Tag Archives: Icelandic horses

Wall of Primroses 2026

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It was rugs off again this morning and I heaved them into the shed to hang up and dry.

I have realised that I must wean myself off the rugs as the horses and ponies don’t need to be wearing them in the sunshine and the temperature has gone up a little.  I am the one with the problem. I admit it and I need to tell myself that no one will actually melt if it rains.

So, after giving myself a stiff talking to about my rug problem, I took the dogs down to the stream, which is very peaceful.

Whenever a therapist tells me to think of quiet place, this is where I always go.  There is absolutely nowhere better.

  

And I know I was whingeing on about how the wild primroses weren’t really very good this year, well now I take it all back.  They have suddenly gone mad and are everywhere.

They grow like scrambled eggs on both sides of the burn’s banks, in huge voluptuous clumps.

They seem to compete happily with the celandine too.

So, a very good effort this year from both celandine and wild primroses. I am very impressed and love the fact that this abundance of colour is in my field totally unaided by anyone.  Nature at its best.

Meanwhile, in sheep-land, ‘Ster’s medicine has finally arrived, though he has been living off my homemade version while we waited.

I am encouraged that he is a bit brighter now – he has had two doses of antibiotics and the homemade drench daily.

Tomorrow ‘Ster will get his measured dose of the packet stuff syringed down and let’s hope it breaks up the renal calculi.  I did also note that he is now peeing ok (ish) and seems much less miserable so, please God, that he is on the mend.

Bloody Winter Again!

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A cold but dry morning and I gave everyone their breakfast wishing it would be warmer.

I managed to hide away Vitamin and her bucket so she could eat in peace….

…. but failed with Fivla. She stuck out like a sore thumb because she wouldn’t go into the little sheep-pen with Vitamin (she felt crowded and mildly hysterical).

I also tucked Kolka around another corner to try and keep her from marauding everyone else.  She always eats very quickly and then goes on the rampage.

Over the day, it got increasingly colder and I collared Mandy, who came over to play flute duets, to help me put on rugs again.  We are all very fed up with winter.  These days, it is the gift that just keeps on giving.

So we started with Tiddles who offered to put on his own rug and I put out the haynets too.

I gave the Shetland ponies an extra haynet as the grass isn’t growing in these low temperatures.  No one minded or said no thank you.

Then we went out to the other field and I caught, Mandy held, and I put on everyone’s rugs.  This lot are going to need it – although there is no snow forecast (I pray), but it is going to be very cold over the next few days.

Oh yes, and I did a few more hairstyles to cheer myself up.

I think you will agree that Waffle suits his lucious locks.

But, hold the phone, Ted looks positively regal.  It could not be better (Mum would’ve loved this).

Anyway, back to moaning about the weather. It’s my new hobby or as those influencers are always saying “it is my new obssession!”  (shudder).

Rugs Off!

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It was a lovely sunny day so I took off everyone’s rugs and was surprised that they almost looked like they are putting on weight.

They look less bleak anyway.

And then, after worming everyone (and, yes, I am wearing it myself as well in a rather fetching smear across my shirt), I opened the gate into the big field. This is where they will spend the next few months, leaving the other fields to grow back for when we need them again.

So that’s everyone wormed now and I’ve written it in my Farm Book to remind myself when it was done as I always forget.

I also managed to grab ‘Ster this morning to givce him his homemade ammonium chloride drench and painkillers much to his disgust.  I also had in my pocket two ginger biscuits as a reward for my heinous ministrations.  The ammonium chloride stinks so it probably tastes disgusting too.  I am praying it is working, though as that is all we have to treat him.

;Ster took it like the top chap that he is.  And the biccies.  Such a dear boy.

Tiddles’ rug came off too.  He has his container to run to if he gets cold.

And one day, who knows, I might brush everyone but it’s a bit early for that yet and far too much like hard work.

Rug Indecision

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I have spent the day looking out of the window wondering if I have got it all wrong with the horses and ponies’ rugs.  Sometimes it is hot, sometimes cold. I can’t win.

This morning started with sleet, so I felt that everyone was keeping dry and warm in their rugs.  They all have rainsheets on – with no fill.

But then, to spite me, the sun came out and it was lovely.

The horses and ponies still have their rugs on because it is a back-killer to keep nipping out to take them off, put them on, take them off, etc.  It also isn’t very warm (a constant vicious north-west wind) and that sleet was a nasty shock.

And the minute I decided everyone could keep their rugs on, until the wind changes direction and it gets warmer again, the sun beat down unmercilessly.

Of course it ruddy well did.

But I have felt under everyone’s rugs and they are either slightly warm or cool so no one is over-heating – I changed everyone’s rug yesterday and it was very hard work, lugging etc.

At night the temperature dips and the range is about 10 degrees. Tonight is no exception  – the forecast is for -5 °C (RealFeel).

Anyway, Fivla says I can take her rug off in August.

Rugs on?  Rugs off?  Rugs on?  I am very uncertain and tomorrow there is rain all day.  I might be slightly obsessing about this, which doesn’t help.

Anyway, here is today’s hairstyle oeuvre.

Gussie (oh my! swoon)

And Lambie (oh dear)!

Hairstyles!

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There’s this free app you can get on your phone, which will show you potential hair styles on photos of yourself – I was going to town to have my hair cut and wanted to see if I could find a style that suited.  I couldn’t but it was fun trying.

So, having failed with myself, I did some experimenting as you get two attempts per day.

Now I think Pepper suits this style very much but possibly not all the colour. A bit too orange!

But the question we all ask ourselves is “should Monster have a fringe?”

And I turned Iacs into a Kardashian, which I felt was quite an achievement.  Obviously I shall be having more fun with this app on every animal I own.

Anyway, I drove into town and got my hair cut.  Then I stocked up my little field in Jamieson’s Knitwear on Commercial Street.

It was lucky I was already going into town, as there was a huge boat in – M.S. Nieuw Statendam (2,666-passenger Pinnacle-class cruise ship from Holland America Line).  I hope they all went home with my sheep.

Now, back to those potential hairstyles….. Tiddles might have to be next. I will keep you updated of my new internet salon’s progress.