The bad weather stopped and the sun shone today, so BeAnne and I popped over to Sandness to help muck out the stables. They had housed the Icelandic herd plus the two elderly Shetlands, Vitamin and Delia.  Delia seems to have turned a small corner and is eating better.  We rasped her teeth again a few days ago and I think that has helped her.

Jo put her two raptors out for the day too.  This one had just had a bath so was drying her feathers.

and this one took one look at BeAnne and screamed like a fish-wife!

After mucking out, I went home and, en route, saw the hill ponies on the open scattald (common grazing).  With the sunlight behind them, they looked beautiful.

I managed a quick ride on Haakon in the afternoon.  We plodded to Watsness and back.  He never broke stride and I kept my hands in my pockets as I had forgotten my gloves.  BeAnne pottered along too.

Storm’s rug is off while it is dry. I have decided my rule of thumb is that if I am cold enough to wear my Icelandic jersey outside, then he gets his light-weight rug on.  If it is cold enough for me to wear my survival suit outside, then he gets his heavy-weight rug on. I don’t want him to be permanently rugged up so I spent some time this afternoon, fluffing them all up, particularly Storm, to get his coat working as nature intended.

So a perfect day, playing horses and ponies.

I am not a fan, however, of the winter nights drawing in so early.  This is not even 15.00.

We’ve all gone rug mad here at Thordale!

Rugs, rugs, and more rugs.

Well, Storm now has his big-boy winter rug on with neck piece attached as we are in the middle of 36 hours of non-stop rain and wind.

I knew it was going to be bad so when he was eating his big-boy food, I changed his rugs over.  Darling little boy, he might be on a good day but I am sorry to report that Storm threw all his teddies out of the cot and had a tantrum at me.

He snatched at me – and, yes I felt teeth, and he tried to kick over his bucket in frustration when I told him to stand still.  All because I wanted to take off one rug and put on a better one.

We had words and he stamped his little hooves in rage.  I was shocked but laughing at the same time.  It was a darling little tantrum.  Sort of fitted him perfectly!

Anyway, I won, so that is all that matters and I am sure he is secretly, if grudgingly, grateful that I achieved this before the bad weather arrived.

Being the nice person I am, I have been watching the herd from the window of my warm house and noted that at one stage Storm had an Icelandic horse flanking each side of him so he had some shelter while he ate.  They are very kind to him.

OH bravely took Loki out for a run this afternoon and said the horses and ponies were standing in the only part of the field where the wind couldn’t get them, happily stuffing their faces.

Horses are not stupid about weather.

At Thordale we are not rug people.  We rarely rug any of our ponies except for health reasons, never cosmetic.  Dirt is good and a necessity in winter.

So, when we brought Raw Deal (Delia) down to the house yesterday to give her better care, we took one look and made an executive decision.

She is an old lady and just not keeping the weight on.

She has no muscle in her bottom and her backbone is starting to protrude as everything has sinks southwards.

So, this constitutes a health reason and we gave Delia one of Hammy’s original yearling rugs.

It is a good rug with a built-in full neck and will keep her snugly when she is outside in the field.

The others had not met Delia before and Esja was intrigued by the new fashion.

Today, we found that the herd were not being very welcoming so, before the foul weather kicked in, we popped back up to the field and collected Delia’s friend, Vitamin.   They were very pleased to see each other and whickered happily away together.  Both are sharing the same stable with plenty silage and a hard feed.

This is no weather to be out in if you are old – Gale Force 8, gusting 9 with rain.

A bit of a swap round today.

Charles went into the girl’s field while Raw Deal was taken out.

Delia (aka Raw Deal) is still not looking good.  She will go back to Jo’s to see how she gets on with more food, a rug and a stable for the bad weather and then we will reassess.

Charles, on the other hand, is doing very well. He is what is known as “a good doer” in the trade or a Fat Bastard (depending on who you are talking to).  He looks like a miniature regimental drum horse (a Shrinkle – remember them?) with him being the drum!  He used to be such a dainty little boy and now he is, well, umm, not.

Looking at that photo, i am now even more shocked and a little depressed.

Anyway, Charles doesn’t care if he is portly or not.  He is still a hit with the girls.

Zoot was particularly taken with his good looks.  I can almost hear her shouting “come back, come back!”.

So this is where he will spend his winter – with three admiring ladies, Vitamin, Lyra and Zoot.

They will let him know when he can admire, thank you very much!

Charlie’s good looks and charm will soon bring them round or maybe he will lose some weight running away or running after them.

Jack arrived at our house in 2007 as the result of me looking at DogPages in the wee small hours and convincing the family that we needed to give this poor old soul a place to rest his weary head in his last remaining years (their words).

This was the picture that went with the advert.  He was aged at about 9 years old and had been found wandering the streets of Hereford.

So what arrived on our door was very different dog from that advertised.  Not old and creaky at all.

Jack from Day 1 was a very enthusiastic member of our family.

He mostly played nicely with our other Patterdale terrier, BeAnne, though they could squabble but never any injury (this is a great game).

He always tried his best to be a stalwart and upstanding boy.

His greatest pleasure was hunting bunny rabbits and listening to dry stone dykes (walls) – it was the birds he heard.  He was also a very keen mouser.

I forget how active he was in those days.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=114263777264&l=71409791154036695

There was also a lot of a-buggering off and sending some poor person out to look for him. He spent much time with my neighbours who luckily adored him.

Now seven years on, he has slowed right down.  He sleeps most of the day and but manages to go out on a walk except for very harsh days.  He is blind, senile and almost continent.

The vet said think of 5 things that make him happy…..

1.  8 o’clock breakfast
2.  5 o’clock supper
3.  Thinking about breakfast
4.  Thinking about supper
5.  Open doors

He was off his feet yesterday and we so nearly made The Decision.  Today, he rallied and he enthusiastically (for him) went on a spritely walk.

Dear old Jack-et Potato.