Hjalti and Daisy are doing brilliantly.  Daisy is gently teaching this youngster how to walk around the school while learning to listen to her aids and then respond appropriately.  Daisy is focussed, Hjalti is listening and then he learns or remembers what is required.

There was a slight blip last training session about putting a bit in but going over and over this again and again with Daisy and a little bit of carrot, Hjalti now just accepts it perfectly with no evasion.

Best of all, Hjalti loves the praise and attention that goes with his success.  He is a clever little horse who enjoys his training.  We are always keeping it simple and setting him up to succeed so through positive encouragement, he will learn all the good bits about being ridden.

Meanwhile, it has not been a very good day for Haakon today.  He is much stiffer than yesterday.  I have been told I should expect highs and lows so am trying to put it down to that.

My poor boy has been lying down a lot.

And indoors, Monster has recovered and is back to his “normal” little self – but I use the term normal on his terms and not mine.  That cat is not normal at all but he is our cat and so he fits right in.

Well, we are muddling along as best we can.

Today Haakon’s blood tests came back negative and very normal so we don’t know what is causing the laminitis, which is my new worry now.  We discussed everything with the vet and have decided to wait a week and then do a different blood test that involves injections and fasting. I cannot believe that the deceptive “Fool’s Spring” that we have had recently has caused this horrible disease.

Haakon is more alert today and tried to play with his grooming brush, is neighing a bit (a horse that I can count on one hand how often I have ever heard him neigh in his entire life) and generally getting stroppy (read inpatient) for food.  He paws the floor and kicks the door when he sees me getting his bucket of food ready.

He has always been a rather aloof and non-huggy/nose-kissey chap who now has all the attention in the world.  Apparently we are similar.  However, I don’t see it.

Iacs was in for the afternoon’s Haakon-sitting session.

He was on fine scrounging form.

This is his Father Dougal McGuire face!  Now they are similar.

The other horses are not neglected.  At the moment they are looked after mostly by Flossie, Daisy and OH.  I could not do any of this without them.

Their continual generous support and help has been invaluable.

Onwards and upwards then.

We are all wearing much of the stable bedding these days.  It can’t be helped.

Last night Haakon had a bad episode with the frog supports so we immediately removed them and learned our lesson.  However, I think it took its toll on Haakon and I can only say I am learning and fast.

Using a haynet to keep his food at a good height (a good tip from a friend) has made a difference today.  He doesn’t have to bend down, which was difficult for him.  I should’ve known.  As I say, I am learning.

In other worlds, Hjalti is coming along very well.

We don’t work every day with him but today Daisy decided to fly solo.

Hjalti is a clever horse.  He quickly understood what was required and walked on both reins happily around the school.  What a good boy and clever Daisy.

Also Minion World is fine.

This afternoon, I spent a little time sat on a rock having my pockets picked.  Eventually I moved them up the hill, turned to go home, only to find I was being followed by a little urchin.

I think Newt just wanted to live in my pocket.

He did get a little stroppy when I said “no, go home and join your friends”.  Some ponies will not be told.

That’s his fierce face – *** sigh *** – I expect my name is now in capital letters in his Book of Revenge, though he did run off with my glove giggling to himself while I ran after him shouting “drop it, drop it”, like he was a dog or even going to do as he was told.

I need my Minions. They are my sanity at the moment.

All I think about is Haakon and his hooves.  The old boy was pleased to see me this morning and there was evidence that he had been lying down.

Interestingly, today, he did not lie down once so I am hoping this is a good sign.  His hooves are sore, I can see that, but he is more interested in munching his soaked hay and watching the world.

His friend today was Klaengur.

And obviously Her Maj.

Always there.  Mostly asleep or “mucking out” in her little way.

I spent my morning giving Haakon his medication in a feed which he got bored of so I held the bucket, offering him handfuls and coaxing it down him.  He then had a good brush and I offered him frequent buckets of water – he is not keen to drink but the hay is wet so that is probably why,

A trip (again) into town later on as chauffeur for a horrid dentist appointment and I popped into our local agricultural store to buy a salt lick.

I also collected a pair of frog supports which Daisy and I put on with matching vetwrap (sticky bandage) and afterwards I added gaffer tape (duct tape) as well.

Iacs is tonight’s company and he immediately started by chewing on the cable ties and flicking them up his nose.  Only Iacs.

I also bought some different bedding to go on top of the shavings which may help support Haakon’s hooves.

I left my old boy looking much less tucked up and enjoying his salt lick and that intake will be monitored too.

Once settled for the evening, we let the sheep come home and they follow me around at night with glowing eyes in my head torch “helping” when it is lights out and bedtime.

The vet visited at lunchtime and gave Haakon a thorough examination.  The diagnosis was that Haakon has laminitis. Immediate treatment is to get him onto a soft bed for his poor hooves, off all hard feed – soaked hay only – and regular anti-inflammtory painkillers.

What a relief!  Now I know the battle I can chose my weapons carefully and throw everything at it so I can help my poor boy (sorry, mixed metaphors but you get the drift).

We looked at the stable and decided we needed to board up the sides of the smaller stable so we can put thick bedding down.  Daisy and I immediately drove to town and filled the van up with wood-shavings,  8 x 4 sheets of 9mm MDF (OH told me this is what we needed) and hay.

We drove home and I parked outside the stable.  It was a family effort and, between us, we built a stable for Haakon.

Haakon was watching us with Taktur, for company.

Moral support.

With the sides in place to keep the bedding from falling out, the shavings could then be put down on top of rubber mats.

Haakon seemed very happy with his new bedroom.

Luckily he loves his soaked hay, so that is good.  His appetite has not diminished.

Taktur was happy being tonight’s company and was given a pile of silage to munch through.

Haakon will have a variety of stable friends – mostly consisting of Taktur, Klaengur and Iacs on a rota – to keep him company.

The vet took more blood and is testing for Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Cushings) amongst other things.

And now we have a possible way forward.  Nursing I can do.  It is my thing.