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.

Your daily bounce – let’s get that out of the way.  Harry Lamblin remains beyond cute.  He now comes when he is called and clambers all over me! Be still my beating heart.  🐑 ❤️ 🐑

Meanwhile in Dreki-training-land, he is now moved on to being ridden by Daisy with a bridle and a saddle.  She does small bits of light steering while I lead.  Dreki is very good and seems totally unphased with anything we throw at him…. so far.

Today, we went out in the Big Outside.  I took Efstur and Daisy led Dreki.  She says he is a like a dog. He likes to sniff everything.  We met a couple of cars and he didn’t blink.

Down our track and onto the single track road, where the hill sheep live.

A family photo.

The star of the show.

We didn’t go as far as we wanted as the hill sheep have their new little lambs.  Lambs are terrible for spotting us, leaving their Mums and following us home so we turned for home while we were still unattached.

We met Mr Scary Plastic-Wrap…. boring.

Sniffed a pile of gravel (for filling in the pot-holes on our track)

And a quick sniff at the parked cars.  We allow Dreki, and Efstur to do this – it gets it out of their system.

Better that than an explosion about the unknown. I told you Dreki is like a dog. Sniff.

This morning, Maggie was having her mid-morning snack and little Himself was busy trying to be brave!

Harry is desperate for a chat.

Maggie just wants biccies.  It’s a fair exchange, I think.  Food for the love of her son!

And then there was this afternoon.  It had got a bit warmer (that North wind is biting) and someone was very bouncy bouncy!

Apparently I have other animals to look after!  Who knew?  I must tear myself away and take an interest in them one day.

So much has happened in these last 24 hours…..

Yesterday evening, I had an inkling that something was up.  Maggie had taken herself away.

So I watched and waited.

Nothing.

Maggie was wandering – her gait was very lateral and her overall shape had suddenly changed.

I read somewhere that sheep won’t eat 24 hours before they give birth – this is not true.

Maggie ate some tea plus a couple of pieces of Kitkat (the dark chocolate version) that I had about my person.

She walked, she dug, she walked.  Sometimes she lay down.

I was surprised to find ‘Bert in Maggie’s field for a while (what a guy) and then he went off to rejoin his friends (probably realised he should go “tout suite”).

After supper, I went back out and waited.  I even texted Daisy to come out and then told her not to bother. Luckily Daisy ignored my last request and arrived.

And we watched (at a good distance) while everything happened.  It was fascinating.  Nature at her finest.

Maggie would have dig, lie down, have a contraction, then stand up and smell the area and lie down again.

As we were keeping a good distance, we could only see what was going on via the long camera lens.  We were looking for movement of the lamb when it was born so we knew it was alive.

The arrival.  Clever Maggie.

Once on the ground, Maggie immediately stood up and started licking her new arrival clean and dry.  She was very thorough and the little lamb had no choice.

Within minutes, Lamb was trying to get up, with varying degrees of success.

Et voilà! 10 minutes later.

Maggie is a wonderful Mum.  She knows what to do.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines we were being watched.  Maggie was safe in her field and no one dared try to go in. She needs peace and quiet.  Taktur also knew something was going on.

The next day – I went out with Maggie’s breakfast.  She loves her food and I want her to get into a good post-baby routine.  She is still very thin. It’s all gone into the lamb in utero these past few weeks.

First contact.

And we are 99% sure Lamb is a he.

He has the cutest little white cap on the top of his head.

Interestingly, Maggie ate his poo. There was nothing left. She wanted no evidence of his existence anywhere.

A friend saw him and said “wow, that’s one good lamb”. I agree.

And he is bold.

I have been in the field three times (I wanted to go more but stopped myself).

Lamb is very brave and confident.  He is learning to bounce too – be still my beating heart.

Maggie is always watching but is good about me being there.  Animal Crackers help.

And his name?  Harry Lamblin.

So welcome to Harry. I am already in love.