It is always difficult, when newbies arrive, to alter the routine you are in.

Our routine : Delia gets to spend her days around the house, eating up the new grass and everyone else just potters along.

But I need to put weight onto Gina, our new old lady, who arrived a few days ago.

That rug is perfect.  Sorry Waffle, but your rug is being used for someone more needy.

The two newbies, Gypsy and Gina, are settling in.

It is slow process and one that will take much work.  Delia (my 24 yo mare) hates Gina (30 yo mare) with a passion.  She will chase her off the food so I have to distribute many piles of silage to make sure everyone gets something.

Gina’s companion, Gypsy, is a complicated person.  She reminds me of Brá.  Our relationship is going to be about trust and reminding her of body language from me and the herd. She understands the basics but she has forgotten and has ruled Gina for too long.  This is not a healthy relationship.

Very obsessive.

My priorities are to give Gina more food.  She has the teeth, the will and the spark.  She needs to eat and to put on weight.

Gypsy does not need any extra food but she shouts for Gina all the time, nagging her to stop eating and to come back to her.

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This afternoon, as I was about, I split them up.

There are new grass shoots around the house (Delia is grazing there), so I let Gina out as well.

She could see Gypsy but there was a fence in between them.

This seemed to work fine.

Daisy brought out Iacs to ride and, afterwards, there were introductions.

I spent my day popping in and out of the field to talk.

I would hate for any of my boys to feel I am ignoring them. I did lots of hugging today!

Everyone is special and everyone needs something different from me.

There are now piles of food everywhere, just in case.  Life has become rather complicated.

We have been having a digital detox for over four hours (that would be a power cut to us oldies!).

Anywho, apologies for the delay in the blog.

It has been a day of shite – rain and more rain, so rugs on those that need them and shiver off your fat, the rest of you!

The newbies, Gina and Gypsy, are doing ok.  Delia is still being a baggage so she spent the day outwith the field to give everyone some peace and quiet.  While we fed Gina her hard feed (plus Albie and Newt), we put Gypsy the other side of the gate.  She does not need any extra feed.  I approached her with a carrot and the deal was that she could have it, if I could put a head collar on and off.  After some trepidation, Gypsy agreed and that was all I wanted.  Good girl. Every day, in every way, we will be doing this!  Little steps.  One headcollar = one carrot.  Them’s the deal.

Anywho, I have been saving this for a rainy day, but I found out that…..

Storm is related to some of the other Minions!

He is Tiddles’ second cousin (that explains so much!)

Newt is his nephew – awww, bless him. Storm a role model.

Interesting fact – Lyra is Storm’s 1st cousin once removed.  And she does remove.  As far away as possible! Can’t you just see the family resemblance?

Fivla is Storm’s father, spouse/partner’s 1st cousin twice removed.  (Storm would sell his soul for a Fair Isle jersey and some internet fame).

Yes, you guessed it, I did my family tree and used the software to see who is related to whom.  Well, you would, wouldn’t you – especially on a rainy day?

So now you know.  Storm is a role model.  God help us all!

This morning, bright and early, Bjørn, Daisy and I went in the van to another island, Yell.

We had booked onto the 10:45 ferry.

So we went to collect these two ponies on Yell on behalf of the SSPCA.

We brought home two ponies.

The first – Gina – is 31 (this year) years old.  Ok, she is thin (two dimensional) but she is doing ok for her age,

The second is Gypsy – who is, I think (to be confirmed) is 13 years old.

When we got them home, we wormed, brushed manes and tails, cut tails and gave them some hard feed.

We also gave Gina the use of Waffle’s best rug.  Gina is a very old lady.  (Waffle is not needing it at the moment as he is aiming to be 17hh wide!)

It fits perfectly.

Gypsy is fatty, fat fat!  Methinks she ate all the pies.

And so we put them outside…..

Everyone is interested – meeting the big boys on the other side of the fence.

Everything is new.

Delia is the boss here so Gypsy had to make friends with her.

Even Newt has made his introductions.

(this, Newt, does not make friends – just sayin’)

So they are all together.

My main priority is to put some weight on Gina.  She is thin – but she is old – a tough call.

Gypsy needs to integrate and learn there are more Shetland ponies out there to be friends with because GIna is not going to be around forever.

Delia is calling the shots here and there was a massive bum-to-bum fight between the dominant mares.

Folk like Newt, Tor and Albie are not interested in the politics, just the extra food!

Iacs came in today be ridden by Daisy.

Iacs and Daisy grew up together.  Daisy has ridden Iacs since she was 9, or roughly – none of us can remember.  He has been with us since he was a newly-backed youngster.

Now more mature – 22 years old (this spring) – and still Daisy’s No 1 forever horse.

They know each other very well.

Iacs is a half-full glass kinda guy.

In his opinion, the potential for calorific content is everywhere.

You just never know.

“Yes you do, Iacs.  No food until you’ve finished” says Daisy.

Iacs, despite his age, loves to be ridden.  He could go round that school forever with a smile on his face and a song in his fart.

(Obviously, Daisy’s trainer was working them both hard.  She has very high standards.)

When we had the riding school, everyone learned to ride on Iacs.  He teaches walk, trot and canter, steering plus exemplary brakes.  Despite being an Icelandic horse, there is no natural tölt and we have never asked for it.  It was more important for Iacs to look after Daisy than to be wound up and asked to tölt.

Iacs is a very honest horse to ride.  He will forgive a few indiscretions but he does exactly what you ask.  So if you don’t ask, he will walk straight into a wall because no one said not to.

The worst thing he has ever done?  A real gent, unless there is a bucket involved, and then all bets are off and you have to stop being a passenger and start being a rider, so not a bad thing really.

He may be old and woolly, but Iacs has still got it!

If there are calories involved, you always have Iacs’ full attention.

This is his Handsome Prince face.

A darling boy.

Happy Burns Night to everyone.

Is this a haggis?  Have we sighted a rare wee beastie?

And then the haggis sat down and we all saw who she was.  I promise she does have the full complement of legs!

Her Maj!  BeAnne Duvet who has made a full recovery from her awful spinal disc thing last autumn.  I thank the Gods for this.  She is my precious and, well, I can’t even think about the what-ifs to be honest.  It makes me cry.

BeAnne still follows me everywhere and I mean everywhere!

Meanwhile, Daisy was having a riding lesson in the school from her trainer, Bjørn Roar Larsen.

First she rode Taktur, her Icelandic stallion. Taktur was not being easy – tölt is not a natural gait for him – but Daisy managed very well and they both worked hard.

And then next up was Kappi, her Icelandic gelding.  He is going beautifully in training.  It is lovely to watch.  Haakon and I do not even pretend to achieve these things.

While they all worked their butts off – they walked, trotted, cantered and tölted around the school – I watched with my small canine attachment.

Always there.  Not going anywhere unless I go somewhere. Yes, even there!