This morning I was greeted by happy and dry little horses and ponies who would like to go outside now, please thank you.

But the weather wasn’t great – gusting strong winds accompanied by severe bursts of hard rain.  I deliberated and decided the Ancient Icelandics could go out without rugs into a new field full of long grass.  They didn’t need asking twice. I led Haakon while Iacs cantered past towards freedom, then realised he was on his own and sensibly followed behind with Kolka.

I gave the little ones all the unfinished haynets and told they they were staying inside for the morning.  I wanted to check the electric fence in their field was still fully functional first after the horrendous flooding but I had to go to work at Turriefield.  They didn’t seem to mind staying indoors.

When I got home at lunchtime, I led them outside two at a time.

During the morning dog-walk, OH had made sure the electric fence was working so I felt confident it would contain everyone.  I also opened up a new bit of ground as the mud was bad on the slope down to the burn.  A new layby.

They quickly all squished in to the new area to eat it down.

So that’s us.  All alive and very glad that the storm has passed over.  I am also relieved to know that putting them all in the shed is a sensible solution during extreme bad weather.  They all got on fine and just settled down for 24 hours. Skippy only needed emptying once this morning so easily.  Press Button B at the muck heap!

Funny to think that I took this photo yesterday afternoon with barely a cloud in the sky……

I even rugged everyone up before it got dark.  Daisy said the Ancients looked like a boy band, when I texted her the photo!

Anyway, this morning was a different matter.  The wind and rain were on their way so I got everyone into the school for their breakfast and rugs off (without anyone rolling first in the sand – ugh!) .

After breakfast, I could see that Kolka was not very happy with the arrangement.  She wanted to be with her boys so I opened the gates and she is now with them.

I can’t say the boys are that happy to be with Kolka but the bickering is gentle and she is quite good at keeping them moving around.  They are all disgusted at the small/medium hole haynets which means they have to eat their hay slowly.

The sheep have many sheds and I put out hay for them, to encourage them to stay near ‘Bert.

Bert is not really eating anything but leaves and I think tomorrow I will probably let him out to be with his friends.

Dahlia and Gussie have their own wee paddock and shed so they can make their own decisions without feeling pressured.  The shed is proving popular!

Everyone is checked regularly, and when I came back a few hours later, I discovered the Minions had eaten all their hay and wanted more.  They are like kids on a school trip who ate their packed lunches before the bus has even left the car park!

“Skippy” is a godsend.  Just a ruddy godsend.

The fields are flooding and I am not holding out for my fence.

We’ve had over 30mm of rain this past 12 hours!

‘Bert is not really eating so I trimmed a whole load of willow trees and threaded them into the gate in the hope that he would like them.

And, phew, he likes willow.  It is all he will eat and luckily we have a lot of willow trees that won’t mind the pruning.

I tell myself that the willow is good for Bert as it is nature’s aspirin.  He eats the bark as well as the leaves and I almost think I can see an improvement in his eyes.  Less gunk and nasty bits.

While it has been a beautiful day, there is a Yellow Weather Warning (rain) declared for tonight and tomorrow for Shetland.  Seeing everyone fast asleep in the sunshine, it is hard to believe that tomorrow we will all be soaked.

My plan is to put rugs on the oldies, including the Icelandics, and Tiddles tonight.  Feed them tons of fibre this evening and then in the morning get everyone indoors when they are fed up and grateful and possibly cooperative.

The shed is ready.  Fresh water in buckets…..

My birthday presents put to use…..

And I’ve even made a small pen for Fivla and Vitamin who struggle a bit with the hay (lack of teeth) and may require extra hard feed.

I am prepared for this.  I have a plan and it will, hopefully, work.

Knowing the big shed will be back in use makes me wonder why I didn’t do this sooner.

Anyway, let us commence with Operation Make Winter Easier (ok, Autumn)!

Please can I have all your healing vibes for ‘Bert.

This morning I found he has pink-eye and he’s almost blind.

I feel so sorry for him and he is feeling very sorry for himself too.

Pink eye means solitary confinement as it is highly contagious (caught from the wee urchin, Gussie) and so now he is feeling very lonely.

The resident blackbird (the one with the white feather) is keeping ‘Bert company in the small stable where he will now live for the forseeable.

‘Bert is desperate to come out so I go and sit with him as often as I can.  He has had eye ointment (to soothe), an antibiotic injection, an oral dose of anti-inflammatory painkiller, and I washed around his eyes as well to get rid of the gritty stuff.  He was pretty good about all my ministrations.

Bert has every available food on offer that I can think of including two lick buckets, a forage block …..

…. haynet and salt-lick.

I have had to tie the gate just in case someone tries to break him out of his prison.

But I am pleased to report that the “happy tail” remains fully functional.

But when I went for my afternoon visit, I found not much food had been eaten, so I gave ‘Bert some of the ponies soaked sugarbeet, which he happily tucked into.

I am not convinced no one else won’t have Pink Eye – my money is on ‘Ster next and, to be honest, if he does that would not be a bad thing as he could keep ‘Bert company.  While I blame the street urchin, I do know it is just one of those things.

These two didn’t turn up for their breakfast this morning and of course I was worried.  Everyone always turns up for breakfast.  Them’s The Rules.

I swithered about letting Dahlia and Gussie stay out or going to look for them and decided that the others would eventually find them and that was better than me interfering.

Later, after flute duets, I went out to the field with three carrots for the old Icelandic horses and found all the sheep together, which made me happy.  They are, at last, getting along better, I thought to myself.

Spotting me, Dahlia and Gussie immediately came running over.

I fed the horses their carrots and watched their interaction with the new sheep.  Usually the whole flock steer well clear of the horses and run if they see them. This is possibly due to heinous behaviour by small Shetland ponies when Lambie was small and vulnerable.

You can almost hear what Gussie and Haakon are thinking.

The one who is most interested is Gussie. He is fascinated by the horses.

“What is this small woolly creature, Mum?”

“Haakon, allow me to introduce Gussie Fink-Nottle!”

(when we next get the sheep in to drench, I will cut out the vile piece of baler twine from Dahlia’s ears – I don’t want to do it without help as it could end badly).

So I sat on a rock and enjoyed the rare autumn sunshine.

They followed me back home and I gave them their breakfast 8 hours late, which they happily scoffed down.

I am so pleased they’ve come to live with me – dear Dahlia and darling Gussie.  Such sweethearts.