In the dim and distant, I trained and qualified as an Registered General Nurse (Nov ’81 set, if you are interested) at The Middlesex Hospital in London, W1.

I was not a very good nurse but my training has always stood me in good stead, especially today.

Daisy and I spent the day nursing a standard Shetland pony mare with hyperlipemia – a horrid illness that I knew very little about.

Poor love had been visited by the vet numerous times and by now had an intravenous drip of alternating glucose and Hartmans.

Firstly, I was there so the owner could get some rest (up for 40 hours straight and beginning to feel dizzy).

Secondly, I was there to keep the IV monitored (one drop per second) and to talk to the vet, with the owner, when he visited.

I left Daisy and OH to sort out the mess of the Thordale boys – unrug, feed, Haakon’s hoof dressing (thank you Jo), muck out, etc. while I drove over to become obssessed by the IV drip.

The bag had to be changed and I vaguely remembered what to do.  Then the thing stopped dripping with a huge air bubble in the tube bit before the drip chamber thingy.  I looked at it blankly knowing I was supposed to do something when luckily my hands remembered and did all the right things.  Most odd.  The last time I had monitored a drip was 30 years ago.

And so we pushed fluids orally and did our very best.  Every 30 minutes, I would hold the mare’s head up, while Daisy pushed a bottle of glucose water or “gruel” down her.   I hope the mare lives.  Please get all your healing vibes out for this lady.  Daisy and I really want her to live.  We gave her our best all day, while her owner slept.

This evening, the mare is looking perkier and even began to take an interest in her surroundings.

I may have been a lousy nurse for humans but at least I can remember vaguely what to do for animals!

In there is Daisy being Minioned.  The little boys were all very pleased to see her. She has a special way with Minions and they adore her.

Daisy thought everyone looked well and that Tiddles had put on weight and grown fluffier.

She also said that Storm looked like one of those dolls that you have as a child and then you cut its hair because you think it will look more realistic.  Instead it looks worse, the hair hacked at and is never quite the same again.  I think we have all done that.  I know I did.  Poor Storm.

Tiddles reminded her of his love of nose-kisseys.

I think we can all say that we are glad Daisy is home.

I know she has work to do for her finals but I know where I will find her if she has any spare time or wants to relax.

Being Minioned!

I am worrying about Haakon. He is not getting any better, despite being on painkillers and antibiotics and I don’t know what to do.  Sometimes I think his lameness is looking less and then he takes a bad step and is hopping again.

Add to this worry, now and I am worried about little Storm.  He looks awful.  This could be because they all came home this afternoon from being out in a big field, covered in mud.  I watched him walk with me and sucked my teeth – he does not have a strong confidant walk anymore and looked like he would fall over at any moment.

Compared with everyone else, Storm is not robust at the moment.  He is not ribby and you can’t feel any bones;  he just isn’t in as good a condition as his fellow Minions.  Maybe he will get bouncier when the real green grass arrives.

The others are all fine.

Tiddles is doing especially well.

He involves himself with everything, just at his own speed.

He is a very endearing little chap.

So I will go on worrying about Haakon and Storm.  I wish spring would arrive properly and we could all look forward rather than just going along on a day-by-day basis trying to keep everyone and everything upright while the last of winter blows itself out.

Oh yes, and we have two whole daffodils in the garden!  Yay.

Another windy day (as in gusting 50mph gale) so after mucking out 9 horses/ponies, I wanted to go for a walk and straighten my back up.

The dogs and I needed a change of scenery too.  Off we went to Sandness beach.

The wind was hitting the sea straight on so, although there were no big waves, there was some impressive sea spray being blown backwards.

The tide also seemed very high and I found myself standing in the sea foam on a few occasions.

We had the beach to ourselves, which is always nice.  It was loud, wet and windy and when I lost the feeling my fingers from the cold, we went back home having been thoroughly buffeted about.  Good for the soul.

On our way home, I saw a pair of Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) walking across the road towards the loch.

I managed to grab my camera just as they had reached their destination.  If it had been less windy, I would’ve left the car and observed them for longer.  I rather like swans though everyone knows they can “break a man’s arm!”

Home and lunch and everyone except Haakon, Storm and Tiddles, were out in the field grazing.  Haakon and his companions-of-the-day were confined to the stable.  Haakon is on daily antibiotics and analgesia now.  Let’s see if that helps.

Then the weather disintegrated and I happened to mention did anyone want to perhaps come in … and gallop, the whole lot had wedged themselves into their shed.

I didn’t have to ask twice!

Transition Turriefield, aka Alan and Penny, are getting a horse to help them with the ploughing around their croft.

They have recently been going south to learn which bit goes where and why but wanted some extra long-reining practice.

We offered them Klængur, as I used to long-rein him everywhere rather than ride him.  We omitted to tell them that Klængur had never actually worn harness before as we trusted him not to mention it either, which of course he didn’t.

And Mr Bimble (aka Iacs) as he used to long-rein when we were teaching him how to pull a cart.  Sadly the cart bit never happened as he took a hatred.

We would’ve used Haakon, who is an expert ‘carthorse’ in his spare time, but he is still off sick.

Jo showed Penny and Alan how to harness up Klængur (although his breast collar was a bit high up, but it is only for long-reining so it is fine) and then we stood back and let them work out how to harness up Mr Bimble.

And off they went.

A horse each.

Round the school.

They were getting on very well with their respective horses.

We set out an obstacle course.

And then we told them to swap horses!

Because we are mean like that.

Iacs was the best and most helpful.  He enjoyed wandering round and round. Iacs is a bit of a goldfish – a 3 second memory.

Once Penny or Alan had decided that they were not being led but doing the instruction, everything sorted itself out and they were going round like pros.

We are all really looking forward to meeting their professional ploughing horse!