Tag Archives: Winter Grazing

New Found Freedom

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The little boys are enjoying their new found freedom – all 25 acres of it.

They come down to the house in the morning for their breakfast – the smallest handful of sugar beet mixed with their forage balancer – and then that’s it. I don’t usually see them again for the rest of the day, which is how we all like it.

However, at lunchtime I looked out of the bathroom window (upstairs) and saw that the ponies had all come back home, probably to suss out their wee shed.

I had some old carrots, so broke them into bite-size chunks and went visiting.

I even felt for ribs on the off-chance they might have some.

They didn’t, which is fine – as long as no one gets laminits now (dear God, please no), they can live perfectly well without ribs.

The carrots were appreciated.

And I had two keen followers while I went to find Waffle.

He was having some alone time.

Like I said, no ribs but definitely a leg in each corner.

I’m glad they are off the track and in a field.  They are so happy and that is lovely to see.

Back to Reality

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I left London first thing on Thursday morning.  Door to door on the way back it took me over 14 hours – because Loganair’s Edinburgh to Sumburgh “went technical” and I had to fly home via Orkney.  A stressful day because the cancellation wasn’t mentioned on any airport flight departure board until the gate (that was never called) was closing…. and I had to make a run for it.

So I am rather thankful to be home again away from everyone and everything.  It was a good holiday but one week is enough.

And I also have a very large order of sheep to fulfill.

So it is back to the grindstone with my usual help.

The Shetland ponies are now officially off their summer track and on their winter grazing.  It is the field that has been eaten all spring and summer by the others so perfect for them.

They are currently sharing with the sheep who are not impressed but coping….. so far (remember, Lambie hates the Shetland ponies – they chased him (hereinafter known as “The Incident”) many years back when he was a little lamb).

As for the old horses and ponies, Flossie and I spent the morning lugging 20 litre containers of water over in the Eggbox and filling all their troughs.  Plus we left full ones by the gate for later. It took 3 trips.

Then we led the Icelandic horses (Haakon, Kolka and Iacs) while the Shetland ponies (Fivla and Vitamin) followed along nicely – they trotted enthusiastically in through the gate.

I doubt anyone has lifted their heads yet.  There is grass enough for all, at the moment.

Meanwhile, Lambie would like it to be known that he is not that happy with this new plan.  He has not forgotten The Incident.