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.

We had some visitors to Thordale this morning.

Amongst them were two serious photographers.

So, I made the most of this and put down my camera for a change.

Yes, even I didn’t take any photos today – unheard of, I know.

After a mug of proper coffee and a good raid of the biscuit tin, I took them to meet Brisk and Camus.

Floss and I enjoyed watching them interact with the foals.

Camus was the most brave and showed everyone how he has given up his foal-nibbling habit and has become a nice member of society.

Brisk was quieter and just wanted to talk to his Mum (I just love this photo).

There was some foalio showing off, too (gallopy, gallopy, skip, skip, flying buck – look at me!)

Then off to see little Himself, Efstur, now a bit bigger.

Efstur is a very sociable chap and needs no convincing that friends are food.

He quickly introduced himself, let everyone see just how gorgeous he is.

At just about every stop-off point, BeAnne was eaten up with jealousy and made a point of turning all eyes back on her.  Whatever it took.

And don’t you forget it.

Ever!

(the photographers were Jean Sinclair and Alys Jarden – thank you very much ladies for the photographic rest – much appreciated)

You may not believe this but it has been very hot and sunny recently in Shetland.  I would almost go as far as to say that we have had a lovely spring (the second sunniest June in the UK) and summer is pretty good too.

The downside, though, is that pink noseys can become very sunburned.

I took my industrial pot of Sudocrem to Sandness to do something about it.

First up was Tiddles.

Poor little Tids.  His nose had suffered badly and so I slathered on the white healing goo.

Next up was Hjalti.  Like his mother, he has a very sensitive pink nosey.

Sharing is Hjalti’s middle name!  Once a nice clean navy coat now carefully covered in Sudocrem.

(Hjalti has rather a thing for Lyra)

While I was busy, so were others.  They were destroying my coat by determinedly trying to drag it through sheep fencing.

I looked around and then remembered Storm.  In previous summers, he has suffered horribly from sunburn.

Perhaps not as bad as the others, though, this year, his nosey was still damaged.

It was interesting to see that absolutely no one put up a fuss.  They all took their slathering like men and let me put a good layer on.

“Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream has a water-repellent base which forms a protective barrier, therefore helping to stop any irritants coming into contact with the skin. In addition, the emollient effect of Sudocrem can help to soothe sore inflamed skin whilst leaving the skin feeling soft.” (Boots website)

I think the little pink noseys all felt much better, less crunchy and more soothed.

Foula was looking special on the way home too.

A lovely day spent with lovely friends – both human and equine.