Today the track was open for business.  It is for the Minions’ and their constant battle against laminitis. I hope this is the answer as it was a lot of hard work to build.

I don’t want the Shetland ponies to eat the spring grass when or if it arrives as that has a high sugar content which will start the laminitis process all over again.  I am so bored of laminitis.

I explained all this to Vitamin and of course, she understood because she is a wize old pony.

The track is 700 metres around the whole field with two easy watering and crossing points at either end, ie the burn runs right through it.  Yes, there are some muddy spots like at the gate but hey ho, they will manage.

And best of all I can see everyone from any upstairs window!

Tonight, there is a storm with some rain and F10 (55-63mph winds) but the track is laid out so there are good points of shelter if needed.  I think I thought of everything.

Having said that, I put dry rugs back on Vitamin and Fivla as rain is also forecast.

So that’s the latest plan.  I will get around to turning the fence actually on but, as there is currently something to eat on the track, I doubt I will find anyone tomorrow morning where they shouldn’t be – unless they fly over in the wind!

I am, however, taking bets that the first pony to “test” the fence will be Waffle.  Any takers?

Ok, it was a grotty morning – constant drizzle turning into rain at times – but that is still no excuse for Waffle’s latest behaviour.  Yes, you, Waffle.

Having finished his bucket, Waffle sidles up to whoever is still eating – this time it was Vitamin – and …..

… then he swings his bum into them so they have to move off leaving their bucket which he swiftly swoops and steals.

I called Waffle out on this behaviour today.  I knew what he was up to.  I could see the way his mind was working. He knew I knew too and he was more cross than sorry that I had caught him at it.

This little cute face cut absolutely no ice with me.

And so he took out his apparent hanger on Newt (a bad choice in my book) so I told him that too.

Waffle, realising his petard had been well and truly hoisted, went off in a I-didn’t-want-it-anyway sulk to eat old willow trees at me.

I have noticed this bum-swinging is a recent habit that has to stop. He does it to the old ladies and positioning them together to eat their buckets is tricky but necessary if I want them to have any sort of protection from Waffle.

My afternoon horse-and-pony-check found me climbing up the hill to give the Ancients an apple each.

Bloomin’ miles away they were too.

I originally thought I could take lovely photos of all three horses galloping downhill towards me but they didn’t move and expected a full waitress service.  Of course, I obliged.

I even had to climb the last cliff face to give Kolka her apple.  It was steep and I am not good with steep as I have little balance these days the minute I remember I have little balance these days!

Bibble, on my way up.

Kolka looking rather splendid and prehistoric, refusing to budge or meet me halfway.

And Bibble on my trip downwards, as in “have you got another apple as I ate mine?”

I had a quick feel for ribs and found none.  Everyone is fluffy and happy.

Next, I took two dry rain-sheet rugs out to put on Vitamin and Fivla as we are due a storm starting tonight with rain and a windchill of about minus 5.  The wind really gets going by Wednesday (a feisty Force 10) so I wanted to be prepared and not let the old ladies get totally soaked through and utterly miserable.

I told the other Minions they were all too fat to need a rug!  They, of course, disagreed.

Since the Ancient horses are in the field that needs water delivered to it and that is a back-breaking job, I put on my Brave Pants and drove across the hill in the Eggbox with large containers of water.

This is exactly what I wanted the Eggbox to do and I won’t lie, I was nervous as I haven’t off-roaded for years.  I last did this route in my big old-style Defender which was built like a tank complete with the best off-roading tyres and drove like one too (I loved that car – it is sorely missed).

But today I did it!  The Jimny made short work of it all and I felt safe and capable as I trundled slowly across the scattald (open hill).

OH walked alongside so he could warn me where I would get stuck. I had the four-wheel drive on after the tyres were slipping in a few places.

Meanwhile, the horses watched on, probably judging my off-roading driving ability.

Yes, I took carrots.

There is an old rutty track across the hill which I followed some of the way to the gate.

And now I can sleep knowing the old horses have a good supply of water.  The bigger tank is full of old rain water (and needs a clean) and, although there is a ditch with running water going through, Haakon won’t drink from it as it is too low for him to reach so he stops drinking.  This is the field where every horse and pony gets colic so I like a fresh supply of easy-to-reach water available at all times.

Well done me. I can do this!

We are exhausted. It’s been a busy morning.

I started by moving the three Ancients into a field across the hill where they could stay well away from the track creation and the electric fence.  There’s lots of grass and shelter in their new field so they were happy to oblige.

Then came the hard work.  There were three of us working – OH, a kind friend and me.  The 120 wooden “stabs” were already in place but needed a plastic post or two in between to support the one strand of electric wire.  OH went all the way round putting 120 plastic insulators in with his drill, which makes life far easier.  By hand, it is a nightmare.  The dogs were about and we told them this was the equivalent of a dog-walk. They were very good and just pootled about while we worked.  The whole fence is 700 metres long all the way round the field.  That’s a long way and a lot of wire.

The battery is now on charge but I am not sure when to move the Minions into their field.

The spring grass is about to come in so I will possibly put them in tomorrow and hopefully we will avoid laminitis.  I am dithering because it’s not really spring, their existing field is doing the job perfectly well and I don’t want to peak too early, run out of grass and have to put hay out for them.  Oh, what to do?

And back with the Ancients – I went over to check their water – they are all fine.

And they’re all looking good considering they don’t wear rugs and are 28, 29 and 30 years old (Iacs, Kolka and Haakon).

It was a good day – we achieved great things and I feel happy that the track is all set and ready to be used. It looks good and I think everyone will sleep well tonight. So much walking round and round the track.