The coughing has reduced significantly.  Phew.  As has the diarrhoea. Another phew, in more than one way.

They seem happier.

And, yes, it is a small area of grotty field, but it must be better than the stable.

I am poo-picking daily and they get soaked hay they can ignore and fresh water.

So the boys muddle about.  They pick on Albie. I said this was not on.

Not cricket.

Tiddles is the worst and I am disappointed. I’m not going to lie.

This afternoon I sat on the fish box and they all came up for a cuddle.

And I tried to explain that I was doing this for their own good.

So they all said, to a pony, that they did not believe me and I was just one nasty horrid owner of poor abused and possibly starved Shetland ponies.

Jog on, boys, jog on!

Ok, it is lovely outside, if midgey but who cares, there is blue sky and that has been a bit of a luxury this summer.

But…. and it is a big butt, believe me.  Today was one of those if-it-can-go-wrong-it-jolly-well-will days, so it did.

#1.  My horsevan died again and will only start with a good hill-start run at it.

#2.  The glass on my iPad broke – yes, I dropped it and it was not as robust about bouncing as it usually is.  Bugger.

#3.  Both dogs had to be bathed as they went a-digging of the pesky rabbitses (accompanied by my OH who showed them where to dig.)  So he had to wash them!

#4.  I am sure other things went wrong but I can’t remember them to list.

#5.  This is a bucket after Storm has been at it with his sun-cream nosey.

Oh yes….

#6. Tiddles has now developed a nasty persistent dry cough despite all hay being soaked.

#7. Albie has rampant diarrhoea.

So I have put the little chaps outside for an hour to see if that will help.  Their gait is better so I hope the minimal grass in this paddock doesn’t start everything off.

The van has gone to the garage. The starter motor will be replaced (again) but not at my expense as it was only 2 weeks old (a sort of yay as in I am glad they found the fault and it is not my fault!)

My iPad is going off to be repaired.  I refuse to throw it away.  There is no need.

So that’s me. Feeling rather pissed off.  Still, the dogs look good after their bath and hopefully everything can be mended.

I try and get out most days with my avant-lunch cup of coffee to sit in the garden, listen to Classic FM, soak up my Vitamin D, while enjoying the peace and quiet that is my life and catch up on my emails.

And then Monster decided to sit next to Ted.  Possibly not his best move.

I told him this so he snuggled in and Ted was appalled.  I don’t blame him.

Briefly, it was lovely.

But Ted swiftly left and Monster gave that smug sigh that said he had achieved.

There were looks of total disgust and I felt Ted’s pain but nothing I can do. I am Switzerland in all this – ie, neutral.

Then Monster moved off to seek a more comfortable bed.

So Pepper and Ted took over the garden seat (with me).

It was a hot day, for Shetland. None of us are used to this.  Pepper over-heated on her garden seat and joined Monster, blocking out his sun.

Meanwhile, I drank my coffee and listened to Classic Fm in a Switzerland sort-of style!

I went to feed Vitamin this morning and immediately sucked my teeth looking at Albie. He refused to come over to talk and was struggling.  That was it. I came back with the van and loaded him in.

Surprisingly, Albie was quite spritely once he got home. I think he was anxious as he thought he was on his own.  No one answered him when he shouted but he soon brightened up when he saw the other inmates.

So this lot will all stay inside for the time-being.

I check on them regularly and muck them out about three/four times a day. They get regular little-hole haynets of soaked hay.

And in return I get free nose kisses!

The boys are pretty unimpressed with this set-up but it is for their own good. I keep telling them this.

The fibre block is popular and keeps them entertained.

They share very well.

And so far this water bucket has thwarted Waffle’s cunning plan.

My jury is now out about Storm. I will be watching him with eagle-eyes.

I brought these two home today.

I have been sucking my teeth for a while now and decided that Tiddles and Waffle (and possibly Albie, though there wasn’t room in the van) should come to stay here before the autumn flush of grass comes through (the last growth of high-in-sugar green stuff) and they get laminitis.

They will stay inside for a few days.  The hay is soaking and rationed.

I notice that both were slow walking up the hill and puffing.  Tiddles is not fat but on the cusp of struggling.

And war has been declared with Waffle, who was equally bad, if not worse, in his gait.

So far there have been four upturned buckets of water so I have resorted to this.   Up turn that Waffle!

The alfalfa blocks are scattered too!

I feel sorry for the boys but it would be much worse if they stayed there.  I think they were days away from full-blown laminitis.

Meanwhile, outside, I have my mowing crew doing their bit in the paddock.  This is where the little ones will live at night.

Some are more committed to the cause than others.

My jury is still out on Albie but one hint of leaving the herd and not looking happy and he is joining the other two.  I have my van.  I will use it.