Tag Archives: Shetland ponies

Last Night

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I felt bad but it had to be done.

Despite it being a glorious sunny and still evening, everyone who is rugged had to have their rugs put on because tomorrow was going to be a day of shite (that is actual meteorological terminology used frequently in Shetland).

So, I went out in the Eggbox (Suzuki Jimny), like I was going on safari with the boot stuffed full of  rugs, water containers and headcollars.  But first I threw carrots at the little boys and they came galloping over.  Tiddles was easy, standing still, and putting his own rug on if he could.  Then I drove over the open grazing (scattald) to see the old folk.  Diff on, low-range and we off-roaded into the hill.

Again, they galloped down to see me and no one needed asking to stand still or needed a headcollar. I wonder if horses and ponies have a barometer built in, or know when bad weather is imminent? I could feel the appreciation, though and I was right – today is a shitty day – all wind and rain. But I know their rugs are doing their jobs.

Even little FIvla said I could take her rug off possibly in August, but not a minute before!

When I got home, I found Monster had worked out his new bed and was very happy in it too – it’s his Man Cave.  So, win, win.

Moved the Oldies

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As some of you may be aware, the world news is terrifying me, so I thought I would try and read a sensible newspaper over breakfast to put things better into perspective.

My plans were duly thwarted.

I didn’t stand a chance really.  I don’t know why I bothered.

Pepper has been “funny” as in funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha, all day.  Her tummy rumbled and off she went to the garden.

I dragged her out for her walk (she wanted to stay near the house watching me do the dog walk with Ted) so I walked the track boundary and, while I was fixing fence wire, all the horses and ponies came up to talk and say they were hungry.  I looked at their field and decided they could all be moved to better grazing.

With open gates, they followed me up the hill to the main exit.  Then I put headcollars on Haakon and Iacs and told the rest to follow, which they all duly did with nobody going “off-piste”.

This is the nicest field now and it will hopefully do them all until the proper grass starts to come in.

I don’t think the old men (Haakon and Iacs) look that good – ie, a bit scrawny in the back end – so hopefully this was a wise move and, as the spring grass arrives, they will start putting more weight back on.

And so Pepper spent her afternoon shivering, making horrid noises and then a long sleep in front of my little shed fire, while I cried my way through “The Help” and made another sheep.  When Pepper woke up, she said she wanted her tea now, so we are back to the beginning again. *** sigh *** I am none the wiser with this little dog and her tummy.

Everyone Bare Nekkid

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It seems odd that not 36 hours ago it was blowing a hoolie and snowing but now everyone’s rugs are off and they’re all bare nekkid.

The nicest bit of taking rugs off is seeing just how clean and beautiful they are underneath.

No one looks too thin, which is my main worry this time of year – with rugs on, you don’t know what is going on underneath.

Everyone had a lovely sleep lying flat out in the sunshine too.  I could almost hear them snoring.

And also they told me spring is here by starting to lose their winter coats.

I am lazy and don’t brush anyone until it gets until mid May/June as their winter coats might still be needed.  It could get cold again still.  You just never know.

I am particularly pleased with Vitamoobag.  She looks glorious for such an old lady (32yo) but it doesn’t take much for her to look like a hat-rack, I know that.  At this age, we all just go day to day with absolutely no expectations.

I climbed up the hill back to the house to find we had company!

Carrots and Celery

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It was a long morning at Turriefield, packing vegetables.  I came home and went straight to bed for a few hours and was joined by Pepper  who was feeling very poorly – not eating again.  My back was killing me.

Quite a few hours later, I emerged from my pit feeling slightly better and fed Pepper (who had said no to her tea earlier but suddenly felt much better too and ate her supper – phew!)

Then, remembering the incoming storm (Dave, I think), I lugged a sack of celery leaves and carrots from Turriefield and dumped them in the Minions’ field.

I was being watched from the other side of the field and then suddenly the ponies realised what I was doing and came rushing over…….

They bickered and shovelled it all in as fast as they could.  Tiddles wasn’t very kind to Newt but he managed to get his fair share.

So that’s everyone set up for tomorrow’s storm.  I hope it’s not as bad as it is threatening.

 

 

First Visitors of the Year

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Today we had our first visitors of 2026.

They brought carrots.

Everyone loves carrots.

First we visited the Shetland ponies.  They came running when I showed them the carrot bags.

Then we walked over to the field with the old horses and ponies.

Haakon and Kolka thought all their birthdays had arrived at once.

Iacs was not in a people mood so OH took him his fair share and he stayed far away.  His choice.

Fivla and Vitamin were very happy to see carrots.

Apparently Fivla is the one who is going home with my visitors – everyone always wants to take one away.

And Ted probably in the luggage too whether they want him or not.

After a glorious “picnic” lunch – which my visitors kindly brought for us (the best type of visitor in my book), we went to talk to the sheep who were coming home.  At first, everyone suffered horribly from “stranger danger” so I brought some food and Harrel quickly got over his fear.

As did his mother, Maggie.

Lambie refused to chat but Maggie, Bert and Harrel were very sociable.  The food helped but the sheep genuinely wanted to talk.  I always enjoy introducing them to folk – sheep are very under-estimated. Each one has their own character.  Maggie was enchanting.

And Lambie’s chosen character today was that of “standard idiot”.  His loss. He missed out.