Rug Indecision

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I have spent the day looking out of the window wondering if I have got it all wrong with the horses and ponies’ rugs.  Sometimes it is hot, sometimes cold. I can’t win.

This morning started with sleet, so I felt that everyone was keeping dry and warm in their rugs.  They all have rainsheets on – with no fill.

But then, to spite me, the sun came out and it was lovely.

The horses and ponies still have their rugs on because it is a back-killer to keep nipping out to take them off, put them on, take them off, etc.  It also isn’t very warm (a constant vicious north-west wind) and that sleet was a nasty shock.

And the minute I decided everyone could keep their rugs on, until the wind changes direction and it gets warmer again, the sun beat down unmercilessly.

Of course it ruddy well did.

But I have felt under everyone’s rugs and they are either slightly warm or cool so no one is over-heating – I changed everyone’s rug yesterday and it was very hard work, lugging etc.

At night the temperature dips and the range is about 10 degrees. Tonight is no exception  – the forecast is for -5 °C (RealFeel).

Anyway, Fivla says I can take her rug off in August.

Rugs on?  Rugs off?  Rugs on?  I am very uncertain and tomorrow there is rain all day.  I might be slightly obsessing about this, which doesn’t help.

Anyway, here is today’s hairstyle oeuvre.

Gussie (oh my! swoon)

And Lambie (oh dear)!

Hairstyles!

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There’s this free app you can get on your phone, which will show you potential hair styles on photos of yourself – I was going to town to have my hair cut and wanted to see if I could find a style that suited.  I couldn’t but it was fun trying.

So, having failed with myself, I did some experimenting as you get two attempts per day.

Now I think Pepper suits this style very much but possibly not all the colour. A bit too orange!

But the question we all ask ourselves is “should Monster have a fringe?”

And I turned Iacs into a Kardashian, which I felt was quite an achievement.  Obviously I shall be having more fun with this app on every animal I own.

Anyway, I drove into town and got my hair cut.  Then I stocked up my little field in Jamieson’s Knitwear on Commercial Street.

It was lucky I was already going into town, as there was a huge boat in – M.S. Nieuw Statendam (2,666-passenger Pinnacle-class cruise ship from Holland America Line).  I hope they all went home with my sheep.

Now, back to those potential hairstyles….. Tiddles might have to be next. I will keep you updated of my new internet salon’s progress.

Twice a Day Feeds

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I had the dentist (for me, not the horses) first thing this morning. Afterwards, I took one look at Lerwick (there was a large cruise ship in), quickly turned tail and went home.  I had that sudden feeling wanting to go home, though I did manage to nip into the feed merchant on my way.

Anyway, everyone was waiting patiently for me to get back.

I was needed, in my own special way.

After making the statutory hand-felted sheep with feline help (gosh, he was annoying), armed with my bucket and gloves I went outside to quickly poo-pick the track.  Everywhere I went, Haakon was watching me. He kept popping up on my eyeline.  It was as if he was trying to tell me something.

After the track was cleared, I mixed up two buckets of fattening food and quietly put them out into five bowls, hoping I wasn’t noticed.  It is much easier to dish out food without everyone crowding me and arguing.

However, I could see Iacs had already clocked that something was going on.

I distributed fairly and shouted …..

For once, Haakon was right. There was something going on – unexpected food.

While the cold north-west wind continues to blow, the rugs are staying on.  I think we dodged the sleet, though.  Anyway, everyone is very pleased with this new twice a day feeding routine.  They think they are onto a winner.  I think it is not going to be forever.

Tidied and Organised

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I ordered some zip storage bags to put the horses and ponies rugs in – I have an extensive collection because you just never know (that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it). The bags are suprisingly much bigger than I expected. Measuring or sending stuff back is not one of my strengths.  I will never learn but decided to use them nonetheless.

And this is my pile of rugs to be shoved into bags and stored.

My wonderful new shelving did its job and everything is now all organised and easy to grab too.

I have remaining a pile of rugs that I will sell or give away, if anyone wants.  Some are nicer than others.

My smugness knows no bounds at my immense organisational skills.

Iacs’ and Haakon’s rugs went back on at tea time (off in the sunshine for the day) and I am considering nipping out after supper to put the other rugs on as it is going down to -5°C tonight with snow tomorrow (don’t get me started).

The little ones have their hay and containers so they should be fine.

And they all have their thick winter coats too as I am too lazy to groom them yet.  It is certainly not the weather for it.  I might give Tiddles his rug because he needs one.  No one else in that group does.

Haakon’s Weight Loss

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Haakon seems to have suddenly lost weight almost overnight which is not like him. Usually it is Iacs who comes into spring a bit lean.  So now, of course, I am worried.

It’s been a long day packing Turriefield vegetables this morning, collecting fattening horse-food from a friend and lastly popping over to another friend to collect equine wormer which she had kindly brought back from Lerwick yesterday.

When I finally got home mid-afternoon, although the sun was out, there is a north wind blowing which made everything much colder.

I walked down to the field and put Iacs’ winter rug back on.  He was very happily surprised and both Vitamin and Fivla said they would quite like their’s on too please so I told them no, you’re fine.  We’ll see how the week goes.

Then I led Haakon into the garden and gave him a big bucket of the fattening food which luckily he really liked and happily ate.

The others were now pretty cross at this blatant favouritism so I went into the house and found some carrots to throw and to get them off the fences. It briefly did the trick.

And then they were back, watching.

I don’t like how Haakon’s backbone is sticking out and his bottom is thin on his legs.  I can also feel his ribs and there is no cushioning.  For a 32 year old horse, I wouldn’t want him any thinner and he must put on weight if he is to keep going.

So rug on, and Haakon will get two meals a day to fatten him up.

I hope the others don’t mind too much.

Oh yes, and this is the damage in Haakon’s hoof after that horrid abscess/stone made.  Poor lad.

So that’s the plan. Two meals a day and rug on while the north wind is blowing.

I will consider rugging the others up but, to be perfectly honest, they are looking fine and probably don’t need it.