Winter arrived.  We have had a smattering of snow but, by golly, it is nippy and then it is gales and snow then gales and snow for the next few days.

I have stables now for everyone but, as it wasn’t windy yet and I am a huge believer in fresh air (as well as sleep) as a cure for all ills, I threw everyone outside while I mucked out.

The Icelandic horses had spent their first night in their new shed.  It is 48 square yards big with rubber matting on the floor.  Lots of space for everyone.  Getting Haakon off the wet mud will help his hoof to heal better.

So this morning, I evicted the Icelandics into their field.

Then it was the turn of Bjørn’s foals, my refugees.  I had not intended to let them out during their stay here but it was calm.  I stupidly thought they would follow me and my bucket over to a field.  Did they heck?  No, they instantly scattered and after 10 minutes of unsuccessfully trying, I gave up.

It was like herding cats so I decided to approach the matter another way and went to fetch Waffle.  They flocked to him immediately and I led him into their new field.  Of course they all followed and I shut the gate and took Waffle back to his friends.

They are very sweet, though and tonight they followed me like the good children they are.

We appear to have some refugees in the indoor school.

This year’s foals from Bergli Stud are not enjoying the unceasingly crap winter weather and it is getting to them.

Apparently they were not looking or using the shelter provided, just standing there becoming colder, wetter and more miserable.

So they have come to Thordale for a holiday in the shed.

They are lovely and look like baby reindeer…..

….who are very keen on food.

I expect you can guess what I am going to be doing a great deal of, apart from pooper-scooping?  Yup, hugging if they are huggable.  At the moment, they are just finding their feet but I think a small introduction to carrots may let me into their hearts.

It is strange meeting other folk’s “bebbies”.  They are brought up very differently to mine and I realise The Minions seem almost hand-reared by comparison because that is what circumstances dictated at the time.  Even little Tiddlypom is one of The Minions now.  Although they are tight little group, they rely and trust me about everything.  I am very much their Mum and if I say it is alright, then it is alright.  The filming proved that.  They just got on with it because I was there and told them this was normal.

Anyway, I shall take some time to get to know them and I hope they enjoy their holiday with me.

BeAnne kept a good distance.  She knows what little foalios are capable of.

You remember The Minions did some filming for Vodafone #First 6 weeks back?

Well here is the end result. I am still very proud of my boys.  Their behaviour was impeccable and it is only when we do something out of the ordinary like this, that I realise just how far they have come in their development and behaviour.

My #First Shetland Pantomime

http://youtu.be/gjV4SucpXdw

This is my favourite version because Storm is the main star in my humble opinion, not that I am biased, you understand.

http://youtu.be/GSsaKApv3xk

So proud of my best boys *** sniff ***

I think there is improvement.

Stardust (or Tiddlypom as he is known) is stronger, more determined and less bullied.  He stands his ground and is positively stubborn, which is good. Definitely in his demeanour and attitude are changing.   His spine and hip bones are less prominent under all that wool.

Tiddlypom likes his food.  He will not be deterred and heads for the bowl where he will be hassled least.  He does not like chaff and does like sugar beet with mix and oats, so you know but he finds barley rings difficult to eat as they need to be crunched one by one.  If you have one in your pocket, he would never say no and thinly sliced carrots are an acceptable form of gratitude.

Tiddlypom likes coming up to you for kisses and is very good at leaning into you to be scratched.  His greatest joy is having his bottom scratched and he will practically sit on your knee to have it done.  He makes no fuss about having his rug taken on or off and stands quietly while you fiddle about with straps, etc.

Tiddlypom tolerates the others and will always follow them.  He doesn’t want to be on his own and can be vocal if he can’t see the others.  He thinks headcollars and leadropes are stupid.  He turns into a stubborn little donkey when asked to lead nicely.  If you tap his behind, he bucks about 2″ off the ground, which makes me laugh.  He also bucks if the others chase him so they don’t bother with him much anymore as he is no fun and won’t wind up.  Soon he will give as good as he gets.

There is definitely a glimmer in his eye now.

Best of all he knows he is loved and his confidence is building because of this.

Henceforth, for the moment, Stardust is known as Tiddlypom.  He was going to be Tiddlypush until I looked that up and found out what it meant.  I mean who knew?  You learn something new every day!

The Minions love toys.

I haven’t spent much time with them recently, so they followed me into the indoor school, mostly to keep Haakon and his non-burst abscess company (it has burst now, which is good so daily pouliticing).

After Taktur’s blatant thievery the other night, I have rearranged the shed so he can’t get the hay stack.  I found an old Ikea tunnel that the kids used to play with and I used for practicing BeAnne’s non-existent agility training.

I wondered what the boys would make of it.

Well, of course, they loved it.

Hours of non-stop entertainment to be had.

Probably the best toy ever!

I never stopped laughing all morning while they kicked it around, picked it up, put their heads in it……

Stardust gave them his “you are all completely mad” look and went on eating his hay or coming to me for a hug and a scratch.

Haakon was very sniffy and not in the best of moods anyway.  He is not a huge Minion fan and finds them small and annoying.

So, when he thought no one was watching, he went to investigate the tunnel himself to see what all the fuss was about.

I know he would never admit it, as he is the distinguished head of the herd but secretly he thought it was rather fun.

(but that is a secret and absolutely no one must ever know!)