“As members of a herd, they’re able to relax because one horse acts as a sentinel, standing guard while the rest snooze.” – Practical Horseman

Or, if you’re Kolka, you sort of keep guard while eating, because it is all a matter of priorities.

And she did her very best, honest, and I feel sure that if a leopard or whatever crept up to eat the others, Kolka would’ve given her everything to protect everyone….. sort of (ooh, look, a nice blade of grass!)

The weather has been exhausting so it was lovely to see the old men snoozing.  You can almost hear the farts and the snoring (and with Iacs, there would definitely be farts – he is legendary).

I am not very good at creeping up, and so when Haakon noticed me then that was it. He was up.  I might have chocolate cake about my person. I didn’t.

Meanwhile, Iacs went on Zzzz……ing.

…. and, once awake, he was pulling silly faces yawning.

That’s better. Now they all look like a sensible herd of horses.  Well done Kolka.  She has the old men sorted.  I hope they stand guard for her.

I am wrong, and I don’t admit to that lightly. Apparently the original three Minions – Waffle, Silver and Storm – have only be with me for nine years.

It will be ten next year according to my dear friend, who felt the need to correct me (there is always one and she knows who she is, not that I hold a grudge but the usual “fusion soup” on Saturday will be interesting, that’s all I’m going to say!)

Anywho, nine years ago, the day after Up Helly Aa (the last Wednesday of the month), I went along to help the SSPCA move many Shetland ponies that needed to be rehomed and relocated urgently.

So, here we are nine years on and, doing the maths, next year it will be ten years. This gives me more time for planning.  I think we should have a cake, a party, maybe with hats and probably a lot of gin.  Perhaps my friend, who corrected me, could make the cake – chocolate, please!

🎂 🎉 🎁 🍾 🍸

Nine or ten, it feels longer and at least someone reads the blog!

It’s been ten whole years.  All day I have been going back in my head seeing what happened, what we did and why.

The Rescuers

I love the boys to bits but it’s not been easy. It never is. I made enemies and confrontation, which I hate. I also achieved first name terms with my Bank Manager!  The ponies taught me so much. I am grateful to them for that.

So Happy Gotcha Day – Storm, Waffle and Silver.  You still make me laugh and worry in equal parts.

Photo – in thinner, younger days

I hope they are glad they are here. I tell myself they are.

This morning’s feeding time at the zoo.  I have moved the Oldies to the smaller but more sheltered field – it is in a small valley with a stream running through it.

OH walked the dogs down there later this morning and said there was no wind by the stream, so I know this lot have good shelter to get through tonight – a merry little Force 11 for 6 hours solid.

Being Icelandic horses, they are all experts at finding the best place to stand.

They all have good winter coats too and no one is soaking, shivering or dithering.

I am nicely surprised at just how well Kolka is managing without a rug.

At the moment, they get breakfast and Kolka has another bucket for tea, while the others have soaked fibre block.

This system seems to be working fairly well with little arguing about Kolka having nicer things than they do.  Maybe they don’t know….. yet.

So we’re getting prepared for tonight’s onslaught but I know the horses, ponies and sheep are safe and have all they need.

The little boys are totally scunnered (exhausted, weary, down-trodden) with the weather and, to be perfectly honest, I cannot blame them. It’s been relentless and there’s more to come.

So, this morning, I opened up the shed and let them in.  Tiddles ate his bucket of nothing and went straight to sleep, as did Storm a bit later on.  Albie kept on eating.

I felt very sorry for them.  They looked knackered.

They get to see daylight if the wind is in the right direction and I like to keep the door open during the day.

Tiddles perked up a little after his rest.

As did Storm.

And Albie was the brightest of them all.  I was surprised at that as he an emotional little chap – he wears his heart on his hoof.

I think Pepper helped.

I have made the decision to keep these ponies in for a while. The forecast is revolting so they can rest and have some peace and quiet from it all.  It won’t do their feet any harm either.