There was a break in the rain today so Floss and I made a dash for it to take the dogs out for a walk and to drop off a package at our neighbours.

Obviously, Lambie had to come too.  He noisily insisted so I put a collar and lead on him to keep him off my neighbour’s beautiful garden.

We were all invited in.  Yes, even Lambie.  Evelyn used to Lambie-sit (voluntarily) when he was little and needed regular feeds, if I had to go out.

Lambie was “quite” well-behaved but my neighbours were thrilled to see him, so all was forgiven – I did warn them.

After the dog walk, we went to see the horses and ponies or, as Flossie so succinctly put it, we went into a crack den with a bag of drugs (carrots).  I am trying very hard not to ask how she knows about this experience.  Perhaps she has seen Trainspotting, I am thinking hopefully.

They do like their carrots.

And there were some crazy hairstyles, mad eyes and silly faces today!

Tiddles is the worst, or best, depending on your outlook, for doing “weird”.  Bless him.  He actually is the most normal of all the Shetland ponies.  He is very grounded and is now a lovely little outgoing lad.

No malice, ever…..

…..just the best kisses!

Sometimes I feel the need to brush an animal to make them look nice.  Rare, I know, as I am not very good at grooming and cleaning, my mantra being a greasy dirty coat is a happy working coat.

This time it was the turn of my three last remaining Shetland pony mares from my Shetland pony stud.

Lyra let me catch her, despite not being Daisy, and I have gave her mane and tail a good detangling.

She looked lovely afterwards and I think appreciated being pampered.

They are all beginning to grow their winter coat now and are going into winter looking healthy.

This is Vitamin – Lyra’s beloved mother.  I think the phrase I am looking for is “a leg at each corner”.  Vitamin has always been the solid type.  She is also an old lady, one of the faces of the Shetland-pony-in-a Fair-Isle-sweater Visit Scotland campaign so entitled to have a bit of a belly.

I adore Vitamin and, after I had finished brushing Lyra, I went up to her and she whickered to me to say hello.  I love it when someone (equine, caprine, canine or feline – humans are meh!) is pleased to see me.

Sadly the girls cannot be nearer to me as Taktur, my Icelandic stallion, would spend all his days standing gazing at them and forgetting to eat.  So they have to live over in Sandness.

Lastly, in this field, is Raw Deal, who is getting on in years and found last winter very difficult.

**** sigh **** I will know what I have to do when it is time (yes, I am putting it off – I know that) but she appreciated her brush and relaxed with a blissful look in her eyes while I brushed and brushed her tail.  If she could’ve, she would’ve stood there forever with me brushing.  It was a special moment between us and I will remember it afterwards.

Say nothing.  It was raining and Lambert was AWOL.

It was not my fault.  Lambie was very upset and Flossie made me do this.

In return, she did very kindly offer to Lambie-sit and together they watched Real Housewives of Somewhere while I did some photography work.

This is Lambie’s happy face after Lambert decided to saunter home many hours later.  They have been outside ever since and yes, I have fessed up to OH that Lambie did come in the house before he read it first on the blog.

(what sort of time do you call this?  You treat this place like a hotel!  Yer, Lambidges!).

So, after that excitement, I gave Flossie a riding lesson on Haakon.  I wanted her to get used to him and to prepare her for her proper riding lesson on Wednesday.

Haakon is very different from Iacs – much faster and much more responsive.

Anywho, Floss did very well and learned about the difference between piggy pace (contents may settle in transit) ……

and tölt (everything remains in place).

I was thrilled with both of them.  Flossie is coming along brilliantly and learning quickly.  She is keen to practice and to do her best.  She has the makings of a good rider.

(The Olympic Games Selection Committee was down to one and a tad sulky today!)

Probably because both her mounts are busy!

We went over to Sandness today.

I took my helpers and, while they milled out of the way of the horses and ponies, I did some grooming.

Armed with my Beauty Box (half price because it had the corner chipped), I brought brushes and de-tangling spray with me.

The girls were intrigued, …..

inquisitive and  …..

determined to see if it was edible!

I haven’t done any work with Esja yet and she will begin her ridden training very soon.  Today, I wanted to do some ground work with her – she was easy to catch and we walked around the field together, while I asked her to listen to me and to watch my body language.  She concentrated well despite her friends pointing and laughing.

Esja and I do not really know each other but I could quickly see she wanted to be my friend  but I am going to have to earn her trust and assume nothing.

After we got used to each other’s ways, I tied her up and brushed her mane and tail.  At first, as usual, she was apprehensive but soon realised it was actually quite nice and relaxing.

Esja may not be an easy horse to train.  She minds and she cares hugely but she wants to do the right thing so that is good.

It will be interesting to have a potential project for the winter.

She does have beautiful eyes, though.

After a good riding morning, Floss and I drove over to see everyone in Sandness.

Hetja is doing very well post-pregnancy.

She is maintaining her weight and has no intention of losing it after having her foal.  Anyway, she will need it for the harsh Shetland winter that is on its way.

Hjalti is doing lots of getting bigger.

He has taken a particular liking to thistles and we watched him for a while trying to bite the spiky dead heads off one at a time.  What is it about Icelandic horses and their love of thistles?

Hjalti is  growing into a very smart chap and very similar to his mother in shape.

He is well integrated into the herd and likes to mingle with the others but is still considered the little squirt who must know his place.

After this misguided sniff, he quickly went back to his dear old mum with a flea in his ear.

And Hetja said “If you can’t sniff something nice… don’t sniff nothing at all!”

(shamelessly misquoted from Bambi)