Tag Archives: Old Horses and Ponies

More Weather

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You know me and my obsession with the weather.

Well, it was on full force today confirmed by Gulberwick Weather’s forecast on Facebook.

And, according to Yr.no, it is never going to stop raining.  However, other forecasts are a little more optimistic.

Also a friend texted me that she was probably going to rug one of her horses “with a rain sheet, no fill tonight, weather is going to be grim tomorrow”.

Well, that was all I needed to know.  I hastily phoned Daisy and we had a discussion about what to do best.  I like a second opinion. It confirms that I make sensible decisions.

And then I looked around my extensive library of rugs (yes, another obssession) and found the ones I wanted, lugged them plus two headcollars, in case of uncooperation, to the field.  Five rugs of 0g weighs a good ton.  I carried the headcollars were around my neck.  I looked like a demented bag lady.

They all knew and behaved (I swear I heard Fivla mutter that I could take her rug off next June).

Bibble looked particularly happy.

While Haakon looked fed up that summer seems to be leaving rather rapidly.

And then I popped into Tiddles’ field and put his little dressing-gown on.  I know he has a container for shelter but if the others all go off to find grass, he will be left behind bare-nekked and miserable.  He also is a perfect weight with nothing spare to lose.

Here we go again.  The break was nice while it lasted.

The Importance of Apple Cake and Deep Sleep

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Under strict surveillance this morning, I made my usual apple cake – I’m trying to use up eggs.

The strict surveillance that I was under.

So now what to do with my apple peel and cores?  Who do I know who would like them?  Let me see.

Spotting Fivla and Vitamin, I gave them the apple bits.

They said nothing to the others and quietly munched them all up (I found nothing left when I was poo-picking later).  I doubt the others even knew there were free apple bits going.

I was in my shed after lunch and everyone was around and about.

I like to look out of the windows every so often to see who is close by.  Haakon came over and plonked himself down.  He wanted to sleep so I ended up leaving my shed much later – in fact I almost made a whole other sheep to go with the one I had just made – so I didn’t disturb him.

I didn’t want to wake up Haakon because I read somewhere that old horses really need to sleep and the fact that he feels he can lie down is good because he will get proper deep REM sleep which is essential to his well-being.

Once Haakon woke up and was standing up and grazing with the others, I packed them all off to their field.

I’ve given up walking them one-at-a-time with a headcollar as that takes forever and they can be stupid to catch so instead I herded them into a group and told them all to “go to bed”.

Mass movement is much simpler.

Luckily, they all know what I mean and they know I will let them out tomorrow to continue on the good grass.

The Green Green Grass of Home

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Little Fivla was unexpectedly standing by the gate this morning when I went back in to collect the buckets.

The others were hanging around too.

I just thought they were full and couldn’t be bothered to go and find anything more to eat.

After my breakfast, I came back to clean out their big water bucket and refill them only to find the lurkers still a-lurking.

So, being the nice kind person that I am, I opened the gate and told the old folk they could spend their day eating the green grass around the house.  We have a lot and needs eating down.  This is cheaper than mowing and less effort too.

No one needed asking twice.  Zoom through the gate, they went.

After cleaning and refilling all the water buckets in the fields, I found Fivla and thought I would give her a little brush.  That winter fur is just not coming out on its own.  In the end I brushed everyone and collected up the fur in a bag.

I ended up sitting on the bag full of fur to keep my bottom dry and Fivla and I had a lovely chat and brush.  Fivla was grooming me back and listening to the classical music (Purcell) that was also playing on my phone in my back pocket.  Such a peaceful time.

Pepper was jealous of Fivla’s attention, obviously.

Fivla is a very gentle soul.  We’ve known each other for 30 years and she is the perfect pony.

There has been much stuffing of faces with grass all day.

Everywhere I look, there is someone outside to look at.

Even when Pepper and I went to my shed…..

I only had to look outside my window and smile.

There were also the creepy neighbour moments too.  Always Bibble.