Tag Archives: Fivla and Vitamin

A Second Breakfast

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I had to take a friend quickly to hospital at 6 a.m. so I left the morning chores to OH, shouting as I ran out the door clutching the car keys “Please feed everyone but don’t worry about pills, etc, I will deal with all of that when I’m back!”

So OH kindly gave the horses, ponies, and sheep their breakfast (which is usually my job) just minus the necessary pills, powders and potions.

Upon my return much later in the morning, I took a second breakfast over to the oldies.

Haakon needs his daily boswellia otherwise he becomes a giraffe!

The two little old ladies got a token gesture because I knew they would put in complaints to the management.

Ditto Kolka.  She would never allow anyone to eat a second breakfast if she wasn’t included. That’s probably The Law.

Bibble aka Iacs also needed his food because he has his daily four anti-cancer pills and I would worry that everything nasty would start sprouting again even if one day was missed.  His bucket is the most important.

Anyway, I told the horses and ponies that it was a one-off and they shouldn’t get used to it or shout “but we’re in a routine” after one day of a second breakfast.

I know everyone likes a second breakfast.

But it is not something I encourage for obvious reasons.

Rug Season

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I was hoping I could put off rugging for a while now and everyone would grow their thick winter coats. But the weather forecast is basically rain, rain and more rain in copious quantities for the foreseeable.

However, no one is thin and I am glad for that.

It’s been quite the struggle since the old horses and ponies came out of last winter looking very bleak, thin and angular. But I like to think I have triumphed.

Some have triumphed possibly a little too much.

After a day in the shed, nervously looking and re-looking at the weather forecast, whilst consulting another 4 in the hope the original one might be wrong, I decided that the old horses and ponies would need their 0g rugs on.

So, OH and I loaded up the Eggbox and I drove over the hill carrying everything we needed.

OH held onto the front ends, while I fitted each rug and I am pleased to say that without exception, they all had to be let out quite a lot.

I hope everyone now stays dry wearing their state-of-the-art rugs that some might say are snugly fitted.

But it’s better to be fat than thin this time of year.  We all know that.   Fat is fine when you’re over 30 years old and are determined to live outside in all weathers.  Wish us luck, it’s going to be wet. Very wet.

(And of course I had brought carrots!)

Moved Them (again)

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After writing my blog, I sent Kolka’s vet the photos of her scar. She told me to stop the painkillers now and I realised that there was no reason to keep this herd in the winter field, eating all my emergency grass for when it snows.

So I went to move them all, but some were having a mid-morning nap.  I hate disturbing them when they are sleeping but they needed to go.

Eventually, with a little encouragement, they shifted because one of them noticed the gate was wide open and an open gate can only mean one thing…… I told them it didn’t and they were to get themselves down to their next fiel.

Fivla took a bit more encouraging.  She had settled in for the day, I think.

I had shut the gates around the track so there would be no unwanted small Shetland pony appearances and the ancients meandered their way in an unhurried fashion down to their old field, which is much nicer and has far more shelter.

They all know this field well, and I am praying Kolka just stays sane and out of trouble.

And she also has Vitamin and Fivla with her, so they will keep her right.

I hope they were listening. So we will see how they go.

Outside. All of You!

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The horses had their breakfast and then they just stood there in their shed not going anywhere like outside.

Plus some chickens arrived.

By 10.30 it was quite a nice day outside.  The back door was wide open.  It had been all night so everyone could come and go.  We were pretty sure Iacs had worked this out.

Haakon poked his nose outside to see if I was telling the truth about the nice day.

And then a bit more appeared and in the end all three horses filed out and went off to eat some grass.  Huzzah!

The day got nicer but I found Iacs standing around, waiting to help with any food-related chores.

I was trying to feed an errant duck who told me he had missed breakfast so could he have some now.  I stood determinedly stood guard.

After lunch, I decided that the safest place for everyone was the lower field.  Floss found  Kolka had a cut to her forehead (as well as her back legs from the accident) – we have no idea how she did that.  I sprayed it with antibiotic spray, gave her last a/b injection and we led all three down to their new field telling them to stay out of trouble.

The horses were last seen stuffing their fat faces.  I can’t let Fivla and Vitamin in there yet because the grass is that bit too good for them, so they have to content themselves being next door where they can all see each other perfectly well.  Anyway, they have the shed all to themselves so that must count for something.

I’ve had enough of the drama now.  Thank you very much.  Can everyone stop hurting themselves.  The sheep will be pleased, though.

Kolka Update

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Kolka seems a lot more like her strong 32 year old self today.

She is alert, interested and eating better, although still stiff when she walks but there is more range of movement in her hind legs.

She remains on twice daily painkillers, an injection of antibiotics (which she is very good about – it’s a big one with a large needle), probiotics and is mostly living outside with her waterproof rug on.

Her eating is more enthusiastic too, which is encouraging.

Fivla and Vitamin are close by shouting for their herd but they have to stay where they are as the grass around the house is too rich for them, especially this time of year.

However, the sheep are very unimpressed with this new set-up.

I have barred the entrance to their shed so they can still come and go if they want with no horses inside.

And opposite, the horses can do the same if they want shelter.   There is food and water there too.

So, turn left if you’re a horse and right if you’re a sheep.

As I write, absolutely no one has worked out my marvellous piece of shed management.

But I think the long rich grass, the pottering about with her friends is what Kolka needs to keep her mind and her guts active.

So, keep thinking and praying for Kolka as I keep forgetting she is 32 years old. Yesterday’s drama was not something an old lady should have to go through.  I thank the Gods we got to her when we did.