The ponies get called up to the wee paddock for teatime as there is not much on their track and I feel bad for them worrying that they will all now get ulcers from the hunger eating them inside.  (And if it rains, I worry they will all melt).

So I dish out soaked ad-lib fibre-block which they quite like.

The old ladies like it most and that’s most important. I am trying to keep the weight on them while getting the others to lose it.

Previously, when I served the fibre block dry and unsoaked (which it said on the packet you can), Storm ate it until he got colic and it was a vet job so now I soak the blocks in a bucket of water for 12 hours first.

Vitamin is a huge fan and the old ladies also get a bucket in the morning, after breakfast, as they can’t manage the daily haynets very well, if at all (no teeth).  I tell myself that this time last year, most of the younger ponies were heading towards the laminitis misery-paddock and this is better for them.  So this year it is lots of fibre and exercise for everyone, including the Old Ladies.  Remember, Vitamin got laminitis and Fivla has Equine Metabolic Syndrome.

I’m not going to lie, this juggling act is a nightmare.

A busy morning spent recording with my fan(s) and he was adamant I should not make this terrible noise.  After a while, I was beginning to agree with him, so I put my flute down, and took the dogs out for a walk instead.

We spent the first half of the dog walk in the field where the sheep had moved themselves to since breakfast.  But there were only 6 sheep and I have 7.  ‘Ster was missing.  Originally, the sheep had started their day in a completely different field but they know where to get under a fence and I don’t mind as long as they stay on my property.  They have the run of the place.

So I set off to look for ‘Ster and my aim was to reunite him with his flock.

Obviously Monster came too.

The field I thought ‘Ster was in, is large – very long and thin and we began our search.

Of course, ‘Ster was at the far end, looking very forlorn while he sat and, I suppose, waiting to be rescued.

Bored of walking miles, I sat on a nearby rock and called him.  Luckily he heard me and came running over, relieved to be found.

Silly ‘Ster. He only had to follow his friends but apparently he had forgotten how.

So we all (two dogs, one cat and a sheep) turned around and walked back to the house and the field that had the other sheep.

I told ‘Ster I would put him back with his friends.

And that’s what I did.  You can see the other sheep in the distance. Little woolly dots, eating.

‘Ster is possibly not the brightest star in our firmament.

I think that the Shetland ponies may be losing a teensy tiny bit of weight.

I hope I am not fooling myself but I think I can almost see a “waistline” on Fivla.

I found all the ponies after breakfast having a bit of a kip in the spring sunshine.  Although, quite cold, the sun was making an effort.

For a brief moment, I honestly thought Albie was dead.

I love this photo – Vitamin, despite her advanced years, always has perfect posture and stands very upright.  Such a gorgeous mare.

And that is why her son, Indy Ping-Pong won Best Black Stallion at the SPSBS Breed Show in 2007.  He was gorgeous too – obviously a family trait.

Less gorgeous, but always a laugh, are Storm and Waffle, with a hint of Albie in the background, who had now stood up after his death-like nap.

Silver was busy being wind-swept by the harsh south-easterly.

Newt looked like he was settled in with his entourage for the rest of the day.

They are still very hairy mostly because I can’t be bothered to brush them yet.  It’s too cold and the wind will take care of most of it anyway.

So the way forward this spring is the encouragement of waistlines.  I will do anything to keep  laminitis at bay.

We are not going through that again.

This year’s wall of wild primroses is in full bloom now, though it is possibly not as good as previous years, but it’s not too shoddy.  I can’t complain.

I love seeing these flowers making such an enormous effort. I think it is because they grow on either side of the stream on a very steep bank, that they do so well.  And, also it means no animal can graze them.  This is the only way to survive here.

The celandines are now out in force too.

As well as the “blugga flooers” (Shetland dialect for marsh marigolds). They are also just starting. I saw one or two on my walk.

Soon, they will be everywhere.  They are very invasive once they get going and no one eats them.

I had a little play with my camera at the two waterfalls.

Then I found a duck sitting on the table, like you do.

And so back into the shed to make more of these guys.  Spring is officially here!

It was a bright morning so I went out with the big camera to see who I could see.

These three were enjoying the Spring sunshine.

Dear old Haakon – he’s 30 this year.  His birthday is 10th May 1994. I have the notes from my original phone call with his breeder all those years ago (27) – it says “Haakon Stallion 1 year”.

And then there’s his cousin, Iacs who is two year’s younger. A 1996 baby.

(so that means, if Iacs is younger, Haakon can boss him around!)

Anyway, Haakon was looking relaxed and peaceful as he sat enjoying the sun on his back.

My little prehistoric horse. We’ve been together a long time – he arrived here when he was 3 years old, I backed him and we’ve been through everything together.  My rock and best friend.

Now Haakon is retired because his back legs are not great, though recently he as become much, much better due to having very expensive supplement.  I have noticed a spring in his step and the farrier said his back hooves were clearing the ground when he walked.

There’s a little part of me that wonders if I could ever ride Haakon again, and then I remember he has been retired for a few years now, and is 30 years old and I am no light spring chicken either.

Still, it is lovely to see Haakon happy in the field with his friend and relative.

I tell myself that I would give anything to see his happy smiley face every day rather than anything else so the cost of the supplement is worth every penny (think over £100 a month).  I just need him to live forever.