My three little Icelandic horse brothers all live together in a huge field – about 25 acres or 10.1 hectares at the back of the house.

It is not a bad amount of space for 1 colt (Efstur) and 2 geldings (Dreki and Hjalti).

(Hjalti always stands up when he sees me – he doesn’t have to.  He just does)

So where do they insist on living?  In a muddy patch by the gate.  It is their home and they rarely move from there.

I think they lack a leader.  No one has stepped up to the plate or wants the job.

The lads are very lucky that I don’t believe in grooming youngsters, or anyone for that matter, unless we are going to a show or some major deity might be visiting.

I thoroughly embrace the “the natural look” as does the whole family.

So if the boys want to live, sleep and breathe mud, I am happy to oblige.  Mud is what we have and revolting is good.

I did read somewhere that modern day cleaning products are directly attributable to the increase in asthma.  None of us have asthma – which is a credit to my total lack of cleaning!

Obviously I brought the necessary and distributed accordingly – “breakfast in bed”

Soon we will move in the other herd of boys (including Daddy) as the grass is beginning to grow now.  They will be one big happy family and if anyone is nasty to Albie, they will have Taktur and Newt to answer to.

Taktur’s mane falls heavily on the left side of his neck, dragging his stallion crest and topline with it.  Two of our Icelandic horse trainers have suggested that we plait up Taktur’s mane so that it then falls on his right side and hopefully this will correct the problem.

The previous 24 hours of rain had made Taktur’s mane wet, which was helpful.

We were given a picture to follow of what was required so, with Daisy standing on a bucket and me trying to keep Taktur’s head still, we gave it our best shot.  There were over fifty plaits.

The second row of plaits created a diamond effect and you can see just how Taktur’s topline is uneven.  Not good.

Daisy worked very hard. It took nearly three hours.

Obviously there was constant support.

Taktur looked a different horse with his crowning glory on the “wrong” side.

We really need to get his stallion crest and topline more even and hopefully by doing this, it will help.

Once we had finished, we gave Taktur his bucket of grub and it was interesting to see that when he put his head down, his neck topline stretched out and looked fine.

So Taktur is outside now. It has stopped raining and we are hoping this method will work or at least help even him out.

Poor Monster has spent the last two weeks wanting to go out more than anything.

We have given him toys in the house, mostly with a catnip involvement.

Drugs are good!

BeAnne was also sent a huge bag of bally-balls.

She wanted them all.

What the Hell – I gave her the lot.  One happy little dog again.

Last week, Lambie came into the house because he was upset with the heat and flies (hates them to distraction).  He was very interested in the new white could-this-be-another-lamb animal.

Poor Monster could not believe his eyes (or his nose – the accompanying stench was mighty!)

But Lambie was intrigued and wanted to get to know this newbie.  So he held Monster hostage under his chair resulting in Lambie jumping everytime a paw came out to swipe, and then after about ten swipes and jumps and no backing down, I saw Lambie running after Monster into the kitchen!

It was very funny.

Meanwhile, Peace Negotiations are going along ok.  There is the odd hiccup, but mostly it is ok.

Today we opened the back door and Monster was allowed out.

There was much investigating and it has been raining, which in a way is good as it has shown Monster how to come home.

BeAnne said it was her garden.

‘Ster was also interested.

It is the local wildlife I am worried for.  Is Monster the Great White Hunter?

He has terrible manners.  I am shocked.

We left the backdoor open so Monster could spend his day coming and going.  He found the two cat flaps that he has to negotiate, a bit awkward. To be honest, we were unsure whether he could get himself through as he is quite large!

We are getting there and Monster is doing very well.  He has us very well trained.

BeAnne is just biding her time – all she needs is photographic evidence and she can Rule her World again!

This was the sight that greeted Flossie and I when we went tentatively over to Leradale this morning.

One big happy herd.

Phew.  All the girls together with a sub-herd of little boys to the side.  Just how it should be.

As we have a weather forecast for rain in the next few days, I decided to open the gates and let everyone into the grassier fields that the Icelandic horses had spent their winter in.

No one needed asking twice.

They all cantered in enthusiastically.

The field has a few fences and the herd managed to split itself up.  The Minions (except for Vitamin) went one way.

While the Icelandics another.

Vitamin was by herself mostly due to her own stupidity.  She decided she couldn’t remember how to get through an open gate.

I am not too worried.  The herd will join up when they want to.  Most of the Minions have been in this field before so know their way around, though I think it is new to Vitamin and Fivla.  However, everyone was thrilled to see grass.

I am pleased the herd has settled down.  That is a huge relief. I don’t have to worry.

I popped over to Leradale this morning to see how everyone was doing in their new bigger herd.

It was a bit Us and Them but it seemed peaceful enough.  The Minions were all together at one end, some lying down snoozing (a good sign of relaxation) and then there was Brá with Lilja happily eating together and Hetja some way away from everyone.

At first glance, things were looking good.

I went over to check that the Minions were not all covered in bites, blood with broken legs – they weren’t.  All fine.

Lilja wandered over to chat too.

Everyone was most welcoming – all except for Storm who was vile and chased Lilja off.

And then he stood there looking cross.  I told him off for being mean.

The others wanted to talk to Lilja.

And she desperately wanted to talk to them but went back to be with Brá.

Vitamin went over and whinnied at Lilja.

She wanted to make friends.

And then the others arrived to ruin it.  Storm’s tail was swishing in a bad way so I put a stop to that.

As I was walking away, they settled down again.

But Hetja suddenly arrived to tell the Minions what she thought of them.  Interestingly, though, she just chased them back and did not launch into a full on attack.

So it is a bit grandmother’s footsteps at the moment but not quite all out war.  If Storm continues to be the fly in this ointment, I will move him home and he can be sat on by Newt and Albie.

Meanwhile, the hill sheep are beginning to lamb.  They are soooooo sweeeeeeet!