Tag Archives: Shetland ponies

Not Fivla’s Day

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!

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).

Winter or Summer Track?

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A wet dreich day and I have galloping TMJ pain so I am feeling very sorry for myself.

After trying to play flute duets badly, I gave up (my jaw and neck hurt too much) and dragged Mandy out to help me poo-pick the track instead. Luckily, Mandy was up for helping me with this grotty job, which was very kind of her. I kitted her up in my wet-weather-grot-jobs kit.

Recently, I have been wondering whether to move the Shetland ponies onto their winter track or is it too early? I don’t know.

The winter track is all fenced off and ready to go. All I have to do is open the gate and strategically attach the zappy energiser.

But the winter track is full of grass, some of which is quite lush still. What to do? I need to avoid autumn-flush laminitis at all costs.

So I showed Mandy my dilemma and she agreed that the winter track is looking a bit too good at the moment. We talked it all through and the conclusion was while the weather is still in double figures (ie grass growing weather), the Shetland ponies should stay where they are on – their big spring/summer track along with their two haynets a day (split into four small ones).

I told the ponies of my latest decision. It makes sense and it was good to talk things through with someone who could see my situation in its entirety (that would be Mandy, not the ponies who refuse to see any situation helpfully).

Now I am off to look for painkillers for my jaw. I am not enjoying this one bit. I would like to curl up on the sofa with a hot water bottle and have lovely things brought to me. Instead, I’ve got to go back outside in the near-dark, put the hens and ducks in their respective bedrooms, let the sheep back in from their field and kiss them goodnight.