This afternoon Bozz-Bozz (aka Thordale Borealis) and Arcturus were brought into the shed and cleaned up to get ready for their travels into the big bad world.

They were both good little boys.  The final winter clags and nasty bits were removed with minimum fuss.

We made the last fuss of them and I know everyone will miss their chirpy helpful little faces over the fence.  Hammy was beside himself running up and down looking for his “bros”.

Both boys loaded into the trailer with a little hesitation.  Everything was new to them but they took it in their stride and got on with it.  They travelled side by side and were no bother.  We heard no crashing or bashing as we drove along.

So off we drove, first to drop off Arcturus in his new home, which is local.

We left him a Shetland “crue” which is a small pen. Upon his new owners return, they will hopefully find him there and he will not have wreaked havoc in their absence (oh, please God, no).

Next stop the freight port of Lerwick where the boat was waiting for us.  We were running late because two stupid cyclists waved us straight into an oncoming car which we only missed by the grace of God and all his Guardian Angels.  If you two are reading this, I hope you have a rectal prolapse on a sandy beach for what you nearly did.  You are truly moronic.

I inspected Bozz-Bozz’s new accommodation which was immaculate.  I could live there!

Jo unloaded our little lad and put him quickly into his new bedroom.

Door shut, his brand new headcollar and rope sent by his new owner were hung on the back of the box.

We left our little boy investigating his room for long ferry trip ahead.  He is on his way south to the Channel Islands to join Thordale Noggin (Fivla’s first foal – no relation).

We will miss Bozz-Bozz very much and have told him to behave himself.  He is a treasure and we wish him all the best in his future.  He has a lovely new home waiting.  And so we left him to be put onto the boat and to set off on his long journey….

Good luck to Bozz-Bozz and Arcturus.  We love you and are very proud of you! ❤❤❤

(and I so want a shot on that lifeboat thingy.  Apparently they just release the cable and you plunge into the sea very very fast!)

(Apologies for the excessive watermark but needs must when the Devil vomits in your kettle as Edmund Blackadder would say)

Jo has been doing some washing today in preparation.  First they had to be soaked in the bath.  The cardigans, or ganseys as they are known here, have been to New York and worn by different Shetland ponies.  They were returned to us filthy and we are very over-cautious about bio-security too.

Jo will check the ganseys over for any holes too and mending will be done, if required.  They were not really designed for walking in and I think they employed two lookey-likey Fivla and Vitamin ponies to do the Tartan Day parade in NY.  

Just think, the girls have body-doubles!  No comparison.  I have just deleted what I truly think of this but if you know me well, you can imagine – sniff.

Our Fivla and Vitamin’s presence has been requested so we are starting the preparation and planning stages.  Next week is going to be a busy one for us all.  Of course, I shall be ready with my camera.  Our first appearance is for the Shetland Summer of Sport, Games for Scotland Programme – Celebrating One year to go to Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 at Gilbertson Park on Tuesday, between 17.00 – 19.00

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So we will wash and brush the ladies on Sunday to make them all beautiful, not that they aren’t naturally gorgeous anyway, but a bath never hurt anybody and Fivla’s tail is a bit yellow.

I will keep you posted as we go and who we meet!

A morning spent in Lerwick doing messages (** boring **) and then we beetled home in time for some visitors who had come all the way from Yell to kindly bring me a saddle to try.  In return I introduced them to Taktur, who Daisy generously offered to fetch from his field.

Taktur duly did the Meet N’ Greet and the visitors were duly impressed (well, they all made the right noises about his incredible beauty, generosity of spirit and utter gorgeousness).  I showed them our party-trick – turn on the forehand – ta da!

BeAnne was a little put out at the attention button being set on Divert so she did her party trick, which is to turn someone into her slave.

Next, Jo turned up and so we let all the dogs out to socialise and run about.  It is all good practice for Monsieur Loki who is still abit growly around Beeble and Snati.  He still hasn’t forgiven them for barging in on Day 1 as if they owned his new house and family.

Then we opened the gate to the big field and they all rushed off (except for BeAnne and the beagles).

It was lovely to watch the dogs run down the hill at 100 mph….

…. and then run back again when called.  Loki was watching what the others did so he could follow them.  If they can teach him to return when asked, then all to the good.

BeAnne just sat on her fat little bottom refusing to move.  She doesn’t believe in unnecessary exertion unless obvious rabbits are included and she also hates being rolled by 3 dogs galloping over her.  She gets a bit sniffy.

Now, if they could just teach Loki about cats (yes, this is Wuss’ favourite place up on the roof looking down with disgust), then we are doing very well.  Another failure cat day – sigh – his only bad behaviour, though on a good note he is beginning to play a little with a tennis ball even if he has no idea why or what to do with it.

Loki is enjoying himself, I think.  Just stop enjoying the bloody cat!

So how are we getting on? I hear you ask and thank you for asking.  Well, Loki is settling in.

It has nearly been a week and we are still getting to know each other.

Loki has learned his name but has very selective hearing, not dissimilar to other dogs we know….. *** cough *** Jack!

Loki likes to run and run and rabbits set him off, which is to be expected really. Beautiful and graceful to watch and we are working on his recall skill which has plenty of room for improvement.  He definitely likes being part of the family, though, and that is very nice to know.

Within the enclosed house, gardens and yard area, Loki is good off a lead and is completely cured of chickens.  He doesn’t look at horses either.

BeAnne likes Loki and they go around together very happily.  She teaches him what is acceptable and what is not.  He is always clean in the house, doesn’t steal, rarely plays (sadly) and never chews.  BeAnne plays all the time with the new toys I bought him.

Things that are out-of-bounds – chickens, sheep, and Wuss.  We are working on the last two.  Wuss is very unamused still.  He is not happy to discuss the new Loki-shaped arrival because he was chased the first few days and spends his days upstairs on the bed sulking and mooching about the roof.

We are working on everyone’s attitude and, to be honest, BeAnne is not helping as she joins in the chase winding up Loki as she goes after Wuss.  She is a naughty girl and knows better.  Wuss and BeAnne sleep on the same bed most days.  I think Loki, in his previous life, might’ve been encouraged to chase cats.  Not good.

Anyway, Loki is being castrated on Friday and I hope that might slow him down for a few days.

So there we are.  Getting along.  A few wrinkles to iron out but nothing we can’t deal with, I hope.

Since his arrival from Iceland, Klængur has always been a bit of a nervous Nellie.  I should have worked more with him but medical reasons forbade it.

Mostly he has been left to rot in his field, which is no bad thing to have a holiday from work, training and expectation.  It has done him no harm and actually he is much calmer now.  At the moment he is being encouraged to lower his head and trawl along with his nose on the floor, ie stretch.  He could not do this when we first got him.  He worried too much about boggarts everywhere – they were mostly residing in his head and of his own invention.  He is a worrier.

Klængur is a changed bloke now – happy to potter about and he has started to communicate with his rider, Daisy, who is doing all the work these days for me. I just stand on the sidelines and watch.

Today Bjørn gave Daisy a lesson on Klængur which was great for me to watch.  He appreciated that Daisy has been working hard with Klængur recently and her work has paid dividends.

She tries to ride Klængur most days and I think they are happily getting to know each other well now and to, more importantly, trust each other.  When I bought him from his owner in Iceland, I was told  that once Klængur trusts you, then he will give you the world.

So many half-halts, bending and shoulder-in and Klængur´s tölt becomes much clearer.  There is still much for Daisy to work with but the foundations are there.

And Klængur trusts Daisy and she always thanks him, and then he knows he has done good.  Very important.

Daisy still likes to ride Iacs but today he parked himself in the muck-heap so we left him there to find spiritual enlightenment.  Probably searching for his brain which is he left lying around because he wasn’t using it!