The weather is pretty vile today.  Cold, wet and windy.

The old ladies had their buckets of chips, lard and éclairs – anything to keep the weight on.

Vitamin (known as Minnie-Moo) had already finished her’s and was just cleaning up.  She is tied to the fence so I can quickly rinse her mouth out (water – I take a small bottle down with me) and spray her hooves (ACV) before she runs away.

This diet seems to be working for Fivla and Vitamin and I am pleased as it means they can stay with their friends, who are not allowed anything fattening ever again.

The others get their scoopful of vitamins/minerals along with the slimming sludge (fast fibre and zero chaff).

The bowls were already wet as someone had been tipping them over (possible Tiddles and definitely Storm), so the food became sludge.

Wet sludge or not, it was quickly devoured.  Beggars can’t be choosers, I told them.

And then one by one, small horrible wet little ponies came to ask if there was any more?

It is lucky I don’t mind being dirty or wet.

Actually, I do.  Sorry guys.  I gathered my buckets and clambered over the fence.

The dog walk is daily.

And different folk join us depending on who is around.

Today it was Harrel-the-Barrel who jogged along behind.

And then Maggie, his mother, joined him.  They are a dear little team of two and I sat down on a dry rock for a hug from them both.

This was the view behind me…..

And the one in front.

Barrel was considering his mode d’emploi for going over the stream.

Everyone was enjoying themselves.

And then I was joined by Monster.

I love this photo. Another album cover, do you think?

And then we all joined up with ‘Bert who was sitting, peacefully chewing his cud, enjoying the rare Shetland spring sunshine.

To paraphrase/quote Hippocrates, but not in his vernacular because that would look pretentious, “Desperate times call for desperate measures“.

Every morning I always have someone waiting for me – probably waiting for the buckets and not me.  It is usually Iacs but today Kolka joined him.

I am fed up with Klængur. He has taken to bullying Haakon and Iacs off their buckets when he’s finished his rather meagre non-fattening version, which is not on.  Feeding time was getting more than a bit fraught and the Old Men were suffering.

So I came up with a plan which was duly executed with total success.  Yesterday, I lugged two sheep hurdles into the field and put them in one of the cleared byres on the end of the derelict house to act as a gate.

And now Klængur has to eat his bucket on his own until I say he can go out to rejoin the others.

Feed time will be more peaceful and less of a battle for everyone.

I went down the hill to feed the rugby scrum that is the Minions and I noticed Kolka was kindly doing a “prison visit”!

I thought it was very sweet of her.  She does love him.

After I had finished with the Minions, I went back up and released Klængur.

So this will be new daily norm.  The bullying will stop.

I told Klængur this and, to be fair, he didn’t seem to mind being led to his new dining room or the waiting afterwards for me to let him out.

And here is my latest album cover or, as Daisy said, when I sent it to her, “Why can he (Iacs) never look normal?”

Today started out with intermittent snow showers but I managed (with the essential help of OH) to bring the Old Ladies home. They were booked in to see the equine dentist who was visiting Shetland.

I let them eat the newly growing green grass around the house, just before he arrived.

And then, with the help of Pepper, the dentist, Stuart, arrived and we started work.  Fivla first with me on the rope end and the dentist on the front end.

I just wanted her checked out because she is slow eating and her shape has changed over winter.  I don’t think Fivla is particularly thin, or losing weight, but I worry.  You know me.

There was rasping and a little rearing, but we ignored that.

While Fivla was going through her own personal hell (no one actually visits the dentist for fun), Vitamin and Pepper were becoming better acquainted, which was sweet to see.

Vitamin has not been Pepper’s biggest fan but I think it is because Vitamin is always defending her bucket so doesn’t have time for the social niceties.  Anyway, they ended up good friends *** sniff ***.

And then it was Vitamin’s turn.  She had much done but, on the good side, she won’t require an anaesthetic later which was the purpose of the visit as our dentist achieved all he wanted to do without.  A huge relief as a 29 year old pony is not a great anaesthetic candidate.

Job(s) done and Pepper and the Stuart’s dog (a gorgeous labrador) had a good run around, again *** sniff ***. I love seeing Pepper meeting new dogs and having fun.  She was so happy with her new friend.

And then I took the Old Ladies back to their herd and everyone was pleased to see them home again.

One thing – the dentist said that the Old Ladies looked good for their age and whatever I was doing was working.  Phew!  Mostly I feel I am running blind on this equine lark.

It’s that time of year again – Lambie’s birthday.  Today he is 8 years old.

Lambie was born on a horrid stormy night. He was one of a twin but his sister died two days later and then later his mother.

(the wee scrap!)

Remembering how BeAnne was so brilliant with him – she was his Mum – brings tears to my eyes.

She was the best.

And now Lambie is a great big gorgeous sheep with his Prize Winning Smile.

He spent his special day with his best friends.

And he had some honey graham crackers as a birthday treat.

He was very happy – he adores biccies but we’ve cut back recently due to waistlines, unnecessary sugar and expense (they have sheep pellets now as their treat, which they also adore).

Eight years ago, there was a terrible storm.  Today we have snow showers.

Maybe it is a weather thing on Lambie’s birthday.