“Hairst” is the Shetland dialect word for Autumn.

It is my most favourite time of year.

I love all the muted colours, the everything.

Shetland just looks perfect to me.  This is my time of year.

But, best of all, Floss is home for a ten day holiday (yes, we are still testing positive for Covid but it is her choice and hopefully as we are two weeks on, we are not contagious).

So we took the dogs for a walk in Leradale.

Although it was overcast, Pepper and Ted had a lovely time running and running and running.

As well as digging.  Absolutely no one came when they were called, either. Little baskets.  We were both hoarse from shouting.

Leradale is perfect this time of year.  Very special.

And this rock bridge spans a very deep burn. I held my breath, prayed and walked across it.

But Floss refused and found an easier place upstream (I bet she also held her breath when she crossed – scary stuff).

After our walk, I took Floss to visit Klængur and she agreed with me that he looked much better but needed to stay a bit longer. It’s always good to have a second opinion.

Anywho, it is lovely having Floss home. Let’s hope we don’t infect her with our plague.

While we were waiting for our equine dentist, Stuart, to arrive, I let Fivla and Vitamin out of their field so they were close by and easy to catch.

Vitamin had a lovely chat with Haakon who drew in his stomach and looked beautiful.

Then Fivla came swishing past in a rage to tell her friend not to talk to the riff-raff.  I love Iacs’ hopeful face – a double date, perhaps?  You can almost hear her shout “No chance!”

The old ladies were first in – Fivla…. who had nothing done.

And then Vitamin who had some rasping done.  When Stuart returns next Spring, she will need sedation and two teeth removed.  It needs to be done.

Note – one small dog who “helped”, ie got in the way horribly and was almost trodden on. She will learn somehow if she doesn’t get killed in the attempt.

I love this photo.  It just shows that nothing much has changed in over 20 years.  Everyone just waits patiently and there is never any trouble.  I think Iacs was still hopeful of his “date”.

Haakon had quite a bit done. He had a fracture in his tooth, which had left a sharp bit casuing an ulcered cheek.  Hopefully with everything smoothed down, it will heal up in a week.  My poor boy.  He never said.

Lastly was Iacs who had some rasping and spent the whole time walking backwards in circles (sorry, no photo).

Anywho, I am glad Stuart has been.  I feel much better knowing everyone is the best they can be for their age and there are no unknown nasties lurking.

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!