Haakon is far from pain-free and I will confess that I am very worried about him.  I spoke to the vet today and we are doubling his analgesia over the weekend to reassess the situation on Monday.

Also this week Monster has been a regular visitor to the vet.  He is sneezing, lethargic and very off colour (yes, even a white cat).  It could be an upper respiratory tract infection.  So he is busy feeling very sorry for himself, though perks up at the sight of food still so he can’t be that bad.  Daily, I battle the prescribed pills/liquids down him which I disguise in his food.  So far he is not refusing and just thinks he is fed a lot, which is nice.  But poor boy is far from well.

So, back with the worry that is Haakon.  He is being kept quiet and a friend suggested wrapping hot towels around his hocks to help with the stiffness.  After the hot towels, I also rubbed in Deep Heat cream to warm the joint.

As always, Haakon was a good boy and munched his hay peacefully while Floss and I worked out the best method to do all this.

It was a family affair.

Haakon played his game of wuffle-the-hand to see if there were hidden carrots.  He has always done this.  It’s his thing.

Her Maj took to her throne and offered her support from a distance.

At the moment it feels like everyone is ill and I need them to be better.  I wish they could just be how they always were – fine, going along happily and healthy.

(* sorry for the whinge *)

I haven’t got much to write …… suffice it to say that I spent my day arguing with Vodafone and British Telecommunications plc on behalf of a friend (neighbour).  My learning curve was vertical but I was not going to give in. My conclusions were that Vodafone will happily pass the buck to anyone while BT lie through their teeth.  Customer Service be damned. I hate them all.

Many hours later – broadband and internet were restored but the bl**dy Vodafone Sure Signal was not.  As I type I am hoping they will see the error of their ways, plus stop telling fibs, and make the ruddy thing work.

Meh!

(a calming photo of Foula and breathe……)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the “creepy neighbours” are now back with their herd.  It was obvious that the old boys needed to be with amongst friends and we could see that.  Ad lib food is all well and good but it is boring and who wants to live with sheep?  Haakon is now stable (with painkillers) and I know that he is happier in his herd.  Mental health is just as important as physical health in my book.

Double meanwhile, I am drinking gin to get over my encounter with Vodafone and BT.  I need it.

Don’t judge me! I’ve worked hard.

With Haakon and Iacs living around the house for the time being, we find we now have creepy neighbours who are always popping round for something.

Whenever you open the front door, there is almost always someone waiting/lurking.

But they are available for selfies.  That’s a plus.

We work around them (and we also clean up around them too).

But they are always here.  They never give in.  They know where we live!

Sometimes one, sometimes two.

(Phew, at last they went somewhere else.  This is the view while I sit at my desk).

Being creepy is not just the perogative of Haakon and Iacs.  Oh no, Monster is well up there too!

I think my animals may be creepy.  Just sayin’.

While I have been away doing stuff, Daisy and Hjalti have been busy with their training.  They work for a short time most days and Hjalti loves it.  He soaks it all in, happy and interested,  always first up volunteering to do something each day.

Daisy only moves onto the next step when she thinks everything is going smoothly.  Having worked for a year in Norway at an Icelandic horse farm training youngsters, she knows what she is doing.  Hjalti trusts her too. They have a good relationship.

(lots of flapping – look how concerned Hjalti isn’t!)

(Daddy’s Big-Boy Handsome Prince saddle)

Hjalti doesn’t panic.  If he can see what is going and understands vaguely why, then everything is fine.  He has a huge amount of calm curiousity.

A carroty reward, given often.

After I had watched all their hard work and training, Daisy dropped the bombshell that she thought Hjalti was ready for her to sit on.  I was not sure about this move, I will admit, but Daisy said it would be fine.

So she lay across him first.

From both sides and we took a few steps forward.  Hjalti was a rock.

So Daisy got her bucket, stood on it, swung her leg over his back and sat up.  Hjalti looked round, sniffed her toes and then I asked him to take a few steps forward.  He said fine and they went for a walk.

And then Daisy dismounted and gave Hjalti a carrot.

(I am so proud of my little homegrown boy.  I told his Mum and she’s proud too) ❤️

Well done Daisy too – ❤️ sniff ❤️ – she did brilliantly.

A definite milestone.

This past week Haakon has changed so I called the vet to come and check him over.

Symptoms:  He is lying down a lot, he won’t get up for silage (Daisy had to fetch him the other day), he looks tucked up, has stopped arguing and he is not himself.

Since yesterday, Haakon is living round the house with his bestie, Iacs, and the chickens.

So the vet arrived this morning.  She said Haakon presented with no clinical symptoms but appeared stiff on his hind legs after a flexion test.

She took blood and mentioned that he had “a beautiful jugular” as well as “excellent caecal flush in each of the four quadrants” (so proud, sniff).

She also mentioned that my horse was very well behaved which cheered me hugelys.Haakon failed his original buying vetting when he arrived in Shetland 22 years ago because he “couldn’t stay on four feet”.  A plus – he has improved! (more proud, sniff).

We talked for a while about possible diagnoses and treatment.  Bone spavin is very common in the Icelandic horse breed and that is what I am thinking it could be.  The farrier, when he took off Haakon’s shoes yesterday, also mentioned this possibility based on his gait when he walked out of the shed.

So Haakon has started twice daily oral analgesia.

Iacs had a smidgen of food and then had to be held back.

This afternoon, the sun was shining and everyone was lying down.

The blood results are back now – all normal, so the way forward is two weeks of painkillers,  regulated exercise (put shoes back on as he can’t manage without) and then discuss.  If Haakon is not responding to the regular analgesia then x-rays and maybe a referral to an equine specialist.

Basically, Haakon has to live forever.  He knows this because I have told him again and again.

Although we don’t have a diagnosis of spavin, it is a horrid possibility.  An x-ray may confirm this, though.

Whatever, the pain has to be under control and Haakon has to be happy and when he stops blagging for carrots, then I will know what to do.

Meanwhile, I am trying very hard not to over-think this.