My morning started with Tiddles who didn’t want his breakfast. Instead he lay down in front of me and said he would like to die, please. Please, no!

I got him up and he did an enormous sloppy poo, then each one was more watery.  I immediately put him in a stall, gave him a small bucket of soaked sugar beet to tempt and phoned the vet.

While we waited I dosed him up (talked it over with vet first) – Kaolin, probiotic, slippery elm, gut-bind. He was very good and had eaten his bucket.  His stall was awash with many more watery poos.

Then over the hill to feed the others and I noticed Haakon could barely walk.  He was hobbling. So I led him home with the others following.

I phoned the vet again and extended my list, adding Iacs on as well because his eye infection is not responding to treatment.

While we waited for the vet, OH and I soaked Haakon’s hoof to see if that helped.

Tiddles was a bit brighter now, so he rejoined his friends with haynets and, yes, he ate, not very enthusiastically, but he ate.

The big ones were around the house.

I went back to check on Tiddles every minute, secretly.

When I looked again at Haakon’s poorly hoof, I found a deep stone chip embedded at the front.  It left a hole when I eventually prised it out.

His hoof went back into the bucket to draw out any nasties.  At least I now knew why Haakon was hopping lame.

The vet came and, after thoroughly examining Tiddles, said he was much better.

I opened up a bit more of their track.

I left him stuffing his face.

Iacs’ eye – nothing was found so keep going with the ointment.  He may have developed a blocked tear duct.  He was a good boy.

Haakon needs his hoof soaked regularly.  He is on painkillers too and I put them all in the field near the house as it makes it easier for me to treat him.

My last job this afternoon was to give Haakon a bucket of his favourite food, mixed with Bosmerix (boswellia supplement), while soaking his hoof and spraying it with antibiotic spray.  He was such a good boy.  Kolka is furious at all the food and attention he’s getting.

So that was my day. I need a lie down and now I shall worry about Haakon and Tiddles and possibly Iacs.