill of their field.  I have sewn extra tape into the tail flaps of their rugs to keep them on better in a high wind.  It is good to see everyone totally ignore the weather.  It means they are all fine. So I shall stop worrying about them.

Ditto for the little boys who are grazing next to their shed, which remains empty so obviousy no one needs it. I haven’t put a rug on Tiddles as he is fat now and there is plenty of grass.

So that’s us braving the filthy weather.  Coats and waterproof trousers are festooned around the kitchen, dripping water onto the floor.  The shape of things to come this winter.  Lerwick is flooded, apparently.

New Found Freedom

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The little boys are enjoying their new found freedom – all 25 acres of it.

They come down to the house in the morning for their breakfast – the smallest handful of sugar beet mixed with their forage balancer – and then that’s it. I don’t usually see them again for the rest of the day, which is how we all like it.

However, at lunchtime I looked out of the bathroom window (upstairs) and saw that the ponies had all come back home, probably to suss out their wee shed.

I had some old carrots, so broke them into bite-size chunks and went visiting.

I even felt for ribs on the off-chance they might have some.

They didn’t, which is fine – as long as no one gets laminits now (dear God, please no), they can live perfectly well without ribs.

The carrots were appreciated.

And I had two keen followers while I went to find Waffle.

He was having some alone time.

Like I said, no ribs but definitely a leg in each corner.

I’m glad they are off the track and in a field.  They are so happy and that is lovely to see.