My turn to pop over to Leradale today to check on everyone there.  I took the dogs with me.

As instructed, the preggie ladies had an apple each.

They expect it.  Thems are The Rules (apparently).

I had also brought a pocket full of carrots for the smaller ones.

I duly dished them out as equally as possible.

And then on with the dog walk.

Storm decided he was coming too because I could be dropping carrots, Hansel and Gretel-like all the way round.

When Waffle and Tiddles turned up, he quickly lost interest in me.

So the dogs and I continued with a lovely walk around the field of Leradale.

They loved it – so much space.

Lots to explore.

BeAnne even went for a little paddle!

This then gives her the perfect excuse to roll in as many disgusting smells as she can find before I turn round and shout at her!

On our way back, the ponies spied me in the distance and I shouted for them to come over.

They spend far too much time mooching around in the same spot and never explore the rest of their huge field.

First Lyra, Waffle, Storm and Silver walked over.

They followed me nose to tail in the row behind me and then branched out as they remembered there was actually more to this field and it had potential.

There was a whinny and Tiddles appeared feeling left out. He had decided that staying with the old ladies (Fivla and Vitamin) was boring.

In the end Vitamin and Fivla followed because their herd had suddenly vanished!

I left them all exploring and I hope they find there is more to their 30 acre field than just standing watching two pregnant mares eat!

We will see where they have got to tomorrow.

The Orca Autopsy is featured under the heading Orca (at the top).

Today, and I am not sure why, I decided was a good day for Efstur to start to learn to lead nicely with a headcollar and rope.

I caught Hjalti in the field and Efstur followed him nicely into the school.  I tied up Hjalti and went to reintroduce Efstur to Mr Headcollar.

Bearing in mind I can count on one hand how often he has worn a headcollar, Efstur stood quietly in the big indoor school and let me put it on without any discussion or worry.

Then I took him for a short walk, teaching him how to walk listening to and watching body language and then so did Daisy, while I took photos.

The dear little boy tried very hard and enjoyed the rewards.

(that’s his “did-I-do-well” face!)

Then Efstur was tied up so he could learn that special skill.

Next up was Hjalti, who had been tied up, waiting patiently for his friend.

He had his headcollar and walking-nicely lessons last year and still remembered them.

Walking with Hjalti is very strange as he is a smaller version of his mother, Hetja, with all the same mannerisms!

Efstur was still trying to get to the grips of this standing still lark.

He eventually mastered it – he was tied up for about 5 whole minutes.

Rewards for all in the form of a bucket of grub each, which they shared, despite there being two buckets!

These two really are joined at the hip which is good because working with them will be double the fun!

We won’t do much – probably 5 minutes each a few times a week.  Nothing huge, nothing mind blowing, just general being caught and led with the odd picking up of the feet and standing nicely while tied up.

Lambie welcomes you to his home!  He loves waiting in the porch because you just never know who will turn up, preferably with biscuits – his latest new love.  Rich Tea biscuits, please.

The snow has all melted now and I am spending time working on a long blog post which I hope to put up tomorrow – the Killer Whale autopsy!  Yes, we were invited to attend and it was fascinating.

Meanwhile, you can have another day off from the potental blood and gore while I show off the last of the photos I took when it was snowing.

Within a day, the temperature jumped ten degrees celsius and we are back to the endless mud and slush.  The snow was pretty for a short while.

Lambie enjoyed the snow.  He hates mud with full-on loathing.  His can barely bring himself to walk through it.

I love the way his coat is efficiently designed for this weather.

(a little Winning Smile – he loves his Muzzah)

‘Ster and ‘Bert were contentedly sitting together.

Everyone was nodding off to sleep.  Despite the snow, it was very warm as there was no wind.

Then onto the bigger horses.

Snow in Iacs’ frilly.  Such a magnet!

The winter coats of the Icelandic horses, again, are designed entirely for this kind of weather.

It was a beautiful light to to take photos in.

Everyone was in a lovely happy mood, enjoying the snow and the sun.

Tor looked lovely in the snow the other day.

She acquired a certain je ne sais quoi and I tried to capture it in photo.

We all adore Tor.  She is the perfect step-mother to Albie and Newt.

She is gently guiding her boys, though they are nothing biologically to do with her, through their first year with great care and concern.  They need her.

I know that we would not be where we are with both Newt, but especially Albie, if it hadn’t been for Tor.

She is the perfect role model.

Every morning Albie and Newt have a bucket of hard feed, plus Albie has his diluted milk and every morning, Tor stands back from them both to eat and waits patiently.

She never pushes past the little ones to grab their bowls – just stands back and knows what is expected.

For this, she is rewarded with a secret handful of hard feed and a hug of appreciation and gratitude.

When folk say the Shetland ponies they know bite and kick, I just wonder why, how and who made that happen.

Tor would rather fly than do that.  She just doesn’t have it in her.

We all have a lot of time for Tor.

Although not ours, she is very much part of our family.

A huge thank you to this dignified lady of very small stature but huge heart.

Tor of Berry belongs to Bergli Stud and they have very kindly lent her to us.

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Disclaimer:  GORY PHOTOS FOLLOWING – IF YOU ARE OF A NERVOUS DISPOSITION, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

These are my photos.  I have copyrighted them.  They go with this blog post and are not for using (stealing) to promote the cruelty of man, whale deaths, whale killings, whale hunting or any other such wrong doing. 

If I find them on the internet unattached to this blog, I will hunt you down with a large invoice that will make your eyes water.

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Orca washed up near Walls – Shetland News

This morning, the orca was towed onto the Mainland (the largest of the islands on Shetland) and, as it was situate just down the road,  we went to have a look.

A dead orca is a spectator sport in Shetland.

Not to be missed.

I will probably never get this chance again.

Seeing the orca up close was amazing.

The whale was examined yesterday by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) and samples were taken at various points on the body.

The Orca or Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) was a 5 metre long (15′) female, thought to be ten years old.  I have just looked on Wikipedia and apparently Orcas mature at the age of 10. I was told that this whale’s ovaries, womb, etc were all hanging outside of her body. 

I think those are the nipples usually hidden in the mammary slit (I am learning here).

I could be wrong, though. Seriously, don’t ever quote me and if I am giving out the wrong information, please tell me.

She had lots of gaugings and marks, poor thing.  The sea had taken its toll.

Her skin – the black bits – felt like plastic.  Most odd.  Very well made plastic.

I was fascinated by the difference between the black and white colour.  There was such a specific delineation.

And her teeth.  Oh wow.  Not huge but certainly efficient and effective.

The line of the tail and the fins that were visible were amazing.

I think the most disappointing part was her eye.  It was a nastly little brown slit.  Funnily enough, no birds would go near.  With my cold, I have no sense of smell but apparently she was beginning to niff a bit.

Daisy, who has a Biology degree, was fascinated.

We all were.