I have planted all my tatties, (sing it loud),
I have planted all my tatties (feeling smug)…
And winter hurriedly returned.  It’s very cold again.

I have also acquired a plethora of Belfast sinks which I am planting up with a variety of flowers – so far they all seem to be blue, but who cares! Flowers is flowers.

More tatties – this was a case of I wish I had planted them in the other place as that was ideal but now they are too heavy to move over there.  Dammit.

Everything has to be Monster-Proofed.  The only cat to have knowingly killed mint and that is quite an achievement.

I have my beloved Jerusalem artichokes planted here.  My favourite vegetable.

After a rainy morning today, I went to town with Floss – she had her first Covid injection.  All went smoothly.

We didn’t hang around and quickly went home.  These days, I am not a fan of Other People.

I gave Maggie her 4th breakfast as it is the only way I get to talk to Harry.

Maggie told me she hates Harry trying to nurse while she eats her food (she has a point), so I grab him and pop him on my lap for a little cuddle (which he hates but I love).

He is a funny little chap.

He has lots of ideas, and Maggie ignores them all.

But wherever she goes, he follows and then the Clean Up Crew arrive.

I love being at home.

Maggie has been shouting and everyone has “talked” to Harry through the fence so we opened the gate…..

I check them all regularly.  Firstly, the main flock took themselves down to the bottom field leaving Maggie and Harry by themselves but when I came back later, they had come back up again and things were looking hopeful.

Maggie has three meals (at least) a day.  She insists and is in a routine, which we go along with – mainly to shut her up!

This is her where-is-my-2nd-breakfast face!

Lambie was happy to leave the paddock and I don’t like arguments when food is involved.  Edna has also cottoned onto the first, second and third meal sitting.

When I put the bowl down, then it is usually my chance to talk to Harry but he is now trying to eat everything too.

I

Trying….. there’s lots of spitting out!

Lambie is of course very cool.

Later on today and Maggie was still keeping her distance from the others – the best mum – but she would come and talk to me if I am carrying Animal Crackers (Stauffer’s) about my person.

Once my supply had been exhausted, I was history.

Later this afternoon, me and my Animal Crackers went to call Maggie up again.  ‘Bert and Lambie followed me too.

Maggie didn’t seem to mind the boys.

It is just taking time.  The way I see it is that we have all summer to tame Harry down, there are acres of fields and if Edna and Madge are horrible, well Maggie and Harry are lither than the fatties!

I am hoping they just get on with it and get to know each other in a calm, kind way.

Efstur is now well into his training with Daisy.  He loves being ridden and is beginning to become more balanced while developing the right muscles.  Upon examination, Uwe, his physio, said that he still has some more growing to do in the next year or so.

With this in mind, Daisy (who has studied all things saddle and took a saddle fitting course) rides him in an adjustabe saddle which will hopefully accomodate any change in shape and size. She decided that her original saddle did not fit Efstur’s requirements.  Fair enough.

Anyway, Efstur is going very nicely. He has forgotten about being a goldfish and is settled with a double jointed loose ring bit (yes, she did bit science and fitting course too).

And he has started to show a beautiful natural tölt.

Once we have Klængur’s shoes back on (and it is warmer), we will be going out more too which always involves lots of hill work. This will strengthen Efstur’s topline and core.  I am really looking forward to this summer and our treks.  It will be interesting to see how Efstur develops.

I was playing around this morning with my big camera.

We have all been noticing that Silver looks remarkably like Fivla.  Some days, you could almost mistake him for her.

I think it is the shape of his head and his eyes.  Definitely the eyes.

I can’t do a “Compare and Contrast” because Fivla was not being particularly helpful today.  The grass has appeared so head down and eat!

Anyway, I found this old photo of Fivla…..

And here is one of Silver from today. Sometimes I have to do a double-take.

I was always told Silver would eventually turn white (grey in horsey terms) and every year, his coat has more white in it.

A little known fact, Fivla was completely black when we got her at 6 months old.  This is her a few years on with her owner, Flossie (who will now probably kill me for showing this photo!) Possibly 1999. Fivla was 3. Her owner was 4 (awwww!)

It will be fascinating to see just how white Silver will go over the years. His Dad, Zeal of Houlland, did the same thing, I am told.

I love white (ok, grey) ponies. They are from fairy-tales, obviously.

Today Uwe Abendroth from Central Equine Physiotherapy paid us a visit.  He was here to specifically see Kappi and Efstur.

First up was Kappi.

Now 17 years old, Kappi has recently become stiffer (Daisy says) and so he hugely benefited from Uwe’s work.

Then it was Efstur’s turn who, with no known ailments, has just started his training so it was good to iron out any potential niggles.

Both horses behaved beautifully and enjoyed their treatments.  Daisy learned some essential core exercises for them (and I will use them on Klængur too)  and I spent my time wishing I had booked Uwe to see every animal I own.

But I did ask him to quickly look at BeAnne and I duly brought her in for treatment.

Having explained her health (or lack thereof), and it’s management, Uwe decided to use the pulsed magnetic therapy.

Her Maj loved it and has subsequently spent the afternoon peeing (he said she would), and demanding everyone’s food – all good things.  She seems much brighter too.

Meanwhile, in Harry’s world, yesterday he was ringed (castrated).  A job that must be done in the first seven days and utterly essential.  Although Maggie didn’t mind….

… Harry is now not talking to us!

I don’t blame him.  He will soon come back a-bouncing.  It was a necessity and it had to be done. Sorry Harry.