Taktur started his winter training today.  He had only front shoes put on and off he went.

Apparently he is “just the same” but lacks muscle in his back end.

So Bjørn, his trainer, said I should ride Taktur most days.

[my cheesey grin]

I was given a quick lesson on what was required and we decided that 20 minutes every day in walk and tölt would help.  I have only previously ridden Taktur in walk so I tried out rising trot (no thank you very much, he has a huge trot and it hurts my back) and then tölt, which was incredible.  I mean I know Haakon and Klængur can tölt, but Taktur’s version left me grinning from ear to ear!

I cannot wait and am now busy putting inspiring and invigorating music on my iPod for 20 minute work-outs.

We are also to practice some dressage if we feel like it.

Taktur is a joy to ride and I think it will do us both good.  You have to “ride” him and not just sit there so it will do me good.

Then I hopped onto Klængur, who resembles a Suffolk Punch or a Comtois (I know, I know) and we pootled around the school having a very jolly time.

Afterwards, he played with a cones.

I love horsey days.

I am recovering from the most horrendous migraine ever.  So I will keep this short.

The Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus is the Shetland wren, the local variety of Winter Wren that lives in Britain.

A few years back, I found Mr and Mrs Wren had built a superb nest under one of our saddle panels!

They had cleverly used all the loose horse hair, some moss and bits of straw and the nest was firmly wedged in.

Mr and Mrs W came and went with various household necessities for their impending new family and seemed totally unpeturbed by us and our horses.  They were a regular sight and we grew very fond of these lovely little birds.

This was a busy place but we didn’t want to disturb her so we crept around for ages and used other saddles.  Our efforts were rewarded and one day there were bebbies!

I think they all fledged and there were no mishaps.  We still have wrens in the school and I always wonder if they are related to the original family.  As neighbours go, they were never any trouble. I am very fond of wrens.

I moved everyone into another field as the bigger sods (horses) were leaning over the fences to reach the better grass on the other side, rather than making a clean plate of the grass they had.

It won’t do their old field any harm to be left to benefit from our Indian summer – there may even be a bit more grass growing, which would be nice for later on.

So off they all trotted.

Silver was busy being a big-boy with his best friend, Kappi.

The other two Minions were wandering about looking bored so I gave them their “toy box” and sat back to watch them play.

Waffle didn’t stay for long and came over to be hugged leaving Storm to play his favourite game – buckets!

Storm loves buckets.  Lots of buckets.  The more the merrier.  He takes them all out and investigates each one.

I have seen one other pony do this but Storm likes to roll with his head in a bucket and I have no idea why.

Has anyone else seen this and couldn’t you just tickle that tumbly?

Storm is the funniest of the three Minions.  He is an optimist and a clown with silly billy corkscrew bucking which he does when he is feeling very happy or done something very wicked.  It makes me laugh as he knows I will always forgive him.

He has the biggest sense of humour of the three and is always the clown.

(not sure about these black frame lines *sniff* – it was a speriment)

A lovely ride this morning on Haakon.  We went to the galloping track escorted by BeAnne and had an excellent blast up and down at full pelt.  It certainly blew the cobwebs away and Haakon was his usual incredibly safe and reliable self.

This afternoon was spent in the field with my boys.  I sat down, they ate and investigated and we had some lovely chats.

There was also lots of mutual grooming between everyone.

And we all appreciated this Indian summer we are having.

I love this photo as it makes BeAnne look ginormous in comparison to Waffle.  Yes, he is very small.

Actually both him and Storm are still tiny but very very cuddly.

The horses quickly surrounded me with Klængur standing over me.  He has the kindest eyes and some days he just wants to be with me.

I made a short film of my perspective while sitting in the field.  I would probably not sit like this with the mares, though.  Geldings and a stallion are far calmer to be around and I am always watching them for any change in behaviour or situation.

I can’t see beyond my nose for the fog that descended the minute there was mention of incredible Northern lights over the next few nights due to a mahoosive solar storm that zapped the Earth last Wednesday.

Depressed muchly. I had even set up two cameras (one for movies, one for stills), found memory cards, worked out which bit went where, even RTFM’ed before turning the house upside down twice looking for a specific left-handed blivet that attached a camera to a tripod.

So now fog.

Of course the horses made the most of this and promptly hid, making no noise at all.  I would have had to walk round the 20 acre field had it not been for Taktur’s internal alarm clock that tells him whether he has had his grub for the day.

Today was Haakon’s turn for the a ride.  I had wanted to take him the galloping track, which I was reliably informed had been opened, but didn’t want to risk our safety riding on the road with almost nil visibility so we stuck to the school. Maybe tomorrow.

I also had a quick Minion.  It was lovely and the boys are growing a good winter coat now.  Their little noseys remain delicious and infinitely kissable.

It is eerily silent outside.

My theory is that the birds don’t dare fly much in the fog in case they bump into each other!