Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

Out of Sorts

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I woke up late. I never wake up late.  But, apparently, my alarm didn’t make a sound (always set on phone and has been acting funny) but the radio came on (my belt and braces) and I didn’t hear that either.  Too fast asleep.

So I went out 45 minutes late to some very disgruntled animals who were near death due to a late breakfast.  Luckily they rallied and will live to see another day.

I know this because I went back later armed with a bucketful of tubes of wormer and wormed everyone  (and possibly myself, when biting off the tops of the tubes – that stuff tastes disgusting. I can vouch for that.)

I also took my very useful weights and measurements chart, though it was a rather out-of-date one despite having a newer one which I never looked for – odd.  I tell myself that as I always over-estimate wormer, so hopefully I will have given them enough. I was not at my best today, thinking-wise.

And the rest of my day has been spent making a hash of everything I went near.  There are some days I honestly wonder why I am on this planet.  It’s a complete mystery to me.  Maybe changing our broadband and the resulting rearrangement of everything has discombobulated me.  I feel very out of sorts today.

BeAnne, Celt, Jack and Wu

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I think these photos come from 2009 – 2013.  So many memories and actually, you know what, I am happy to see them all again. I’ve stopped being sad about the past.  They are all still in my heart.

So, in this blog I must introduce to you….

Celt – a lurcher whose ancestry went back to Brian Plummer’s Merle. A renowned and respected lurcher breeder.

A dear gentle dog who was beautiful to watch in action.

Then there was Jack(et Potato), a stray from possibly Ireland – a Patterdale of course –  who was described to us as “very vocal” and had an iron-like grip on all toys.  He was a sturdy little chap who resembled a black pig when he was wandering off over the horizon, which was often.

Then there was Wussums, or Wu for short.  Another rescue from Shetland’s Cats Protection League.  Wu was very much an outside cat. He liked being  part of the family.

 

And lastly and by no means leastly….. BeAnne Duvet Soufflé Princess Chantelle Shaznay. My precious love.

She was always by my side, unless she had somewhere else to visit.

She was a determined little girl who always made her own decisions. We all just followed along hopefully.

Another one who liked to come too.

And, yes, this photo has Daisy riding Iacs accompanied by BeAnne and Wu, who walked with us.

BeAnne and Wu were good friends.

As in, Wu enjoyed chasing BeAnne.

BeAnne’s passion was riding.  She loved it and went out on horseback regularly.  She had very good balance and could walk and trot with ease.

Look at that little face of happiness.

It was a very good way to train a pony or horse to be ridden because we would start them with BeAnne on their back and they became so used to BeAnne that by the time they got a human rider, they didn’t honestly mind or notice!

(this is BeAnne backing and riding our stallion)

Lovely old memories.

No Words

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I spent my day spent changing routers so we are now using mobile wifi.  In some ways, we are much better off by having faster internet speeds, but there is a downside too – we have now lost our ability to use Mail (Apple) so no emails.

GIVE ME STRENGTH!

So, I have no words and I feel like taking up smoking again – I gave up in 1993.

(photos from yesterday – taken with the big camera, which I lugged over to the old horses and ponies’ new field.)

      

 

Moved them All

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I decided that no one really needed to be in the “storm field” and I want to save that for when the weather is revolting so the old horses and ponies have access to the best shelter and grass.

So, I moved everyone. First I gave them all their breakfast and then I led Haakon and Kolka, while Iacs followed behind across the hill to Clothie.

And then I took Fivla and Vitamin over. Everyone was very pleased to be in their new field so I am glad I made that decision for them.

Obviously the big shed is ready for when we need it but I don’t want to shove them inside for every bit of bad weather, especially when it has not got that cold yet.

It was interesting that none of them were asking to come inside during our most recent storm and were very happy out and about so I am listening to them and watching. Obviously, if they were struggling outside, it is easy enough to get them in or put a rug on. I am saying all this because the bush telegraph is buzzing about the way I keep my old horses and ponies.

Apparently I should be rugging and/or getting them inside.  Not yet, not if they don’t need it.  They all have a good coverage of fat and a thick coat.  They are built for this and when they start to show that they are not, then obviously I will do something about it.  Now I hope that ends all the speculation that is apparently doing the rounds in Shetland.

Farrier Today

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We had our farrier, Stephen, coming at 10 o’clock this morning so I had everyone up in their paddocks and ready.

Breakfast first, though, obviously.  Priorities.

I told myself that Haakon does not eat like a giraffe.  Well, not very much.

The little ones were desperate to be in with the big ones and for a second I thought it might be a great idea.

And then I remembered it would probably result in all out war and lots of mud churned up so I kept that gate shut.

As none of the oldies eats hay these days, I gave them a good bucket of Fast Fibre hay replacer so their tummies wouldn’t mind that they weren’t grazing while they waited.  The Shetlands got a haynet to share which they weren’t interested in at all – too busy gazing at the others.

Pepper and I waited in the car as it was warm and got us out of the north wind.   She was so happy to see Stephen’s van.

Only four out of ten had their feet done – in winter hooves grow slower apparently.

So we were done by lunchtime which was convenient.  All in all it was a very good morning and no signs of laminitis on anyone – huzzah!  Onwards, ever onwards.