I am worried about Millhouse Raw Deal.    Despite our ministrations (worming and teeth), she is not keeping on the weight.  She is 22 years old and we have had her since the beginning of our breeding programme at Thordale Stud in 2008.

She is eating well and has extra hard feed which she happily tucks into but the weight is not there. Her backbone is beginning to show and a hard Shetland winter is about to arrive.  We can give her shelter, unlimited food including hard food and monitor her progress.  If she is still not maintaining her weight, then we will make the final decision.

Born in 1992, she has had 6 foals in her life and was the Royal Highland Show Champion in 1996.

Delia, as we call her, really is a lovely kind easy girl who was the best mother to Carina, Gwendolinda and Kiki.  The sort of “lady” you can lead about by her chin hairs and she would never have an objection.  Well, you know what I mean!

I can’t really imagine the herd without her solid self being around, baby-sitting when required and teaching everyone how to behave.  One of our original matriarchs but she is slowly going down the herd hierarchy and that is always sad for dominant mare.  Her eyes are sad too.  She looks tired.

Pooh.  I hate these decisions and I hate them looming. I feel so useless.  22 is no age.

So fattening vibes for Raw Deal please.  She is a dear girl.

It was a morning of morons.  The type that make you think if they had a brain, they would be dangerous and they were infecting my day.

*** sigh ***

So what better cure than going out for two fast rides on the Icelandic horses.  Bjørn and I tölted our horses like demons and put the world into perspective.

Afterwards, as the sun was still shining, BeAnne took herself off paddling.  I like to keep an eye on her when she does this as the burn can be fast especially after rain.

She loves the water and never has to be asked twice if she is going “swimmbig” (said with adenoidal twang).

BeAnne’s new best friend, Storm, stood nearby utterly intrigued.

You could see his little thought processes working overtime.  I expect it won’t be long before we see him in the water.

So BeAnne ignored him, found something utterly green and stinky to roll in instead

I love the smile of total bliss on her face as she imagines my eyes watering when I discover the source of the green pong.

If you are fat, you get nothing.  Sorry, nothing.  It is The Law.

If you whinge about it and argue, you get BeAnne on your schnozzer (and she means it).

If you are meant to have a daily feed, you get to eat it on your own.

If you are small, hairy and rather rotund, you just get grass and you can play on it or eat it…. your choice.

If you go purposefully up to the stallion to steal his food, he might have an opinion (but he probably won’t because he is the perfect gentleman).  Even so, I will come and flick your nosey and make you leave him alone.

If I am feeling nice, I might let you have a handful of food in a bucket but you are going to have to share.

If you share, you share nicely.

If you have finished the bucket with the handful of food, you can roll with your head in it.

And I might tickle your tummy while you smile sweetly to say thank you.

And just because you think you are a “mini-me” version of the stallion,

it does not automatically give you the right to ask him for his food.

Oh sorry, yes it does.

PS.  I think I know why Storm has little or no mane!  The finger points.

I met this today.

It is revolting.

It is, what my mother calls, “a guttersnipe”.

I think she could be right.

I don’t really know what to do.

All it did was rain last night.

Storm really doesn’t care.

The others are fine, beautiful even.  But I suppose they are already dirt colour.

Even Taktur, who had a large bird poo stain on his bum, managed to retain his regality.

Some have it.

Some don’t.

Still, don’t mention the word BATH!

❤ ❤ Luckily, I still luffs him.  Such a Beebie ❤ ❤

(a great name from one of his No 1 fans!)

There is something about The Minions.

I’m not quite sure what it is.

Is it their silly expressions?  – Storm especially looks like he has swallowed a button!

Their little round tummies and perfect bottoms?

The way they smile?

or how they always want to stand next to you?

Their kissy little soft velvet noseys?

The fact they need someone older and wiser?

Or that they need a 24 hour babysitting service?

How they never stop talking to anyone who will listen?

They are always together.

I dunno.  I think it is because I just want to spend as much time sitting with them as possible.  They surround me, sit on me, kiss me, tread on my toes and laugh at each other.

And Storm is obsessed with BeAnne and she doesn’t mind him at all – that is über deliciousness in my book.