Yesterday we brought Newt and Tiddles back to Thordale. Their services were no longer required.  They spent last night in a small paddock in case they were needed again and by this morning, I could see they just wanted to go back home to their friends.

We loaded them up in the horsevan and took them home.

The two boys had enjoyed their visit away and did exactly as was promised – to be well-behaved (** cough – mostly – cough ***) companions and I was proud of them for that.

The others were pleased (once they had spotted them) to see their friends again. I think they had missed them.  While they were away, it felt like someone(s) were missing.

The herd felt incomplete.

There was lots of sniffing, the odd squeal and asking where they had been this past week.

And then I told the whole lot to go off and get a job so to horse, they gallumphed away.  Everyone back where they should be.

Floss remarked as they cantered off that they looked like a budget version of the Lloyds Bank commercial.  I replied “more Poundland really!”

(Lloyds Bank commercial link – if you want to see what I mean)

Go for a ride They Said.  It will be fun, They Said.

So I caught my horse, Haakon (aged 26 yo), tacked up and off we went.

Daisy came along too riding Iacs (aged 25 yo).  We were all in our Cavalla Hoof Boots – fronts and backs.

This is my best view in the whole world.  I told the old men about this being a slow ride as everyone is unfit, old and realistically in retirement now.

Daisy and Iacs ignored my words of wisdom.  They cantered off.

Haakon was slightly more sedate in his approach to life and happily piggy-paced along.  I don’t ask for tölt anymore unless he offers it.

There was definitely cantering and more trotting/tölting than the calm walking I had requested.  I blame the hoofboots.  The old men love them.  Iacs even considered tölting which could possibly be classed as a miracle as he has never done that in all his 25 years!

On the final stretch, Iacs galloped home with Haakon keeping up in flying pace alongside.  Daisy and I were mere passengers.

I don’t know I bothered saying this would be a slow and calm ride.

(Enjoy Iacs’ buttercup. It travelled with him!)

Maybe the next ride will be quieter.  Yer, right.

The Minions were in the furthest field away today.  Vitamin was standing on a bank of the burn (stream) enjoying the sun on her back even though it was a brisk northerly wind. She was surveying her little kingdom.  Vitamin is still boss mare.

Floss and I talked to everyone, and were nibbled by some!

There is always a nibbler.

And one who pulls a silly face for the camera.

And that, of course, would be Storm – he is multi-tasking.

Fivla was looking *** cough *** robust!

Albie, as ever, was close by.

Sóley is nearly as big as Lilja now.  Shocking. This time last year she was a little foaly.

They are the best of friends.  Sóley has grown up in her head, as well as physically, these past few months.  Lilja is a good influence.

Waffle is busy maintaining his summer beach body.  It is 24/7 all this eating.

And dearest Silver didn’t look at all like Silver. An odd expression for him.

It was a lovely morning, if cold (that ruddy north wind) and raining now – too dreary.  But the grass will grow and they will all get fatter and fatter and fatter…….

I went to visit Newt and Tiddles in their “hotel” where they are keeping another little Shetland pony, Festus, company for a few weeks.

(Meet the extremely beautiful Festus)

Newt rushed up (ears flat back which he probably learned from Albie) to come and see me, followed by Tiddles. I was most surprised.  Usually I am just known as “the one with carrots” and I hadn’t brought anything but they wanted cuddles and kisses despite my lack of calories.

For once, my little boys were genuinely pleased to see me.  Awwww.  (*** sniff ***).

At this hotel, everyone is brushed every day as well as being given breakfast.

This, I think, is rather a shock to their systems (the brushing, and possibly the breakfast) but still they look very beautiful and their holiday is suiting them.

I am now wondering whether I could just swap two Minions into the field every day so they all get brushed and cleaned up without me making any effort!

Sadly, Newt and Tiddles were not being very nice to wee Festus while in my company.  They let the side down and I told them to pack it in.  I was quite suprised at this behaviour and, when I offered to remove the bully (today it was Tiddles – I watched him. Disappointed much), I was told that they were all fine and took it in turns to Rule the World.

Today, it was obviously Tiddles’ turn with the crown.

Tomorrow it will be Newt and he will bring his “leetle book” to write names down in.

Anyway, it was lovely to see my boys while sort of funny to see them in a different field from where I usually see them.

Newt and Tiddles had better not get used to this way of life. I am not brushing every day!

I was getting into the car to visit Albie and Newt in their five-star hotel down the road when I saw a small group of reprobates looking very dodgy.

Daisy had started the annual ragwort pulling marathon.

And Efstur and Dreki were “helping”.

Helping in the only way they know, ie sniffing, getting in the way and generally being, well, unhelpful.

They had to investigate everything because you know Daisy could be pulling up chocolate cake and then hiding it in her wonderful crunchy-but-possibly-scary black bag.

The pursuit of knowledge is obviously a two-horse job.

While Taktur was observing.

Dreki was the braver of the two.

But this is the one perk of the job.  You get wonderful nose-kisseys.