We have a busy week ahead – tomorrow the equine dentist is visiting to look at and treat, if required, the Old Ladies (Fivla and Vitamin) and the Old Men (Haakon and Iacs) so that they will have good teeth for winter and all the horrors it can bring.  I speak from experience.

So Vitamin started shouting for all her friends and I hate that. It makes her stressed.  Stress is not good for old horses.  So I went and collected all her herd and brought them home in two more loads in my horse-van.

My excuse is the weather is going to be pretty vile this week so it makes sense to have everyone back.  I worried too much yesterday and I didn’t sleep either.

Anyway, the farrier will appreciate being able to work indoors when it is shitting down and blowing a hoolie.

Once everyone was in the field, I took the dogs for their walk.

Old friendships (?) were renewed.

And I had ponies following on the dog walk too.

In rather a determined way.

And can I just say that everyone loaded beautifully to come home – I was by myself.  All was fine until Tiddles went on strike and only loaded because my neighbour walked up behind him.  So, yes, Tiddles, I am not talking to you despite you looking extra cute. You were not helpful standing in the middle of the road and refusing to budge!

I was up and at ’em early this morning.  I wanted to get everything done before the storm hit.

I loaded up the car and drove over to the Minions.

They all had another ginormous bucket to stoke their internal furnace.  It was going to be tough on them all for the next 12 hours.

Then home, and I showed the Old Men their stable that they could use if they wanted.

And so could the sheep, who were keen on stealing the hay.

I checked on them regularly all day and they seem fine.

I can tell they’ve been outside a little as they are wet but the stable has been lived in too.

Anywho, here are some photos from yesterday when I sat down in the field with the Minions.  I haven’t done this for a while so it was lovely to be “appreciated”.

The weather forecast is horrendous.  Force 12 – seriously?

So, today, while it was still calm(ish), I fed everyone a huge pile of fibre – the essential ingredient for good and effective equine central heating.

I took seven bowls, hurled them over the fence and dished out the food like school slop.

I had already moved Vitamin over first so she could eat her bucket in peace (she gets extra linseed and TurmerAid).

After Newt had cleaned up, I took him over for company.

And put Vitamin’s rug on her as there is going to be a lot of rain too.

Fivla was not impressed.  Well, she should of thought of that before she tore great chunks out of her best friend’s rug last time.  That’s all I’m saying.  It could’ve been her but no, it is Newt who is also having lovely long green grass.  Suck it up, Buttercup!

I try and see Klængur every day, if I can (I was hopeless before but I do miss him very much).  He is just over the road so I incorporate his visits with my Minion checking.

Klængur is busy losing weight at my neighbour’s “Fat Camp”.  He is sharing a track system with another Icelandic mare and being her companion.

And the pounds are dropping off, which is all to the good.  He was a blob and a worry when I sent him.

There are a few more inches to go before perfection and slimness is attained, so I am trying to stay tough and am keeping him there.

There is no point Klængur coming home to stuff his face and get fat all over again.  We have grass and I can’t put the Old Men on a diet just because Klængur shouldn’t eat it.

And I will admit that I do miss my Ginja Ninja.

His “little ways”.  Anyway, Klængur will be home soon. I have promised him that.  Just not quite yet.

Rug off and Vitamin and Newt were returned back to the herd this morning.  There is a break now from the bad weather for a few days and it was never a permanent move – just when the weather is bad and Vitamin needs to wear her rug.

Vitamin is looking perfect now.  I am very pleased.  All that lovely weight has returned and she is a lovely round shape.  It only took eight months.

Newt was pleased to be back with his salt-lick.

Fivla gave Vitamin the “stink eye” but apart from that, she didn’t attack (rug off, that’s why).

So Vitamin stared at Fivla straight back.

Anywho, while my back was turned, Silver stole Fivla’s empty bucket and had a roll. And, yes, he was like Storm and stuck his head into it first.  Most strange.

And then everyone started to roll….

Tiddles

Albie

Newt

Even Vitamin.  She was glad to get the rug off but it had done its job and she was nice and dry.

Waffle sensibly led everyone away.

(I do like a colour coordinated herd!)

And there was more rolling.