Come on, Celt, in your bed.

When you ran, you looked like you were flying.

You taught BeAnne everything, all her manners.

You put up with her and were so kind when she used to bounce asking you to play with her even when you didn’t want to.

You were the Batman to her Robin and we would laugh as we watched you together while you took the time to teach her how to be “a proper dog”.

You were our family.  Everyone who met you loved you.  Never a cross word, ever.

You were loved and now there is a huge gap.

Sleep well in front of a warm fire.

xxx

I was waiting for Bjørn, Taktur, my 4 year old stallion’s trainer to arrive.

He asked me to go and get him out of his field as he had hurt his foot, thinking that someone else would be around that I could delegate this job too.

As there was no one, I walked (very carefully, I promise), across the hill, went into the field, where Taktur approached me, almost put on his own headcollar, followed me back to the gate.  I opened it, he walked through, did a turn on the forehand to wait while I tied up the gate and then followed me back across the hill to the indoor school.

I did not touch the rope that was draped across his neck.

I then spent the next few minutes taking a few snaps, like you do.

I have never met a 4 year old stallion quite like Taktur.  He is incredible.  Not only ridden, but his attitude.  I can’t describe it.  If Bjørn had asked me to fetch any other horse (including possibly Haakon) out of the field today, I would’ve said no, my back is not up to it.  But, because it was Taktur, I knew everything would be alright.  He would be a calm, dignified gentleman.  There is never any meanness in him, no boyish games, or seeing whether there is a chink in anyone’s metaphorical armour, Taktur just does whatever you ask him.  He is very different from your average 4 year old stallion – a wise head on young shoulders who just wants to do what you ask him to do.  If you pat him to say thank you, he glows with pride and shines and tries even harder the next time.  It is lovely to watch.  He has a huge sense of humour with his herd – the best of friends with Haakon, but when it comes to people, all bets are off, he just knuckles down to do the very best he can every time.  You never go back a stage, always forward.

Jo returned Taktur to his field, after Bjørn had finished training him, as she turned up later whereupon Taktur rolled and became very slightly less handsome!

Some info and older pics. ….

   I

Do you ever have days when you just want to withdraw quietly from society?  You know, close your Facebook account and regain anonymity?

I woke up at 05.00 and went outside.  Just me, the sea-fog rolling in, the birds and OH’s garden making the effort.

And then BeAnne turned up.

That’s all I need really. Her and me.  Some times I find the world is just too much and I want it to go away and leave me alone.  Jo calls them “ten feet away days” and she is right.

I need a drawbridge.

So, I went back to bed – the road to recovery is long but I always have canine company, so never lonely.

And, at the moment, I want to be left alone to get on with it.  It is my own fault.  I keep looking at other people’s lives and feel absolutely no affinity with anyone.  Outside is another world and I don’t feel like I belong to it or ever will, to be perfectly honest.

It feels like we haven’t done this in an age.  Well I haven’t and won’t but just to watch others….. go riding.

The tidy-up has made a huge difference.

Everything is in its place and a place for everything.

The control freak in me likes that.  I just hope I can remember where all these places are!  Lucky for me, I have BeAnne who will find anything including otter shit!

Anyway, Jo rode Haakon, Fiona rode Iacs and Bjørn rode Taktur frå Velli II, my 4yo stallion.

They started by a spot of grooming.  Fur everywhere as their winter coats are now beginning to come out.

Then they did a spot of training in the school together to loosen up the horses and yes, the caravan is still in the middle and that reminds me, I must get it moved but no one minded.

Once kitted up with Hi-Viz for safety on the roads (to state the bleedin’ obvious) in case anyone mistakes Jo for a Mounted Policewoman astride her (my) noble steed of a Police Horse that is 13.3hh, small, fat and very hairy.

For crying out loud, would you mistake this as a policewoman? I mean seriously?  Would you?

Are you now hiding your hessian bag done up with string marked SWAG in huge letters (hopefully wearing your pale blue pyjamas with arrows on) as you cower at the thought of being arrested by this?

If so, get some glasses and maybe get a life.  Rant due to ridiculous Daily Mail article – Whoa! Horse riders wearing hi-viz could be arrested for impersonating police  It is laughable. It truly is.

Anywho, Jo escorted her prisoners, sorry, friends, out on a trek.

And then they all came back with big cheesey grins.

Well, I’m glad someone enjoyed themselves.  The tail-end Charlies were too busy learning to tölt.  Remember this is a 4 year old stallion who was sitting in a field in Iceland last August having never had the hand of man upon him.

I am just so impressed with my boy (Taktur, obviously).  He is an absolute treasure. This is his listening face.

Did your kids have Tidy-Up-Time at Nursery?

Well, mine did and that phrase has stuck.  Jo and I have been meaning for ages to have a tidy-up-time in the indoor school, putting stuff where it is meant to be and not where it has ended up.

The new dog club in Shetland, Utlima Canis, arrived in droves today to help, sort out and settle themselves in a corner of my agricultural shed/indoor riding school.  The corner we set aside for them needed to be sorted out first so Jo and Richard attacked it with gusto.

Our dogs stayed out of the training area and they happily got in our way.  This is Snati’s pathetic face while we try to move the benches while he sits on them.

BeAnne did some Meet and Greet but, to be honest, she was not keen. She liked the idea far more than she liked the dogs.

This darling little Border Terrier got told his manners in no uncertain terms.

But mostly BeAnne stuck with me and I wandered about ineffectively (please don’t give me another bollocking, honestly, I touched nothing – if you don’t believe me ask Jo)

Meanwhile Ultima Canis did some of what they do, like Ringcraft and stuff (stuff means I was not watching so haven’t really got a clue).

The caravan is on its way out but the battery in the Land Rover has mysteriously died so it will go to its summer location sometime next week.

They all seemed happy enough working around it.

Luckily, for our non-working dogs, a lovely gentleman turned up and BeAnne spent her time talking to him since he was not busy.

Once he had fallen under her spell, Snati (Jo’s collie pup) decided he could join in too.

I suppose none of our dogs are used to other dogs being in the shed.  It is their territory and they are happy enough with each other’s company and know the drill.  To see other dogs inside must be very strange and disturbing to them.

This is BeAnne retreating having investigated the training scene.  You can see her think no, this was not her type of thing.  Her face says it all.

I really do need to go for a ride.  I need to, but I won’t. If you knew me, you would understand why. BeAnne has had some Rescue Remedy.