There was a slight lull in Storm Éowyn this morning, so I managed to get up to the Icelandics’ field to give them their breakfast buckets.

I felt under their rugs, and they were completely dry and that made me feel much happier about leaving them outside to fend for themselves in this filthy weather.

I made sure they had a big bucket of food and later on OH went out with the dogs and gave the everyone a carrot each.

I have seen everyone grazing on the hill too so I am not going to worry.

While OH was out with the dogs, I enjoyed having the house to myself…… well, almost.  There was a loud miserable yowl and Monster appeared.

He then proceeded to annoy me and almost break the computer. I doubt it will be the same again.  Who knows what he’s done.

Monster was going nowhere, so I contented myself taking arty-farty photos of him instead.

Out first thing with the buckets.  The Icelandics are doing ok in this horrendous weather. I have been keeping an eye on them from a distance knowing they have lots of shelter, grass and a full belly.

The old croft house and the outbuildings are invaluable on days like these.  They don’t go inside (I don’t think but you never know with Iacs) but use the shelter they offer and can choose where they want to be.

Ted refused to go outside for his dog walk so we didn’t push the point.

Pepper has been my constant companion, braving some pretty fierce wind and rain.  She thinks it is her job to be with me.  I find it comforting though I do sometimes worry for her safety.

All the Shetland ponies went out for a few hours but when I found them all sheltering in one container with the rain lashing down, I opened up the big shed doors and shouted, praying to the Gods that no one had a fit of the Silly Buggers. But, no, they all went inside without a second thought….

… though Waffle struggles with the thought that Fivla and Vitamin get regular buckets of hay replacer.  He would like that too, yes please and thank you very much.

I’ve just been in mucking out the grubby little boys’ pen and Tiddles wanted to be with his friends, so I have opened the inter-connecting gates and they are now all the together.   He is much happier.

I gave the sheep some hay nets to nibble on.  Gussie and Dahlia are hard-core and staying out – their choice, though I had to shut their shed as otherwise we would probably lose the roof. There are other sheds they could go in, though and they know this.

I think tomorrow is going to be worse.   I may not get over to see the Icelandics but have to hope they are ok.  Sometimes the wind prevents walking.

We are in the calm before the storm so I got the Icelandic horses up to dry off, put rugs on and worm.  They will stay outside but in a more sheltered field across the hill.

Iacs was very unhelpful, parking himself next to the hay bale while I worked away at the others.

I decided to lead Haakon and Kolka to the new field hoping Iacs would follow.

Pah!

On my way out of the shed leading H&K, I shouted at Iacs to follow so he went on a rampage instead and tipped up all the buckets looking for things.

Feeling thwarted, I took off Kolka’s headcollar, told her to follow and got Iacs instead.  He could obviously not be trusted.

We set off across the hill, a route everyone knows and Kolka was dutifully following to start with and then she had an independent thought and left!

See that dot under the derelict house? Well that’s Kolka going on her adventure.

I shouted at her and told the boys to shout too, but of course they were completely silent.  Kolka eventually realised she was on her own, panicked and came rushing home…..

Useless, useless men.  Completely silent.  No help at all.

I love how the little ones are all watching transfixed by Kolka’s behaviour.

I think at this stage Kolka realised she should hurry up and get in that field.

Well, Haakon was very pleased to see her.  Iacs couldn’t care less.

And I could tell Kolka was remembering her dream of adventures.  Let’s keep them only as dreams, Kolka, please.

Another storm is on it’s way – Storm Éowyn, I think – I watch my ten weather apps avidly for one to change and say the storm will miss us or be less fearsome.  I am not hopeful.

So, while I was delivery my breakfast buckets, I decided on my plan for the day.

(You can see just how well Haakon has me trained as he came rushing up for his breakfast!)

I told Pepper that I had decided to go to Lerwick to get supplies for Monster and Vitamin and she would have to stay behind (which she didn’t as apparently she ran off to our neighbours!)

Ted, of course, was A Good Boy.

Lerwick was it’s usual self – I got my tyre sorted out (breathed a sigh of relief when it was a cheap puncture), and rewarded myself with haggis and chips with this view.

After the weight in, I think that Vitamin should have a little more weight or condition on her – she has lost quite a lot of recently and so I bought some micronised linseed for her, and the other oldies and possibly Tiddles as he just seems very “dull” these days.

I also popped into the supermarket and bought every known expensive pile of cat food I could find, including frozen white fish (for hoomans) and lovely little amuse-bouche.  We cancelled Monster’s vet appointment as he is not looking or acting ill but is just eating less.  He may be much older than we really know or helping himself from the outside snack trolley of life.

Interestingly enough, I haven’t seen our neighbours recently!

Monika from Sandness Equine Services came over with her horse/pony weighing scales.  No one has been weighed for 13 months and I need to know accurately what everyone weighs if I am going to consider drug treatment for Waffle and Tiddles for Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  This has been diagnosed by the vet from previous blood results.

Pepper offered her help while Monika set up the weighing scales.

I had got everyone in earlier so they would be easy to catch and the put outside afterwards.

And after weighing each pony, Monika was kind enough to feel each horse to see who had ribs or fat pads or not.

There was a remark about a little woolly mammoth when Newt climbed on.

They all behaved well and it was just a case of walking each pony onto the mat, weight recorded, a quick feel for ribs and then outside into the field.

And the results are in…..

This was 13 months ago and, as you can see, everyone has lost some or a lot of weight, so that’s encouraging.

Now to keep it off for the next year.  That is my next challenge.

Huge thanks to Sandness Equine Services.   Waffle and Tiddles will have blood taken again next week (resting insulin) and then the vet can decide on the drug treatment required knowing their accurate weights.