Taktur’s training is going very well.  I am very pleased with him.

Everything he asked to do, he just gets on and does it without any hesitation or deviation!

I have labelled the photos so you can see exactly what gait he is doing.

Tölt

A four beat lateral gait when their feet say “black-and-decker-black-and-decker”.  It can be at any speed from slow to fast and is exceptionally comfortable and controlled.

Extended Trot

Taktur has a very big trot.  OMG, it is big!

Collected Trot

Slow Tölt

Slow Tölt

Extended Tölt

Collected Slow Tölt

Collected Walk

For a nearly six year old stallion, I couldn’t want better.  So proud of this boy

(sniff – and he is nice to The Minions – what more could anyone want?)

It is nice to give the dogs a different walk from their usual route.

Lambing has begun so the beach is a better venue than anywhere with a sheep/lamb combination.

Both the dogs know better than to get involved with anything sheep but it is never wise to test this theory.

So, to Norby beach we went – I go to Sandness every day, anyway, to say what-ho to Esja and Hetja, as well as checking the Shetland ponies, so this time I took my OH and the dogs.

BeAnne is very keen on the beach if toys are included. You rarely find any wood to throw so it is better to bring your own entertainment.

Bless her, BeAnne is my idea of perfect heaven.  She would wipe the floor at Crufts (probably quite literally too with that fur.  It picks up everything!)

It was fairly windy and the waves were hypnotic as they broke and the spray was blown backwards.

On the way home, we saw the hill ponies.  I had to stop and take photos.  This is when time stands still. I think there have been ponies on the scattald (open hill) ever since Shetland ponies were invented!  They belong in this environment and do very well.

This mare is, I think, very pregnant.  I would guess that she will be brought back to her Stud to foal soon.

There are no actual wild ponies here.  Everyone belongs to someone.

Lerwick today because I had to. I didn’t want to (I usually send OH) but there are just some things you have to do yourself so I did.  I am not going again in the foreseeable, I hope.

Anywho, when I came home, everyone was lurking, asking to be fed.  I duly waited on them hand and foot and then let them onto the bit of hard-standing around the house, to give their feet a rest from the mud. It is better for them not to stand in mud 24/7.

I love Iacs’ face.  You can almost see the one brain cell working over-time!  Can you see it, Daisy?  Can you?

Silver has this little streak that makes an occasional appearance.  He likes to annoy.

Little Tiddles – OMFG – beyond sweet.  You can see just how small he is.  Kappi, lying down, is still taller!

There are no words.  Just lots of kisses and some twanging of the bobbles on my hat!

Tiddles smiles.

And then he nods off.

He is just so fluffy – I’m gonna die!

And then Storm had to go and let the side down.  He does like BeAnne but he also likes to “surprise” her.  They play Grandmother’s Footsteps and she pretends to be narky.

So this is the pile of horses sitting outside, eating hay, and being totally gorgeous.  If I didn’t have this blog to write, I would be sitting with them!

My little treasures are coming along well.  They have wintered well.

Cheeky is their middle name.  All of them.

Tiddles is beginning to play, even with the big ones!  I saw him take on Klængur today and then realise he was a bit out of his depth.  Klængur was kind to him and indulged his new behaviour and it was wonderful to watch.  I think Tiddles will be unstoppable once he gets going.  Watching him gallop full-pelt across the field after the others is like seeing a furry caterpillar being shot out of a canon!

Little Storm has discovered his most favourtist food ever.  He loves sugar beet (soaked) on its own.  He would eat buckets and buckets of it.  I am not so sure that is such a good idea but he gets it as a treat and now has a very sticky face, like someone in the sweet shop.

Waffle remains very handsome and an absolute darling.

He is good teacher and a very easy little pony to work with.  Bless him for his grown-up-ness.

So that is an update on The Minions.  They are all very well and very integrated with their herd.  No one has told them they are little boys.  They are just the same size as everyone else.

What is it about The Minions?  I just want to hug them and pet them and squeeze them and call them George forever!

When I popped over yesterday to talk to Hetja and Esja (Day 2 and the nose kisses are going well), I made a detour to see the last of our Shetland pony girls – Lyra, Vitamin and Delia.

They are in need of a brush and some tlc, so I made the decision to bring a brush and do some tidying up today.

I gave Delia (Millhouse Raw Deal – aged 22 years old) a good brush and she was very appreciative.

We had a lovely chat and a cuddle.  What a gentle old soul – I have always adored her.  She was one of our best mothers.

She is really showing her age now and I just wish she had a better podgy bottom.

Next it was Vitamin’s turn.  She is both Lyra and Indy’s (our last stallion, now sold) 20 year old mother.  I gave her a good brush and she was fairly co-operative.  She has wintered well and looks good.  I wish Delia could look this portly.

Lyra lives with her mother as Vitamin had two dead foals before she had Lyra and she loves her more than anything.   Daisy also loves Lyra so she is going nowhere.

Sadly, Lyra loves only Daisy and refused to let me brush her.  She could do with her tail being trimmed as well but, as she would not let me near her, I will leave this chore to her owner (Daisy).  I refuse to run round after Lyra when she is not being helpful.  She managed to walk just a few inches away from my outstretched hand.

She also made “The Face”, as in the “I hate you, because you’re not Daisy” look.  Oooh she is a brat when she wants to be.