While we were moving Velvereta to the stable the other week, we brought Melinda with us as she was looking very thin too.  The vet checked her and said she was still producing milk.  As Zoot was in the field with her, all fingers pointed at the little madam helping herself from the bar.  So much for weaning themselves.

So we removed Melinda and put her in another field to put on some weight.  The vet, at the time, checked her over and said he could find no reason for this weight loss.  We will continue to monitor her progress.

Meanwhile, because Velvereta tragically died, this left Melinda on her own.  None of our ponies/horses ever live on their own.  So we went and fetched Verona as she was the other mare due to foal.

She looked fine, but not in foal.  She is keeping Melinda company and we have noticed that she bullies her off her hard food, so perhaps that is another reason for Melinda’s meagre frame.

Today, I thought I would go and look at Verona to make my mind up once and for all about whether she is in foal and I think I have come to the conclusion that it is a definite no.  I looked at her from all angles and I am pretty sure she is not hiding a foal anywhere.

So that will be no foals for us, which is not such a bad thing as the Gods seemed to have given us The Bebbies to look after.

This year, Indy will not run with our mares but go off for a holiday to another stud.   Anyway, Taktur is going to be busy this year.

If I am having a foal withdrawal, there are plenty of Shetland pony bebbies nearby that I can snog and scratch.

The view from my garden – lovely peace and quiet.

As I had such a tedious day yesterday, I thought I would go and have some Bebbie Time.   The minute they spied me, they came running, giggling.  I noted the mood.

So I threw them the carrots I had brought onto the ground. They were hoovered up enthusiastically.

I think the bebbies stayed still for about a minute and I took some portrait shots.  Not enough time for one of Storm, though.

Then off they went again, giggle, giggle.

An innocent face?

And the teeth come out!

So off they go, again.

**** sigh, little boys  ****

In the end I gave up trying to talk to them.  The bebbies just wanted to play, play and play.

I think the pictures speak volumes on how they are and how they are feeling.  I hope you like these photos – look at their enthusiasm and their regained love of life.

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For me, those pictures say it all.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

Remember, on 28th January, they looked like this…..

I spent the day in Aberdeen – first flight out of Shetland at the crack o’ sparrows (I slept the whole way), saw my spinal surgeon’s team, then back on the afternoon flight (I slept again).

Away from home, I missed my dogs and I missed my ponies.  I even imagined bringing the Bebbies to Aberdeen departure lounge.  They would’ve loved all those victims, sorry new people, to talk to and would’ve happily galloped up and down. The only problem would’ve been that horrid laminate flooring which would’ve made their little hooves slip, but on a plus it would’ve been easy to clean up any messes – a girl can dream while sitting for hours in the Airport Lounge.

Going south makes me realise just how much I hate going south.  This time yesterday I was walking the dogs in my apportionment and watching them run or stand in a bog!

Anyway, I will stay on these NHS books just in case anything spinal deteriorates. I will admit that I am not feeling that brilliant at the moment and back on the painkillers, which is strange considering it is warming up outside. I should feel better as the weather improves.

I missed everyone even though I was only away for a day.  My life is very different from everybody’s south.  It is only when I go there that I realise this.

I left food out for The Bebbies.  Apparently they were kind to him!

A nice day.

The Bebbies were waking up from their after-lunch rest so I thought I would introduce them to Haakon and Fákur (pronounced Fow-kurr) who were mooching around together.

Fákur (posh name – Fákur frá Storavatnskarði – I can’t even begin to tell you how to pronounce that) was delighted to meet them.  He is such a charming old gentleman (think Sergeant Wilson) while Haakon (Captain Mainwaring) was a miserable old sod and showed his stallion-esque tendencies.  I threw him quickly back into the field so he couldn’t hurt my bebbies.

There was much giggling, smirking and showing off.  It was obvious that Torbjørn wants to grow up to be like Fákur (I don’t dare tell him that he is doomed to be forever tiny).

Fakur was very nice and kind to them, until Torbjørn tried to have sex with him and then he was rather shocked at this surprising behaviour.

But they all relaxed and ended up eating together which was lovely to see.

Haakon continued to be a git but to be fair the bebbies did go and wind him up on purpose.  They are rather good at that.

Little steps.  Perhaps I will put their Uncles Fákur and maybe Iacs in their field in a while.

A friend wrote “I dreamt last night that PingPong came to live in my back garden.”  Obviously I can’t package him up and send him south to live in her back garden, but I can go and take photos of him for her.

It was lovely to see the happy little herd.  Indy was on very good form and has not lost any of his huggability this winter.

Here he is, in all his glory – (mebbe I should use photoshop and then I thought, nope, Indy as the Gods made him).  It is nearing that time of year when he likes to wave it about to impress the laydeeeez!  Avert your gaze if offended.

We were in their field because Jo was trimming feet.  We did bring a headcollar but it would only fit Hammy who was having one his anti-headcollar moments.  Andy had his feet done while Hammy watched.

PingPong played with the head collar attached to a dog lead.  We are not very good at having the right kit with us.

As Hammy was in his twit-mood, Jo did his feet in the most dangerous way she could think of – between the stallion’s bum and with no head collar on Hammy.  Being Indy, he was most obliging and she used him to balance herself.

Hammy did try, honest, he did.

Charlie looked very moth-eaten.  We cannot decide whether this is due to the endless roughhousing or actual bugs.  If it is lice, we can treat that.

This is his “orphan-nobody-loves-me” face.  I wonder whether we could send Charlie with PingPong to live in my friend’s garden.  He would like that.