It was a lovely crisp quiet Winter’s day.  My back was hurting and I find going for a walk can help – gets it gently moving again rather than locking up.  I would rather exercise than reach for the painkillers.

Having been to collect Lambie and Lambster home from the hill on a few occasions, I don’t trust Lambie not to pack his spotted hankie and set off (ungrateful so and so that he is).

Lambie gets very narky if he is walked with a collar and lead so I fashioned a very effective harness (Patent pending) for him by putting Hetja’s headcollar on him backwards.

It worked a treat.

Flossie led Lambie using an extendable lead and we had a very civilised walk to Watsness and back with Lambster dutifully following, because he is a good boy.

How we struggled looking at this view!

The way home.

And this, I think, is Lambster’s small-bounce-of-happiness!  He is getting much tamer now and we spent time this morning talking and stroking him.  Such a darling boy.  He does long runs of lambie-bounces with all four legs on the way home  Boing, boing, boing.

What a wonderful walk it was.  BeAnne is somewhere – don’t worry she didn’t disown us. (Loki did not go with us because he had gone on a long walk with OH).

That Lambie harness was very effective.  The way forward for Lambie, I think.

🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷 🌺 🌷

Shetland pony belt buckle by Boysenberries

Shetland pony football soccer ball by Boysenberries

Shetland pony table card holder by Boysenberries

Today, I have been relaxing and pottering around the croft.

Lambert is officially a hill sheep now.  He almost came back to the house this afternoon and, when I went out to bring him home, he said no thank you and walked off with his friends.

Lambie is on top form.  He is over his sulk and enjoys eating (and wearing) the Rosa Rugosa (Shetland Wild Rose).

Lambie’s horns grow inward and a crofter friend told me that they will grow into his head unless I trim them.  I did not know this and I was nervous but I managed to cut the ends off with the dogs’ nail clippers.  Lambie was very good and stood still.

Lambster is Lambie’s devoted follower (as Daisy says, he is doomed then!) –  a darling boy who has come out of his shell, relaxed and well behaved, with lovely manners.  Such a pleasure to have around.

Though not hugely tame with folk he doesn’t know, he will talk to me.  He likes BeAnne very much.  I think he must’ve grown because he is much bigger than her now.

I left the horses to do their own thing as they were far away and not watching out for me.

Iacs and Haakon especially need a day off after yesterday.   Being nice is always tiring.  They must be exhausted!

Les Grandes Dames are allowed to wander around the place.  Vitamin wants to be with the others so she can boss the little ones around.  I might let them through sometimes.

Delia is very stiff but has started supplements for that.  She potters about.  I think she looks good and she always demands and enjoys her food.

I don’t think this is a bottom that is too thin.  Just right.

💎💎💎👜💼👜👛👜💼👜👛👜💼👛👜💼👛👜💼💎💎💎

Tiddles Car Air Freshener by Boysenberries

Tiddles Napkin Standard Cocktail Napkin by Boysenberries

Tiddles Envelope by Boysenberries

Having fed everyone very quickly this morning, we packed up the horsevan with Iacs and Haakon.  (I love my van, I do).

We were going on a 2 1/4 mile Christmas ride at Levenwick.  It was a fancy dress but, as we didn’t know we were going until last night, there was no time to dress ourselves or the horses up.

Once the van was packed with tack, extra carrots, etc, we loaded up the horses.  It was at this precise point, I remembered that Haakon does not load and that all our plans would probably come to nothing.

Surprisingly, after an initial sniff and a rear, he went straight in (a first).  Iacs, of course, didn’t give it any thought at all and would have probably shut the door behind him.

So, off we drove down to Levenwick (about an hour away) and the weather was looking good.

We unloaded, tacked up and led them to the getting-on place.

We had opted for the shorter of the two rides and set off to meet the longer ride coming home.

My main priority was to look after Flossie at all times and to keep her out of trouble.  She did brilliantly and Iacs looked after her like the gentleman he is.

The rest of the ride were spectacularly dressed up, and yes, that is a Christmas tree on a horse!

As the timings of each ride got a bit muddled, everyone voted to fill in time by going to the beach for a blast.  I did not think either the horses nor Flossie (or I) were up for that so we rode back up to the horsevan, packed up and went home.  We will save the beach for another time when Floss is more experienced and the horses are fitter.

Well done Floss – her first horse riding adventure.

I am exhausted now!  Painkillers. I need painkillers.

🏇🎄 🏇🎄🏇🎄 🏇🎄🏇🎄 🏇🎄🏇🎄 🏇🎄🏇🎄 🏇🎄

Shetland pony stallion dancing bib by Boysenberries

Dancing Shetland pony stallion tray Serving Trays by Boysenberries

Dancing Shetland pony stallion Lunchbox by Boysenberries

Everyone has been moved around again…… and this, I hope, is the last ruddy time.

Lambie and Lambster live in a small back garden.

Lambie spends his day shouting at me about how much he hates it and how cruel I am to make him live there where there is only lovely long grass.   Call the RSPCA now.

This is to prevent them pissing off into the hill.  Twice I have had to walk miles to bring them home.

How they both suffer.

Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon, I found Taktur and all the geldings had managed to get into the adjacent field to the girls and were running up and down screaming while the girls waved their bottoms.

I dragged him and Kappi over to Clothie where they can stay for the rest of their lives.  My fury with Taktur is the fact that he nearly ripped up all the fencing when he put his foot through (how he still has shoes on is a mystery) plus he ripped up the whole front out of his lovely rug.

Taktur now hangs about the gate waiting for glimpses of girls.

Kappi is happy in a supportive role.

The girls and the rest of the geldings live together.

Little Hjalti is very happy and plans to hang onto Nuncle Niacs’ every word of wisdom.  He may have a long wait then.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Les Grandes Dames are living around the house during the day, with access to shelter if they want.

At night, they stay indoors and I take off the rug.

Delia is a bit stiff so I have started her on turmeric, black pepper and coconut oil to see if that helps.

We have a couple of days of good weather ahead so that will be blissful.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Waterlily LED Candle Flameless Candle by Boysenberries

Waterlily Jelly Belly™ Candy Tin by Boysenberries

Waterlily Cheque Book Cover Checkbook Cover by Boysenberries

AND JUST BECAUSE I CAN (& SOMEONE ACTUALLY ASKED – WU PANTS!)

Wu Pants Hot Shorts by Boysenberries

I have some friends who have always helped when I needed it most – ie when The Minions went through their first winter, they came rushing round with rugs.

So, when they asked if I could help by transporting one of their ponies to the boat (Lerwick), I didn’t hesitate.

And, with that, my new horse-van was christened.

I will admit I did stop once just to take a photo of the sky which was extraordinary beautiful this morning.

The pony to be transported was a lovely Shetland pony gelding called Casper who was going to his new home south.

We drove to Lerwick and Casper christened the van!  He travelled very well and the van was easy to drive.

Casper loaded and unloaded without a second thought.

I took a photo while his mum was brushing him.

It is always sad (for me) to send a pony south and Casper’s owner said her goodbyes and told him to always be a good boy.

The freight staff walked Casper through their office, because I suppose that was the most direct route and Casper dutifully followed (what a darling pony).

This is the freight “cassette” or container that he will travel on and I could see there was a full haynet waiting.  There is also a water trough in each section.

So that is my Horse Van officially christined and in use.  I love it and can thoroughly recommend Burley Horseboxes who found me the van and converted it to the most useful horsevan ever.

Mine is converted to take 2 Icelandic horses plus, instead of a groom space, there is a section at the back for a Minion.  It seats three and also has a tow-bar fitted so I can also tow a trailer too.

Look our world, here we come!

❤️ 🍏 ❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️ 🍏❤️

Icelandic Horse Foal Tissue Paper 10″ X 15″ Tissue Paper by Boysenberries

Icelandic Horse Foal Wristlet bag by Boysenberries

Icelandic Horse Foal Kitchen Towel by Boysenberries