Everyone, allow me to introduce you to……

Waffle Silver Storm Lambie – or SilWaffStormie or WaffSilStorbie or whoever YOU want him to be.  The original Minions.

Beautifully made by hand (yes, she spun the wool, knitted, created) and generously donated by my amazing talented friend, Karen, out of the original and highly treasured foal fur of Silver (main body), Storm (front hooves), Waffle (back hooves) and Lambie (mane, forelock and tail).

What more could you want?

Measuring in at 8″ x 5″, this wonderful little Shetland pony is Mark III from the original series who are currently living with me.

This gorgeous pony, so generously donated by Karen, is up for sale to raise funds for The Minions’ ongoing costs.

Like The Minions, there is no other pony quite like this one.  A perfect original.  Please note, THIS IS NOT A TOY as there is a wire frame inside.

So, to bid, just leave a comment with your top price and the highest bidder will get him – definitely a him.  The comments will not be made public.  This is the “sealed bid” method and the closing date is in one week’s time – Friday, 5th August.

My photos do not begin to do this little chap justice.  He is a sweetheart.

PS.  He says he loves travel, so happy to send him anywhere in the world!

Just in case you are missing Lambie and ‘Ster, then here they are.

Happy boys who go into the scattald during the day and, mostly, come home at night.

Well, Lambie always does.  Last night ‘Ster stayed out but was waiting by the gate this morning for his breakfast.  That is their routine and it seems to work.  Lambie comes home early if it is raining.  He is not a huge fan of rain – wool always shrinks in the wash.

Hjalti is now Efstur’s best friend, despite their mothers trying to stop any fun.

When they see Hetja and Brá with their heads in the grass, Efstur and Hjalti sneak away together to play.  It is lovely to see and, of course, when I wanted to photograph it, they refused to cooperate.

Hjalti plays nicely – remembering he was trained by The Minions.

Efstur also worships the very ground Hjalti walks on, that always helps.

Like every horse at Thordale, Efstur is learning and practising his silly faces for the camera!

It seems to be theme with all my animals.

I rest my case Milord!

After removing Taktur from his ladies yesterday and putting him back with the boys, it was time to get back to work. He wasn’t too happy to leave the marital home, but work is work and he will just have to deal with it (the wives do not miss him).

After having new shoes put on, it was time to test them out with a quick ride.

It may have been a while, but Taktur took it all in his stride and was stunning as usual.

He needs a lot of work to bring him back into fitness but this is a very good starting point.

Daisy and Taktur need to establish a relationship and this is extremely important if they want to succeed as a pair in future competitions.

Luckily, he remembers all gaits and work will be a welcome distraction from fawning over non-responsive mares (whether they are real or in his head is another kettle of fish).

So, it will be back to the daily grind of building up muscles, but at least there is a bucket of food at the end so life is not all bad.

Taktur, I’m afraid the only lady in your life now will be your rider.

Bad luck!

Today is the day.

Everyone was excited (except Lambie, who was nervous and came to stand by me).

Taktur was taken from his ladies, much to his horror, and went to join his gelding friends.

Note, BeAnne’s help.  Norty little shite-stirrer.

Anywho, they all cantered down the hill, pleased to see their friend.

Even the geriatrics, Iacs and Haakon managed to feign interest.  Since then, there has been squealing.  Taktur goes back and forth while he decides if he likes living with the geldings (sorry, no choice matey).

Next up, Daisy and I went over to Sandness to take Hjalti (plus Waffle and Silver) home.

Hetja shouted when she saw her son, Hjalti but, once we put him in the field, she was torn between keeping Efstur safe, while Efstur was determined to meet/play/munch on Hjalti.

All Efstur’s dreams had come true but Tante Hetja and Ma-Brá were strict. Hjalti was ostracised.

Edit (2 hours on):  Efstur and Hjalti are now the best of friends and playing wild games – perfect.

Last up, were Waffle and Silver who went into Camus/Tor and Brisk’s field.

Despite Tor’s pleas, Camus took absolutely no notice of his mother and quickly introduced himself to the newbies.  First, Waffle.

Then it was Silver’s turn.

Brisk was less confident and hid behind Tor.

But, all will be well.

I am sure!  This is what the little boys need.  Silver and Waffle will be kind and not despotic (unlike the Storm/Tids combo).

It may take a while for Tor and Brisk – strange to see her care about him but deep-down she feels he is her responsibility.  She is just not sure why.

Edit (2 hours on):  They are all miles away (dots on the horizon) eating together.  Perfect.

Dammit.

The Cough is back.

I thought we had vanquished it.

There were even a few weeks when they were al cough-free.

But no, yesterday cough, cough, cough from poor little Silver.  He was hacking away.

Luckily I still have the antibiotics from the last round, so he is now being injected daily.

And also luckily, Silver is being very nice about it.

I am also jagging Waffle, even though he hasn’t coughed just in case he starts.  He is the only one who has not shown any symptoms.

My theory is that everyone else except Delia has had this cough and it makes itself known after “bad” weather.

I am hoping Delia, because of her age or something, is immune and, obviously, I will treat her if she shows any symptoms.

Waffle and Silver were the last into the herd so it was inevitable they would catch it.

Just because it had been a long time since I heard a cough, I stupidly thought they had got away with it.

I had been lulled into a false sense of security.

The only one who hasn’t actually coughed, (apart from Delia) is Tiddles, but when he was at Thordale keeping Storm company, I jagged him for a few days just in case he had it too.  He is fine.

Anyway, coughing is the only symptom.

It doesn’t seem to stop anyone from playing.

So I am not going to worry too much.

This week it is all change, so I want to clear The Cough up before I split them up to go to different herds.

I am sad to split them up as they are a happy/argumentative bunch but others need their company now.  The Minions always have jobs to go to.