Tag Archives: Shetland

Farrier Today

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We had Jay, our farrier, coming today so, after their breakfast, I put everyone where they could be easily caught.  The old horses and ponies were grazing the green grass around the outside of the house while the little Shetland ponies were in their paddock with a haynet to stave off the boredom from waiting.

First up was Haakon and Pepper duly got in the way.

Then clutching my same cob-size headcollar, I caught Fivla….

And lastly Vitamoobag.  Again, note Pepper.  I did ask Jay if he wanted me to put her in the house but he said he didn’t mind. Honest.

The old ones all done (those that needed), and we headed to the  Shetland pony paddock avec le petit chien who dutifully got in the way.  It was a full time job for her.

At least I managed to find a smaller headcollar – one that actually fitted.

Pepper “helped”.  She also recruited a friend – Newt.

Looking at this photo of Albie, I have to ask myself how is Pepper still alive?

I mean, seriously?

But no one kicked her, she didn’t get her nose cut off and she remained unscathed.  A ruddy miracle if you ask me.

And once finished with the horses and ponies, Pepper was ready to annoy another victim!  Poor Monster – he was chased into the house but don’t worry he will get his revenge. He always does.

Summer vs. Winter

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While the rest of the UK is basking in incredible high temperatures, Shetland is not.

I took this photo this morning – and we have enjoyed an ambient but overcast 13℃ all day, which is fine by me and my animals.  I am not worrying about anyone over-heating.

It got me to thinking, though, and I asked my OH this question. Which would you hate most – a bonkers hot English summer or a cold Shetland winter?

OH went for the bonkers hot summer saying that it would only be for a few days here and there and he could cope with that.  I couldn’t. I know – I used to live in London and the heat was awful and the pavements smelled of baked dog poo.  Gross.

I said I preferred a rough cold winter because, although it was difficult, it was much more bearable.  It is easier to get warmer than it is to cool down – both animals and people.  Though winter is very hard work.

Ok, this photo is of an extreme day in Shetland winter – Flossie and I were trying to convince our two new sheep to come home and have some food. It was Gussie and Dahlia who were being unhelpful and “lost”.

Having said all that, looking at the photos of winter, I am now not so convinced by my argument!

But Shetland summers are perfect – rarely too hot – and the wild flowers growing everywhere are beautiful.

All the animals are happy – no one is too hot and I am not worrying.  So I think I am saying that I can cope better with a Shetland winter because itis not as bad as an bonkers hot English summer, which would be unbearable for me.

Grubby Little Boys

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Last year I took down part of the Shetland ponies’ track and put all the plastic fence posts into a big tonne bag in case I needed them again.  The bag was left securely tied to the fence post. Since then, every time I walked past the bag, I thought to myself that those fence posts would be better off in the shed.

It was a big task so I split it up into doable bite-size chunks and every day (if I remembered) I would go down the hill and take up a few fence posts to put in the shed until it was empty.  And then today, I went down with a knife and a pair of strong scissors to cut the tonne bag off the fence post, dragging it up the hill to put in the shed.

The ponies spent their morning staring at the vacated spot from the tonne bag.

They knew something was different but they couldn’t quite put their hoof on it…

So far, the track is working well.

Everyone is happy if revolting. Tiddles will not let me brush him so I that’s his choice.

The farrier is coming on Thursday so I might have another go then when Tiddles can’t argue.

Newt is sporting his sleek summer look.

And Albie is also revolting.

Silver is the perfect little white dream pony.

And Waffle optimistically followed me up and down the hill after my tonne bag.

In other news, Little Herself is back on form.

And note-to-self, I must remember to check my brakes!

Congratulations to Daisy!

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I’ve been on tenterhooks all morning looking at my phone waiting for a text or a call….

Daisy was having her viva (short for viva voce – a spoken oral examination, typically used to defend a doctoral thesis (PhD) or other advanced academic qualification).

And, at 13.30, just as I was typing into Google, “how long is a viva?”, I received the phone call informing me that we must all now refer to Daisy as Dr Daisy!

Apparently, and I wrote it down, she has a PhD is Veterinary Research and Equine Nutrition.

I can’t even begin to tell you just how proud I am of Dr Daisy.  This is a huge achievement for her.

It has not been an easy path but she has succeeded due to all her own hard work.

The bit that really tickles me is that Daisy is the first female Doctor in our family, ever, which is bloody amazing.  I am incredibly proud of her.

(and am obviously wearing my proud Mum t-shirt).

And I hope Daisy is now celebrating her socks off!  Well done Dr. Taylor PhD, MSc, BSc.

What Have You Eaten?

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A small ginger someone didn’t eat her breakfast this morning, I was told.  Pepper has been going around all day with a very rumbly and noisy tumbly whilst occasionally dashing outside for obvious reasons.

My poor little girl.  When she is ill, it makes me anxious and I worry for her.  She wouldn’t go on the dogwalk either.

This afternoon, I took Pepper into my shed and she eventually went to sleep. I could hear her little tumbly settling – the industrial process noises growing less.

I have absolutely no idea what has set this off.  Pepper honestly hasn’t been out of my sight (with the caveat “that I know of”) and I thought her latest diet of no chicken, beef, or lamb was the answer. Pepper had been doing so well for the longest time.  But something got her. Now I think about it, I wonder if rabbit is considered a novel protein (a “novel protein” simply means an animal meat your pet has rarely or never eaten before) so I suppose rabbit isn’t because Pepper regularly catches them though I usually get them off her before she can eat it.

But good news, after her long sleep, Pepper had a little supper and has kept it down, so far.  I am hoping she is now feeling a little better.   There has been tail-wagging when I asked her so that’s obviously a good sign.

Oh Pepper *** sigh ***.  Off we go again.  I hope this is not the start of something, please.