Flossie’s horse, Klængur, had lost a shoe so Daisy very kindly leant her little sister Iacs, her 22 year old Icelandic horse gelding, to ride.

However, there were spectators.

First, Floss and Iacs warmed up on a long rein.

Daisy thought she was the one giving the instruction.

Yer, right, but really, it was the woollies who were doing the training.

They took an interest.

Lambie watched every time Floss and Iacs went past – he was fascinated by this riding thing.

‘Ster made sure Daisy was doing it right.

The sheeples have probably seen more riding lessons than most.

And look how beautifully Iacs and Flossie went.

Someone must be telling them something.

These trainers want only perfection.

A textbook turn-on-the-forehand – Iacs’ pièce de résistance.

It was lovely to watch. Darling Iacs – he’s still got it.  A very special horse.

Iacs and Flossie did very well.

Rewards were handed out.

The Sheeples left with the knowledge of a job well done!

(Don’t tell Daisy – she thinks it was her!)

Tor’s owners came over to collect their lovely pony-mama and take her home.

(They may have mentioned that she was a bit fat and had to go on a diet before she ran with the stallion.  I ignored that.)

We have all been dreading this day.  I will admit that I have been worrying about how the little boys would react when Tor was taken away.  Albie was having a melt-down in my imagination.

So, they barely noticed.

The boys ran round once looking for Tor and then attached themselves to Delia, who I don’t actually think looked up once.

Meanwhile, Efstur is taking a huge interest in the little boys, particularly Newt.

I often see them chatting over the fence together.

The two stallions sharing a good poo sniffing.

(happy days – green coloured poo means the spring grass is arriving)

Efstur is practising being Handsome Prince Mk II.

This Odd Couple are determined to be the best of friends over the fence.

Rugs are on at the moment because there is a harsh northwesterly wind bringing sporadic outbursts of fierce rain.  I am wearing my thermals so, therefore, the little boys are too.

Once the temperature is consistently above ten degrees celsius, then rugs will be off and Delia will join the girls.  The little boys can all be together.

A little bit warmer weather, please, or a least less rain.

Anywho, thank you Tor and thank you to Tor’s owners, Bergli Stud, for the loan of Tor.  She was perfect and the best step-mother ever to those that needed her most (*** sniff ***).

I am not talking to BeAnne.

Yesterday, she stunk so badly while she sat under my desk in her bed, that I could bear it no more.  I took her upstairs and bathed her, much to her disgust.  But it had to be done and then she was fragrant and beautiful again.  Afterwards, I cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom.

This morning, Flossie and I were up at first light to feed the horses and sheep.  The wind was gaining speed and the forecast was grim, so we started two hours earlier than usual to be able to do our chores without being blown over or soaked to the skin.

We finished just as it began to rain heavily and guess who we met coming up the hill as went into the house….. a mud monster or perhaps a small Patterdale terrier who had spent her morning digging up baby bunnies down by the stream.  She was clarted in mud from head to toe.  My heart sank.  Her chin had dangles of brown squelch.

I dragged her back upstairs to the bathroom and back into the bath she went.  The mud was of the type that was half concrete and half superglue – solid and hard.  A good fight later and BeAnne, for the second time, in less than 24 hours was clean.  Again, afterwards, I cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom as the mud had been transferred to every wall, towel and now myself.

BeAnne is not talking to me and, as I type, is sulking under my desk.

Loki is almost a good boy, though he did tumble Wu the other day.

Wu didn’t care much but has been bitch-slapping Loki in revenge when he walks past.

I have banned BeAnne from going outside unsupervised for the foreseeable future.

I wormed everyone else today, after my worry about Klængur, who is fine, by the way and was just faking illness to get out of work.

Everyone was very nice about having wormer except for Brá, who was a complete and utter arse.  I will generously put this down to being pregnant, but she really tested the limits of my patience and sanity today – threatening to kick and refusing to be caught.  Ok, I will admit I had the wrong catching kit (too small headcollar) so I went home, found two big headcollars, caught Hetja, gave her a bucket of food, tied her up, and then went after Brá, who was galloping towards me in a panic looking for Hetja.  Brá skidded to a halt, saw the bucket of food and wanted it more than anything.  It was then we struck The Deal.  You want the food, I want to put a headcollar on you.  She let me.  Then she had her hysterics about the wormer syringe and I stuck to my guns.  You want the bucket of food, I get to worm you.  She gave in.

And I may have mentioned something about not trying to kick me too in my parting shot lecture about being a complete and utter twunt!

Thank the Gods that her son is a lovely boy who is everyone’s friend and would put his own headcollar on if you asked him to.

Nothing is too much trouble for Efstur.

When we went to worm Newt, we found him sitting in his nest (possibly trying to lay an egg). He never even stood up while he was wormed.  Bless his little cottons.

Because that is the kind of guy a Newt is!

Even Albie forgot to be hysterical.

He was very happy to help.

Bloody Brá.  Now a wormed twunt.

The horse and pony shows started in Shetland today with Serrang Equestrian In Hand Show held at the Lerwick Marts.

At the crack of sparrows, we drove a stallion to help out Bergli Stud (and I also wanted an excuse to see what was going on in the Shetland horse and pony world as I have been rather out of the loop recently).

Flossie came with me for moral support and helped with the brushing.  Bjørn had been up until 03:00 washing and drying ponies.

There were specatators of every kind.

Taking a real interest, too.

For both rings.

There was Ring 1 for the Shetland ponies and, alongside, Ring 2 for the big horses and ponies.

Everyone mucked in.  Even the judges.

Friendships were made.

And it was very special to see the Icelandic horses competing in-hand too.

Lauren brought Esja.

All good practice for the big bad world.

Kristall won his class.

Horse and handlers looked very smart.

And so they ran up and down…..

… walked round and round…..

…. while others waited outside for their turn.

While we had a break for lunch, the children played in the arena.

There was, of course, the ubiquitous and possibly mandatory raffle.

I am awaiting the results and ever-optimistic that the bottles, the pony or the chocolate is now mine!

Good behaviour all round and, for some, this was a completely new environment.

After lunch, there were more in-hand young handler classes as well as fancy dress (BeAnne will never be toppled from her throne).

I was feeling a bit fractious and over-tired so we left early and took some of the Bergli ponies (and dog) home for them.

Their standard black Shetland pony filly, Brunatwatt Madison Magic, won Junior Champion.  A good start to the 2017 Shetland pony show season.