First things first.  Mum-ewe died this morning.  I am not surprised. RIP Mum-ewe. You tried your best.

Lambie-borghini is doing ok.  OH and I settled on a compromise of the name.

Lambie is trying to walk and stand up but his inflamed joints make it difficult, if not impossible. He is on his third type of antibiotics – this time with painkillers.  I hope we start to see an improvement.

In the morning, I made him a coconut oil/comfrey poultice which he wears for an hour twice a day. on his front legs.   After I have written this blog, I will get him up for a pee, his bottle and then he can watch telly sitting on me.

Anywho, I have also been riding today on Klængur.  We went like the wind.  It was magical.  His tölt is wonderful and he listens to my every word.  He is a horse in a million.  I am so happy.

And, I saw my first Shetland pony foalio.

Very beautiful.

I miss Shetland pony foals and am sad, but realistic, that we will have none.

Mum was very happy and proud, as in look-who-I-have, as opposed to foal-proud, which means she won’t let you near her baby.

I can see I need to do some hugging, if allowed, later on.

❤ I luff foals ❤

(I may have had gin!)

Lambie is on hourly physio.  He needs to walk and get his little legs going.  So I put him down at the opposite end of the kitchen and he walks to his bed, in front of the Rayburn.

We spent some time outside (I am a great believer in fresh air and sunshine) but he got cold, I searched around the house, found a sock without a partner and made him a little jersey.

It weighed him down to start with but, after I did some trimming (there was a roll neck and elasticated “waist”), he was very happy wearing it.

BeAnne is trying her hardest but she resents every minute I spend with Lambie (is this short for Lamington, btw?).

Her revenge is to sit in his bed the minute he is having his physiotherapy, ok walking around the kitchen.

Lambie (OH wants him to be called Lamb-borghini) is working hard on his walking skills and trying to be alert.  We will keep going.  Never say never.

Meanwhile, I managed to get out.  I went for a ride on Haakon and then walked the dogs around the 40 acre field.  En route, I met Iacs who was doing his best loony face – Daisy, take note, he will be fully your problem when you come home.

And Silver was doing his Gone-with-the-Wind face.

I love all my boys ❤

Wu has bald bits.

I noticed them yesterday when I found clumps of fur lying about.

So I took my life in my own hands and decided to comb him.  More fell out with follicles attached so I stopped combing and de-flea-ed him instead.

Today, I gave the matter some more thought and did the flea test (comb, wet tissue paper to see if the detritus turned red).  It didn’t.   So I made a vet appointment.

This is Wu’s Waiting-Room face. We went in and it was decided that Wu had been in a fight.  He weighed in at over 5 kg (I conveniently forget) and somewhere out there is a dead tiger.

As we were going to the vet anyway, I bunged Lambie (Pongo just doesn’t not suit him as a name) into another cat travel box.

Lambie was examined thoroughly.  He had gone off his legs this morning and I had spent all day worrying about him, trying to keep him warm, fed and comfortable.

(and perhaps getting more and more attached).

Lambie was given an antibiotic injection, some Vitamin C and I was told to get him walking.   He may have meningitis or joint ill but either way I need all your fingers crossed.  Staff Nurse BeAnne, who has decided she is not hungry, is offering support.

Still don’t trust her, though!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch……

Everyone is fine, if neglected.

Taktur has his Mini-Me, Waffle.  They rarely leave each other’s side because they are identical twins.  Yes, you heard me, twins!  Waffle still likes his hugs, despite being a Big Boy now.

Having seen this photo, I realise that Waffle has a fatter tumbly than Taktur!

Little Tiddles remains the personification of enchanting.  He still gives the best kisses, when asked, is loving, easy and very sweet.  Everyone should have a Tiddles, if you ask me, if only for the laughter factor.  He is therapy on four legs and has the best expressions to photograph.

Silver, despite this extraordinary photo, is a sensitive soul.  He doesn’t like change and he trusts me to sort out any problems – like wearing a food bucket because, apparently, that is what a ‘mother’ is for!

Storm is still, well, Storm.  I tried to take his rug off so he bit me (yes, we had words).  He loves his rug and, to be fair, it can be very cold at night.  I watch the weather forecast on an hourly basis and worry as well because, apparently, that is what a ‘mother’ is for!

The rest of the horses are fine. Haakon is full of the joys of spring and thinks he is younger than he is.  He also forgets that he is fat and unfit as we bounce down the road in a sweaty heap.

Little Pongo is still going along. He sleeps a lot and is very wobbly on his legs.  He worries me hugely.  BeAnne has calmed down, which is good and Loki has never shown any interest.  I still don’t trust either of them.

So that is us, at The Ranch!

Little Pongo spent yesterday evening asleep on my shoulder.  We nodded off together.

This morning, I put him outside with his slurry-bottomed mother, who ignored him totally.

She still has terrible diarrhoea (smelly green water) but is alive and sometimes on her feet.  She is living in OH’s old vegetable garden now where there is spring grass, water, ewe mix and hay.  Everything a sheep should need to stay alive but she is horribly thin and not long for this world. It would be kinder to put her to sleep but, as she is not mine, I cannot make this decision.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Team GB Eating athletes were offering support, help and advice.

It was ignored but this did not stop them from persevering.

Generous is Iacs’ middle name, apparently!

When it got cooler, I took Pongo back indoors.  He has a new housey to live in under the stairs.

Pongo’s favourite bed is a foot warmer I was given a foot warmer for Christmas.   He is very happy listening to the telly while lying on it.

Pongo really is a very easy “caddy” (Shetland word for orphan lamb) at the moment.  He answers if you talk to him and seldom nags. He just wants hugs and kisses.

Joke from OH – if anyone accuses me of anthropomorphism, it is ok – a little bird told me so!

Mwhahahaha!