Yesterday, I suggested to Fi that she tried join-up (apparently Monty Roberts owns this word) with Hreyfing.

It is something we do if we feel it is appropriate to the horse and its relationship to his/her rider or handler.  There are many reasons for join-up, and if you want to know more about it, I recommend you read this – http://www.montyroberts.com/ab_about_monty/ju_about/

Hreyfing is not a “raw horse” but we thought it would be a good thing to try.

“Through body language, the trainer will ask, “Will you pay me the respect due to a herd leader and join and follow me?” The horse will respond with predictable herd behavior: by locking an ear on her, then by licking and chewing and dropping his head in a display of trust. The exchange concludes with the trainer adopting passive body language, turning her back on the horse and without eye contact, invites him to come close. Join-Up occurs when the animal willingly chooses to be with the human and walks toward her accepting her leadership and protection. This process of communication through behavior and body language and mutual concern and respect, can be a valuable tool to strengthen all other work with horses.” – Monty Roberts.

Jo and I guided Fi from the sidelines, telling her what to do and what to look for, ie the signs Hreyfing was giving off and what they meant.  It all went like a text-book and worked very well.

Having not really been around Hreyfing and Fi much, even I could see their relationship instantly move up another level.  We wanted Hreyfing to stop thinking about Hetja and start listening to Fi.

After that success, Fi tacked up Hreyfing and I asked her to casually walk about the school to see if Hreyfing would follow, ie start to reinforce this relationship whilst being ridden too.

I didn’t take any photos of Fi riding Hreyfing but she remained calm and receptive and they were both communicating much better.  That’s the thing about horses, they ask you to learn to listen.

Hetja and Haakon watched on.

A sad day for Taktur.  He learned what the electric fence did.  Needs must when the Devil vomits in your kettle.

I feel bad but Taktur would not take us seriously.   The girls arrived in the trailer.  Last time, I was told he tried to break the fence to get to them.

He tried to do it again today and started to threaten to push the fence down, or jump it.  This was the thin end of the wedge.  Next he had his head over and used his mighty chest to shove.

So we called in Fence Patrol to repel borders.

But Taktur didn’t really care and persisted, even though the girls were now in the school.  We told him what we would do.  He watched Jo very carefully.

(Fence Patrol still on stand-by)

And then he didn’t believe that we would or we could ……. (note the mouth)

So we did and Taktur learned the hard way.  He was rather dischuffed. That’s his “lonely little petunia in an onion patch” face.  He is probably eating worms too because absolutely nobody loved him by then.

The girls were ridden in the school and all went very well.

I even had Haakon in to groom, talk to and sniff.  It was lovely to see him again and we had the best time together, even if I didn’t ride.

BeAnne put up with the horses too, bless her.

So after we had finished, we put the girls back in their trailer.  To be honest, Hetja did not help.

Jo and Fi drove away with them.  This is the second before you-know-what is going to happen.

And Zap.  Sorry, mate, you are not going too.

“Come back, come back.  Bring me my Hetja.”

I felt bad but needs must. Taktur has to learn that no is no.  The girls left without him.  He can look but he can’t touch.  Yet.

I was offered a photographic assignment today.  A free-for-all but, who knows, my photo might be chosen.  I was happy to do the work.

So I hopped into the car and drove about the Westside looking for particular types of buildings.  That was the spec.  Buildings.

Here are a few photos from my travels today.  Obviously some are not buildings and look like suspicious Shetland hill sheep.

I found some Shetland hill ponies too.   They were happily grazing away on the scattald.

The scattald is open hill, or common grazing.  The Autumn colours were magnificent and it was certainly the right day to go exploring.

There was intermittent rain and some looming skies put to good effect.

And, like you do, I met a fabulous dragon who was definitely supercilious.  I need to make friends with him and go back to make more photos.  I was very intrigued and scared at the same time.

I lent my camera to my friend to have a play with so she could try the lens.  She managed to take a photo of me looking rather Tibetan while I was not noticing!  An incredible feat, both looking Tibetan and having my photo taken.

Exploring Shetland on my own for the day with my cameras is my idea of bliss.  I turned the heater on full pointed at my feet and opened both front windows so I could use the car as a hide if I met anything that might run away.  I have many photos of sheep’s bottoms.

So now I am going to spend the evening going through over 1000 photos looking for the 15 that might, just might, fit the photo request.  Wish me luck.

Third day on the trot into town as yesterday I read my diary wrong.  So off I drove again feeling a bit silly and very wasteful of petrol too.  This time OH came too and we went to the garage to test-drive a car as well (two birds and all that).

Having got the measure of this new vehicle, I wanted to see if I could find reverse gear in a quiet and secluded place where no one would point and laugh.  We ended up next to Mr and Mrs Are-They-Eider-Ducks again and I took a few more pics.  So, are they?  Whoever they are, they were in the same place and when I am in next week, I will take my big camera for hopefully better pictures of them.  I hope they can hang around for a while as I am not going into Lerwick again.  I am not.  I am so cross with myself for reading my diary wrong.

We had some time to kill before we were expected to return the car to the garage.  Having driven round the Scalloway loop to find 5th gear, we parked at our favourite spot, (just opposite Tesco where they are going to build a cafe apparently).

The light was magical and I decided to make the most of it.

Ok, please can you tell what are these?  They were very busy on the seashoreand we liked them.  Note-to-self, I must put my bird book in the car.  I am fed up of not knowing what anything is.  Are they Redshanks?

Anywho, home again, home again.  I have had my fill of Lerwick for a while (and you have too probably).

By the way, you are always being watched in Shetland.

Today there was an embuggerance.

It started well. I saw my horses and thought Fakur was a pregnant mare as opposed to the fat gelding he is.

I thought this mare was Fakur and wondered why “he” had a sweaty noseband mark, even to the point of asking, only to be told he was a she!

Hetja was very in yer face but a snoggable nose, none the less.

On a good note, Esja is turning into a delicious girlie and I did recognise her.

Then we drove to Lerwick, did some messages, watched some ducks while eating chips for lunch (standard Shetland practice) ….

…. noticed the bad weather coming in, started the car to go to a vital appointment and it died.

So, to the complete stranger I dragged off the street to come and jump start my car, a huge thank you.  You are a jewel and I cannot tell you just how relieved I was to hear those magic words “I have jump leads”.

We headed straight to the garage where they calmly sorted it all out.  I love this garage.  They offer you coffee, sweeties and make everything instantly better.

Now feeling soothed, while the car was being mended, I seriously considered trading in my Yaris and buying a newer car.  As I have to go to Lerwick again tomorrow (wrong appointment day, I could kick myself), OH and I are going to test drive an Aygo.

So now slightly calmer about the car situation (I can’t cope when it dies, I panic especially on my own) we hit the street.

Fish, guinea pigs and dragons are very calming when you have had an embuggerance of a day (my mot du jour – it sums it up very well).

OH has just handed me a gin and tonic in a pint glass.  Nuff said.