Efstur had his hooves trimmed last week and then a few days’ off from his training (I hate the word “breaking”).

He is always first up, offering to do something and today was his lucky day.

Safely off the lead-rein now, with me in the centre of the school just there to keep an eye.  I like to be there. I just do.  So I am. It’s a Muzzah thing.

The bitless bridle, slightly modified (a browband upside down and some little fulmer loops Daisy stole off a full cheek bit) to keep it out of his eyes (hate that), is working well.  Efstur is very settled with it.

They now walk on their own around the track in our indoor school.

And even do a tölty-trotty (who knows) thing down the long sides.

And obviously on the other rein too. At the moment, it is not about the gaits, it is all about steering, good working brakes and listening.

Efstur goes very nicely.  He is learning.

And I love his little face when he gets told what a good boy he is.  Like “I know but thank you, anyway”.

Meanwhile, Her Maj was booted out as she spends her time determinedly working out how to be under as many horse-legs as possible. My nerves can’t stand it and, as it was a nice day, I made her wait outside.  She is possibly doitin’ (Shetland dialect for mentally confused and used often in this house!)

Wee-lamb-photo-of-the-day (prepare to turn green) – she actually came up and chatted while Edna was eating.  Oh. My. Heart.

Cat on a hot tin roof – Shetland stylee so more like cat licking his bottom on a old piece of corrugated metal roofing sheet (held down with the obligatory rocks on every corner – that would be the roof, not the cat!)

Your daily dose of gorgeousness.  There is muchos hugging and I hope everyone is pea-green with jealousy.

And I will just leave this here, get my coat and go!

Enjoy. x

Wee-Lamb is a determined little thing.

Today we had introductions with the Boyzenberries with me standing by ready to grab, wade in, whatever. I had fed everyone up a huge breakfast hoping everyone would be too full to be mean (well, that was my theory).

‘Bert was briefly interested and then wandered off.

‘Ster was a bit “odd” and had a small butt.

And Lambie asked to be let into another field – he was funny later on when I took BeAnne for a walk in the field.  He sucked up to me and was very loving, sweet even – and unlike him.  He remembered being my little Lamb (*** sniff ***). I told him he still was.

I didn’t fully trust everyone together so when Edna and Little-Lamb followed me out of the field, I quickly shut the gate and separated them all again.  Madge is not being kind.

This afternoon, I supervised Madge with her mother, and sister.

The problem is that Little-Lamb is curious, nosey and bouncy.

And Madge is jealous.

Madge doesn’t look for trouble but Little-Lamb goes up to say hello and then she gets butted and it is not nice.

Madge then attacked her mother (twice) and would not back down until Edna ran away, taking baby with her.

Now they are separated again and I think will be until Little-Lamb gets a bit more robust.  I hate doing this but I would equally hate a broken Little-Lamb leg or worse.  I don’t trust Madge.  She is very cross and aggressive at the moment.

Meanwhile, we are toying with the name Alba for Little Lamb.

She is beyond divine and comes running up to me and yes, there is lots of Lamb cuddling.

The farrier came today.  Daisy and I have been doing our best to keep on top of the hoof trims (especially the Minions) but the big ones need shoes, the younger ones a good trim and I have decided that the Minions should see a farrier once a year so I know we are on the right track.

It was good to see someone new.

Efstur was trimmed – a first for everyone having to put their hooves on a hoofstand and a first for others being hot-shod.  Taktur looked very dramatic in the smoke.

But no one minded.

Even Dreki tried his best.  He went with his father, Taktur’s, theory, that if he didn’t look at it, perhaps it would go away.

Her Maj wanted to kill herself at every opportunity so we put her on a lead before she succeeded (like trying to eat a dropped cookie piece from beneath a horse’s feet – oh my nerves!)

Foiled, she took to her bed.

Once everyone had been seen at Thordale, we went on to Leradale.  Our trimming was approved and considered a success, which is a huge relief.  Everyone helped (note, Albie) and most behaved beautifully – even Sóley-the-not-really-a-Foalie.  Only Fivla let the side down – oh, the shame. She reared!

Anyway a job well done and huge thanks to Stephen-the-farrier.

The little new family were out and about around the house today.

Edna was unsure to start with but once she got her Little One walking along with her, all was fine and they had breakfast.

I let Madge join them and she wasn’t that nice to either her new sister or her mother, butting them both.  Contact will have to supervised, I think, for a while.

Edna took Little One off to explore.  I will admit I am more than slightly worried about the size of Edna’s udder but it has been like this for a while and seems to be working fine so hopefully supply and demand will regulate it.

The Boyzens were in an adjacent field and fascinated.

So of course, they both had to go to the higest place they could find.  My poor nerves.

And Madge watched.

Little One is a darling little sheeple.

She is already imitating Edna, which I find fascinating to watch.  Edna has a deep growly baa for her baby and she is communicating with her all the time.

Seeing them together makes me realise just how much Lambie, ‘Bert and ‘Ster missed out by not having a proper mother.

When I think about Lambie and his refusal to eat much, stand up, walk, or think even, I am amazed he is still here, to be perfectly honest.

I left them together en famille for the morning but then Madge wanted to join the boys so she went back into the field. It started to rain and Edna took Little One to keep warm in their shed.

She is a very good mother. One hint of a little high-pitched bleat and she runs back to her.

And our hearts have been captured.

How could we resist?