We were at the oval track bright and early this morning, but in the rain.  Daisy was first in with T3 – Intermediate Tölt.

She qualified for the finals tomorrow. Happy.

A long wait of sitting in endless non-stop persisting rain and then V2 – Intermediate Four Gait.

The heavens promptly opened but Kappi and Daisy soldiered on, giving it their very best.

Again, Daisy made it into the final tomorrow.

We are now sitting in our hotel bedroom (some of us munching snacks) with clothes drying everywhere.  Flossie remarked that it looked like we had been doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award!

Tired and wet but very happy and proud.  More tomorrow and please keep going with the good luck vibes for Daisy and Kappi plus any spare ones for some nice weather!

(Excuses – I am exhausted and I need my bed so commentary will be brief)

Practice on the oval track in the morning.

It went well – Daisy and Kappi worked hard on both reins.

We left Waffle to his own personal supply of carrots and told everyone he was an Icelandic horse who shrunk in the wash!

In the late afternoon a world ranking event – Intermediate Tölt class (T3).

They got good marks.

A bit of a wait and then back in with Intermediate Four Gait – V2.

I cried – they did very well.

The horses are back at their livery yard, fed and watered, it is late and we are going to bed, tired but happy.

An early start tomorrow.  More good luck wishing please. xx

According to my OH, who is a professional decorator, “it’s all in the preparation.  So today was a day of doing just that – getting ready. Having arrived a day early, though, we could take our time.

A leisurely breakfast and then on to see Kappi and Waffle at their wonderful livery yard down the road.

We were allowed to use the indoor school and thought it would be a good idea to let the boys stretch their legs and run around a bit.

Daisy and Flossie led Kappi and Waffle round first, letting them get used to their new surroundings.

The wind was “blowing a hoolie” outside which did not help. The school was very noisy but no one seemed to notice.  They were fine and enjoyed running around.

Waffle got bored first and came in to investigate a plant.

He then had a roll in the sand.

After stretching their legs, we brushed Waffle and washed Kappi.

And then back to they went to their cattle-stall while the neighbours watched on.

Kappi had his roll too.

Lunch and onto the showground where we constructed our electric fenced paddock.  The boys will live theret between classes and then they will go back to their livery yard for the night.

Other competitors were beginning to arrive too.

Not stopping, we cleaned our tack.

So that’s us, ready to go tomorrow to compete at the Icelandic Horse Society of Great Britain Summer Festival and British Championships.

Please keep everything crossed.

After a lovely peaceful ferry crossing from Lerwick to Aberdeen, we arrived at our destination safe and well in the early afternoon.  We only had one detour.  Personally, I blame the Sat-Nav who was not ready for the new Queensferry Bridge and subsequent road layout.

This is the van after 20 hours travelling.   Waffle insisted on tipping over every bucket of water he was given.

Kappi and Waffle are living in a lovely enormous cowshed where they can see other Icelandic horses, a bullock and one Shetland pony.

Both the boys are seasoned travellers and they took everything in their stride.   We checked they had water, gave them a big pile of food and they will be left alone for the next 24 hours to rest and stretch their legs.

It is lovely here and we are now happily esconced in our hotel just down the road.  Although the boys will be left alone, they will be checked regularly.

The locals are nice too!

The weather is turning, the forecast is very bad, so panicking, we packed our bags, loaded the van and are leaving Shetland on tonight’s boat rather than tomorrow’s as there was no guarantee the captain would take livestock based on tomorrow’s forecast.

Northlink have been brilliant. Having first said there was no room, they managed to find us a cabin and space for the van so huge relief all round.

We are taking Kappi and Waffle and are off to West Linton, just outside Edinburgh for the Icelandic Horse of Great Britain Championships.  Daisy is riding while Floss and I are probably getting in the way!

Wish us luck.

(in the bar!)