I wrote this blog over two years ago – https://myshetland.co.uk/dogs-own-country/

I remember being upset and furious at being refused the chance to rescue a lurcher because I said that I would let any lurcher chase rabbits on my property.  We were labelled “a Hunting Home” and refused any dog.

So, via a different route, we rescued Loki – he had been found wandering the streets of Elgin and was unclaimed from the pound.

We have come a long way in those two years.  Loki is a different dog now. He has curbed his temper, learned to play, wag his tail and transformed himself into an invaluable member of the family.

While I was feeding Taktur this afternoon, just before our dog walk, Loki appeared with a large rabbit he had just caught.

So, as “a Hunting Home”, I told him well done and we were now going on our dog walk.

Bunny came too.  There and back.

We walked along the single-track road on an old route, as my back is giving me alarming twinges at the moment.

Loki shone with pride and happiness at his latest achievement.  His whole life has changed these past two years and he enjoys being a dog with a purpose rather than a dog not allowed to do what he was bred for.

When we got home, OH too had returned  from work, so Loki said hello, then raced off into the garden to bring bunny in and laid it OH’s feet!

Guess what’s for supper tonight?

Herring!

I am exhausted.

I have had a long day – riding, photographing, stuff, walking miles because I have no car, etc….

So here is the easy way out.  Some photographs I took today of beautiful Shetland pony mares and their itty-bitty foals.  I won’t rattle on as I have not got much to say.  I am too tired.

The ponies were enchanting.  Their change of coats makes them look peculiar – neither woolly nor sleek but always beautiful in their own lovely way.

And if anyone says to you Shetland ponies can’t move, then please repy “you should see this post”.

Wow!

Perfection, elevation and such grace.  Like mini dressage horses.

It was a hot day by Shetland standards, so BeAnne, who had been helping to get the foals trotting, took herself off for a little swim to cool down.

I am going to bed now.  It was a lovely day, if exhausting for me and my back is aching.

(I guess I secretly miss my Shetland pony foals)

Do you remember this mare who, in the middle of March, nearly died with hyperlipaemia?

I went to see her today as she was moved to a field nearer to me yesterday.

The difference is huge.  She looks wonderful and very changed from the dying mare in Spring.

When I nursed her for that week 24/7, she never acknowledged my presence with any gratitude or love.  I was tolerated and along with all I did, but there was never any communication or reaction from her with me.

I honestly didn’t mind.  Some do, some don’t.  But we all did our best for her no matter what.

Today, I could see what she was meant to be like. I could see her character – an aloof mare who watches everything and everyone. She has a huge sense of pride and the look-at-me factor.

When I was in her field today, she always walked away from me.  We never had contact even though she was well aware of me taking photos.  The rest of the herd were very busy mugging me for some carrots I had hidden in my pocket or busy chasing BeAnne.

I was walking away, having taken my photos, when she suddenly left the herd, trotted up and touched my hand, looked me in the eye and trotted off again.

Who knows what that was all about but I am glad she did it.  A small connection.  I never asked her for anything.

Most odd but most appreciated.

I saw this and immediately thought of my little Minions today.

Storm with his “Best Boy” face.  I love this. He tries so hard to be one of the guys and while the effort is always huge, he is often ignored.

Bless him. I could kiss his nosey all day (and he secretly loves his hugs).

Silver is the grown up.

Life can be serious but when he smiles, his whole face lights up.

Waffle is the class clown.

He follows his own path and listens to his own voices without any interruptions.  Everything comes easy to Waffle.

And last but never least is little Tiddles or Tids, as we call him.

He has blossomed into the nicest little chap anyone could ever wish for.

Beauty surrounds us in many forms.  No one is more beautiful than another, just perhaps different but everyone is loved the same and their hearts always shine through.

(our wild flowers are pretty good too)

I want Foalie to have a friend.  He is beginning to bounce and annoy Hetja, his long-suffering mother.

So I asked Bjørn if I could borrow a standard Shetland mare and colt foal for Foalie.  We took the beautiful Aria and her son around yesterday evening.

Hetja was very unimpressed with my brilliant idea.

She was a cowbag.

Little Foalie, however, was desperate to talk to his new potential friend.

For a while we were hopeful that this was a good plan and all would be well.

But Hetja would have none of it.

Last night, I received a message from Jo saying that she had to split them up as Hetja would not give up her cowbag status.  Not good.  The foals now would get to know each other with a fence between them.

We went over this afternoon to find everyone together again and a tentative peace reigning.

Hetja had given up chasing and apparently had knocked down the fence between the two families.

While Daisy fed carrots to Hetja and chatted to Foalie, I went over to see Aria.  She was fine, a few bites but nothing worrying.  I fed her a carrot and told her to see how things go.

We will constantly monitor the situation. I think, and desperately hope, that the the boys will make friends and the mothers will leave them to it while concentrating on the more important matters like eating.

To be honest, I was surprised at Hetja’s cowbagness but Foalie is her first foal and she loves him to bits.  She will calm down, eventually!