The chaps at Leradale all seem to have settled down now.  We have a happy herd.

And here is Lilja sporting her winter look (plus a filter).  They say mud is good for the complexion.

She really is growing into a beautiful mare.

Very pretty and with lots of “look at me” going on.

So we are all duly looking at her!  It’s her world.

Meanwhile not-so-little Sóley-the-Foalie is strong, fit and well.  She has just about forgotten about missing her Mum, Hetja, and Lilja is a good companion.  Today, we found them flat out asleep together in a pile on the side of the hill out of the wind.  It is good Sóley has her big sister to be there for her. She made an excellent windbreak!

The Minions are a fairly good influence – (said in a steady slightly disbelieving tone).

Their plotting and evilness remains a constant delight in these difficult times.  While they have a leg in each corner, all is good.

“Oh, Lambie (** sigh **).  Why, just why?

You idiot boy.  You did this.  You made this happen.

You were all bouncy-flouncy yesterday morning, and you had a go at ‘Ster and ‘Bert to see if they wanted to have a good butting session and this is the result.  You lost the only nubbin of a horn you had and made it bleed down the front of your head.  You truly are not the brightest star in our firmament.

I really do despair because horns are not your strong point unlike others.”

Even ‘Bert has very slightly more though he did not start the Butting War.  He has been very cautious ever since the Horn Incident of 2019.  He does not take them for granted.

However Lambie did.  Spring is most definitely in the air. There is a definite bounce from the Boyzens and it can only result in tears and a bad mood.

And this is most definitely Lambie’s bad mood face.  Daisy and I had to corner him in the shed, stand astride him and get him a headlock to examine and then spray his head with antibiotic spray.  He hated me all day and only mellowed when we spent a good part of the afternoon sitting outside and talking him down from his misery cloud.

Such a cross face but it is all his own fault.

Happy Muzzah’s Day!

Newt was looking particularly enchanting yesterday.

He had made it his mission to stand precariously on a particularly difficult slope looking pathetic.

Of course I totally fell for it.

And he came to talk to me.

A darling boy

with the most gorgeous little bottom too.

Or perhaps it is his short legs and teensy-tinesy hooves.

A scruffy little thing at the moment – actually they all are.  It is the time of year.  I rarely brush as the mud keeps them warm (well, that’s my theory anyway).

Newt is a darling chap, just more pocket-sized than everyone else. He is our smallest in stature but no one has told him this and as far as he is concerned he is about 17hh.  Shhhh, say nothing.  Never mention it.

He would hate to know he is the shortest.

So that’s Newt –  yak x mountain goat x Shetland pony.

As it was calm today, we thought we would keep going with Efstur’s backing but this time Floss was on camera while I remained she-who-holds-the-rope.

Today Daisy put a saddle on first.  Efstur is used to that now.  It is in his training repertoire, along with Mr Scary Potentially Flappy Stirrups.  He lunges nicely with them on.

She lay on his back first.

And then got on properly.

Efstur had a think and a look at the “weird” feet things now hanging by his side.

Dismount.

The congratulatory carrot.

And then the same on the other side.  In Iceland, you mount your horse from either side. There is no rule.

I had a pocketful of carrots too.

Dismount and then this time Daisy mounted from the ground.

We stood for a little while.

More carrot.

And then this is Efstur’s first actual ever step with Daisy on his back.

And off we went. Daisy gave no input or instruction. That was up to me.

Efstur has already done a great deal of leading practice. He is very intuitive and understands body language.

Once round on the left rein and then we changed direction across the diagonal.

Another round in the other direction and then halt for his well-done carrot.

Then what we call “pervy touching”, ie Daisy touched his bum

His neck….

His other bum ….

And Efstur looked at those weird feety things again.

So there we are…. actual proof.  Well done Efstur and Daisy.

This morning, Daisy asked me to give her a hand with Efstur and his training. I was really there to ensure that nothing awful happened.

First Efstur’s had his first bridle and bit in.

There was much carroty reassurance and once  had Efstur worked out that his life was not over and he could actually eat with this metal thing in his mouth, he cheered up considerably.

Daisy took him for a little walk too to prove that apparently (a little known fact) a horse can walk and wear a bit at the same time.

He did a few laps chewing and thinking with more chewing.

So much to think about.

Then she took it off and put it back again on once more.

All fine and Efstur got his reward carrot piece.

He loves his Daisy so he believed every word she said, like what a good and clever boy he was and how this was the beginning of fun times together.

He stuck his tongue out!

And then Daisy sat on Efstur’s back (bareback).  It was a day of firsts for this little ginger ninja. It seemed the right time and all he did was look round at her feet being in a different place than usual while I reassured and fed him carrots.  So this little boy is now bitted and lightly backed. I didn’t take photos of Daisy sitting astride Efstur because I was holding the rope while shovelling carrots in.

A good day.