It rained and rained and rained last night.  So much rain.  Everyone was soaked and shivery (except Tiddles, Fivla and Vitamoobag – they were pretty dry) and I felt awful for them so I opened up the big shed and led the Shetland ponies inside, two at a time.

Vitamoobag is the nearerst and you can see that her rug did very well, but she was slightly shaking when she came indoors.

And of course the rain stopped immediately but I decided to give everyone the day off from their lives on the track.

I put out two lots of haynets, two fibre blocks (split eight ways), as well as a good pile of “Fast Fibre” to warm them up.  I wanted to give them some fuel to keep them warm in this cold weather.

And while they warmed up and rested, I played flute duets so they had some music to listen to.  Funnily enough, they were all very keen to go outside afterwards!

But we had Monster as our flute-playing inspiration!

The Icelandic horses were absolutely fine so I left them outside.

Tiddles new rainsheet arrived yesterday, which was very quick (and anyone who lives in a remote place will know how easily things get “stuck” at various stops along the way, while the delivery date gets further and further away).  Anyway, I have a rainsheet for Tiddles and that is all that matters.

He was a tad worried when I put it on him as he was damp and shaking – his brain gets dithery too.

And, I told everyone else to not point and stare, or touch it, ever, not even with teeth, Storm.

It didn’t take long for Tiddles to work out that actually his rug was a very good thing.  I tried to feel under it and he was having none of that, worried in case I was going to take it off.

So he rushed off to eat with Vitamoo-bag who told him what he could go and do (she is so rude and such a non-sharer).

Eventually Tiddles let me feel under his rug and he was a good temperature, dry and not shaking anymore.

This is Tiddles’ happy face.

So that’s Vitamin, Fivla and Tiddles who now wear rugs in the bad weather.  I went for the same brand and type as the old ladies because I really like just how waterproof it is in extreme weather.

Apparently, it might stop raining the end of next week some time…… Flaming June – my arse!

Iacs:  You want me to do what?
Haakon:  Oh, not this again.  I’m staying out of this.

And, as Iacs offered so nicely, Pepper had her first proper riding lesson (she’s old enough now).

And Iacs remembered what to do.  BeAnne Duvet was an accomplished equestrian riding her trusted steed, Iacs.  She was famous for her horsemanship.

And Pepper loved it too – it might be a Patterdale terrier thing.

Instantly I could see she was a natural, with a superb seat and manner about her.  She thought she was fully in charge.

When Kolka wandered over, Pepper wasn’t budging.

I think she could make a career of this.  Look at those back legs, astride.

I caught a small bit on video.  Note how Iacs tells Kolka to go away.  He treats his job very seriously and Pepper was his rider and his responsibility.  And then note how Pepper snuck in a cheeky nip to tell Kolka to leave her alone and that smug face afterwards as she rode away in triumph!

“Things to see, people to do” was the motto of the day.

First the dog-walk to appease my guilt that Ted and Pepper would have to be left for a couple of hours in the house.  One day I will take Pepper (never Ted, he has issues) with me.

I took them to Clothie – my five acre croft that is full of grass and flowers now.  It hasn’t been grazed for months, since Iacs, Haakon and Kolka were moved into the big hill-park behind the house.  It is the perfect field for them in the winter months as there is lots of shelter from the old derelict houses and sheds.

It is the cotton-grass’ time to shine now.

This year, the orchids have suffered in the cold weather.  They are almost over now.  It was brief but pretty.

And I am trying to find out if this is marsh bedstraw or heath bedstraw.  I will return tomorrow to have a good look at its’ leaves.  I’ve never seen this plant grow here before so it is a new one to me.

And then, after putting Pepper back into the house after she followed me out, I drove to town to deliver some more sheep.

Again, I was wishing I could’ve taken her with me but then that’s not fair on Ted who would be alone with Monster which is not something I would wish on anyone.

There were two cruise ships/boats in but I managed to miss the swarm of visitors to the shops.

And someone wasn’t talking to me when I got home.

When it rains, Tiddles shivers and is miserable so I brought him in from the field to fit him with a rug, for emergencies.

He was not the size I thought he should be – 3’9″ was possibly too short.

Though the front was a nice snug fit.

I tried the 4′ 3″ and it was miles too big.  Not even a case of “Don’t worry if the sleeves are too long, you’ll find they’ll ride up with wear” (if you know, you know).

So I opted for the 4′ rug. It has 50g of fill, which I didn’t want, but we do have two and so one and spare is always useful.

It fitted very nicely around the neck.

Feeling pleased with this rug (and its twin), I fitted one to Tiddles, making sure all the straps were the right length so I can go shooting out just before the rain starts up and get it on him fast.

And please don’t tell Daisy, because she thinks I already have far too many rugs, but I bought Tiddles a 4′ rainsheet (the same type as Fivla and Vitamoo’s) which will be very useful as Summer has no intention of appearing any time soon.  There is currently a cruel north wind and it is very cold.  No wonder Tiddles shakes when it rains.  Poor lad.