It needed to be done.  The mares and their foals had to go to Leradale.

I have been dreading the day.  No one is exactly very co-operative about anything yet.

So we broke it all down into small bite-sized chunks.

First I caught Brá before she remembered she didn’t like being caught.  One carrot in, one headcollar on and bingo!

Daisy caught Hetja who almost put the headcollar on herself.

Flossie was on gates and opened everything while we led the mothers, with their babies dutifully following over the hill to Thordale and into the stable.

Phew!

Next chunk – to put on Mr Headcollar.

It was not instantly easy but it happened without much fuss.   Another phew!  Last time (the microchipping) was rather a battle.

We left everyone to get used to wearing their headcollars while we went in and had a quick lunch.

Bjørn arrived, and was trimming feet when we returned.  The foals were learning how to be tied up too.

Brá was sensible – she took herself away while Dreki was having his feet done.

The foals learned a lot today.   They may have not wanted to, but they did.

Next chunk was to load Hetja and Lilja into the van.  Hetja marched straight in and we tied her up and eventually Lilja loaded.

We released Mother and her stroppy little daughter and went back for the other two.

Brá, again, loaded beautifully and surprise, surprise, so did Dreki.  Good lad.

They will now spend their winter in long long grass that hasn’t been touched since they left (apart from a small Minion invasion).

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief as they all met up again.

The Minions are their neighbours.

It is cold with sporadic fierce showers of either hail or rain with a wind chill factor resulting sub-zero temperatures and so I went out for a little drive en route to checking the Leradale lot.

I love the Autumn colours in Shetland.  The contrast of the heathery scattald (hill grazing) with the grass in the “in-bye” fields.

As I went over the cattle grid into the scattald, I found a small herd of Shetland ponies that had been put into the hill for the winter.

They were probably hanging around the cattle grid to get back home, if they could.

I drove on.  There were sheep.  Lots of hill sheep everywhere.

When I reached Leradale, I could see my Shetland pony herd on the other side of their hill park or rough grazing.

Can you seem them?

These days, I always carry binoculars in my car for this very job.  Spot the pony.  There are 7 of them.  Fivvie to the left and then other 6 are grouped together.

The nights are drawing in now but the afternoon Autumn light is always special. 

Magical sunsets now.

When I got home, my four Boyzens were waiting for me (‘Bert is outwith the photo to my right).

As you can see, Puzzah is quickly getting the plot.  He will let me scratch the top of his head and I am hopeful (all fingers crossed) he will be one of the Boyzens very quickly.  His top priority is food.  Their’s is hugging.

You can sort of see where Lambie gets his “I must stick my nose through the bars” thought (see above).  Hereditary obviously.

Awww, ‘Bert’s Winning Smile is enchantment.  Sorry guys, no biccies.  I have learned my lesson.

Ok, well, there may be a few pictures!

The boys wanted to meet Puzzah.  They had been made to spend all night in a field (the horror – the F word!) which they hate as they are normally allowed around the house at night with access to a shed (wifi, no radio).  Puzzah’s arrival and operation changed the routine.

So, I let them out, dished out brekkie (a peerie grain, according to our postie who is my sheep expert).

And then they rushed over to meet Puzzah.

First Contact – Father and Son.

I had a “what-the-heck” moment and opened the gate.

Well that started a fight between ‘Ster and Puzzah so I split them up, leaving Lambie with his dad.

Puzzah was not impressed (and neither was Lambie).

So Puzzah started ramming the fence with ‘Ster and ‘Bert the other side. I went to get a bucket of food to lure ‘Ster and ‘Bert away into the field and while I was away, Lambie and Puzzah managed to escape (the gate was not securely shut – my bad).

So I led them all into a field and let them get on with it.

More room meant far less stress.

Introductions were easier (Lambie’s photobombing face!).  Puzzah wants lady-girl-sheeps, hence the tongue.

But Puzzah fancied, after an initial row, ‘Ster who doesn’t know what to make of this sudden adoration.

We wanted to go for a ride out. 

But the weather said otherwise.  It didn’t rain.  It shat down (an actual meteorological term).

We quickly gave up on that idea and sun came out (bugger it!)

I have spent my day in the field with the chaps making sure they are all getting along and not being Mean Girls.

(Seriously? We are related?)   
Puzzah is most definitely in love!

I am slightly worried about ‘Bert who is not keen on change.  He may want to leave. I hope not.  He did this last time.

Anywho, later this afternoon – a family photo.

All Boyzenberries together.

I think ‘Ster is getting his head around total adoration.

I think he quite likes it!

The weather is descending again so they all went into the Best Bedroom – small field, shed with wifi and radio!

A few day’s back I was offered Puzzah (Lambie’s father).

Daisy, Flossie and I went over to see him and we agreed he could come and live at Thordale.

So, today, we went over to fetch Puzzah.

I put some food down for him and I popped a horse’s headcollar on (upsidedown – it works perfectly) to act as a harness.  He is much easier to handle with this on.

Then I went outside to tell the Boyzens that we had a new recruit.

Lambie took it very well, as did ‘Bert but I am not sure about ‘Ster – he has issues and maybe difficult.

Just not today.  I had words with ‘Ster about his attitude and, as my mother would say, “we will see”.

Meanwhile, Puzzah was waiting patiently in the stable. 

He is a dear boy.  We have had a few chats and, like Lambie, he hates carrots but loves hard feed.  The way to his heart.

Puzzah will be getting lots of that and green grass, while it is around.

And then, in the afternoon, the vet arrived and this was what we had been waiting for….

Puzzah had to be fully castrated.  He can’t live here as a ram.  It would not be a wise decision.

So, the offending articles, under masses of local anaesthetic, antibiotics and long-acting painkillers, were duly removed.

Poor lad – but thems are the Terms if he wants to be a Boyzenberry.

It was a successful operation. Puzzah is now happily residing in Lambie’s best bedroom – grass, wifi, radio and hard feed once a day.  The others are in their field – much to their horror and we will do the full “Meet n’ Greet” maybe tomorrow.  We will see.

Anywho, can anyone spot Newt in his new-to-the-herd field?  He is teensy tiny!

While Daisy was having a riding lesson, Flossie was looking after my camera while busy chatting to ‘Bert, who had decided he was in a sociable mood.

Lambie had quickly hidden himself away around the corner having discovered some stacked bales of bedding straw left over from last winter. I think he has made it his mission to personally eat them both, which he will over time.  Last year, he ate cardboard boxes.  This year, it is straw as I have learned my lesson.

‘Bert continued to entertain Flossie.  Silly boy.

He is a funny caddie sheep (not lamb anymore) who is, of them all, probably the most “normal”.  I know my lads very well. They all have very different characters.

Meanwhile, Lambie had left his private straw bale supply and wanted some of the limelight.  Lambie is more like a dog than an actual sheep while ‘Ster has attachment issues.  He hates being by himself and seeks out company whenever he can.

BeAnne was sitting on Bjørn’s knee doing her extra resentful face while Lambie smiled happily for the camera.

Lambie knows how to work the room. 

He has been practising his Winning Smile since Day 1.

So while Daisy rode round and round the school, Flossie was Queen of Sheep(a) for the day.

It is usually my job.  And now I think of it, I don’t have any “normal” sheep or ponies even.  Probably just as well. I wouldn’t know what to do with them anyway.