Name this Horse?

It is pouring with rain today. We do need it to make the grass grow and we have not had rain for ages but it makes for a day of necessary chores rather than fun.

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Jo came over to do some work. I made a huge vat of soup and there were three lunch sittings in my kitchen with me washing up in between as we only have 6 bowls and 6 lots of cutlery including soup spoons in our lives.  It was lovely to see so many people and I might need a bit of a lie down now to recover. 

Every so often, I would brave the weather and pop by into the school to see who was doing what (control freak, moi? – au contraire).  That is Anna trying to teach Hammy to drive with the help of Fiona, while Iacs is acting as Moral Support in the background.

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A little guessing game – so who is this?

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Ok, a bit more of a clue….. a soggy lug?

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No?  One side of dripping mane….

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A revolting wet forelock….

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A knowing eye…. aww, come on, the eye must give it away – that look of steely determination (and missing his mum).

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Now, this is the vital clue….

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Yup, Jo was shoeing Haakon for me, not that I can ride him, but he has very peculiar feet and has to wear shoes all the time.  Barefoot would make him very unhappy.

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Some might say he stands like a giraffe or a camel – some might if they had a liking for hospital food.

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Anyway, I love him and I miss him very much.  Sometimes being on the ground is not the same as riding.  But hey-ho, I know my limits at the moment and I am listening to my surgeon, though I am sure he thinks I don’t.  Daisy is doing a very good job with him (Haakon, not my surgeon).

Meanwhile, Hammy craves constant support and attention, which Anna seems to have a shed-load of, an endless supply.  This is Hammy’s emotional “needy” face.

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I should be signing him up for therapy but he is Anna’s challenge for her “holiday” – and I use this word in its loosest of terms – the poor lass hasn’t stopped since she got here.

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Anywho, I have my therapy. Always there, if a little wet and smelly at times.

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I bet David Attenborough doesn’t have these problems

My day started well. I could see it had potential.  I was in the garden (a gorgeous day in Shetland, today) photographing when I saw this starling with a meal worm.  I was thrilled with the middle picture and then spent the rest of the day trying to achieve this again.

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With little, if no, success.

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Feeling a bit, meh about my already doomed potential starling photography career, I went to feed Taktur and talk to the lads.  They were like a comedy double act.

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Annoying….

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But very funny.  Not dissimilar to others, I know.  

Anyway, I digress.  

I returned to my spot in the garden, with my faithful and silent (note, silent, please) terrier with camera, and now a tripod, to sit patiently, David Attenborough-stylee, forever to wait for the starling parents to come and feed their babies.

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While I waited, I amused myself by taking a few photos of my surroundings, trying out various settings, like you do.

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I wanted to photo the birds going in and out of their nest in the wall of the old shed.

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I did manage a few pictures and was happy the starling parents weren’t really caring that I was so close.

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When along came two annoying giggling teenagers who should know better.

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So I did the tried and tested method of taking photos of them to put them off and make them go back indoors – it usually works.

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and failed.  They stayed.  

As I said, not dissimilar to two other certain little irritations…..

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So I went back to my photography trying my best to ignore them.

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And managed to get this film.

I was very pleased and I hope you enjoy it.  God alone knows why there is no sound and it appears to be very slowed down. I need to RTFM now about that technical reason.

So, I set the dog on the girls instead and they were horrible to her as well!

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I am going to train her to chase them out of the garden, like the chickens – watch ’em BeAnne!

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Don’t feel sorry for them. They deserve all they get!

 

Tölt is AWESOME!

Today Anna had a go on Kappi, Bjørn’s Icelandic gelding (I think she looks like an illustration from the lesser known children’s book, Pippi Longstocking Rides an Icelandic Horse!)

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Someone previously asked me to show them tölt on film – so here is a slowed down version (without the sound).  You can see the actual movements and foot fall of Kappi as he does a medium/slow tölt around the indoor arena.

[KGVID]https://myshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TOLT.mp4[/KGVID]

Here is the same film at its correct speed, with Bjørn’s commentary and yes, he does say Hallelujah!

[KGVID]https://myshetland.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/TOLT-2.mp4[/KGVID]

Anna said “Tölt is (and this word is banned in my house) AWESOME! It is amazing to experience it, especially on Kappi, who has such a lovely tölt. I hope to ride horses with this special and unique gait more in the future.”

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She had a brilliant time, using every muscle in her body, including the cheesey grin, and is perhaps aching a little now.  Kappi went very well for her.  He doesn’t have to and he certainly isn’t automatic.

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They also did some trot as well as walk, turn on the forehand and some leg yield.  All good riding experience and I got to practice my arty-farty shots too.

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I am sorry this is a short blog post, but I am exhausted. We spent the day in Lerwick and my legs have stopped functioning with my brain shortly following……

Riding, Art, Plaiting

I woke up this morning and bounced out of bed for the first time in ages.  With masses to do and the energy for once to do it, I put on the first load of washing, stood on my head in the deep freeze to find supper ingredients for 8 diners and then removed a small dog from one batch of washing on its way to the riding school (a chicken had shat on it all previously).

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Meanwhile the girls, Anna and Daisy, had driven down to Bjørn’s house to bring back Brekki and Kappi.  A friend had come over, spurred on by my offer to let Shetland folk come and have a shot at trying tölt.  This is her third go at riding an Icelandic horse, I think.

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Brekki is a darling Icelandic horse. He is just starting out and his heart is in the right place – he just wants to listen and learn.

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Everyday, I see him change and I think he is going to be the perfect family pony for someone.  Carol loved him.  They looked very settled together.

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Afterwards, Daisy had a quick go on Kappi.  Learning to ride Kappi will help her to understand and ride Taktur better.  Both horses are very similar and it is all good practice for Daisy.

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And then I went all arty-farty.

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And so had Anna…..

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There is a standing joke here at Thordale to say to the person who is acting groom “please can you plait my horse up for me?”  The usual reply is of the two fingered variety.  This time we were in for a shock –  Haakon’s manes quite something, though Anna bottled out of attempting anything with Iacs’ silly frilly.

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So, trying not to feel jealous, I sent them on their way for a nice trek – you can see Anna donated her hair bobble to impress us with her braiding as they call it over there.

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A Different Vibe

We went to see the bebbies today.

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There was a different vibe in the field now they are all together – the boys, the girls, the mums and their bebbies.  We have to watch ourselves very carefully and read every situation too.  Little “Dingo” decided she wanted to talk to Fakur who was having a bit of a sit. Fakur is a very old man now and you can see by his body language that he is aware of her and this could be an awkward situation.

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There is huge potential for her mother to come up and beat the crap out of him for just sitting down and being investigated by her little baby.

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Luckily for him, Dingo is just gently removed.  This is Melinda’s Dinosaur impression when her little Zoot goes a-wandering.  We all get out of the way quickly when she comes charging through to remove her very errant bebbie..

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Poor love, spends most of her day fielding Zoot out from everyone else’s business.

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Bad Zoot, Naughty Zoot who doesn’t give a damn and always returns to cause more trouble.

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She is very persistent and takes an interest in everyone and everything.

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Despite her strong will, I do think she is a very smart little filly.  Very nice indeed.  Holds herself well, has immense charm and is very eye-catching.

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Dingo (aka Arg Lucky Charm) is still aloof but letting us nearer and nearer.  Always watching but still not quite brave enough.

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She is very cute though.

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Zoot got her first kiss on her nosey today from Anna.

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She went all silly afterwards (Zoot, not Anna!)

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Whiffy has taken on the role of baby-sitter to anyone who asks.  I gave her a bit of a tidy up and we had a little chat too.

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(I must sort out something with my hair next)