I helped my neighbour feed his Shetland pony herd as his car had died.

Always the way this time of year and such an embuggerance (best word ever!)

We’ve all been there.  It happens to us all.

But little horses have to be fed, no matter what ,and so I volunteered to help.

The minute these ponies saw the bales of hay, they came cantering down from where they had been standing.

It was lovely to watch.

The enthusiasm for food.

The hay bales were duly split and distributed along the dry stone dyke (wall) so that all the ponies had a pile to eat.

There is something undeniably enchanting about miniature Shetland ponies.

Always photogenic.

Expressive little persons.

Determinedly enchanting, ie You Will Love Me or Feed Me!

With lots of character.  You can see it in their eyes.

And then I checked on own my fat little lot at Liradale and we went home. They were all fine. Very bouncy but pleased to see me and my carrots.

There is another gale coming and now, as I write this, it has arrived and blowing hard.

I may be very slightly bored of winter now.  It doesn’t seem to want to go away.

While, I was busy cooking Belgian chocolate cake this morning, Daisy very kindly gave Flossie a riding lesson on Klængur.

Once I had finished, I went into the school to see how they were getting on.  They were concentrating on Floss’ riding position.

As usual, everyone wanted to be involved.

BeAnne brought Daisy a piece of hoof-trimming.  Her favourite food (BeAnne’s, not Daisy’s)

The sheeps wanted in because living in a field is not what sheep do, apparently.

Feeling generous, I let the Boyzens out so they could come and “help”.

Or check out everything.  Lambie, this is a bucket of ropes.  Not food.

‘Ster decided to be a cone in the corner.  Something for Flossie to ride around.

‘Bert walked alongside.

Lambie offered kisses.

The Boyzens were on top form or getting in the way, depending on your perspective.

‘Ster is still very keen on being with people.  He is obsessed about never being on his own and shouts loudly if he loses the others.  As a lamb, he was kept by himself and he will never forget.

‘Bert is very much one of the boys now. He remembers everything he did when he lived with us.  He is settled and happy now. His nervousness has gone and he even bounces when I call him home.  He is a very honest little chap.

Lambie is always the same.  He is a sheep with no fear, no natural panic and is curious about everything.  He loves everyone and he smiles all the time.

This is Lambie trying to get his Christmas treats from Flossie!  When he jumps up for his treats (I know he shouldn’t but he does), he can support his own weight by balancing on his back legs.  Very clever.

So while Floss was finishing up, I was taking lots of photos of my Boyzenberries.

They are such dudes.

Storm is now fully recovered from being lame.

We ran him round the school yesterday and he pranced and skipped about like a miniature Arab stallion, tail in the air.  So whatever was wrong is now better.

Now we are cured, I can move him, Tiddles and Fivla to Liradale.  I did not want him to go there limping.

They were all very happy to see each other.

It was wonderful watching them all rush around.

There is a special bond between these four little Minions. It is very important to each of them.

They miss each other when they are separated.

Even Fivla was happily charging about.

She did a happy buck!

The deal with Fivla is that if she can stay at this weight, although not ideal, for the next few months, then she can remain at Liradale.  If, however, she gets quickly fatter, then she will have to come home.

We hope that being with the Minions and the others will keep her weight under control.  There is so much space and the existing hill grass has already been grazed by sheep so hopefully the running around and being perpetually Minioned may keep her weight down.  She likes the herd environment too.  It does her good.

Meanwhile, Brá and Hetja have the good pasture and are watching the little ones. 

As long as they don’t have to be with them, Hetja can live with this.

Daisy and BeAnne went for a walk, while I stayed back and did some work with Brá.  I caught her and Hetja and brushed their manes and tails.  I will do this weekly, I think, just so that they remember.

So my little Minions are all back together.

They never forget each other.

Tiddles did his happy dance and then it started to snow.

If someone asks for help, I will always do my best.

That is how it works up here.

Some Shetland ponies needed to be moved to new grazing.

While everyone else did the walking, leading and working, I was on the camera end.

Shetland ponies know when you are photographing them!

“Strike a pose!”

We worked hard, mending electric fences, leading ponies to new fields and generally probably getting in the way (my speciality).

In Britain, we call these “Witches’ Knots”.  In Norway, they are called “Trollknut”, or I suppose Troll Knots. I find them fascinating to photograph, making the Shetland pony seem even more ancient and at home in their natural environment.

Luckily, they are easy to remove with the right amount of hair conditioner spray.

After a long day I was glad to come home to bring in the new year.

I am extremely grateful to everyone who has enjoyed and supported this blog through the good days and the bad ones. I hope 2017 brings many more adventures for me to blog about and let you follow.

May everyone have a safe and happy new year with best wishes for 2017!

(No fireworks…BeAnne hates them)

So, at home, there have been some divisions.

Iacs and Haakon were found to be terrible bullies over food.  Not good and not to be tolerated.

Yes, bullies. You heard me, Iacs.

I don’t want my foals and yearlings to live with bullies and this kind of attitude so they were swiftly removed from the situation.  Now Hjalti and Efstur live with Klængur, who is much nicer about everything.

Efstur and Hjalti have hard feed (for growing purposes only).  Klængur is tied up and he can’t get their food.

He is very understanding and, as a reward, gets their equivalent ration of silage too.  Flossie has promised to keep the weight off by exercising him frequently.

On the other side of the fence is the Shetland herd.

They do a very good job of keeping the fences clean.

There will be a reorganisation shortly due to fatness!

Newt has found his friends and his home – beside the septic tank.

Just the right height if you are 25 inches high.

Delia is always happy to keep an eye on Newt (he is often with her) and his character is slowly emerging – one of silent determination.

if you stand in his field, he will walk up to your knees and just gently press his head against you until you acknolwedlge his presence, ie nose kisseys and a hug.  He really is a darling little chap.

Although, very small, Newt is special and, I feel, will come into his own this Spring.

Tor is doing her bit – always tidying up after the little ones.  That is her job.

And, over in the distance, Tiddles has worked out there are many “private” piles of silage with his name on and, if he says nothing to no one, they will remain his own property!  Sensible chap.

So, that is how it is at the moment here at Thordale.

All is calm.  All is bright. No complaining apart from Haakon and Iacs who are now feeling picked upon!