I received a message from Jo this morning saying that Haakon was not happy and standing by himself in their vast field, totally ostracised by the others.  My poor lad.  I instantly got up, dressed and in the Land Rover to bring him home.

That dot in the distance is Haakon all by himself.

Here is Klængur preventing Haakon from joining the others (most odd, they are good friends at Thordale).

And Les Girls miles away ignoring the equine politics.

As the sun was shining and we had so enjoyed the beach yesterday, I tacked Haakon up while Jo tacked up Hetja and off we went again for another “training session”, ok blast!

I thought Haakon might be stiff from yesterday’s ride but he was rearing to go, quite literally – nothing scary, we know each other well.  Note the left ear back listening, always listening to his Mum.

Anywho, afterwards,I drove him home to Thordale.   Everyone was very pleased to see him, especially Taktur, my stallion who decided to follow him everywhere much to Haakon’s annoyance.

Taktur said he could smell girls and he liked that.

We had worked hard on today’s ride and I could see that Haakon really wanted to be left alone so he could roll.

Haakon is a funny old thing.  I suppose it is a bad time of year to introduce an old man into a herd of girls.  Klængur has been happily having his wicked way with them all so was not going to let Haakon near his ladies.  Haakon was a serving stallion many moons ago (he has progeny) and this is the first year I have seen him not trying to take all the mares for himself.  He was so pleased to be home, though.

I drove Haakon in the trailer over to Sandness today for variety.  Jo rode Hetja and we set off down to Norby Beach.

The beach was fantastic – ok, it was high tide but there was plenty of sand to tölt and walk on.  It changes with every storm.

Haakon has always loved the sea.  He likes paddling, slurping and generally playing in the foam. For some reason watching the waves go in and out while sitting on my horse makes me feel very sick.  I had to shut my eyes to take this photo.  Ugh, my head goes very wobbly.

So, we walked sedately down to the bottom end, had one argument over a small stream that apparently would kill us and then we turned round tölting back, all the way.  After that we went round the village in varying gaits, though speeding up when we got to Hammy, Indy, Andy and Charlie’s field.  They were at the bottom, miles away, and we snuck past at 100mph in case they came up to ruin the fence again.

I left Haakon at Jo’s so we can repeat this ride.  It makes a nice change for us both.  Haakon was very happy to meet everyone.

He doesn’t know Esja.

But he showed her his stallion-esque moves anyway.

I think this is where I shouted at them “do not lose your shoes or there will be trouble”.

And please tell me this is not any part of trot.  We never trot.  I hate trot!

I was on my own today.  OH went off to the Big L to fetch our weekly messages and Jo had borrowed my Land Rover.  I was going to be by myself with 5 horses, 3 bebbies, 3 dogs, 1 cat, 7 chickens, etc…..  (never alone).

Bessie, a friend who I have know since I arrived in Shetland, phoned.  She has always been a keen supporter of my equines since the original purchase of “super-tame” Fivla (the white one in the Fair Isle sweater Visit Scotland campaign).

Anyway, Bessie subsequently popped over this afternoon as she felt she should meet our latest arrivals – the Bebbies.  I warned her that they could be rather rumbustious but she was undeterred.  Tough lady.

I had fed the boys previously (Taktur’s leftovers mostly), given them “The Look”, warned them to behave and make me proud.  Sometimes, these three colts are not that good with visitors and tend to stay away rather than chat.  I suppose it is because they only see me on a regular basis (and Jo) really.  No one else.  But Bessie sat down and waited for them to come up to talk to her.  The natural Shetland pony inquisitiveness of the boys took over and Bessie was duly investigated, one at a time.

It was lovely to watch and I was very proud of my little lads.  They have come a long way.

Bessie even discovered which button to press on Storm, that makes him the happiest Storm ever.

Yes, it does look pervy but he just loves having his bum scratched!  He goes all “Elephant Nose”.

I think the lads have made a new friend.

I haven’t been anywhere for ages because I was scared my back would go “pop” and I would go “ow” so I have deliberately stayed at home boring you with tales of Taktur, his amazing ability to eat food as well the Bebbies’ every movement, interesting or otherwise.

This afternoon, BeAnne and I went to Sandness to see:-

• Indy (Shetland stallion of wide proportions)
• Hammie (Welsh Section A stallion-companion who, err, wintered well, shall we say)
• Andy  and Charlie, (half brothers – Shetland pony geldings, who are so fat you could set four for dinner with full regimental silver)

The boys were on good form and vaguely enthusiastic to see me.  They had been at the fence and we had words.  I love my fences. They do not deserve Shetland/Welsh pony bottoms.

My next plan is to attach it to the mains to stop the leaning and destroying. Fencing is not cheap and they all need to learn a lesson (that’s Indy’s stern look which I am adopting to make my point!)

Today it was Andy’s turn to look a bit strange – mostly it is Charlie who adopts the “mad face”.

The rest were busy hassling each other.

Indy was busy freshening up and I will give him a good brush before he goes out with his girls from another Stud so he will look extra handsome.

Meanwhile, Hammie kept him entertained by being annoying.  It is what he does best and why he stays at Thordale.

Indy gave as good as he got which makes Hammie very happy.   He loves a good reaction.  They are The Odd Couple (equine version).

On the way home, feeling very depressed about my fence or lack of it, the Gods smiled and rewarded me with a Mountain Hare.  I love them and mostly I see their bottoms as they hop away into the distance as fast as possible.

(It nearly killed BeAnne to stay silent in the car while I took photos – but she did, bless her.  Extra gravy bones all round).

The Boy come in for his Handsome Prince food, complete with waiting Vacuum (patent pending).

The “Fat Bottoms” were eating their daily batch of silage that I had put out for them.

This photo just makes me smile – an unlikely couple who get on very well.

While Himself was eating, I went to see what the Bebbies were up to.  Their food from yesterday was spilled and uneaten and I was unimpressed.  That grub is expensive and I hate waste.

My OH (other half) came home, having taken Loki for his walk in our fields.  The bebbies recognise him and, although still suspicious, they came up to talk to him.

I re-distributed the previously uneaten food to see if it was the wind that had blown the bowls over or three small ungrateful colts.  I generously thought it was the wind as they were happy to eat it this time round (and it would be back for breakfast or in sandwiches!)

Suddenly I found myself sitting in their shed by myself so I went outside to be confronted by this scene.

Taktur was holding Court so the bebbies were herded away and I removed his Handsomeness from his minions.

I returned Taktur to his unfinished bowl of food by his chin hairs.  We don’t believe in headcollars today.  He generously finished his grub and then sneaked back to talk to the bebbies but unfortunately for him, I knew he was going to do this and I snuck round the container and grabbed him before he could achieve his goal.  Back into his field he went with the good grace of knowing it was a fair cop!

I do love that boy (actually all my boys).