Things to do today on the Urgent List.

I had to drop off some rugs and collect some dog food today – a 121 mile round trip!  I only found this out when I worked it out afterwards.

It was a curate’s egg of a day.  Daisy was riding inside so I took a good audiobook (Ancient Roman crime) and off I drove.

First stop was Shetland Equestrian Centre in Stromfirth (21 miles away).

I wandered about and met some of the stabled ponies.

Admired the ‘tache!

The youngsters.

The Oldster (what a forelock – beautiful girl).

Rugs dropped off and I discovered the essential one was still sitting in my stable – damn.

Next, off to Burra – 16 miles down the road – to collect some dog food.  The Nutriment treats are the best and everyone canine/feline are addicted to the fishy treats.

This is where Esja lives – Houlls Horses and Hounds, at Bridge End in Burra (another two islands away.  Luckily they are connected by bridges so no big deal really.  Just sounds good!)

Esja is looking very good  and is much loved in her home – nice, too, to have a nose kissey and a catch up.

It is always interesting to see the coastline from a different angle.  The far coast is the westside, I think.  I live on the other side of the far hills in the distance.

I saw a Heron (Hegri in Shetland dialect) standing staring out to sea.

I am fascinated by them.

They are very hypnotic.  I love it when they fly.

And so I wended my way home (another 35 miles as I went via Sandness to check on the ponies there),

Sandness to home – 7 miles.

Home, collect rug and back to Shetland Equestrian Centre – 21 miles
and back home again – 21 miles.

I saw some beautiful scenery en route so it was all worth it.

Little Efstur is wonderful.

He is learning the best expressions. This is his “serious but give me carrots” face!

He and Hjalti are the best of friends.  They are very good for each other.

Hjalti is incredibly patient with Efstur but enjoys the friendship.   He is having the best of winters – being with his mum and having a friend his own size.  Last year it was only Minions.  Fine, if small.

Brá is very happy to relinquish control…..

though Efstur is still nursing.

Hopefully, Brá and Hetja are both pregnant by Taktur.  This isn’t confirmed but time will tell – either foals will appear or not.

Efstur will be weaned in March or sooner.  We will see how Brá keeps the weight on this winter and how she looks.  She doesn’t seem to mind having her little boy around for a quick drink.

Anyway, he soon goes off to play with his best buddy.

Even when he is playing, Efstur is stunning.

I don’t think I am biased.

Like all little boys, Hjalti and Efstur travel as one.

It is lovely watching them grow up this winter in the field that surrounds the garden and house.

I watch them playing endlessly together from my front door.

We check the herd in Sandness every day.  They are a seven miles down the road.  It is a nice drive and one I have done often – my daughters went to primary school in Sandness and I used to drive them to and from school.  I bought us an old Land Rover Defender for the job.  Any weathers and we were all safe.

Anywho, en route we spied three hill ponies.

I haven’t seen them recently and I think they have just been put out for the winter.

The wind was blowing through their manes and tails and the Autumn light made them look very special.

These are not unloved wild ponies.

They all belong to someone who has rights to put Shetland ponies on the scattald (common grazing or open hill).

It is a long-standing law – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crofting

This is their scattald – they can roam for miles but they don’t actually.

They tend to stay around an area of a couple of square miles.

They share the hill with sheep.  The sheep have to be the Shetland breed and they have similar behaviour – they have their own routes and areas that they stick to.

I did try and talk to the scattald ponies, but they didn’t know me and ran away.

And as I drove home,  the last of the sun (I use the term loosely) was going behind Foula.

Shetland is a beautiful place and today I feel particularly blessed that I live here.

Some little horses do not want to believe me about the newly-erected electric fence.

And all I can say is more fool them!

Yesterday, when we were in town, I bought a new 9v dry battery to replace the one in the energiser.  I was not sure whether last year’s battery was still doing quite the job it should be.  Between us, Daisy and I managed to put the new one in and attach it accordingly.  Hardly rocket science but we struggled to open the energiser.  Luckily OH had sent us off with Daisy’s little toolbox that he had packed for her when she was at university.  The screwdriver did it.  We forced it open, removed the old battery, and replaced it with a new extra-zappy one!

No one was impressed.

Daisy spent some time afterwards telling them not to touch the fence ever again, let alone jump over it (Waffle).

And I sent them off with a flea in their collective pony ears and told them to stop loitering with intent.  I know what they are thinking.  Yes, I do!

Suddenly Waffle decided he was going to annoy someone and he chose Vitamin.

Vitamin is not known for her huge sense of humour.

So she reversed into him instead!

That’s my girl.  Large and in charge!

A day in Lerwick after the flute lesson, but I managed to get out and take some photos after the morning chores before we left.

Tomorrow is promising some “delightful” weather.

In Floss’ absence, I am riding Klængur.  It is fun and we go out and about at least twice a week.  He works very hard and his powerful tölt is wonderful fun.

The little ones tend to stick together.  It makes my heart warm to see Albie just being “one of the guys”.

It was meant to be.

We have kept Albie in his rug as he needs the extra layer at the moment.

Despite what Storm says, he is not getting his rug.

Tiddles has made, I think, a complete recovery from his ordeal. I still shudder when I think about it and can’t get the image of seeing only his nostrils, eyes and little ears sticking out of the water.

This morning we found Delia without her rug on.  It was trashed in another part of the field and I think irrepairable, though we will know more when it has dried properly.  Meanwhile, she has her thicker rug on and I hope she can manage to keep it in place this time. She seemed a bit wary of us when we approached with the rug so probably had a “gluff” (scare) when she lost the other one.  The leg strap clips were broken so it must’ve blown over her head which is horrid for a horse.

Haakon and Iacs are looking fabularse with the emphasis on the word arse!  Not bad for old men.  They are ridden two or three times a week.

We just really need to get Fivla slimmer.  Work-in-progress, I think.  Possibly forever.