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.

If you have to have a horse and you have to keep it in a stable, get a stallion – that’s my only equine advice.

And I will tell you why – stallions poo in one spot and that makes mucking out much easier.

Mind, it will be one big giant poo mountain but it is at least in one place and not scattered to the four walls which is what geldings like to do.  Messy boys.

Walking into the stable this afternoon, I instantly knew that Taktur has spent his morning making a poo pile.

(That is Daisy’s competition horse, Kappi, in the photo eating his bucket of fresh air, just so you don’t get mixed up)

For eating purposes, we had parked Efstur and Taktur in the gelding’s stall and you can see the chaos.  Mucky boys, geldings.

And here is Dreki Dragon all goodly eating and then he will all goodly lead nicely to the field because he is like his father, Taktur, and is a gentleman in the making.

Really, upon reflection, Taktur is possibly Piers Brosnan in horse form.

We dropped of BeAnne, nil by mouth, this morning at the vet for re-test of her blood plus a possible re-scan and dental.

For two weeks now, she has been on antibiotics, liver aid capsules with a hepatic diet syringed down her twice daily.

We have slowly seen the results – BeAnne perked up, her normal appetite returned mostly (it started by stealing cat food and then she moved onto eating her own food).  There are mind games too – you have no idea at the hoops she makes us jump through.  It got to the point when she started to eat on her own from a bowl when The Blue Danube was playing on the radio so we decided en famille that we would have to sing it to her at every meal time.  Someone pointed out that we had become like the neurotic couple in Best in Show with Busy Bee!

So, anywho, we went back to the vet as requested to see what, if any, progress we had made.  We left Her Maj there, signed every Consent Form, left all available phone numbers and came home.

I have spent the day sat next to the phone, even phoning the vet twice to check our phone worked (yes, I was that sad and desperate for her results)!

The good news is that BeAnne has kept her weight on and the liver enzymes, although still high, are now not off-the-scale-high and have come down hugely.  Although not safe enough for a general anaesthetic at the moment, the plan is to keep doing what we are doing (ie sing the Blue Danube) and keeping her eating her liver-function improvement pills, finish the antibiotics and if, in a month, her liver enzymes are signficantly better, then she will have her teeth sorted out.

We’ve just got home. BeAnne ate a huge dinner and is asleep exhausted having “sung” continuously to the veterinary staff.  I have a migraine now from all the worry and the waiting.

This was my view first thing this morning.

The daily bucket consisting of interchangeable roughage for Iacs and Klængur. I leave them to bicker between themselves as they get the same diet.  Basically fresh air fibre.

As you can see, neither really need anything but they would hassle Haakon unmercifully who has to have a vehicle for his medication.

Haakon’s food is also the same plus the world’s smallest handful of mare/youngstock mix (using it up and it cheers him up as he hates the taste of one his meds) with a combination of Devil’s Claw and Turmeric which is working really well for him this winter.  I can see a huge difference.

As I stand with my old friend, deterring circling vultures if necessary, all I can think is “this time last year” and I am grateful for every day I have with him.

They all know my rules.  Absolutely no hassling, on pain of death or there will be words and leaping up and down!

This is their huge field – looking over to Stourborough Hill.  I almost think the Spring grass is thinking of appearing.  Only almost.

Because the grass is at its “almost” stage, we still put out hay.

There is enthusiasm for any calorific addition we make in their lives.

I love this photo of Iacs burying his nose in the hay!

Anywho, the weather will be vile for the next 48 hours so all food eaten is going to help stoke the very efficient Icelandic horse central heating.