I was asked if I could help this little bird – a baby oystercatcher, whose mother was tragically eaten by a cat.

This tiny wee thing started well – eating enthusiastically earthworms that I had dug up and chirping along happily.  He seemed strong.

But when we came home this evening, having delivered two uncooperative horses for their Simmer Dim (longest day) ride tomorrow, little Tweetums was less chirpy and a bit flop-bot.

I have been given some paste stuff by the vet to feed him and, after a little cuddle as well as this paste stuff, Little Tweetums perked again.

At the moment, LT is sitting in a cardboard box on top of a hot water bottle in a large barrel in the kitchen near the Rayburn  There is a lid on (protection from Wu) and I have popped my iPhone in playing English birdsong (thank you YouTube).

Apparently Oystercatcher youngsters are notorious for being very difficult to raise.  Death seems their only friend but Floss and I will do our best but we are not holding our breath.

On a good note, though, Tweet (the original – a carrion crow I rescued while staying with my mother) has made a friend in his wildlife sanctuary south.  His wing bones are healing very well so he may be released back into the wild soon.  I hope he has a future.

So healing vibes please for Tweet No 2.  Things are not looking too good at the moment but I will do my very best for him.

Little Brisk is part of the Tor (mare) and Camus (her foal) family.  This afternoon, we took all headcollars off as they were annoying.  I am still holding my breath but everyone is much calmer and that is progress. This little pony heap says so much.

Then there is the Ménage au Quatre with Taktur, Brá, Efstur and Hetja.  It is certainly “different”.

Suddenly, Efstur and Taktur are best friends.

It seems that Brá and Hetja don’t care one little bit.  They barely raised an eyebrow between them at this new relationship.

So we don’t interfere and let them get on with it.

If you think Taktur will probably kill Efstur (apparently this is a distinct possibility as I was told by someone who had never met Taktur), then perhaps you might like to admit that may be you are WRONG! (However, I won’t hold my breath).

If little Efstur has a crush on just one “person” in his life, then Taktur is a good example of everything tolerant, well behaved and just plain wonderful.

The stalking, sorry following, has now begun.

Efstur watches Taktur’s every move.

He is wondering what he can get away with.

And then he keeps going.

Until there is a reaction and then he will runaway…… or not!

Dearest Taktur is wonderful with Efstur.  He will teach him everything just because he genuinely likes this little chap and he hasn’t got a mean bone in his body.

Failing that, he could kill us all in our beds and then murder Efstur, as I was told by an “expert”.

Last night I worried about Brisk and his future.

On one hand, the mare (Tor) and foal (Camus) hate him nursing. It is very stressful for everyone. Based on this, I put Brisk out with Tiddles (a 2yo gelding who was weaned at 3 months and would understand rejection)  but then Brisk did not settle and Tor, the mare, started shouting for her orphan.

So back Brisk went with Tor and Camus. I leave out milk but no one is interested.  Brisk is not asking Tor for milk either now.  He is content eating grass, hard feed and hay. He also drinks water.

It is, of course, not ideal.  No foal should be weaned at 8 weeks old but then what is best?  Brisk has attached himself to this mother and son combo.  The rejection has lessened and they are a happy little unit even if he never gets any more milk from the mare, Tor.

I have tried to give Brisk bottles of milk but he only sucks a little with no enthusiasm.

He has bonded well with Camus, Tor’s foal and Tor is far less hostile.

Whatever Camus does, little Brisk follows.

And that is very good.

Floss’ summer job is to tame down both foals.

She was happy when I told her this.

Camus has learned the Thordale nose-kissey.

He is a very quick learner.

25kg sack of Foal Creep from Bailey’s Horse Feeds will arrive soon.  Even if Tor never allows Brisk to nurse from her, he will still get the right nutrients in his diet to develop and grow. However, I am glad to see that Tor will continues to let her son feed. I would hate him to suffer because of her intolerance of Brisk.

All I want is for this little family to be happy, content and showing no stress.

Brisk is a large robust skewbald miniature Shetland pony foal of 8 weeks.  His mother died yesterday and he is still drinking milk.

We thought of the options and decided firstly to try and go with Plan A.

This is Plan A – to put him with a lovely peaceable miniature Shetland mare called Bergli Tor, with her foal Camus.  Of all the mares in all the world who wouldn’t mind another foal, Tor is that mare.

If Tor will allow Brisk to feed from her, as well as her own foal, then all will be very wonderful and we breathe a sigh of relief.

To be fair, Tor was not hugely amenable but when we heavily bribed the front end with hard feed and lifted her back leg and tail, then she let Brisk drink.  Camus was not very impressed, either so Flossie kept him away.

At the moment Brisk cannot live in the same pen as Tor and Camus so he is in the next pen and can see them.

Brisk is already trying hard feed and has a bucket of water, a tray of “mare and youngstock” hard feed as well as bucket of milk.  He likes hard feed but we haven’t seen him drink the milk. It is very early days anyway.  He has so much to get used to.

Brisk is not going to be a Minion.  I am happy to care for him until he is weaned but then his owner will decide on his future.

I hope Plan A works.  Failing that, then it is Plan B -bottles and live with Tiddles and Storm in Clothie for the summer.  Not ideal but it might work.

We have a problem at Thordale.

Hetja won’t let Taktur near Brá.

Hetja makes it her business to always be in between Taktur and Brá.  I don’t think it is to protect Brá’s foal, Efstur, as Taktur is not an aggressive stallion and he gets on well with this little one.  He would never attack or kill him. He is not that kind of chap – just in case you are thinking he might.

It is strange, since Hetja, two years ago, didn’t really give Taktur the time of day let alone houseroom.  To be perfectly honest, I am surprised that Hjalti even appeared ten months’ later considering Hetja’s disdain for Taktur and his Handsome Prince advances.  These two spent most of their summer at opposite ends of the field.

This year, having served Hetja, Taktur is looking elsewhere.  His mind is occupied with another mushroomy smell and waving bottom.

Brá who, already with foal at foot, is very keen to make Taktur’s acquaintance.

She has lots of come-hither looks for Taktur.

For a few days now, I have been watching the whole situation very carefully  If Hetja has her way, I will end up with only one foal next year.

So, armed with a headcollar, I have been removing Hetja from the bedroom.

Today, as Flossie had just come home, she was given the job of babysitter……

…..  while Taktur and Brá got it together, without Hetja’s perpetual nterference.  Three times today!

So, fingers crossed, we have two foals next year.  That is the breeding plan.