On our travels to Sandness a few days ago, it seemed only right to drop in on the girls (and boy, Klængur) who are all living at Jo’s.  I have not really had the chance to get to know my Icelandic girls, Hetja and Esja properly.  Esja is growing up fast and becoming a very nice mare.  She has the same gentle noble presence that Hetja has.  She couldn’t have a better role model than Hetja and you can see that she looks up to her and studies her carefully.

Klængur was in the stable letting his feet dry out a bit.  He appears less lame and very happy with his lot.  Even if I never ride him again, he is the most huggable horse I know.  I will hug him forever instead.  Anyway, fingers crossed for my boy.  I miss him being with me.

Having exhausted the hugging potential of all things equine, we went inside to annoy Jo as well as providing Snati with some entertainment in the form of BeAnne, who had come along for the ride.

While we had a cup of tea, BeAnne and Snati played the best game – Crocodiles!  It was very funny to watch them play.  I bet BeAnne wishes she had never taught Snati this game when he was a puppy but she gave as good as she got and come home and slept afterwards!

Daisy and I drove over to see our Shetland ponies.  The boys were miles away and perfectly happy without us.  So we left them there.

Next was the mares.  Same.  Lyra remained unhugged, as did Zoot.  The herd was in a sheltered part of the field with masses of grass, and we drove off rather than walk miles and drag them up to stand miserably in the mud by the gateway.

It wasn’t all disappointment, though, as we saw some hill ponies on the way home.  They were grazing on the open scattald (hill) near a freshwater loch in the lee of the hill.  It was blowing a hooley so they were being very sensible in finding grass to eat in a sheltered spot.  Native ponies instinctively know these things.

I like hill ponies.  They are inquisitive and sometimes very useful.  A few years back we were exploring on horseback deep in the hill.  We were stuck and there bogs on every side – no way forwards and no way back.  Determined to keep going, we were trying to work out the safest route when out of nowhere a Shetland pony mare and her foal appeared.  They were unperturbed by our presence and walked carefully through the bog letting our horses follow while leading us to safety.  And then they disappeared.  It was a very magical moment and one I will never forget.  Shetland ponies know their way through bogs.

I was told that the Sandness road was built by releasing a herd of Shetland ponies and where they went was where the road was constructed.  Now how true that is, I really do not know. 

When the bad weather stops, we will try and visit Lyra again.

Our client, Lord Famous of Thordale, announced that one white chicken was missing yesterday.  Whilst surveying his mighty realm, he had done a head count only to discover we were one chicken short.

Another pressing matter was the mysterious disappearance of our beloved black and white cat (Wussumly of Thordale) who vanished at the same time.  Evidence was found – his food had remained untouched, though a small terrier might’ve helped herself.

Panic ensued.  Sleepness night(s) of worry from the household.  The family had already suffered a similar case before with a less favourable outcome, i.e. Wil-yum who never came home one night.

Fingers were pointed, accusations were made and the family was in upheaval.  Lord Famous of Thordale decreed that the main suspect in the Case of the Missing Chicken was Wussums.   He said “it was only a matter of time before he made a mistake and showed his true self”. Hence the reason for his well-timed disappearance.

Utilising the famous theory of Sherlock Holmes “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”, Daisy and I decided to examine all the other potential suspects and uncover the mystery.

Suspect No 1 – Jack(et Potato) – unlikely as sufficient effort would be required to dispose of chicken and/or cat and he is very vocal (not a silent killer).

Suspect No 2 – Loki – Wu’s sworn nemesis.  It has to be said that I did suspect Loki a little.  You only have to look at this photo to see just how guilty he was when questioned.  He failed the lie-detector test.

Suspect No 3 – BeAnne Duvet Soufflé Princess Chantelle Shaznay – another very likely candidate as she hates the chickens especially the cockerel.  Upon questioning, she denied ever seeing Wu.  However, she did withhold evidence (his food).

Having returned from the mighty heaving bustling metropolis that is Lerwick, it was discovered (by myself and Daisy because we had to feed Taktur) that the lost chicken had in fact spent 48 hours in the shed.  Case closed.

Wu returned in the early hours of this morning.  He had obviously been out in the storm and his coat was muddy, dirty and not in its usual clean condition.  His happy chirrupy enthusiasm to see us makes us wonder if he had been stuck somewhere and had a long walk back. He is currently recovering on his bed and the family rejoiced at his return and begged him never to leave them again.

This was a serious case of two and two making five, specifically due to a lack of appropriate deductions from Lord Famous.

All suspects were cleared though a public apology was demanded by the family for Wu, from the Lord Famous of Thordale himself.

I suppose it was elementary, my dear Wussums. Just the two cases solved today. Bring me the crime section of the paper; the game is afoot.

Daisy riding Kappi (gelding), Jo on Hetja (mare) and Fiona on Hreyfing (mare) decided to ride from Sandness to Thordale, in Mid Walls.  This is over 11 km with four cattle grids included.  I very kindly and selflessly volunteered to open and close the cattle grid gates for the riders so I went ahead in my car, with BeAnne for company (though she sulked for most of it as I wouldn’t let her go along with the horses and riders).

En route they met some hill ponies who were fascinated by these larger versions of themselves. Icelandic horses get along very well with Shetland ponies.  They all speak the same language.

I did wonder if they would follow them. It has been known but they decided to stay back at a respectful distance.

As I waited in the old quarry at Dale of Walls, I saw Bjørn riding my stallion, Taktur down the road.  He had also brought Amina, the nicest GSD in the world.  They were coming from Thordale to meet the girls.

Bjørn dismounted to wait until the others arrived.

Taktur could tell there were ladies approaching and neighed to let them know of his gorgeous presence.

Apparently they heard him and speeded up!

This was Taktur’s first time seeing the girls outside.  He had met them previously in the school but not to be up next to.  His eyes were on stalks with anticipation.

I warned everyone that it was every man for him/herself from now on as they were riding mares with a stallion for the first time.

And so they all rode onwards with Taktur, who was a very happy gentleman.  He walked along beside them and did exactly what was asked.  I should not have worried but it is always good to state the bleeding obvious, I find.

No one put a foot wrong.  Good manners were adhered to at all times and I think it was a very successful ride for everyone.

Jo brought Fákur frá Stóra-Vatnsskarði over this morning.    We were doing a swap.

Everyone was queuing up to meet and greet.

Introductions and re-acquaintainces were made.

Some showing-off too (look, look, look at me, I’m a stallion, me!)

So Jo, with her expert stallion-handling skills, took charge and we arranged the horses where we wanted them.

Three in the field while Taktur had his daily food and Klængur into the trailer to go away with Jo. He will be better off there and she will try and get to the bottom of his lameness (probably literally as she is a registered farrier).  She also has a stable he can go into at night.

Taktur was very taken with Fákur who has always been a bit of a stallion magnet.  Previous stallions make a bee-line for him.  He gets very embarrassed.

I think it is because he has such an alluring face….    

…. and does a very passable Lady Di impression!

Haakon and Fákur are old friends.  They go way back.

The girlie squeals have died down now.  Taktur and Fákur will have to sort out their relationship and I expect it will dawn on Taktur soon that Fákur is not the girl he is waiting for.