My OH (other half) and Daisy helped me with the Minions today.  I wanted to have a start at getting the tats out of their coats.

We caught and tied each Minion up to string on a separate hitching post outside and “attacked” them one at a time.

First was Storm.  He was the most revolting and I felt very sorry for him.

Piles of fur was cut out and he was so good about it.  I had the front end to talk to and cajole into behaving. That was my job.

Next was Waffle.  He was very patient and has always loved me grooming him.  He gets so hot when the sun shines that he wants rid of his baby fluff as soon as possible.

The front is tatty and the workers cut it away as much as they could.

Such a good little boy.

There were offers of help and support.

Waffle found the stripping comb.  I removed the stripping comb.

Lastly, it was Silver’s turn.  He had a bit of a tantrum with the clipping.

The others were very busy getting up to no good.

We put out some “toys” to keep the children entertained.

Daisy’s jacket.

Buckets

They love buckets

They really love buckets!

We will do more gradually over the summer.   This is definitely work-in-progress for all three colts.

Daisy and I decided that the Minions (new name for the Bebbies) could meet Iacs. They had already been introduced to Fakur who had been very nice to them, considering some of their appalling previous behaviour.

We kept Taktur, Haakon and Kappi away, behind an electric fence.  It left the situation nicely under control.

So we opened the Minions’ gate and let them meet up outside.

Iacs was very tolerant.

The boys were very eager to reintroduce themselves to Fakur.

He was gentle with them, if they behaved and is a good influence for manners.

Iacs just looked bemused, if a little worried.

As usual, the Minions were obsessed with bottoms …..

http://youtu.be/JHYkH4AHnnQ

Storm adored Fakur.

He stood behind him and gazed in wonderment at this noble beast.

When he grew slightly braver, he decided to see what would happen if….

he let his enquiring mind get the better of him….

So Fakur told him and he learned a valuable lesson.

This is the kind of education that these boys can only learn from their elders and betters.  A herd education is essential otherwise I will have three Thuglets.  Once they are castrated, I will put them in with the herd where the big ones can teach them what they need to know.

Daisy is home from university (St Snotwort’s) for the summer holidays – yay!

Taktur, her stallion, was very pleased to her. We have agreed to share him between us.  I get his bottom and his left nostril and ear to kiss.  Daisy gets the rest.  That is a fair deal, I think.

BeAnne rode her horse for her.

Taktur and I had our regular work-out with our dynamic speed-walk to create some muscle.  It is all about stretching and speed.

BeAnne ZZZZZzzzzzz ed …… as did Iacs.

Then Daisy rode her Iacs.

He was so happy. and attempted his new-found tölt (though minimal) for her.  It will need work but she is up for the challenge.

Then I rode Haakon and Daisy took photos of us.  I seem to have “bitchy resting face” while Haakon is doing his very best. Ok, ok, we are never going to set the world on fire with our tölt but it is comfortable and has a good rhythm.

Next Daisy rode Bjørn’s Kappi round the school.  Kappi and Daisy are good friends from last summer.

As if not exhausted already (apparently she got up to come home at 05:00).  I dragged Daisy off to see the Bebbies and noted, en route, that the orchids are starting.  This heralds the beginning of summer for me.

The Bebbies were pleased to renew their acquaintance with Daisy.

Although utterly revolting from the last two days of constant rain, they managed to be in good spirits and happy to kill each other.

Tomorrow, we are going to attempt to brush them. To be honest, I dread it.  They look repulsive.

Tomorrow I am off to Aberdeen for an MRI of my pelvis (gynaecological) and spine (lumbar and sacral).  Hey ho.  It takes an hour.  I hope I don’t move.

Anywho, I wanted give myself some relaxing thoughts to take with me.  These photos were taken on Monday when it was hot, hot, hot in Shetland.

BeAnne was very hot so I took her swimming in our stream that runs through all our fields.

She was very enthusiastic and dived in after every stick I threw.  Not an easy task as there are few trees here.  So I threw in rotten pieces of redundant fence posts.

BeAnne loves swimming but I worry that she might take herself down to the stream without me knowing.  Supervised swimming is the only way.

Anyway, afterwards, the Vision of Canine Beauty and I went back up the hill to lie outside absorbing essential Vitamin D.

I lay in front of the house.  The Icelandic horses were about, eating and generally chilling around me.

There was the odd snuffle and wet nose investigating my comatose self but I felt safe and happy that there would be no low-flying hooves or teeth.  I trust my herd.

Just smiles and snuffles.  Perfect bliss.

I was thoroughly investigated by everyone and then mostly left alone.  Some returned but, while the grass is newly green, it held a bigger draw.

Suddenly, I heard a thud, tinkle, thud.  I got up to see Taktur had managed to fit into the world’s oldest knackered goat/chicken shed.  It is tiny but he was in there.

How?  I don’t know.  Perhaps he reversed into it.  He was very happy.

I suggested he came out but, nah.  That was not going to happen.

So I gave up and went back to my sunbathing.  Taktur’s problem.  He put himself there, he could get himself out.

It was fine, Taktur emerged a few minutes later to eat the grass I happened to by lying on.

Peace, perfect peace.

The omens were good.  The Frilly was looking perky!

So, after Jo had shod Iacs for Daisy (who is home for the summer on Friday, yay!), we set off for the beach for a good cob-web blasting.

Iacs was not sure about the waves (more like ripples) touching his feet and did his best not to get even slightly wet.  So much for galloping through the surf.

Sadly, we had to put up with just enjoying the scenery and tölting along the beach having the best time.

I have been working hard with Iacs these past few days and somehow, somewhere he has dug deep and found a secret trotty tölt that has been lying buried in the dark recesses of his pea-like brain for the last 19 years.

He is also much more forward-going now.

Poor Daisy – no more slobbing along at the back for her.

As we passed the boys (Hammy, Indy, Andy and Charlie), I said “oh dear, we seem to have black silage wrap in the fence.”

Jo assured me that the black silage wrap was actually my multi prize-winning Shetland stallion, Millhouse Independant.

So around the village we tölted admiring the view and enjoying the sun.

The kids at the local primary school were having playtime and begged us to bring the horses up to stroke.  We stopped for a chat and they admired our noble steeds.

Once home, the boys were untacked and plonked in the stable while we had a cup of tea and then I took them back home.

Definitely more beach rides, methinks, once Daisy is back.  I’m still sitting here with a silly grin about Iacs’ tölt!