Ladles and jellyspoons, may I present to you, my daughter….

Daisy Taylor, BSc (Hons), MSc (Dist)

Oh yes. Get in!

For the past two years, since returning from Norway, Daisy (my elder daughter) has been enrolled at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh studying online a Masters degree in Equine Science.

We’ve just found out that she has passed, and even better, with Distinction.

Plus, and I do have to really boast here, she has won the Equine Science Dissertation Thesis Award. A prize. She gets a prize so of course we will, en famille, all travel down to Edinburgh in November to clap and cheer when she is graduated/presented or whatever they do.

And Daisy worked hard. Really hard. She spent many hours slaving away attending online lectures, writing up and colouring in.

Her dissertation was a massive labour of love – Seasonal variation of time budgets in domesticated male Icelandic horses at pasture (a catchy title).

In Daisy’s own words “This study aimed to assess the seasonal variation in behaviour and body condition of seven domesticated Icelandic geldings and one stallion at pasture during winter and spring in fair weather conditions by utilising visual and indirect methods of observation.”

She received a Distinction for this as well as the whole degree.  Oh my!

Anyway, all I know is that she was outside all hours watching our herd of Icelandic horses kitted out with a variety of methods for keeping warm and, more importantly, alive.

We are all thrilled for Daisy. All her hard work has paid off and now it is even more official – she is brilliant!

I went to see a friend yesterday.  She owns Gue Stud and breeds Shetland ponies.  We were visiting the mares and foals so prepare yourself for the photos (you know me!)

We stood in the field, my friend shouted and as if by magic they appeared. Perfect.

(I may have to sneak these home with me, I doubt anyone will notice.)

(oof!)

We had a wonderful time.  The ponies were very tame. I had a few nose kisses from mares and foals and felt very happy surrounded by little enquiring minds.

These two were enchanting.

Apparently, they are the best of friends.

There is something very special about a herd of miniature Shetland ponies.

And then suddenly someone said let’s gallop.

So the whole lot set off and had a mad half hour around the field. I have no idea why but it was excellent to watch.

We all just stood there while every Shetland pony galloped flat out circling us.

The secret is not to move.  No pony will ever run into you if you stand still – they just work around you.

I could’ve watched them all day and now I wish I had taken even more photos!

Eventually, the ponies stopped for a few minutes to huff and puff and then regroup.

And then they set off again at full speed.

It was spectacular.  I won’ forget this afternoon.

We were at Gue Stud – home of some lovely miniature Shetland ponies. I thoroughly recommend.  It was very obvious they are much loved, well bred and run very, very fast!  I could watch them all day. It was like being amongst a miniature herd of wild Mustangs stopping for the occasional nose kissey!

Last night, our trainer Bjørn told us that Christina Lund had sailed all the way from Norway to Shetland to surprise him. This is the same Christina Lund who won a silver medal at the World Championships in the four-gait class on her stallion Lukku-Blesi frá Selfossi. An incredible achievement.

Today, she asked if she could visit Thordale to take a look at Efstur since she previously owned his mother (Brá) and owns his father, Alfur frá Selfossi.

We caught Efstur and asked Bjørn to free lunge him round the school so we could see his movements.

Efstur is three years old and is currently going through his awkward stages in conformation but it is interesting to see how his gaits are developing.

He showed a very nice trot and there is no doubt that tölt is there.

Christina said he is most definitely five-gaited. His canter was pacey but it was hard for him to find his balance in the school. He even threw in a couple of bunny hops which were very funny.

So all is good.

Another Thordale youngster doing well.

And then we put Efstur back into his field to join his friends who watched on in disbelief that anyone thought he might be remotely interesting!

So ya boo sucks to you guys.  Efstur is five-gaited.  Tis official.  So there!

I hate ragwort and, if I can, I try to delegate the chore of removing it from the fields to anyone who offers.

Today I joined Daisy and did as much as my back would let me, which was two bin-bags’ worth.

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), for those that have not come across this vile (though pretty) plant, grows in our fields.  It tastes bitter to horses while it is growing but is more palatable when it has died back and that is where the problems start.  The toxic effect from eating it builds up over time, causing irreparable damage to the liver of livestock – horses, cows, sheep, even chickens.

I know ragwort pretty and I know bees love the flowers but they will just have to love all the others that grow in the field instead because our ragwort must be pulled up, bagged and then burnt.

After my two bags’ worth, I gave up, grabbed my camera and took some photos instead.

I always love dear Vitamin’s triangular shape.  She is an old lady, after all, who has had quite a few foals.

Newt was trying to take a chunk out of Tiddles.  He was in one of those moods.

Fivla found a special pile of grass which she just had to have.

Is this the monster from the deep or Waffle?

Storm is still not talking to me.

The Reformed Newt again. He is beginning to grow his winter yak fur.

Meanwhile, Daisy was still doing sterling work and yes, she did fall in the stream.  I asked her if she had, she said no, and then fell in!  Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned it.  She was jinxed.

No one laughed – well, not much!

This afternoon was perfect for going over to the Minions’ field to rasp the last of the feet.

I started with Albie who was a very good boy.

He stayed tied up, not bothering to mention that everyone else had galloped off.  I brushed his mane and tail and rasped all four hooves.  Afterwards we walked down to the next field to find his friends.

Now in the next field, I swiftly caught Silver who not helpful.

Some days are better than others with Silver.  He is an enigmatic chap and sadly we did have a discussion about picking up back hooves nicely.  I made my point – he didn’t put up too much of a fight and behaved.

Third on my list was Newt. He hates having his hooves trimmed.  It is usually a four-man-rugby-tackle-jobby.  Today, however, I had The Reformed Newt (possibly now the name of a gastro-pub somewhere in East Anglia).

He was a delight, picking up his little hoofs one at a time for me to trim without argument, biting or kicking out.  There was a nose-kissey for every hoof rasped and a big hug at the end.

And lastly, Storm.

It did not go well but I did win.  Four hooves are now rasped to my satisfaction and his mane and tail brushed.  Someone was shouted at for refushing to keep their hooves on the stand and then wearing the stand.  He knows better and I was cross.

Anyway, we made our peace and I left him scrushling through the equipment, picking it up and putting it down, muttering to himself.

Daisy had finished picking ragwort from the next field so we opened the gate and shouted for everyone to come through.

We left them eating themselves to a standstill.  My back hurts but my Painpod is working overtime now doing much good.