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.

The girls (Daisy and Flossie) and I (Mum) went to see our little herd at Sandness.  We took the dogs with us as they were going for a walk afterwards on the beach.

We took with us a bag of fusty carrots that needed eating.  Who better?

While the girls handed out the carrots, very fairly too, I went around taking photos of the special little moments that occurred when no one was noticing.

It’s my job. It’s what I do.

We all love being with The Minions.  No one needs asking twice to go and see them.

And it is totally reciprocated too.

Lyra has changed this year.  She appreciates her friends, human and equine, but most of all she has grown up and stopped relying on her Mum (Vitamin) by being quite so precious.

The Minions are never precious.  They are everyone’s best friend.

Shetland ponies are always inventive.  If they can’t reach, then they find a way to.  Little Tiddles’ determination to play with Hjalti is admirable.  He stands on a slight hill to acquire those necessary inches for the perfect bite!

Here at Thordale Stud, we always try to colour coordinate – apparently, according to Flossie, they were obsessed with her new coat.  She was severely “twanged”. Pahahaha!

Daisy had a special quiet time with little Storm.  He loves these precious moments where he can have a human to himself.

Sometimes his Bestie is rather hard work!

Obviously, we all completely understand!

BeAnne was too tired to have a riding lesson – she had been working hard keeping intruders (real or otherwise) at bay.  Instead, Flossie and Klængur went into the indoor school for a riding lesson from Bjørn Roar Larsen.

Flossie and Klængur haven’t had a lesson for quite a few months, so there were a few creases that needed to be ironed out.

And relationships to re-establish.  Klængur has not been a very co-operative horse with Flossie recently.

As an already expert rider, BeAnne watched, taking it all in…..

… while Floss and Klængur developed a more workmanlike attitude (and a less passenger-like one).

It was good to watch this pair together.

I use my miserable spine as an excuse not to ride Klængur, but Flossie really gets far more out of this ginger Ninja than I ever did.

BeAnne, of course, watched attentively.

There was even trot!

Then the whole thing again, on the other rein (when I ride on the other rein, I have to re-learn  – I would make a great goldfish).

So, lots of work, some legs are aching (Flossie) and Klængur was reminded about partnerships.  No more passengers.

There is a wonderful Shetland dialect word  Spaegie (pronounced Spay-gee)