I am very disappointed with myself.  I do know better and this morning, I was caught out.

As per usual, we went to feed Tor (Mum), Camus (her colt foal) and Brisk (the orphan foal).  The weather was clearing up after last night’s rain.  While there is shelter and grass in the field, Brisk was shivering.  It was horrid to see.  I should’ve thought ahead and realised that he doesn’t enough back-up energy to keep him warm.  Camus and Tor were absolutely fine.

So we brought them all in and separated Brisk.  He had a large bowl of Mulitmilk to himself as well as Foal Creep mixed with Mare and Youngstock hardfeed.

He wolfed it down and I realise now that certain others who, although they are good company, have taken advantage of the extra food and bully Brisk off his ration.  He gets whatever he can, if they let him.  This has to stop.  Tor and Camus do not need extra feed.  From now on, Brisk will be fed separately and I have moved them all into the field with the little shed for proper shelter.

Once, Brisk had finished eating, I put the only rug on that would “fit” him (I use that term loosely).  We put a foil space blanket on him under Toggle’s old rug.

In a ten minutes, Brisk was like toast and much happier.  The shaking and dithering had stopped.

I have also made a decision.  Brisk will stay at Thordale and become a Minion.  If someone offers him the perfect home, then I might consider letting him go but, for the time being and probably future, he is one of us.

The World’s Fattest Me measured him for a proper rug and I will peruse the internet for a tiny waterproof and a padded rug.

BeAnne is fully committed to helping.

So, that’s it.  Brisk will stay here now.  At the moment, he has special needs and requires constant supervision.  I could kick myself for letting him get cold in the rain.  Rookie mistake.

Meanwhile, Lambie came in this morning with blood all over his head.  He has lost his nubbin of a horn.  I cleaned him up and he is now sporting the turquoise spray again.

**** sigh **** Lambie – always speshul!

Some days, I just need to sit in a field with a little orphan foal.  Perspective is important in my life and talking to Brisk gives me so much.

I constantly check everyone but, most of all, I need to know that little Brisk is alright.  He had the deck stacked against him and we are continually hoping for a positive outcome, ie a home for life where he will be loved and appreciated.

So Floss and I spent the afternoon just talking to Brisk.

He sees no love from Tor or Camus and I think it is very important that he knows he has self-worth and value – not pounds, shilling and pence value but value of himself.

Brisk has had to learn this lesson far too early.

Sometimes life is not fair.

We have made a point of not letting Brisk rely on us for his identity.  He must not be a mummy’s boy.  It will do him no good.

So, we are pleased to see that he is learning independence while not depending on other ponies or humans.

Brisk is a darling little boy. He is so gentle and has so much to give.  Not a mean bone in his body.  He just is not that kind of guy.

This is a very rare Shetland pony.  I can count on one hand how many Shetland ponies are like him.  Fivla is one – gentle, kind and never pushes the boundaries.  Just happy to have folk around.  If I had more space, I would keep Brisk in a heartbeat.

I am currently looking after an orphan foal (Brisk – a skewbald one) whose mother died of a broken pelvis a few weeks back.

This little dude, Brisk, is still drinking milk even though his foster mum won’t let him suck.  He drinks it out of a shallow  bucket and I have been using up my replacement mare milk supplies on him.

Brisk is flourishing with his adoptive family and we are all committed to do our best with this darling miniature Shetland pony.

At the very least, Brisk deserves this.  I put a request on Shetlink for any leftover bags of Multimilk that needed finishing.  There were no replies.

The silence was deafening.

But, I am not one to give up, so I asked our local veterinary practice if they had any spare open Multimilk.  Sadly, they didn’t so they gave him a full bag instead!

I would like to extend my thanks to Shetland Vets, who very generously donated a large bag of Multimilk to Brisk.

For Brisk to be grow up and to be weaned successfully, this milk is essential for his development.

Shy bairns get nowt.  I asked because Brisk needs this milk and Shetland Vets understand the importance for his development in his future life.

So all I can say is a huge thank you to Shetland Vets.  You didn’t have to do this but you did and that means so much to all of us involved in Brisk’s care and future.

Brisk can have a future.  He may have no mum but there is the way forward for him.

He is one of the nicest Shetland ponies I have ever met.

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.