The midges were plagueing everyone today so I lit a fire in an old grate to create lots and lots smoke.

Midges hate smoke and it was good the horses could escape the insect torment by standing in.  It does work.

The others stood “nicely” (after a while) and waited their turn.

Hjalti was a good boy.  Daisy has been training him and he stood quietly for Bjørn.

He really is the nicest of horses.  Not a mean bone or a bad thought, ever.  He has done lots of growing and filling out too this summer.

After the feet were done (the others were good too), out we went with Hjalti (4 years old).  I wanted to stand the boys up for the Thordale Stud website.

And then Dreki (2 years old).

On the sidelines, Taktur and Efstur, who had been returned to the field, ran up and down like they were being parted forever.

Taktur “motorbiked” up and down the fence like a prize berk but we all commented that he did move nicely!

He is looking a bit gorgeous at the moment.

Having finished, we then returned them all the field and they greeted each other like long lost friends.

Still, lots done today.  It was nice to work with the youngsters again.

Silly gallopy boys.

Taktur and his two sons, Hjalti and Dreki, with Efstur, are in the long grass now as far away as I can with good secure fencing from the ladies who seriously DO NOT WANT TO KNOW!

The ladies sometimes come down but the fence and so are within sight.  Taktur then runsup and down the fence line shouting “Yoohoo, Ladies”.  Lilja, his daughter is in season and some things are never meant to happen.  However, Taktur does not believe me.

The horses love the long grass and don’t seem to fussed about the flies either.

The girls are enjoying the shorter grass and the miles of heather.  They are much happier and  there is far less tail swishing and general misery.  It is windier and less damp too.

We minister daily to Hetja who is getting fed up of us.  Nothing much helps or works except being in this new field.  The fly mask just made her more miserable and she would rub worse on the rocks so we have abandoned it.  If it came off in this huge field, we would have no chance of finding it.

I love seeing the horses coming over the horizon when I call.  Little ears getting bigger and bigger.

The two sisters remain inseparable – they probably confer and agree that Mum is a miserable, itchy spikey old bag these days, which she is.  Hopefully the new change of scene will help.

When I went to check on the Minions today, four of them were snoozing in the sun.

From the left, they would be Albie, Newt, Silver and Storm.

The snoring was loud!

I wanted to take photos of them asleep (I adore sleeping ponies) but no, they all woke up.

I must’ve been noisily stomping along and not creeping up, like I hoped.

I went and sat down on a nearby bank and was duly hugged, kissed and chatted to by them all.

All except Storm, so I went and put sunscreen on his nosey.  He was not helpful.

And a token dab on Albie who does not need it but begs me to include him.

Storm’s nose is looking much better due to my daily ministrations even if he hates it and always argues.

We walked up the field (well, I walked, some of us just annoyed each other up the field).

I searched out Tiddles and spread on his nosey goo.

Some are better than others about this but I always win. I must.  It is a very important daily routine when the sun shines.

And then I drove home taking in the beautiful Shetland summer scenery.

It is no chore.  Always a pleasure.

Daisy and I swapped the Icelandic horses around today.  We wanted to help poor Hetja who is still being unmercilessly plagued by flies and the midges.  Nothing we do helps her.

So we put Hetja, Sóley and Lilja in the stable and moved Iacs, Haakon, Klængur and Kappi (the fatties) into their field, Clothie.

Daisy kindly washed the water trough and added more water as the stream that runs through this field is now drying up.  Haakon was supportive and grateful.

Next up, Taktur, Efstur, Hjalti and Dreki moved up a field. They always need to eat and now we have lots of grass, we will fill them up!

With everyone now in their new respective fields, we put Hetja, Sóley and Lilja into the hill park (field) where the grass is shorter and there is also a huge range of terrain so they can escape the midges and flies. They galloped away and have not been seen since. It is a very big field. I expect they will turn up sooner or later.

So Daisy and I went to work at Turriefield (community veg place) and left the horses to their new grazing.  When we came home this evening, Lambie was sitting by himself at the gate (the Boyzenberries had asked to go into the hill first thing this morning).  He was miserable with the insects.

A discovery: Lambie likes Walker’s cheese and onion crisps!

Begging – oh, the shame.

He is not really making friends here.

So, yes, we are all rather suffering with the midges and flies.  It is the time of year and they are unceasing.  It is all very wearing for everyone.

The Boyzenberries spend their day in the fields and then in the evening I call them home so they can mooch around the house and have access to shelter with no midges and flies.  This time of year it is a necessity.

The Boyzens mostly stay where I put them but certainly know which fences to go under to come home if they want.  Lambie sometimes appears out of nowhere in a hysterical flurry.

But, without a doubt, I can see ‘Bert is 100% happier and that is a huge relief.

Look, he is smiling.  He really is.

He is relaxed, happy and back to being my cheerful little “monkey”, just like before the Saga of the Horrid Horn.  I am glad I made the decision to take it off.  It was driving him insane and probably hurt too.

When stuff happens, politics quickly move in and the sheeple hierarchy changes.  ‘Ster has perhaps not been as nice as he might about all of this.  He turned into Top Sheep aka Bully.  We had words.  I am Top Muzzah.

But I guess there was a bit of karma involved as you may remember ‘Bert was vile to Lambie when he was sheared.  The endless butting and being mean was not necessary.

But now they are back to being three happy sheep and I am very relieved. I hate the politics.  It is brutal and distressing to someone who is the under-sheep that day.