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!

I spent most of today in Lerwick as I had an out-patient’s appointment for my “little episode”.

It has barely been light all day and I left Daisy and Flossie doing all the animal chores (house ones are not considered important here).

On my way back from Lerwick, in my vaguely clean clothes, I thought I would pop by Liradale to check on everyone there, while I could still see them.

There were the big girls but not my little Shetland pony troupe.

I thought I spied them right at the top of the hill but wasn’t really certain.  All I could see was a black blob, which could be a group of black ponies…… or not.

I went home, changed into my usual grubby clothes and wellies, and returned to Liradale complete with a good pair of binoculars and some carrots.

Upon inspection, it was blatantly obvious that the lump of black was, in fact, just that!

and my little herd was in the valley waiting for me.

Lyra, now full,  was having a little bit of a sit on a dry hillock.

Vitamin enjoyed her carrot.

Waffle went through my pockets.

Lyra grabbed and ran.  Ungrateful beast.  She is always like this in winter.

Everyone was, of course, fine.

They have food, shelter, company and water.

Those binoculars are not leaving my car from now on.

I think they will be put to good use!

That is one big field!

Well, the big ones are all fine

(this looks like a school photo, doesn’t it?!)

The little ones are all fine too.

Ok, obviously starving because they are leaving new piles of freshly opened silage that smells delicious.

We had to open the bale that Hetja wrecked when she had her moment of revenge a few days ago.

This morning we could all be found outside constructing an anti-hill sheep barrier as one sniff of this gorgeous silage and the hill sheep will be round the bales wrecking everything.

Meanwhile, a few minutes down the road…..

I went to check on everyone else.  This is much easier.  The preggie ladies are fine.

They look very settled.

It is a still a tad windy out.

But I am not worried.

The other herd was miles away.  Their field is huge and there is much to explore.

I shouted, heads up and they spied me coming rushing over.

That is the determined look of “where is my carrot?”

I love this croft.  It is wonderful for photos.  I can’t wait for the others to arrive for a bit more variety of colour.

I just have such a good feeling about Liradale or should it be Lyradale?