Tag Archives: Shetland ponies

Greasy Forelocks and Manes

1 Reply

When I was in the field this morning, I noticed that the old horses and ponies had greasy clumpy forelocks and thought to myself I must do something about this.  I’ll do it later – Mañana.

Later arrived and, after I had made my statutory hand-felted sheep, I was in desparate need for some fresh air so I went outside armed with my small bucket of grooming tools.  I knew I would probably be in for a long walk to find everyone but, as luck would have it, the horses and ponies had all come down to the paddock for water, or use of the little shed.

So I grabbed my chance.  Some took no time at all to brush out like ↓↓ Haakon ↓↓. I finished him in seconds.

Bibble (aka Iacs) needed a lot more attention.  His mane was forming clumps from old finer winter hair that had matted in and was turning into knots. I diligently brushed them all out and he was instantly transformed into a handsome beast.

Kolka was another who didn’t take long.

Mostly because she left and I hadn’t bothered to bring a headcollar so couldn’t catch her.

 

Still, I got them all done in that field.

Including Fivla and Vitamin who then took to their shed.  I might have a go at the other Shetland ponies.  They have the equine dentist (first check up ever) on Thursday so that might be a good time to do a spot of grooming as well.

The Constant Juggling

1 Reply

I know no one wants to hear this at the moment, but it was quite cold today in Shetland.

I was forced to wear my coat when I fed everyone.

And again later this afternoon, when I put the haynets out for the little ones.

My latest worry is that the Shetland ponies are secretly putting on weight, even though I feel sorry for them and don’t think they are getting enough to eat.

They get a small handful of beet in the mornings with their vitamins and then share two not-very-full haynets in the afternoon – so barely a mouthful of anything when you add it up.

I guess there must be something to eat on the track, though I can’t see it.

Interestingly, though, Newt doesn’t ever really want hay or it might be a case of no one will let him near the hay – this is his very cross face, by the way.

But he is really rotund vengeful hippo!  Honestly, I am trying, I really am but these ponies live off fresh air.

And the reason it is so cold, apparently and I’ve just read this, is that there is currently 30mph north wind blowing (Pepper and I are now lying under an electric blanket trying to warm up!)

Meanwhile everyone else is very warm.

Go Fivvie!

1 Reply

This morning Fivla had claimed all rights to the wee shed so I gave her bucket in there too.

And Fivla was not letting anyone else in.  Nope. Not for no one. It was Her Shed. End of.

I had already let most of the sheep out into the field but Lambie, ‘Ster and ‘Bert was refusing to go out on the grounds there were too many horses and ponies around the gateway.

Gussie had gone out with the rest but came back when he realised the others weren’t with him.  It’s funny how they like their friends around and mind very much when they’re not. He was shouting a lot.

And then something rather odd happened.

I watched on while Kolka and Gussie had a little chat.

Normally Kolka is not really a fan of other types of animal being around.

Maybe she liked the smell of real wool on a real sheep – you know, like when you sniff a clean jersey and know it is made of pure wool.  There is a distinct smell.

And Gussie, who is very like Pepper in that he has to make friends with everyone, was very happy with this gentle velvety nose snuffling him.

Meanwhile, Fivla was not budging.

And I secretly thought to myself “Go Fivla.  Don’t be shoved around by the others”.

She wouldn’t even let Vitamin inside either, which was unusual.

And then there started to be a queue forming.  I sent this photo to Daisy and she texted back “You are on hold to stand in the shed. You are currently number 5 in the queue. Estimated waiting time 2h“.  That made me laugh.

Loners

2 Replies

In every herd or flock, there is always one.

A loner.

With the sheep, it is Lambie. Of course, it’s Lambie. How could it be anyone else?

Possibly not the brightest star in our firmament and, yes, he stood there in his little dining room/pen for a good hour while the gate was open telling himself he had nothing.  You can almost hear him singing to himself “nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I’ll go and eat worms”.

I did tell him, repeatedlym…. but nope, nothing.

The lights were on…. yada, yada. Lambie eventually worked it out.

With the old horses and ponies, it is Iacs. He is often found by himself staring into the middle distance looking distinctly vague. He lets out a pathetic neigh of loneliness and Kolka usually draws the short straw and has to go and get him back.  She is kind like that.  Haakon hides and says nothing.

And, lastly, amongst this lot, you can guess who it is and why it is……

Yup, Newt.  Nobody loves Newt.

And we all know why.

(in case you don’t, it is because he is awful to everyone when they’re eating – the bottom whizzes round trying to kick anyone in his way, including me!)

And so Newt is all alone in the world too (despite having great hair this summer).

I Worry at Night

4 Replies

Every so often I suddenly have a panic (usually at about 3 a.m.) that the electric fence is not working and the Shetland ponies will break through into the long grass.

Last night I had that worry so today the dog walk consisted of walking the track with the fence tester to check it was zapping consistently all the way round.  And it was going along beautifully.  OH had strimmed all the plants off the bottom wire and there was the same strength of zap at both ends.

However, I do feel sorry for the ponies. They have minimal grazing while on the other side of the fence it looks fantastic.

The other side is for the old horses and ponies in the winter.  It is perfect grazing for them but not for fat little Shetland ponies who don’t need to get any fatter.

This lot seem to doing very well on just about nothing and to be fair I found no evidence of Shetland pony fence testing.

The ponies could probably lose a bit more weight.  As I walked the track, it was interesting to see which plants they refuse to eat – always the marsh marigolds, the occasional orchid, and later the Devil’s bit scabious. They don’t touch it.

The dogs enjoyed their walk and started digging the inter-island tunnels that are planned for Shetland.

“Councillors have backed initial plans to connect some of Shetland’s islands with undersea tunnels, which could be in place within eight years.” – BBC

Ted did the feasibility study.

While Pepper did the actual work.

I can see why bridges are not an option.

My little chief digger was tired after her exertions.