Once a year I brush a horse or pony.  Today, I brushed my Minions.  I had wormed them yesterday so I was on a roll.

I can’t remember who was first up. I just brushed anyone who turned up.  Waffle turned up a lot. He adores being brushed.

And Albie.

Fivla was not enthused at the prospect of being brushed but she had to stand still and be done.

Tiddles was hard work. Firstly, for the rest of the year he does his absolute best to avoid any hint of grooming ever and hates it, so it was a head-collar job and I attacked his horrid matted forelock.

“Why, Miss Tiddles, you are beautiful!” I told him.

He agreed.

Storm was around, always ever helpful.

Silver was handsome afterwards.

Err… Newt.  Still like a small beligerent yak.

Albie followed me everywhere.

Vitamin looking her absolute best.

Everyone was made to look bouffant. Originally, I had intended to brush only four ponies but in the end, I was enjoying myself so I did the lot.

Yup, Storm still “helping”.  He had everything out.

When Pepper first arrived, I could see everyone was very wary of her and even nervous. No one likes change.  And I thought to myself “they will never settle” and worried about this.

How wrong I was.

Obviously, Monster never thought that. He adores little Pepper-Pot.  But he is a bit weird.

And the older horses have always been used to having a dog around.

Pepper is an excellent vacuum cleaner.

It’s because she is a Patterdale Terrier.  They exist to vacuum.  It is why they were put on this planet.

It was the sheep I was worried about.  Lambie dearly loved his BeAnne. She was his Mum from his Day 1.

So when I see the sheep just accepting Pepper being around, I think everything will be alright.  She is always with me when I go outside.  However, Maggie is less than generous and she and Pepper play a “game” that involves butting but never too hard and to be fair Pepper loves it and taunts Maggie in return.  We have words about this and Maggie knows if she wants to stay here, she has to tow the line and try and be nice.   Pepper could get out of the way if she wanted.

I haven’t introduced Pepper to the Minions. Albie was not good with BeAnne so I would keep her away. We will see what happens when they come home this winter.

Dear sweet Vitamin puts up with a lot.  Every day I bring her a bucket of food as I want her to put on weight ready for the next Shetland winter.  She lost so much with her teeth problems.

And this is Albie happening to be in the area, optimistic (or stupid) she will let him have her bucket of food.

She didn’t – she just kept her head down in the bucket eating knowing that if she took it out (to breathe) someone else might have a go at stealing it (good luck with that!)

So the “vultures” have to content themselves with going through the second bucket I bring. It is full of my necessary equipment.

It is duly trashed. There goes the headcollar, the sunscreen, the wee purple bucket, the water bottle, the teeth drench thingy etc.

Today Storm chose the little purple bucket.

Waffle and Fivla were sensibly keeping well away.

As was Silver.

I never let anyone steal Vitamin’s food. They don’t need it and she does.

But Albie is definitely on a hiding to nothing!  He never learns.

I lost my Lambie today. I know I let him out into the big field first thing this morning. I remember that.

And then I went to take the dogs for a walk, and saw everyone but Lambie.  They were all sat down chewing their cud.

(there is ‘Ster in the distance)

They were all quite far apart from each other so I walked around the whole huge field looking for Lambie.

I even walked right up to the far end gate. I like to check it hasn’t opened as everyone could potentially escape into the open hill. This has happened.

I even put the sniffer dogs on the trail of the errant Lambie with absolutely no success.

So having searched and searched, I gave up hoping he was just hidden somewhere in the grass and would come home later.

Anyway, I had things to do – I decided to move the Old Men to Taktur and Dreki’s old field, so I can let this one grow back up for the winter.  It will be perfect for the Minions.

Once decided, I looked around for something to lead a horse with. I took off my canvas top (t-shirt underneath, don’t panic!) and wrapped it around Haakon’s neck. He is used to my improvisations and walked helpfully beside me, waited while I opened the gate and the others followed….

… and they all rushed off.  That’s how I like it.  I would’ve led Haakon with his chin hairs, but being summer, he hasn’t got any!

Anywho, this afternoon, upon my return from packing veg (my Thursday afternoon job), Lambie came home.

I have no idea where he had been but he was perfectly normal so I think I must’ve just missed him.

Well, normal enough for Lambie!

This has not been an easy decision and certainly not one made lightly but today Taktur and Dreki went on the boat south to their new home.

Hence the practising loading training these past couple of weeks.

The boys loaded fine, travelled well arriving intrigued and interested at the pier.  I think Dreki had designs on the big lorries!  If he could’ve pointed with excitement, he would’ve.

Taktur was much cooler about it all. He’s been there, seen it and definitely got the t-shirt.

Handing the boys over was not easy and I said my goodbyes quickly.

This was definitely the right decision for me.  I have my own reasons for selling Dreki.  Nothing was his fault. It was all me. I just lost my nerve over the whole process and once lost, it was gone.  My back didn’t help either.

As for Taktur, he is Daisy’s horse and so it was entirely her decision.

The boys are going to the same home and it is perfect – definitely what we wanted for their future.  I am not worried about them.

So end of an era really.  Bitter-sweet but definitely the right choice for me.