Riding is not all about going round the school as fast as possible.  This is probably the most important thing you can do for your horse.  WARM UP!

Daisy started her day by riding Kappi, Bjørn’s Icelandic gelding, who she helps to train.  Daisy and Kappi get on very well and he was glad to see her home.

Next up, was Mr Bimble, aka Iacs (pronounced Eye-Ax).  Daisy was given Iacs when she was 9 years old and 12 years later on, she has still not out grown him.

HOYS soon for BeAnne and Iacs as well.  They are a remarkable team.

After Mr Bimble’s efforts, Daisy rode Taktur.  She said he was, as ever, wonderful.

While Daisy was doing her riding workout (3 horses – apparently she aches), I was dealing with Haakon and his hoof.  I am not sure if he is lame or unbalanced because he has no front shoes on.  Haakon is not a horse who can be unshod, ever.

And, after all that, I had a shot on Klængur.  I haven’t ridden for a while, as my back has been very owie.  It was nice to get back on board and we just stayed in walk, concentrating on bending and a relaxed effective outline.  He was a good boy and I enjoyed myself (God alone knows what my leg position is – ignore, say nothing.)

A great horsey day.

We said goodbye to the refugee reindeer.  They are going back to their original home, well rested and happy.  I am sad to see them go but it will be good to get back into riding again, especially now Daisy is home (yay!)

And Daisy said hello to The Minions and our newbie, Tiddlypom.

As you can see, everyone was very pleased to see her.  Crushing Daisy to the wall is a way of showing love and appreciation.

Tiddlypom is still obsessed with BeAnne.  I am so glad that none of them chase her.  She doesn’t mind any of them as long as they don’t over-step the mark.

And then Tiddlypom turned his attentions to Daisy and they made friends.  She was smitten.

They made very good friends.  This is what Tiddlypom loves most – his bottom being scratched.  He will sit on your knee.

They all had their feet done as well and mostly behaved (we will be working on this “speshul skill” in the near future. I was carefully watching Tiddlypom with Daisy and with the others – I think he has changed in the last few weeks.  He is far more confident in his own space and is beginning to be one of The Minions rather than being on the outside.

The dreaded “C” Word is Cleaning and I am not very good at it or very enthusiastic about it.

I have been doing cleaning because No 1 daughter, Daisy, is coming home from St Snotters for Christmas.  Her last exam was yesterday and she is flying in tomorrow morning.

So I cleaned the house, well bits of it, well I put clean sheets on her bed, ok, I dabbed about ineffectively with a duster having sprayed polish in the air to give the impression of cleaning and turned the radiator on in her bedroom.

I found if I do housework without my glasses on, there doesn’t really seem very much to do!  My back does not like housework at all.  I pay the price afterwards with some nasty twinges/muscle spasms.

I think there will be a queue of fur-people who will be thrilled to see Daisy.

She has been missed….

… and I think she has missed us too.

We have much to do for Christmas preparations and may need a few willing volunteers who happen to be outside offering their services.

I can’t wait to see Daisy.  Christmas can sort of start to begin in our house.  Floss gets in on the 20th, all being well and then I will be properly happy.

Anyway, the house smells cleaner.

This is Storm’s shed.  No one else’s.  Storm’s shed.  He ❤ his shed (and his rug, oh yes and his carrots, and his food and his Mum) …… but he loves his shed the most.

The others are allowed in.  He is not mean and is happy to share with anyone.  Even Taktur has been found in there with three minions behind him (it was very sweet).

Today it has been snowing on and off or someone is throwing freezing polystyrene packing balls at us.

I feed my Minions their hard food in the morning into 4 separate bowls.  Tiddlypom has got the plot now and they all share very nicely with no arguments.  While they are eating, I muck out their, sorry, Storm’s shed and they then go in to finish any hay leftover from the night before.

I was feeling guilty as I haven’t been spending much time with The Minions (those reindeer bebbies are enchanting) so BeAnne and I sat with them in their shed this afternoon while the weather did its worst outside.

Taking photos was particularly difficult as I was instantly inundated by furry noseys.

Little Tiddlypom is coming along fine now.  Easy to catch, talk to, do anything really (except lead – we must work on this skill).

He got to know BeAnne and she was very patient up to a point.

I sat against the wall on my coat and chatted to whoever came up.

The Minions are all looking very well and seem very relaxed this winter.  They go outside into their big field every day and come back when I call them, always keen to see what I have brought.

Looking after these little guys is never a chore.

They are the best therapy ever and I leave them always with a smile on my face.

I couldn’t resist.  I mean they are so cute, delicious and de-loverly and they need me to hug them and kiss their noseys.

…. and they could be baby reindeer.  I am just not sure.

Anywho, I have spent some lovely hours with my new lodgers and they are huge characters.  I now know not tofeed them apples cut up small because they have no idea what they are and will eat around every piece.

So, having tried to obviously poison them with my apple-bribe, I needed instant forgiveness and brought out The Minions’ toy box.

I had noticed that they had a penchant for buckets anyway so I think, therefore, QED, they could be Shetland ponies after all.

And they did like the “toys”.

They also “liked” BeAnne, who is putting up with a great deal of investigation. She has started to tell them to mind their manners now.

There is also one that tries to stuff as much hay in while the others are playing.

Ooof – they are unbelievably cute.

What do you reckon?  Baby reindeer or Shetland ponies?