It had to be done.

Hjalti is wonderful, but he is not stallion material (I love that phrase and have to wonder exactly what stallions are made of – silk, linen, real cotton, spun gold, what?) and he does not need the testosterone.

And Hjalti does not need to try and have sex with everyone – he is firing blanks at the moment and is going through the “motions”.

He is still with his Mum and she is not impressed at his sexual antics.  She sniffs with disapproval.

So Hjalti’s bits came off.  They had to.

And I am glad they did (and the rest of the herd breathes a sigh of relief).

Little Himself  is far more useful as a gelding than a stallion.

He may feel a bit grotty for a while.

But he will thank us for it later.

And he has still got his Mum – that is the next hurdle – weaning.

The indoor school is having work done on it so, as it was a lovely sunny day, Floss had her riding lesson outside on the track.

She was learning to ask Klængur to work in an outline and to listen to her.

Listening and learning are very closely related and not something Klængur is particularly keen on.

But Floss asked and Klængur listened – they both worked very nicely together.

Klængur’s mouth – saliva – is a good sign that he is doing his very best.

After mastering the art of the outline request, they moved on to something more fun – tölt!

Klængur loves to tölt!  It is his best gait.

He always feels very safe too, like he enjoys motoring along.

(Bjorn and I commented, at almost at the same time, that Klaengur works much better with Flossie than he ever did with me.  They have a strong relationship and it is lovely to watch – very “in harmony”)

Guess who is being castrated tomorrow?

Yup, sad but a necessity.

I am trying out my GoPro camera as a stills camera rather than the video camera most folk use it for.  I wanted to the see the quality of the photos (not bad) – it has a wide-angle lens which I am not used to.

Obviously, I chose my subjects wisely.

So, this afternoon Floss and I went out for a ride, taking the dogs on a walk as well.

(the phone pole doesn’t actually bend in real life but it does look very odd)

The Go-Pro gives Haakon a neck like a thoroughbred (not a bad thing!)

BeAnne is much slower these days.  She is 10 years old now and seems less keen on coming out with us.  I had to go back for her a few times. I think she was hoping I would let her ride too.  When she gets too old to come out, I will put her on Waffle and she can ride him. He would love to go for treks (my dream).

We didn’t go far.

Anyway, I am pleased with the results. The Go Pro was much more useable hung round my neck on a piece of string than stuck on my helmet filming my every move and/or squawk.  I am also terrified I will drop my iPod/iPhone.

We got home in one piece (which is always my definition of a good ride) and met Lambie and Ster.  I have a man with a digger in to dig up and level the sand surface of the school as it is mountains-and-valleys in places.

Note my extensive rug collection acquired over this winter.  One for every degree increase or decrease in temperature.  I have become obssessed, like I knew I would.

From Farmers Weekly – 116 sheep killed in ‘worst attack in living memory’

What can I say?  It is unbelievably awful and I cannot get my head around this kind of mass murder done allegedly by dogs.

So, if anyone wants to let their dogs get to know sheep on a social basis rather than as a luncheon engagement, then Lambie and Ster are always there to help.  Seriously, I mean it.  Give me a shout.

This almost-brand-new little Border Terrierist puppy spent her afternoon sniffing and chatting to Ster.  She learned (hopefully) that there is no hidden mystery about sheep and they are nicer closer up than running away terrified.

She even licked Ster between his horns and for a second he was very bemused but happy to cooperate.

To Lambie and Ster, it is inconceivable that anyone would want to chase them.  They are naturally inquisitive and confident that everyone is nice until proven otherwise.

Obviously, there are always grown-ups on hand to move in if the sheep/dog meet and greet is going wrong but this afternoon, nothing did and all four got on famously.

So when I read Farmers Weekly and see such an appalling headline, I can only be very sad at such a tragedy and wish everyone had a Lambie or a Ster to show them that this is a very bad sport.

Lambie and Ster are family.

They love people (as does BeAnne!).

Lambie is a sheep-lap-dog really.

To chase him would be the lowest of the low and he would be very upset, if not disappointed.

Lambie does not run away, he runs towards mostly shouting “Muzzah”.

Please don’t let your dogs chase sheep.  They really don’t like it and it is very unnecessary and/or horrible for the sheep.

Today, everyone went Walk About.

I hate Icelandic horses and Shetland ponies.  I really hate them.

All except Vitamin….

And Delia.  This pair are fine and they are not going.

Also Waffle and Storm, who took up residence in the New Goat Shed, refusing to come out until all the fracas was over.  These two are angels and paragons of virtue.

Also Brá -that goes without saying. She is not easily led into mischief and keeps herself to herself.  There are many who could follow her example.

But I hate everyone else.  They are vile, for sale and should all have Houdini as their prefix.

So let me introduce you to Houdini Hjalti, Houdini Esja and Houdini Haakon who let themselves out and took themselves off into the hill.  While Flossie and I were trying to keep them away from Taktur (stallion) who was desperate to get to them, the remainder took advantage of the situation and buggered off too (even Tiddles – I know – Tiddles.  How could he?)

I managed to catch Taktur (after her had plunged and bounded around his field a few times in over-excitement) and led him to the stable, turned on the radio very loud, threw him some hay and shut the door.

I then jumped into the car and met the herd coming towards me with Flossie and my neighbour looking as though they were in control of the whole situation.

I chased the horses/ponies home in the car, beeping loudly so they would just run home without having any independent thought, ie go into the hill (yes, that has happened before).

So this is it.  I am giving up horses and ponies. I hate them all.

Any riding will now involve sheep. I think it is the way forward.