Hetja, Brá and Efstur are having a lovely time living with Taktur.

However, this may not be reciprocated.  Taktur is bored as no one actually wants him.

Efstur spends his life asking for attention from any passing human

According to Efstur, peoples are edible or kissable.  He is not sure which.

Meanwhile, Brá calmly looks on.  She is always grateful if anyone will look after (or take away) her son.

I can’t blame Brá as Efstur can be a bit of a handful and there are no other little ones for him to play with.  Once Taktur leaves the field, however, all this may change.

Taktur is a half-glass-full kind of guy,  Always hopeful someone wants him.

He prances about looking beautiful and optimistic only to find the mares are very bored of him.

But even when Taktur wanders off, feeling downcast and unloved, the herd still follows him.

This is because Brá knows that Efstur worships every blade of grass that Taktur walks on.

Brá realises that if Efstur follows Taktur everywhere, he will have the best role model any foal could possibly want.  This is the only way to learn perfection in manners and attitude – to watch Taktur at work.

If you want to be like anyone, you want to be like Taktur.

So Efstur is happily practising.

Brá and Tante Hetja duly spend their days diligently watching (ahem, not).

Some horses just can’t help being ridiculously good-looking.

Taktur is one of those – a horse everyone should look up to.

Even I would marry him!

Ok, perhaps not quite all together – BeAnne was absent as she can’t keep up anymore.

But Loki came along and ran alongside our horses while we went out for a lovely ride in the Shetland summer sunshine.

Daisy rode Iacs, Flossie = Klængur.  I rode Haakon.

This is my idea of heaven – all of us riding.

Loki was very happy to come with us.

Everyone is in control of their own horses, allegedly.

There is a good canter track and all the horses vere off and go as fast as they want to the top.

The view at the top is stupendous.

Then down the hill, along the road and into the scattald (open hill).

We can only do this when the ground is dry enough.

The hill is special and the horses enjoy walking/trotting/tölting/cantering to the top.

Folk cut their peats.

Another view with Foula on the horizon and the peat banks.

Unfortunately, all the horses had a hissy fit at the Land Rover and trailer. Since they have lived with a Land Rover for most of their lives, apparently today was different and they refused to go past.  We had to dismount, lead the horses past one at a time, and then remount.

Loki, of course, was perfectly behaved. Sheep are completely Out of Bounds and this is accepted without question or argument.

We rode down the hill, rejoined the road where we met some tourons trying to kill us (the usual – not appearing to see three horses and hi-viz as, obviously, we were invisible).  If you are reading this blog and you were driving a white car on the way to Dale with two children in the back (one with headphones/gameboy combo), I hope you are ashamed.  You could’ve very nearly caused a nasty accident.  Next time I will photograph, name and shame.  I am bored of crap ignorant drivers.

Having have our nerves severely frayed, we rode home in a relaxed fashion.

My best view, ever.

I love these rides (apart from the near-death experiences) and I treasure them too. It only took nearly 15 years to achieve my dreams coming true.

We have been having a few problems.

Camus, the foal, was found outside the perimeter fence.  We don’t know how but I am pretty certain he went under the gate where it fastens.

So, I knitted a fence out of rope!  Get out of that now, Camus!

Whilst having a 5 acre field to themselves, it is very obvious that mother, Tor, is in season.  She spends much of her time shouting and tarting at Taktur, who is across the hill with his girls.

If she goes on like this, I will put her to Finnigert (1/2 a mile away) for a week while her hormones calm down.

Taktur spends much of his day dreaming.

He is dreaming of a new girlfriend who thinks he is gorgeous, no matter how miniature they may be.  His Icelandic horse mare harem are bored of him now and Taktur is lonely and bored.

We will see how it goes before we move everyone.  Taktur must get used to the waft of hormones and he must learn that sometimes one puts up and shuts up.

Meanwhile, there remains the mystery.  Who drinks the mare replacement milk that we put out every day?

Every day the bowl is licked clean but we never actually see anyone drink it.  Camus, the little bay foal, has his real mother to nurse from while Brisk has no one.  He doesn’t bother asking Tor (the mare) as she will only say no.  He has given up with that method.

Being none the wiser, this morning I set up the Go-Pro camera, Flossie put out the mare replacement milk and we walked away, letting the camera film the results.

The result?  Both the foals are drinking the milk but Brisk has the majority.  That is good to know.

I love the way the Minions* still love to play.  It makes my heart warm.

*The Minions were rescued in January, 2014 from near starvation in winter.

And now they are fine, still all together and doing well.

Waffle and Storm are cheeky and funny.

All the Minions are my darling little boys.

I never want them to stop playing or to grow up and be responsible adults – so boring.

Meanwhile, on the “beautiful girl” front, Flossie was talking to Silver.

Then Hjalti moved in for attention.

This is a safe field to sit in.  No one kicks, bites or argues.  We sit and talk to those that come up for chat.  So that would be everyone, then.

Sometimes Tiddles just needs some quiet time with someone who understands.

Flossie always listens.

I am the luckiest mother on earth.  I have two wonderful daughters who totally get and understand the love of our horses.

This is not something you acquire, it is something you are born with.  Empathy for animals.

Then again, there is being mauled and still smiling!

I am so pleased Daisy and Flossie understand and want to be part of this world.

Daisy came off the boat this morning, having finished her job at Kise Islandshestgård in Norway. She was employed for ten months doing stable work and training young horses.

So, after breakfast, we went straight out for a ride and then I introduced Daisy to the newbies.

First up was Efstur.  He was very happy to be introduced to Daisy.

Next was Taktur’s turn.  He was thrilled to sniff his owner.

(he has always adored Daisy).

Then this year’s “bebbies” wanted to make Daisy’s acquaintance – Camus and Brisk.

Brisk instantly made a friend.

Kappi was very happy with our new arrival although, Daisy rode Iacs this morning, as she had missed her silly-frilly.  This pair of old friends went out together with ears pricked (Iacs) and a silly grin (both).  Tomorrow I am sure Daisy will ride Kappi.

After lunch, it was off to Sandness to see The Minions et al.

Lyra calmed down instantly and her world was was at peace.  She struggles when Daisy is not there and though she puts up with me and Flossie, she constantly reminds us that WE ARE NOT DAISY!

Then it was time for the invasion of the little ones.

Waffle sneaked up when no one was looking.  I am sure Silver got a look in too but I didn’t photo it.

So that is me, all happy because I have my daughters home for the summer.  At Thordale, life doesn’t get better than everyone together and we are looking forwards to much riding, laughing and appalling jokes.

Happy Summer days ahead.