This is Precious – a miniature Shetland pony filly born on Thursday morning.

We are helping out the breeder because Precious was a “red bag delivery”.

From The Horse Channel – “Red bag delivery” is a layperson’s term for premature separation of the placenta prior to or during a mare’s foaling.

The mare is on a course of antibiotics (intra-muscular) and, as we are on site 24/7, we can administer them.  The mare was very unwell after the birth and nearly died.

The mare is not maternal towards her baby so we are encouraging bonding, nursing and pushing as much food, ie green grass and hard feed into Mum as possible, while getting as much milk into Precious as well.  This is the mare’s first and only foal and she is not sure what to do but she is an easy mare and Precious is very hungry.  We sometimes hold the mare as she tends to walk away mid-suck.  She has now discovered carrots and is easily bribed!

OH has very kindly (but is not happy) let them into his garden.  He was only saying the other day how he wished the grass was shorter.  Well, now it will be!

Someone else is very aware that there is a pretty lady-girl nearby so Precious and her mother can only have access to the garden grass if they are supervised.

The others don’t care at all.

BeAnne, however, is thrilled.

This is her new little family.

I have just measured BeAnne.  She is 13″ tall to her “withers”.

Anyway, this little duo will stay with us for at least a week.  The breeder wants to give the foal a chance.

We are all aware that Precious’ legs are not the best.

And please don’t tell me your opinion about them.  We are here to help, not to judge.

We are all doing our best for them.

We had some visitors, who came specifically to meet the Minions.

It was lovely to see them and, after a cup of tea and a good chat, I took them over to introduce them to the inmates of Lyradale.

And, of course, I put them to work!

Well, if would be rude not to.  There is winter fur to brush out.

Richard volunteered to brush Tiddles.

He had help.

Perhaps, at times, a bit too much help (note, Silver’s teeth).

But help they did – as is a Minion’s want.

Tiddles has not been brushed much (I cleaned his eyes with cold tea) and appreciated the time spent making him beautiful.

Richard and Tiddles developed a good working relationship.

“You brush, I sniff.”

Meanwhile, Liz had Waffle, amongst others, to beautify.  Previously, she also made a very good job of Silver and Storm.

I attacked Fivla.

Lyra didn’t want to know, though she let Roger talk to her and brush her face – I did her tail while she wasn’t watching.

She was happily playing with old headcollars left lying around.

So like her half-brother, Indy, our stallion, who spent most of his days in the indoor school picking up and putting down things he found. It must be a genetic thing.

Vitamin stayed well away.

As did Delia (though I got to do her tail).  No one minded.  Old ladies must be allowed to be old ladies.

And so, covered with horse hair (there was lots flying around), we left the Minions to enjoy their field with the knowledge of a job well done.

I love volunteers.  They work so hard to make my Minions beautiful and froo-froo!

Thank you for visiting.  Come again!  Please, any time! (I mean it!)

So, while the little boys were making new friends…..

…. we took Delia to join her friends over at Lyradale.  They were very happy to see her and so was she.

I think she had had enough of looking after little baby boys.  I don’t blame her. They were beginning to be annoying.

We had recently given the little ones access to the green field area (recently vacated by Hetja and Brá) and they happily showed Delia around.

It was lovely to see this little Shetland pony herd so happy to see their Delia again.  She has played an important part in everyone’s lives.

Again, everyone is still checked daily and I am now lugging water for 8 Shetland ponies in case no one remembers there is an adjoining field, with open gates now, that has numerous streams a ruddy great big loch in the middle!

Yup, they all crowd and drink the water I bring.  There are three big buckets filled.

But I don’t want Delia to have to walk forever looking for water.  So, family motto, “whatever it takes”.

It mostly takes my back.

So, today was the day.

We had finished the silage and there is one big field with grass.

I opened the gate and Hjalti, Efstur, Iacs, Haakon and Klængur walkied into Kappi and Taktur´s field.

Efstur took an instant likeing to Kappi.  Oranges together.

There was lots of running.

And eating!

Hajlti turned into an Arab stallion.

And Taktur did some showing off.

But, all in all, Taktur was fine with everyone.

I love the way Haakon and Iacs don’t move while everyone else is flinging themselves about!  I suppose it is a matter of priorities.

So, as everything seemed to be going well (read, peacefully), we put Albie and Newt into the mix.

Newt and Taktur were an instant hit.

Albie struggled a bit.  We found him outwith the hill (after dropping Delia off in Lyradale) but he was very happy to go back.  He must’ve jumped out and given himself a gluff by accident.

Newt was in his element.  So many friends.  So little time.

My money is on Newt.

In about ten minutes time, all these big Icelandic horses were his friends (read, servants).

He wasn’t remotely phased.

There will be games, endless games.

And so, after watching for a while, we left them to get on with it.

So, basically, Taktur, in Spring, has been put out with three colts.  That says something about him.  What a nice guy.

(he is teaching Efstur how to poo-sniff – an essential stallion skill).

The oldies are very happy to be together again.

Newt is a very happy Newt.

But he still has time for his BFF, Albie, who needs convincing that this is a good idea.

Daisy and I are just back from our weekly flute lesson, town and then we took Kappi and Waffle to the vet for their last injections (tetanus and flu) so they can go south for the Icelandic Horse British Championships.

Not much to say, but here are some photos from yesterday.

Bjørn Roar Larsen (our local Level 3 Icelandic horse trainer – we are very, very lucky) was training Taktur.

First there was free lungeing with elasticated side-reins in walk, trot and canter to encourage self carriage and the back end to work.

Next, Bjørn removed the side-reins and long-reining instead.  With long-reins, Bjørn could ask for tölt too.  Taktur is not a natural tölter, ie you would never see him tölt in the field, but still, he knows what to do when asked.

I could watch these two all day.  Over the years Bjørn and Taktur have forged a good relationship and so Taktur shines in his work.  He also shone because I brushed Taktur properly  (a body brush and curry comb job) while Daisy was having her lesson on Kappi.

BeAnne was very enthusiastic too. She would’ve watched with interest but she was busy.  I didn’t brush her.  She will have summer fur strip soon now the weather has warmed up.