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.

Fivla finished her bucket. I was busy consoling her that she was not with her best friend, Vitamin, who I had moved along with Newt to the field over the road, when I turned around to find this…..

Storm rolling with his head in a bucket!

Just why?

Why does he do this? What is his reasoning?

No one else does.

Head-in-a-bucket time now over, Storm stood up and gave himself a shake….

And then the bucket rolled off – it was a very windy day.

So Storm gave chase after the bucket.

I ran after the bucket too as I could see we were about to lose it, either to Storm or to the wind.

Storm has always been a bit “speshul”.  He will never change. He has done this bucket-thing ever since he was a foal and I have no idea why.

The weather forecast is not nice for the next couple of days – wind, rain, more wind – so I opened the gates and stable to let the old men have grass and shelter if they choose.

The downside is that I have to poo-pick (usually about a wheelbarrow’s worth a day) as I hate the mess having horses around always leaves.  I am also followed everywhere!

The sheep are not happy – these two came to tell me this. Although I have made it so Iacs can’t go and stand in their shed (he does try), they are resentful until they get used to it.

Once the horses were sorted, I dashed over to see what to do about Vitamin. I decided to move her over the road to a small field which will offer more shelter and better grass. I gave her a huge bucket and put on her new rug.  Then I added Newt, who was very good and helpful.

I can trust Newt not to attack Vitamin for wearing a rug, let alone rip it to shribbons and leave teeth marks in her butt.  He is not that kind of chap.

Meanwhile, Fivla was incandescent with rage at this decision because:-

1. Her “best” friend had moved
2. Her “best” friend had more grass
3. Her “best” friend was wearing that heinous rug (it has to go in Fivla’s mind)
4. Her “best” friend now had a new better friend!

I told Fivla to suck it up, buttercup. This was of her own doing and no one else’s.  If she could just be nicer, it could’ve been her in that field and not Newt.

I quickly drove home!

My view this afternoon.  I do secretly like having the horses up around the house and I hope the sheep get over themselves.

Maggie is very much her own sheep. She likes what she likes and much is tolerated by her but the existence of Pepper is one thing too many.

I tell both Pepper and Maggie that they will just have to rub along together.

Maggie does not think this is a solution she can agree to.

To be fair Pepper does go looking for Maggie to torment her in a just-being-there sort of way.

So Pepper finds shelter amongst the other sheep.  Pepper knows Maggie won’t do anything really bad (possibly butt or roll her) and she does taunt her horribly so I just watch wondering if this a harmless game or something I should stop.

I don’t know what the vibe is with Maggie.  Sometimes she and Pepper are sort of playing. Maggie could pummel Pepper into the ground. Pepper could bite Maggie. Neither go that far and both enjoy the game.  Maggie has done this since Pepper was a wee puppy.  She rolled her a few times but Pepper never squeaked or lost her temper.

Pepper gets on well with the others.

Though, Madge is not much of a fan of Pepper’s either.  Now I am beginning to see a common thread here!