We have had some wonderful weather recently – very un-Shetland-like for October so I have tried to make the most of it.

I spend time sitting with my Boyzenberries.

Life is good and I am happy.

You have no idea how wonderful it is now I have my little Monkey home.  I know, I know he is just a Shetland hill sheep so means nothing to many but to me he is my little moorit boy who went a-wandering.  I just pray he doesn’t leave again.  I spend much time telling him this as well as feeding him carrots.  He loves carrots.

Anywho, today, we thought we would do something different with Fivla.

She needs a change from just wandering/trotting aimlessly round and round the indoor school or up the road and down again.  Life is dull if you are a Fivla trying to lose weight.

So today we put on her basket saddle. It is an original antique wicker basket saddle with original upholstery that I bought many years ago off Ebay.  At the time, it was pure folly.  Now it has its uses.  Huzzzah! (to that feeling of buying something just for the sake of it knowing or hoping that one day it might come in useful).

From an early age BeAnne has sat in her basket saddle.

She loves it.

Never asks to leave.

She happily watches the world go past at a very reasonable speed.

To Watsness and back again is the route – around 1.5 miles.

The scenery was nice (and tampered with in Photoshop to look very dramatic, just because I can).

But in a basket saddle on a Shetland pony, is possibly the best way to see Shetland!

At least BeAnne thinks so.

And yes, we did get some odd looks from passers by!

The time has come.

When we introduced Efstur to carrots.

He wasn’t sure and spat the first one out.

But luckily he had some advice from an old “addict”.

The carrot crunching is loud and Hjalti appeared out of nowhere to assist in the corruption and/or education.  It all depends on your perception of the evils of carrots.

And so it begins.

Once the bag of carrots was finished, then other rewards were on offer.  Lots of scratches and kisses (Note the beards.  The boys have great winter beards!)

Hjalti has taught Efstur so much.  They are the best of friends and it is lovely to see.  Just what we wanted.

Efstur is growing his long shaggy winter coat now.  He is growing all the time.

He is a very affectionate little chap and learning his manners.

This herd environment is perfect for him.

But he is also still a baby.

Brá is a very good mother. She loves her son but she wants him to have his independence. Of course, should anything happen that she disapproves of, she wades in, but mostly she leaves him to his own devices, letting him come back to her when he wants.  The perfect mother.

Little Hjalti is now becoming Big Hjalti.

Hetja is happy to have him with her and they still have a strong mother-son bond.

He is very useful too.

So, this winter we will work with Efstur and Hjalti.  We still have Headcollar Wars to win (just for the vet to put in his microchip).  I am hoping his new love of carrots may help.

When in doubt, bribe!

Tis always the answer!

Meet Bergli Gloria.

She is the best Shetland pony filly foal in Shetland 2016 and that is a seriously nice silver rose bowl that she has won.

This is her mother – Bluemull Roseblossom.

You may remember her.  This was Roseblossom in March 2015.  She was the mare we nursed through hyperlipaemia.

During her horrible illness, she aborted her foal (a strong colt) which physically probably saved her life but mentally hit her hard.  Afterwards, after careful thought and consideration, she ran with Wulfert v.d. groote woerd 528 009 05 1119553 (Waffle’s Sire).

This spring she had a beautiful filly foal.  She was thrilled.  Everything was back to normal. 

Darling little Gloria.

And if anyone says to you that Shetland ponies just can’t move like bigger horses and ponies,  well then……

…. perhaps refer them to watch Gloria in action.

This little lady floats with ears pricked and a smile on her face!

Stunning, absolutely stunning.

So effortless.

Serious wow!

I could watch her all day.

And she has the most delicious little canter too.

Roseblossom deserves to be happy after all the hell that she went through last year and she is.  She has the most beautiful, talented little girl.

The best in Shetland.

I am not surprised.  The trophy is well deserved.

On the way home, Foula was looking magical.

I never pass up an opportunity to take photos of Foula when it is looking special.

Darling little Fivla is doing brilliantly.

Every morning, while Daisy is feeding Albie his breakfast and Tor her snack, Fivla and I run around the indoor school to workout music for 20 minutes.

We have moved onto trotting poles now to get Fivla’s shoulders up, loosened and those little legs working fast.

Fivvie spent many years in the riding school and has perfected the art of using the least amount of energy for any task and if you are not watching, she just potters to a stop.

She could trot round and round the school for eternity with her feet barely lifting the ground expending very little energy.

She has had many years of practice wearing small children.

Sadly we can’t let her do this.

Exercise = calories burned = thinner (hopefully).

So, this is Fivla’s morning workout.  She only trots over the poles a few times in both directions and the rest is a walking warm-up and a walking cool down.

Fivla knows precisely when she has done her 20 minutes, down to the last second because she immediately turns in…..

….. for her reward.

She spends the rest of her day in the paddock with Tor and Albie with a 30 minute brisk walk to Watness gate and back.  She trots along while I walk fast.  At 18:00, it is back to the stable to wet hay in a small haynet.

I think she is losing weight.

Fences only seem to get in the way when you want to meet new friends.

Little Albie is very keen to meet everyone.

Fivla has become a good second step-mother.  She is slightly more of a motherly friend to Albie than Tor who sees him as her meal ticket she should look after.

Today was the day we have all been waiting for.

And so we let Silver, Storm and Tiddles into the small field containing Tor, Fivla and Albie.  Waffle joined them later. He was busy on the horizon being mysterious.

Silver was sensible – he introduced himself to Tor first and then was allowed to make friends with Albie.

Little Albie was keen to meet everyone new.

He tried to play “Nibble” with Storm who put his ears back.

With that, Tor waded in and gave him both barrels.  No one can speak to her Albie like that.

It was all very interesting to watch.  So much communication and such good behaviour.

Albie was intrigued with Tiddles.  He had met him very briefly (but probably didn’t remember) when he first arrived at Thordale.

I think this could be the beginning of a good friendship.

I hope so.

Tentative little games.

Brave introductions.

Lots of foal mouthing (as it should be).

And Silver discovered Albie’s rump makes a good chin rest!

Well that was easy.  Albie is now a fully paid up Minion.