Tag Archives: Icelandic horses

Be Prepared

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We have a storm forecast and it’s not going to be fun. So today I decided to be prepared.

I went around the croft with Skippy making sure everyone would be ok if we couldn’t get to them.

The old horses and ponies should be fine. They have grass and unlimited shelter down the bottom of their field.  They won’t be rugged as rugs can fly off (despite leg straps) causing problems.

And they are all well-covered (cough “fat”).

I would rather they found their own safe place rather than me dragging them into a very noisy/scary shed for four days. Fivla would definitely disagree. She loves the shed (cough “fat”).

Duck Shed #1 got a container full of fresh water, and another of grain.  I made fresh beds of straw too, for the hens.

Duck Shed #2 had the same – this is where the latest duck family have decided to live, which means there is less over-crowding and arguments.

I spread the remainder of the straw in the sheep shed, put out fresh water and have their breakfasts ready for the following mornings (somewhere where they won’t be able to easily raid).

Then it was time for the Shetland ponies on their new winter track.

I washed their old water bucket and filled it up with fresh water so there is easy access and everyone will drink – so important.  I also put a spare fresh water container outside the fence (so no nibbling, thank you Albie who wrecks) ready to refill the water bucket when needed.

I was pleased to see Waffle instantly come over to drink.  The others followed too, so that’s good, they know there is fresh water. I refilled the bucket again.

(there is also a stream at the bottom of their track, but I doubt they know that).

What else?  It will come to me, but probably as I am fighting the wind tomorrow.  This storm is for four days.  I am dreading it.

Cantering Old Fools

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Everyone else had come up the hill for their breakfast, except for the Icelandic horses – Kolka, Haakon and Iacs. They were still on the other side of the stream expecting me to lug their buckets down to them.  Think again, I told them.

In the end Kolka crossed over and cantered up the hill to her bucket.  She knows I am more stubborn than she is.  I don’t offer waitress service in this field.

Meanwhile Haakon and Iacs eventually crossed the stream walking very slowly and then Iacs pushed Haakon up the hill.

At one stage, Haakon turned around to tell Iacs off while I was standing at the top of the hill with their buckets thinking to myself that I might put Haakon back on his very expensive boswellia supplement if he was finding walking so difficult.  Poor old man.

And then I turned my back to put their buckets in their usual spot, only to find Haakon and Iacs cantering up the hill, moving perfectly well for all their old age complaints.  So the boswellia thought quickly vanished and I realised they are absolutely fine.

After chores, I went into to town to get a big bale of hay.  I did a few messages on the Street and stopped off to see if my little town field needed filling.

It was in a bit of a mess so I tidied up the stock and breathed a sigh of relief that I have now reached a less frantic time of the year on the sheep-making front, though I will still keep going through the winter to build up stock.

Then home and I made another sheep, happy in the knowledge there is no mad rush anymore.

Not Fivla’s Day

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Today was not Fivla’s day.

It started badly when I brought her her breakfast bucket and went downhill from then on.

Fivla likes to eat on her own if she can because she likes peace and quiet and is always the first to be picked on.  She’s an easy target. One of life’s victims.

The others were eating by the fence so a little bit away.

And then Gussie sauntered up.  Ever the pig (in sheep’s clothing), he thought he would have Fivla’s breakfast. He had already eaten his own.

And, I was shocked to see, that Fivla let him!  I could see she was very unimpressed with giving up her breakfast to a sheep but as usual she didn’t put up a fight and acquiesced miserably.

So I distracted Gussie and told him to leave Fivla alone, it was not his breakfast.  He took his telling off well and let me distract him from thoughts of food by tickling the top of his head.  Hugging was out, though.

Meanwhile, the others continued to eat and I realised that I needed to get between Kolka and everyone else as she is also a huge thief and bully with other horses’ food.  My only imperative at breakfast-time is that Iacs should have his anti-cancer pills no matter what.

So while I was standing now protecting Iacs (and possibly Haakon) from the vulture-like circlings of Kolka, I looked over to see Fivla was still in trouble.  This time it was a two-prong attack.

But this time, Fivla held fast.  She had a new strategy – to not raise her head out of the bucket until every last bit of food had gone.  I don’t honestly think Gussie got any and, if he did, they were only the dregs anyway.

I need to have words with young Gus-Gus.  His manners leave a lot to be desired.

Autumnal Light

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The sun tried to show its face this morning, albeit very briefly.  The mornings are much darker now. I am usually up and around by the time it appears.

This was my view from the feed container while I was getting everyone’s breakfasts.  Not too shoddy, I think.

The sheep are always first to eat, for obvious reasons.  The main one being they follow me zombie-like, trying to trip me up and the steal the buckets if I try to feed anyone else instead. So it is better to get them shut in their shed, eating out of their bowls, with Lambie in his Private Dining Room (because he can’t share and gets upset if asked) and out of my way.  That way peace can reign.

The light was especially lovely this morning.  I appreciated it very much.

After the sheep are fed, then it is the Shetland ponies and then the old horses and ponies in their field  That is the order, with the odd duck in between.  They never stop saying they have no food.

As you can see, everyone’s coats are getting thicker and ready for the real weather that will come soon.

Also, you may notice, everyone is very fat. I am not too concerned about this as I am going to follow a no-rug, stay outside policy for all, if I possibly can.  I expect I will last a minute with this lot and will be lugging rugs and putting them on everyone the minute the weather turns.  I always say I won’t and I always end up doing it.

But I must also remember that everyone is fat and built for this environment.

The autumn light on the dog-walk was special.  This is the time of year for impressive skies.  I do secretly love autumn the most.  It is when I think the most, which is probably not wise and mostly about rugs!

Icelandic horse

Faces

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It’s been a day of faces (oh, Haakon!)

Or a sneaky side-eye (thank you, Vitamoobag).

Apparently, no one wanted to look pretty today.  Just silly so I gave up trying.

With the exception, of course, being ‘Bert who was my Sunshine Boy (always lovely).  I do love a good Winning Smile and that was a corker.

My breakfast was pretty much a non-event too.  Apparently Monster purchased something and I have no idea what it is but it will arrive some time next week!  I wonder what colour he chose.

And then I was back outside with the dogs for their walk and I found that Fivla and Vitamoobag hadn’t moved from their shed.  Apparently they were resting.  I felt slightly jealous.

After the walk, I drove over to Turriefield (community vegetable growing project where I volunteer) only to find they were having a power-cut so we all had to pack the veg as best as we could without being able to seal or label the bags.  Frustrating but at least the weighing scales worked (battery) until they didn’t so we could do some of the work.

I keep thinking to myself “this time yesterday, I was eating cake”. Yesterday was a lovely adventure and I also keep thinking that the bench looking over to Noss was a special place – a place to make life decisions (the sun shining helped hugely too).