Category Archives: Icelandic horses and Shetland Ponies

No Electricity

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We had a planned power outage today – new power lines were being put up in our area, I think. We all knew it was coming weeks ago, but, still, it is never much fun.  I spent my day having those ridiculous quick thoughts like “well, I’ll just switch the light on” or “I’ll put a wash on” only to realise it was not possible so I vaguely polished furniture instead while OH went to town for supplies.

It was my turn to walk the dogs and the weather was not great – windy F8, a moderate gale.  I found all the horses and ponies in the sharp cut of the valley which has lots of shelter and grass.

Iacs thought I had brought carrots. I told him I had nothing and got this rather stern stare in response.

Vitamin was close-by too and I noticed she is suddenly looking even grayer. I guess it is her winter fur coming out and the new summer coat arriving with increasing white hairs.

I found a rock to sit on out of the wind – the dogs were happily doing their own thing – hoping Fivla would have a chat but she walked off.  Humph.

Fivla needs a good brush – they all do.  Maybe tomorrow – I have visitors coming over.

Bored with no electricity, I went into my shed with the now-hopefully-worn-out dogs to make a hand-felted Shetland sheep.

And the electric came back on, as they said it would, around tea-time.  It is amazing just how much we rely on it and now I can turn on lights, and put the washing on.

Gosh, They Were Fat!

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This is going to be one of those even more boring blog posts because I am exhausted and lying on my bed trying to gather up some energy for the next thing.

All is well in the land-of-nothing-to-eat.  Apart from a bucket of breakfast, the Shetland ponies only get a bit of hay in the evening and yet seem to be surviving.

I find it hard not to feed them all chocolate cake 24/7 but that little voice in my head says we are not going back to fat ponies.  No, not never, ever again.  I found some old photos of the herd the other day and thought to myself, wow, they were enormous!

Seeing those photos from 2022, I feel ashamed that I let them get like that.  It was a slippery slope.  I had forgotten just how bad they were.

Meanwhile, in the land of vans, OH got the pressure washer out to give my horse-van a quick once over as it is hopefully now sold and then started on his van too.  I tried to put the Suzuki “Eggbox” in the to-be-cleaned queue but it wouldn’t start.  I am beginning to hate all machinery now.

So that’s me – currently summoning up some strength to go and cremate supper (no, never the duck, but it’s a nice pic).

Sheds and Hostages

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To town this morning – physio assessment for me and the annual horse-van service/MOT which I am confident it will fail. When OH and I got home, we were given a huge welcome by everyone.  This is Monster’s feed-me face.  He was two hours early for his tea but optimistic.

After poo-picking the track in a Force 9 – moderate gale – which can only be described as difficult, I had a quick glance at the weather forecast and decided to lug out the carefully put-away rainsheet rugs for the elderly.

As it was so windy, I thought the easiest method would be to open up the little shed and put the rugs on one at a time in there.  No wind = no flapping about.

I successfully did the big ones and thought I would leave it at that but Fivla and Vitamin turned up and looked hopeful.

So I put rugs on them too but just thin ones to act as windcheaters more than anything else.

Iacs quickly made the shed his home.  There is room for others but that can be a tight squeeze.

I decided not to rug up Tiddles. He has the container for shelter. But I also noticed a miserable brown little pony held captive.

Tiddles had stolen the haynet Newt had been eating, blocking him in.

So, being the nice person that I am, I went and got Newt his own haynet.

And I asked Tiddles to try and be a bit nicer to Newt.  He said that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

So those were my good deeds for the day and can we all pray that horse-van gets through its MOT/service relatively cheaply and eventually passes without me having to sell a kidney or my first born.  I am not holding my breath.

Newt (sigh)

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Over the years, Newt has not endeared himself to anyone in his herd and he only has himself to blame.  He can be very mean spirited, especially in winter, and mostly about food, kicking out at anyone in his firing line.  He may be small but that little ginger bottom is very quick and quite powerful.  He likes to wheel round and give out both barrels so therefore nobody wants to be near him.

I think it is Tiddles who gets most cross with Newt and tries to keep him in his place.  I know, Tiddles, who hasn’t a mean bone in his body but the exception is Newt.  He hates him.

Luckily for Newt, Silver will just about tolerate him and share the haynet.  I guess it’s because he is so much bigger and, if Newt starts acting up, he can swiftly put him in his place.

The others swap around with food and buckets and eventually reach some sort of peace.

Just not with Newt.  If he can’t be nice, he can’t be their friend and he only has himself to blame.  I refuse to feel sorry for Newt as I’ve seen his little bottom in action – like a tank turret firing as it goes round and round, regardless of aim, just making his point.

Wall of Primroses 2026

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It was rugs off again this morning and I heaved them into the shed to hang up and dry.

I have realised that I must wean myself off the rugs as the horses and ponies don’t need to be wearing them in the sunshine and the temperature has gone up a little.  I am the one with the problem. I admit it and I need to tell myself that no one will actually melt if it rains.

So, after giving myself a stiff talking to about my rug problem, I took the dogs down to the stream, which is very peaceful.

Whenever a therapist tells me to think of quiet place, this is where I always go.  There is absolutely nowhere better.

  

And I know I was whingeing on about how the wild primroses weren’t really very good this year, well now I take it all back.  They have suddenly gone mad and are everywhere.

They grow like scrambled eggs on both sides of the burn’s banks, in huge voluptuous clumps.

They seem to compete happily with the celandine too.

So, a very good effort this year from both celandine and wild primroses. I am very impressed and love the fact that this abundance of colour is in my field totally unaided by anyone.  Nature at its best.

Meanwhile, in sheep-land, ‘Ster’s medicine has finally arrived, though he has been living off my homemade version while we waited.

I am encouraged that he is a bit brighter now – he has had two doses of antibiotics and the homemade drench daily.

Tomorrow ‘Ster will get his measured dose of the packet stuff syringed down and let’s hope it breaks up the renal calculi.  I did also note that he is now peeing ok (ish) and seems much less miserable so, please God, that he is on the mend.