First thing this morning, I received message – “Do you have time to ride today?”

The answer was a conditional yes – ie horses checked and fed first.

I felt like Klængur and I hadn’t been out for blast for ages. I had almost forgotten how to tack him up!

Luckily I remembered and even more luckily, Klængur was thrilled to be out and about.

In this photo, I am finding the carrot-for-standing-still-while-I-get-on-and-then-attach-my-air-jacket. Klængur is such a good boy. He stands like a rock for a motivational carrot.

We waited while my riding companion, Peter, mounted his own Icelandic horse.

And then off we went.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.  Utterly perfect. Klængur and I had a good clean tölt of varying speeds as well as lots of Icelandic horse willingness.

Klængur and I came home with huge smiles on our faces – equine and hooman.  Perfect. I had forgotten I like riding my horse.  Winter has taken over my life far too much.

So how did it go? I hear you ask.

Well, the Boyzens sloped home this morning for their breakfast and I fed everyone first separately. I had initially thought I would keep the two flocks separate for a while but then thought the only way to find out if they will get on is to actually bite the proverbial bullet.

The Boyzens knew there were girls about and ‘Bert, on his way home from the pub, did his best silly bouncing!  Lambie was sulking.

But he soon stopped when he remembered that he likes girls.

It was all going fairly well.

Except Lambie and ‘Bert wanted a bit more from their new relationships and the girls were unimpressed.

Floss and I did our chores leaving them all to sort themselves out.

The girls seemed fairly calm and just walked away from any undue attention.

‘Bert was fairly persistent.

Lambie was a creepy stalker.

And ‘Ster just wanted everyone’s biscuits (but he is very handsome).

After a while, I let the Boyzens back out into the hill to give the girls some peace.

I also had a fence put up around the paddock behind my house and opened up the shed so they can have their own space rather than the stable.

The girls look at me through the window, which is lovely.

They still have no names.  The older one follows me everywhere not for food, but to chat.

Daughter is getting braver.

Today, I drenched them both, plus gave them some ovaloids (condition and immune system boost) – the limp and the cough have gone.  My sheep expert gave them a quick once-over and we agreed they should have three meals a day plus all the grass they can find.

So that’s how we are getting on. Thank you for asking.

Every day, Floss and I drive over to feed Brá who lives about 7 miles away with her friends.  Recently we have been seeing a lone sheep talking to folk. So two days ago, on our way home, I stopped the car, and asked if anyone owned the sheep.  I then fed her and found she had a friend too.

The older sheep was very tame.  She came straight up.  She was very obviously someone’s caddy (bottle fed).

Her friend was shyer, so we put more food on the ground for both of them.  They were both very thin.

Yesterday, we fed the ewes again and I asked a few more questions. No one owned them. The first one had turned up in December and then a few weeks later the other one appeared.  Neither had tags though holes where tags had been…..

I phoned the crofter who has sheep in that particular part of the hill and he said they were not his.  I also phoned our Grazings Clerk and told him I wanted to offer them a home.  He agreed this would be best.

So today we took the van and went about our usual activities.  Once finished, we stopped off where the sheep were.

Floss and I were nervous about whether they would load but no, they both walked straight in, no fuss, no discussion!

A quick drive home and we welcomed them to Thordale.

They girls are very good about following so, as there was about to be torrential rain, I took them into the stable and put down more feed plus some hay.

After my lunch, I went back to the stable, sat down on a horse-rug and waited.

While the older ewe is very tame – like a kind gentle big dog – the younger one is apprehensive.

This old ewe is a sweetie.  She is lame on her front left (holds it up while standing) and limps. I think it is arthritis so I offered her the TurmerAid and she wolfed down a good quantity. That should help.

She also quickly plonked herself down.

Friend sheep (who I think is her daughter) kept her distance.  She is coughing so tomorrow I will drench them both.

I also think they may be pregnant – the rams are in the hill.  The vet is coming on Monday to check them over and we will discuss how best to deal with this then.

They are not thrilled with hay and I want them to be eating all the time, so once the rain had done its worst, I let them out to spend tonight outside if they want.

I am glad they are home now.

As for the Boyzens?  Well, after breakfast, they went “down the pub” and when they come home tomorrow morning, we will make the introductions.  Well, that’s the plan.

I just couldn’t keep driving past. They need to be loved.

Here, at Thordale, there is a moral concept called “Flustice”.

The dictionary definition of “Flustice”, if there was such a word, would be “fairness at all times by Flossie”.

Which in simple English means everyone gets their piece of carrot.

No one is missed out.

And Floss will even go the extra mile too.  Yesterday, Vitamin was quite away from the main herd.

So Floss legged it over the hill to find her.

I honestly think Floss wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if she knew Vitamin, or any other pony, hadn’t had their carrot.

(I love Vitamin’s face!)

And I also love how Tiddles wants another carrot and was prepared to lie through his teeth that he had been given nothing earlier.  Sadly for him there is photographic evidence!.

Floss gave him a kiss instead!

So that is what flustice is.  The fair and equitable distribution of things carrotty to small Shetland ponies (plus any other equine or ovine who happens to be in the area and on the scrounge!)

A few snappity-snaps from today.  We could not find the little s*ds. I eventually saw them in the far distance – they had finally walked up to the top of the hill of their ginormous field and were enjoying a lovely view plus more grass.

Fivla and Vitamin doing their Abba impression – Knowing me, knowing you!

Silver and Newt trying out their’s.

Little Albert Potato smiling for the camera! Such a sweet smile too.

The enigmatic Newt (another gastro-pub somewhere within the M25).

Storm.  Nuff said.

Silver being nice to Storm.

Silver’s true intentions coming out.

Silver trying – as in very trying (which is strange, as it is usually Storm!)

My pretty little Albie again

Tiddles!  Darling Tiddles.  Never shoot a pony because he has blue eye.  You wouldn’t have Tiddles then.

Newt – “Remember my Book of Revenge? I am on Volume XII now!”

And lastly Fivla looking so utterly perfect.

Waffle was not included due to the fact he was trying to Star Trek transport himself into the car!

Interesting Fact:  Today is Silver, Storm and Waffle’s coming-to-me birthday.  They arrived exactly today in 2014 (I count it as the day after the Lerwick Up Helly Aa as it is a National Holiday here) – so 6 years ago, by my calculations.  Time flies when you are having fun!  I am glad they are doing so well now.

Silver, Waffle and Storm. The fourth pony (far left) never came to me. He died.