Every morning, bright and early, we all get up to “do the horses”.

This is our winter routine.  OH packs seven haynets with silage and puts them out ready to be emptied out – that is the day’s silage ration.

Daisy puts out the silage, swaps another horse to keep Haakon company and then she mucks out.

Meanwhile, I feed the sheep, put them out into their field, give Haakon his food, change his water and put hay into nets to start the soaking rota.

Flossie lugs endless containers of water for the horses in the field.

So we all have something to do.

And Monster comes too, shouting all the way that he hates mud, water, outside, weather, grass….. the list is endless.

Today he ventured into the stables.

BeAnne told him The Rules.

Basically, no peeing in the silage – it makes everyone cross.

Monster gazed in awe at the Mighty Haakon.

Haakon’s might was slightly diminished because he was standing with his poorly hoof in a bucket of hot water and Epsom salts.

BeAnne and Haakon go way back. They are very old friends and where I go, BeAnne is generally under my feet.

Unlike the Minions and the younger Icelandics, BeAnne always feels safe around Haakon, and Iacs. They would never do anything scary to her and she trusts them.

After sorting out Haakon for the morning, I go and clear the build up of rainwater in the drains and today Monster duly came too, shouting.

Later, I raided the fridge for old food for the hens to finish off.  Monster, again, was ever present.

And, as my morning progressed, Monster changed his allegiance to OH, who he ultimately worships.  OH was cleaning out his car to get ready to sell.  Monster ‘helped’.

Great cat. ❤️ One of us.

Hjalti is doing splendidly.  He is enjoying his training and I can see his little brain a-whirring all the time.  He tries his hardest.

We keep the training sessions short, trying to do something three times a week.  Hjalti is always first up volunteering and it is lovely to see that the penny has dropped – he has finally found his purpose in life.

First, we lunged – Daisy riding and me in the middle – on both reins.

Then, when we knew Hjalti was fine about trotting with a rider on (to which he batted no eyelids), Daisy rode him around the school in walk and trot, focussing on his listening and concentration skills while giving him the relevant aids.

Always a reward to say thank you and well done.  Hjalti likes our training methods very much.

Haakon’s hoof continues to suppurate (great word) revolting smelly gunk but he smiles, and is happy with his new indoor life.

Tonight Lambie discovered the “secret” hay stash.

While the other two helped themselves to the hay in the haynet that was soaking.

Really, Lambie?  You think I don’t know?  Your Muzzah always knows.

Last night, while putting Haakon to bed (new haynet, clean water, a quick muck out of dirty bedding and his kiss nunight), my waters churned so I ran my hand down his right front leg et voilà, a very nasty pungent smell!  An abscess had burst open on the coronet band of his hoof. He was much happier, though.

This morning, feeling ready to do battle, I boiled up many kettles and stuck Haakon’s hoof in a bucket of as-hot-as-he-could-bear-it water and Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate).

Iacs was in attendance to generally get in the way and annoy.

After a good long soak, I sprayed an antibiotic (turquoise) spray onto the offending area feeling very happy that, at long last, we had found a reason for the lameness.

So I have a much happier horse today.

And a much happier me, to boot.

Now for the regular soaking and spraying and hopefully Haakon will come right.  It is a little early but I am feeling much relieved.  My old boy and I can go on forever.

As for my crafting life, I have been working hard on my film (to be continued….. ) and needle-felting in the long dark hours.

The blue (type) bird is sweet if stern.
The penguin started life as a robin but was the wrong shape and was quickly made into a penguin.
The robin looks very fierce – a bit military.

The sheep, however, are finding their own unique look.

The one on the right is my first sheep – made under expert tuition.
The other one, with the ringlets, is all my own.  There was a moment in his creation when it was touch and go as to whether he would actually be a polar bear.  He also has ears like Dobby, the house elf.

So, onwards!

The day started ominously – I took this photo when I was coming back in from feeding Haakon his breakfast.  It did not bode well.

But brighten up, it did so I took myself and my camera out into the garden to see what was putting in appearance.

I felt encouraged.  Monster arrived to “help” or show me around his realm.  He is a very handsome lad.  We decided he is even more beautiful in real life.  He takes a bad photo.  I can’t capture his character or expression which is strange as he is always communicating.

As it had turned into such a nice day, Daisy very kindly offered me Iacs while she rode Taktur and we went out for ride.  We set off in the dry (see the dry road) and came home soaked, frozen and miserable.  We had been sleeted on. I think my ears actually froze.

But it was fun to get out and Iacs was a gentleman while I was his passenger. He tacked across the road, managed to get in a few sneaky canters and it felt strange sort of seeing Haakon in front of me, but knowing it wasn’t.  I am always like that when I ride Iacs. He is so similar to Haakon to look at and then very obviously isn’t.

So we got home, put the horses away with more food, changed and had a hot chocolate to warm up.

My turn for the Minions today.  Never a chore, always a pleasure.

I had a bag of carrots with me and I used it to lure them away from the dividing fence and into the hill where the grass grows.

Waffle was very keen.

Silver was interested.

And Storm?  Well, in fact, I could feel his little nosey on my hand while I walked (or it could be teefs!)

I ❤️ my little Shetland pony herd.

They give me strength.

And I need them.

Anyway, Newt and his Nuncle Storm were having a little chat.

I guess Newt said something rude like “you smell” so Storm stuck his tongue out.

And then Storm tore him off a strip!  Another one for Newt’s (now published in two volumes) Big Book of Revenge.

I walked and they followed with the odd snack stop, even though I had long since fairly distributed my carrots.

I hopped over a prehistoric wall and the herd duly followed.

And then, suddenly, with the wind in their tails, they all galloped off leaving me thinking “why do I bother?”

And they were gone.

I walked back to the car and when I looked back, I could see two little Minions watching me from a distance at the top of the hill.

They do me good. I need my Minions.