This is the Thordale Maternity Unit.

Two Minions and Little Himself, Mrs Himself and Haakon (who was being tacked up when I was taking the photos).

Ok, so I realise Little Himself is not really weaned but so what.  Hetja looks fab and everyone is fine.

Hjalti  doesn’t mind if mum is around.  He is very happy and settled playing with the two Minions left behind from going to The Fat Field and they adore him as well.  Hours of fun and entertainment had by all.  Storm and Tiddles are well up for the job and ok, they may have no mane but their show career is not looming so I refuse to be worried.  They give as good as they get and never stop laughing.

Hetja is purely ornamental and really there for Brá if she needs a sensible mother around. Hetja will be perfect in this role and is one of the best mothers I have worked with.

So this is the maternity unit and I hope I have made the right choices.  We will see.  One hint of nastiness and that horse is out.

The proof really is that Brá is very settled and relaxed.  She comes up for her bucket feed (Mare and Youngstock),, spends time if she wants around the house eating the new grass and then potters back to be with the others, at her request.

Meanwhile, I am crossing everything I have, filling up my Karma allowance and praying to every God I know of for a successful foaling.

Foaling vibes please, foaling vibes.

I went up to Fat Camp II, ie Sandness hill apportionment to see how the fatties were getting on as it was Day 1 of their diet.

They seemed very pleased to see me and I gave them their statutory one carrot each.

There is loads of space up here.

I believe this field is over 30 acres big!

There is some grass.

They just have to look for it and they will be fine.

As usual, in these types of fields, I have supplied a superb view!

There are water pools all over and a spring that runs through as well.

To be honest, no one hung around to chat.  I checked that all nose kissey buttons worked (they did, phew!).

And off they all went, sussing out the huge field.

The boys will be checked regularly and I am hopeful they will lose some weight.  If Waffle got laminitis, I would never forgive myself.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Now I just have to work out where to put Taktur and Hetja this spring.  I am thinking of putting them to Sandness where there is a lovely field called Gardens.  Taktur will love talking to the children on their way to and from school!

I am exhausted.

Today I moved 5 ponies/horses to their new homes or fields.

Esja has gone to her new home.

Klaengur, Iacs, Waffle and Silver are now in a hill park with less grass in Sandness.  When Silver and Waffle asked who would kiss them nunight, I felt awful, though slightly cheered when they galloped off into their 30 acre field to find Klaengur and Iacs.

I am exhausted.  I have run out of steam now and my back hurts.  Some loaded better than others and I have driven here there and everywhere distributing Thordale horse and ponies  into various parks.  There is an impending gale tomorrow so I have also put away any potential aerodynamic objects and/or missiles.

So, to make up for the lack of photos of my lot being relocated, here are some photos of this year’s foals from Bergli Stud. I took them yesterday.  It was love at first sight.

I made friends with these little ponies yesterday and even got to kiss noseys if I avoided eye contact, rounded my shoulders and made ho-ho-ho noises. Ooof, the deliciousness of them.

There is nothing better than being investigated by a little Shetland pony foal.

Night night xx

This morning I moved Vitamin to Fat Camp.

Six acres of this!

Vitamin will have a fat friend (not this mare but a fat gelding) who is of similar proportions.

I have the made the right decision and although she is leaving her dear friend Delia, we will have hopefully averted any potential laminitis attacks.

Vitamin may not be very impressed with my decision but she will thank me for it later when she doesn’t get laminitis and has a svelte new figure instead.  Just one attack of laminitis can affect the rest of their lives.

Anyway, Vitamin has a nice view to look at!

Raw Deal, on the other hoof, was very upset when Vitamin left.  She shouted continuously for her old friend and BeAnne howled to keep her company.   Together they sounded pathetic and I felt cruel, mean and awful.  I talked to Bjørn at Bergli Stud, and he offered to take Delia and her with his standard Shetland pony mares.

I took Delia over and she instantly perked up.  She told everyone what she thought of them and became head of the herd so now has 5 other mares to rule.  When they have finished the bale of silage in their field, then she and a friend will come back to mine.

Today, I took OH into hospital (GBH – best name ever! – Gilbert Bain Hospital) for his cholecystectomy – or gall bladder removal.

On my way home, I saw the most recent lambies that have been born.  Because the weather is very changeable (snow, rain, sleet, sun, whatever …..) I saw that a crofter had dressed his precious little lambies in wonderful mackintoshes.  I am sure it makes all the difference between life and death.

Today, this year’s colour is yellow.

Last year it was orange.  It is good to see that these little lambies have protection from the elements.  Hypothermia is a major killer of newborns.

So, I am on my way home from GBH (still sniggering to myself) and I saw a heron or hegri (Shetland dialect).  Wonderful birds that always look so special and dignified.

Once I got home, guess who I saw hanging around the gate?  Lambert.  My dear little ‘Bert.

I called to him but he has 100% disowned us.  Funny that he is spends time hanging around the gate to Thordale.  His choice and I would have him back in a heartbeat but he has to want to come home.

At the moment, in ‘Bert’s world, we do not exist but I am glad he is happy and has made it through the crap winter.  I think he has discovered girls (he is castrated).

From my kitchen window, Brá is eating the new grass in the sheep field.

Everyday, Brá asks to come out of the big field.  She wants to be by herself and that is fine.  She gets some “Mare and Youngstock” mix, a section of haylage and I throw the odd carrot at her as well.

I make sure we have a chat and that is good as we are building on her trust relationship with me.

Such a nice mare – any day now. (still not panicking – ok, still panicking)

OH is home – all well.  Thank the Gods.