Wool Week 2017 is about to commence here in Shetland and today, we had a visitor.

A fan of Minions and Boyzenberries, no less, who came bearing gifts for everyone.  She brought Lambie a bag of his favourite delicacy – Cheesey Wotsits!

BeAnne “helped”, ie she cleared up the ones that fell on the ground.

A little known fact – Lambie is very fussy and point blank refuses to eat anything that has touched the ground, apart from grass.  Today, he managed to stuff in as many Wotsits as he could fit in his mouth.

‘Bert and ‘Ster investigated the blue and yellow bag of delight but decided they didn’t really understand this love of the Wotsit!

And Lambie was certainly not going to come up for breath or share with ‘Bert.

Once he had finished the bag, Lambie came indoors to see what else was on offer.  He loves the rustle of a carrier bag.  So much potential!

He made friends with his devoted fan.

BeAnne was less than impressed.

All attention by rights (and it is probably The Law) should be on Her Maj.  Everyone knows that.

After a people lunch, we went outside to find Lambie waiting.

And then the boys practiced their Winning Smiles.

And I think you will agree that Lambie has perfected this art.

When you can see a little row of teefs, you know he is doing his Winning Smile!

I did offer the organisers of Wool Week 2017 the opportunity of Lambie doing a Meet & Greet in Lerwick but this was hastily refused.

Their loss.  He would’ve been fabularse, Darlinks!

Here are some more photos from the weekend.

Everyone outside waiting for their turn to be called in.

The organiser, Shona with a knitted-thing who apparently had to have its’ photo taken on a horse so I duly obliged.

Despite trying hard, I just could not get Shona’s horse to look enthusiastic about the “knitted thing”.

All the riders and their horses.

As it was such a wide group, I decided to split them up into sections.

From the right, Daisy, Fossie, Gwen and Dorothy.

Liz, Kim and Catriona.

Delia, Lauren, Moira and Shona.

The Shetland contingency – (from the right again – Daisy, Flossie, Dorothy, Gwen, Lauren and Jean or Taktur, Klængur, Kristall, Orri, Esja and Hörður).

And from Houlls Horses and Hounds – if you come up to Shetland and want to ride an Icelandic horse, this is the place to go.

Flossie and Klængur having some quiet time.

One of last year’s participants who was sadly on crutches visiting for some horsey-time.  I really understand that.

Getting to know everyone else’s horses because Icelandic horses are very addictive.

I am slowly ploughing my way through the photos.  I wish it were this time last week *** sigh ***.  It was fun.

I have been indoors all day working hard on the photos of the past Icelandic horse training and competition weekend.

I feel a bit frazzled now.

I hate sitting indoors all day and I have missed my boys so I decided to take some time out.

I found an apple, split it and took it out to distribute to those that might want a piece.  Newt said he would rather have a nose-kissey.  He is funny like that.

Floss came too as human company and was quickly frisked!  The boys were searching her pockets for anything edible they could find.

She is used to this.

However, it is not always about food.

(ok, maybe it is – for some!)

Newt is growing upwards and outwards.

He has a good large apple-bum and I think is well set for the oncoming winter.

Iacs has taken up lurking as a full time job.

He seems to have a talent.

Taktur and I had a long discussion about just how good he was last weekend.

He remains ridiculously goodlooking too.

All the boys were pleased to see us.  Apples or no apples.

Yes, they are all checked daily but it is actual people contact they want.

People are always good to play with and talk to.

BeAnne supervised, of course.

Newt is almost as big as an Icelandic horse while Albie is now at least 14hh!

And so back to the ruddy photos.  All 1900 of them that I said I wasn’t going to take!

After a splendid dinner the night before, we all arrived bright and early at the yard for the next day’s entertainment – the competition!

(perhaps a bit too early for some!)

There was going to be none of this jumping lark!

We are not that kind of horse.  They are, we aren’t.  Well, not today, anyway.

Everyone got their horses ready.

It was still raining on and off, so we kept the saddle dry with a rainsheet.

The school had now been set out with cones and poles to define the riding area for tölt-in-harmony.  There were even flags (sort of).

The judge gave those that wanted a chance to come in and let their horses see the new set-up.  Klængur hates change so this really helped and he quickly settled down.

Those that weren’t riding, waited outside and no, none of the horses spooked at the huge tractor with the massive bale of hay coming up behind them.

Everyone was smart and as clean as they could manage.

Scotland is wet.  There was mud everywhere, but somehow we managed.

The judge was ready.

I positioned myself upstairs in the viewing gallery, grabbed my camera and off I clicked while everyone rode the same course in tölt and preferably in harmony.

More tomorrow.

We arrived at Aberdeen first thing on Saturday morning, drove to Fountain Equestrian Centre, Dyce and put the boys in their stables to rest.

Later on, Flossie had her first lesson in the indoor arena with Fi Pugh, the Tølt in Harmony Judge.

Klængur hates anything new and was on edge and so perhaps not his most helpful, but Flossie managed well and did her very best. She has never ridden him outwith Shetland.

Next, it was Daisy and Taktur’s turn.

Taktur was wonderful. He shared his lesson with a mare and, apart from whinnying at himself in the mirrors, he never put a hoof wrong.

(I mean you would whinny at yourself if you were that incredibly handsome, wouldn’t you?)

The rain it did rain and Bjørn (our trainer who came south with us) was teaching outside in the outdoor swimming pool or manège!  It was hard to tell at times.

There is something about Aberdeen and me. Whenever I am there, it rains.

There were less rainy interludes.  They were brief.

First up were Flossie and Klængur.

By now, Klængur had calmed down and was finding his feet.  That helped Floss’ confidence hugely as she was beginning to think she was in for a rough ride all weekend.

Next it was Daisy and Taktur’s turn.

They sploshed around the manège.

There was even an audience of admirers but Taktur did not even acknowledge their existence.  Work is work.  Fans are for later.

(I think they all thought he was a bit gorgeous)

And they would be right.

Taktur was wonderful.

So, that was our first day.