There is rarely a day in Shetland when it’s beauty does not shine through.

The skies in winter are particularly dramatic and I am always slamming on the car brakes and reaching for my camera.  This is my view of Foula from the track to our croft.

My neighbour’s car died in the village a few days’ back so I took him to do some messages.

What is your view like from the waiting room in your doctors’ surgery?  Pretty damn good?

Afterwards, I drove over to see the girls taking some carrots to shovel in.  This perfectly normal hill puddle looked magical in the setting winter sun.

The days are very short now (the longest night is in just over a month and then the days will get longer again – yay!)

Everyone had hard feed this afternoon and some rugs were removed.  Calm weather is forecast for the next few days with maybe snow on Friday.

I am trying not to rely too much on rugs for the horses. I hate rugging and but somehow I have become someone who rugs, justifying why a few ponies need it more than others.

Little Himself, aka Hjalti is doing well.  He is growing and continues to burn up his energy playing crocodiles (face fighting) with Silver and Waffle.

Hetja is much more accepting of her little herd now.  Everyone eats from everyone else’s buckets and there is no arguing.  The respect of Hetja, as herd leader, is taken as said. No more Shetland ponies testing the limits of her patience.

Not sure if I am dreading snow or looking forward to it really.

I drive over every day to see how the girls are getting on. I am sure they can hear my car approaching.

I took Delia’s rug off as I wanted to get a good idea of what was going on.  Probably one of the sweetest old dears but she always manages to resemble an enraged dragon in all photos.

Once Delia’s rug was off, I gave her a good brush , trimmed her tail and secretly fed her more carrots.  For an old lady, she has a very good appetite.  I don’t think she looks too bad and I re-rugged her because of the disintegrating weather (this was yesterday).

Under that rug is a furnace.  She is very cozy and I am hoping it is helping.

So after sorting out Delia, I caught Vitamin, gave her a bit of a brush and a tail trim.  She was very cooperative and never stopped talking to me.  She says “wooh, wooh, wooh” all the time and her nose wuffles!  It is only polite to respond.

Then it was Lyra’s turn.  She had been hanging around all the time, offering to help, move brushes, pick up things, etc.  Then the minute I wanted to catch her, she was off so I told her to sod off then and ate the last carrots myself making sure I crunched loudly at her!

She doesn’t look bad and she is Daisy’s problem anyway.

Today has looked mostly like this.

I was going to call this post “Grooming the Girls” but somehow that sounded very, very wrong!

“A day between weathers” or “atween wadder” (Shetland dialect) is what folk say up here for what we have had today.  A slight reprieve, before it all starts over again tonight.

The horses are exhausted from the last 48 hours but so I gave them a big meal to make up for it.

Rugs were taken off Storm and Taktur.  Everyone was drying off.

Taktur spent his morning gazing at Hetja in the other field.  She, of course, took absolutely no notice and continued to stuff her face.

Rather than disturb them by fussing, brushing and riding or lungeing, I left everyone to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Stormy weather is exhausting.

Tiddles made it his mission to own and personally eat the entire contents of the lick bucket.  He was wearing quite a lot of it while I was in the field taking photos.

We have had Lambster a whole week.  My OH remarked, when I mentioned this “Oh, really? I thought he has been here forever”, which I shall take as a huge compliment to Lambster as he has fitted in very quickly.

He is definitely one of the boys now.  He looks less bewildered and has learned how to bleat.  He can’t run yet – his legs don’t seem to go in the right order but he is happy to follow Lambie and Lambert about in a fast walk yelling for them to wait for him, which of course they don’t.

(I removed the blade of grass which I think was some sort of initiation rite by Lambert – I have my suspicions!)

And so off we go again. The next storm is on its way and I don’t think anyone is looking forward to it.

Boysenberry Update

Lambert has almost stopped being a bully.  He still butts a bit but Lambster butts back (do not read this sentence aloud or try to say it fast).

(and yes, he is one fat sheep)

Lambie (pronounced Lamb-Bee) is, of course, perfection in every way.

Lambster (say the B if you can), is doing magnificently. His happy little smiling face comes to talk to me more readily if accompanied by Lambie (his hero). I can tickle his sideburns and he loves that.  As Lambie is his role model, Lambster will learn only gentleness, trust and kindness with perhaps a hint of silly-billy galloping sideways when life is good.

I also think Lambster has put on weight (Monday is no-knacker day).

Esja Update

She, too, is doing brilliantly. This is the fifth time she has been ridden.

We are very pleased with her progress considering her age and how many times she has been ridden or handled.

Note the loose rein and her head carriage.  This is a lovely sight from such a young horse.

Esja learns quickly, uses her whole body and engages her back.

Bending is an important exercise for her and she didn’t take much asking.

Esja has a huge amount of “willingness” and she loves her training.  She looks forward to it (perhaps because she gets a bucket of grub afterwards as a reward) and would probably put her own headcollar on and lead herself to the indoor school if she could.

Esja is a lovely girl.  I am very happy with her.  Remember, this is her 5th time – the very definition of awesome in my book.

Apparently today is World Kindness Day.

And Wu has finally decided that Loki is not going to kill him.

This is an omen.

You have no idea how much I have wanted to see Wu and Loki actually existing in the same room together.  This is almost peace and harmony…..

….. and it has been a long time coming.

Just over two years, if I am honest.

A long road, but definitely one worth travelling.

Wu is still very wary but he has learned that if he runs, he gets chased.  If he walks carefully, he will be left alone.

Do I trust Loki 100%?

In the house – yes, actually I do.  Outside, in the garden – well, Loki is not quite 100% yet but we have come this far so perhaps, just perhaps, we will achieve.

Little steps but steps none the less – that is what Wu has to do.

BeAnne and Wu are the best of friends but it is different with Loki.

If BeAnne attempted to chase Wu, he would turn around and thump her.  He lies in wait for Her Maj and then blocks her route.  She doesn’t dare jump over him because she knows he will get her!