Buds

When TW arrived at the yard early doors she could only count 5 sleepy heads again. Mikka and Misty were snuggled up in the shelter nomming the ends of the hay. That made TW smile, she is glad they're buds cos they're both a bit socially awkward sometimes.

We had hay for tea last night so we weren't so hungry this morning. There was even some hay left in most of the nets. TW was pleased. But then she felt guilty because she knew that she wouldn't be coming up for tea today. My tummy still feels good which is a relief. TW filled the nets and water and stood with lyra while she had a super long drink.

And did I mention it was sunny and snowing first thing too? Wierd weather. Anyhoo, it then rained and rained and rained. Not impressed.

miserable mud

It's been raining. ALOT! When TW arrived we were all waiting at the gate. Mikka was dithering and I was tres grumpy. TW was not impressed by my grumpiness and shouted at me for swaping hay nets so much and making everyone else move. So I stomped off down to the lone hay net and totally blanked her when she tried to say sorry. Boblet taught me that trick. I did let her give me a kiss though and she checked my tummy. All good.

Mikka got put in the stable and dried off a bit with a fleece and then had her rug on. She;s going to be all floofy this year so she wont need rugs.

Anyhoo, the weather was wierd today. Wet. Cold. Sunny. Dry. Snowy. Just wierd. TW was a bit concerned about out tums so she came up after work (and it was still light!!). We were all grazing in the big field. TW popped up hay nets and shouted. And shouted. And put up more nets. And shouted. Eventually she sloped and slipped closer and we crept our way nearer. TW could tell there had obviously been something very scary going on near the stables so she gave me another nose kiss and i crept up behind her and followed her to the hay. The others followed closely. When we realised it was safe we nommed and nommed and TW slid off, filling her boots with muddy water as she went.

chilled beans

TW was late today. She was quietly confident that we would be grazing happily when she arrived. She was mistaken,  we were all stood round the gate staring at her when she drove up. A nice bit of guilt to add to her hangover / tiredness. Mikka shouted to her which made her feel nice, well actually she sort of shouted to TW but sort of shouted to Jez who was in the shelter eating hay that was left from yesterday. And pulling down the super big salt lick.

Anyhoo, she filled the haynets while Boblet filled the water and walked about with the doglets. Apart from the pig who mostly ran round our feet cos it was cold and windy and he didn't like it. Poor little Pig. 7 haynets for 7 ponies and a little pile for Misty. It takes us ages to sort ourselves out sometimes at hay time. Lots of swapping and changing about today so Lyra got TW to take the biggest net down the field just for her. Boblet commented on how much more chilled Mikka is now, she looks lovely and soft and shares her nets with everyone. Today we were all nice and democratic. TW hopes it continues.

Thank feck for shelters

So it's windy again. But strangely mild. TW came up early doors with the dawgs and for once we weren't hanging about the gate. Today we were clustered round the big shelter. TW did the obligatory head count and looked confused. And slightly panicked. Two missing.

"Mika....Mikka......MIKKAAAAAA". She shouts. Shouting Mikka is always a good bet as she tends to appear. The rest of us tend to hide when we hear her shouting for extra LOL's.

One ginge pops out of the shelter. Shortly followed by Lyra. TW laughed and laughed and laughed. Muttered something about silly lightweight arabs but was also very grateful for the kindness of me I'm sure. HA!

Anyhoo, she did the nets and slopped about in the mud for a while and then splodged off to the woods to chill for a bit. We were all a bit quiet today but all good. She gave us extra hay today as she might be later tomorrow. Nom. Not too late I hope!

Birthday again

It was a sunny day today. So sunny that the grass is starting to properly grow. Misty wasn't even bothered by TW arriving at the yard this morning and carried on grazing rather than rushing for hay unlike the rest of us. Although we were happy for the haynets tbh we weren't so massively fussed today either.

Today TW is 38, which is a decent enough age I reckon. She thought it was a good day for a teeny tiny ride. Dilly went first. Then TW and Jez did some meditating by the stables. Then me and TW had a ride up the track. That total contact saddle is very safe and comfy I reckon. Even when I did a big jump at Itsy nothing moved at all. TW was very impressed.

TW told Boblet that he needs to start being more positive about me as he get's me down. I agree!! He's never grumpy about Misty - he even put her a brush on the wall today so she can scratch herself on it ffs. Before they went, me Dilly and Jez shared the last of the dandelions and had some yea sac. Nom.

Doris

Today Doris came to visit. She was a big old bad ass storm. I think TW quite liked her.  In the morning when TW arrived we were all in the field cos it was blowing so much. I was a bit nervous of getting close to the stables but the girls marched on up so I followed. TW chucked a bit of hay out while she filled the nets but it just blew all over. Pointless. It was sort of funny watching TW stomping down the field with nets while the wind blew her backwards but like Jez said it makes you grateful to have her. Most of the time.

TW was mostly grateful for having land to ourselves cos she is finding some peeps mighty irritating at the moment. I gave her some big cuddles which cheered her up. She got some advice today about feeding us which made us all chuckle. She had to go and meditate a bit after that hahahah.

Anyhoo, we nommed and TW went off to face the storm elsewhere. Mid afternoon she came back and was shocked to see half eaten hay nets everywhere!! Sacrilege.  She battled the wind and stomped across the field and found us all grazing on the edge in the shelter. Apart from Dilly who was being a bit mardy. When we saw her I was confused, the girls were chuffed and took it as a sign to get back to the hay. We cavorted and wrestled and danced in the wind with the dawgs and TW enjoyed the energy. Apart from when Misty and Dilly galloped flat out at her and then the lunatic tried to chase their tails! The sun was shining and there were no fallen trees. Not a bad job.

The wind, the track and the Dill

Tw and the gang arrived a bit later this morning. We had waited for a while at the top and then wondered off back to graze and to shelter from the wind. TW was pleased, the grass is growing. She hayed us up and set about doing some jobs.

The reason for her being late up was soon apparent - 300 blue fence posts appeared. Jeez!! Everyone else carried on nomming but I got in a spot where I could spy her. She was only putting up a track in the two paddocks. Gah!! Mind you in the past when we've had a track we've also had loads and loads of hay so that might not be a bad thing....Boblet whacked out part of the fence to make a bigger gap for us to get through. I don't think we will have to go on it yet though. TW is worried about the grass in the paddocks cos she thinks its too rich so we are staying in the big field for a good while yet.

Anyhoo, we nommed hay and the wind blew a gale around us. We nommed fast again today. Me and Bee and Lyra took the big nets in the big field and the other girls all huddled round together nattering about stuff.

When it was nearly time to go Boblet said "can I show you something". TW's heart sank cos she knew it wasn't going to be a cream bun. Someone has managed to wreck the big metal gate into the field, most probably by kicking it. Boblet said "we know who's done that don't we" and they both turned round. Dilly didn't even try to deny it!! Jez gave them both some huge cuddles to try and distract them but Boblet said we had to have a strand of leccy tape fencing to protect the metal gate now until he can weld it up. Oops!

Apparently theres a big storm coming soon. I guess that means no riding again then!

lavender

Today I was mostly in a jumpy mood. When TW arrived at the yard ( with Boblet and the doglets) I was stood a bit wonky which made her worry a tad but my tummy feels fine. Hay nomming commenced while TW tried to motivate herself to have a tidy up. Mr Boblet is much better at tidying up in some ways as he is efficient. The trouble is he doesn't seem to understand the way TW wants things to be which is based on what she thinks is best for us. I heard her mutter a few bad words under her breathe which made me chuckle. Mr Boblet was mostly very nice to me and we had some chats and scratches when he thought TW wasn't looking. That made her chuckle.

Anyhoo, today was trimming day. Made slightly more challenging by the fact the Pig kept licking the trimmer ladies face and trying to eat bits of hoofy-peg from underneath us, sometimes even before it was off our feet!! Fecking wierdo.

Dilly was a good girl, Jez was her usual fidgety self. Mikka was a good girl with her stiff hind legs and then Bee said he wanted a trim but got a bit bored after two legs so needed bribing to stay. Then it was my turn. I was a bit stiff and spooky looky so TW sprayed me some lavender spray to help me relax. It sort of worked until Mr Boblet started carrying buckets around and Jez followed him as she thought they were full of food. TW assured me it was just rubble in the buckets but I had to keep stopping to check.

After me, Misty was the best behaved and then Lyra had some practice picking her tootsies up. Phew!! Even after all that work there was still a wee bit of hay left so that was a relief. The wind really started blowing a gale and the rain was threatening so TW had a quick cuppa and tootled off and I went off for a snooze. Boblet has done some nice dry stone walling today.

self-care

Today is apparently the warmest day of the year so far....I'm not massively convinced as it was windy and drizzly at the yard again. Fortunately the new hay bales are pretty big so TW managed to get 8 hay nets from two bales today. Result.

I was having an anti-social day today and mostly couldn't be bothered to do anything but eat hay. The girls are all a bit temperamental so me and Bee headed off to the nets down by the water out of their way as soon as we could. Dilly is being especially grouchy today, she tried to stomp on Boblets tootsies cos he was chatting to baby Lyra. He called her some very bad names. Tbh I was relieved it wasn't me getting the shit talk for once!!

Anyhoo, TW is all into self-selection. Today we had dandelions and yea sac for detoxing and guts. It seems to be the same dudes who eat the stuff - me, Misty, Jez and Dilly. TW says we are probably the lammi ones so we must be getting ready for spring. She is correct. She offered stuff to the others but no-one was bothered at all, Lyra even spooked at the yeast , wee wierdo.

Still no riding though, lazy arse.

Change

TW came up on her own this morning , she likes that best and mostly so do we. She knew straight away the change was in the air. A couple of us shouted hello to her and I let her kiss me on the nose before she hopped over the gate and didn't try to bite her. She liked this.

When TW went to get hay at first no-one moved. This was a change. Normally we jostle for our positions. She noticed there was even a teeny bit of hay left from yesterday!

She chucked us out the slices for sharing while she sorted the nets and we stood nomming. This new hay is very dry but very nice. The sun was out and the birds were busy. TW says spring is in the air. This makes her equally excited and nervous cos grass growing is not always a good thing. Jez told her that we need salt and dandelions and we will be fine, so we shall see. Jez is clever like that.

Anyhoo, TW got the yea sac out and told us it was there. She thought I wanted some cos I wasn't quite so keen on having my tummy scratched today. I went over and stuck my nose in secretly hoping it was milk thistle but it wasnt so I walked off. This was a change. On my way back to my hay I bit Mikka as hard as I could on her ginger bum to show my disgust at the yea sacc. Mikka didn't do anything, Tw thinks thats probably a change too.

Jez wanted yea sac and started nomming it. Dilly wanted some too. Jez did a piaffe and kicked and squealed and showed Dilly she was very mad. Dilly walked off but much later on as TW was leaving got her own back and booted Jez in the chest. Dilly and Jez are best buds. TW felt a bit sad. This was definitely a change. I reckon the girls know TW is wanting to ride again and are wondering who she will choose. My money is on her choosing me but we shall see. Secretly she wants to gallop up on down on Misty as like everyone knows Misty is like shit of a shovel when she gets going. Sadly for TW she is far too fat for shetland pony riding.

The girls say that soon TW is going to get fit and lose some weight so she can ride all of us who want to be ridden. Bracken says that would be a change indeed!

Haynets

Yesterday TW was mostly busy so apart from hay and water we didn't see much of her at all. It was damp and grotty in the morning so I was a bit grumpy. Today was a different matter. She arrived with Boblet and a mostly reasonable time and she put all our hay nets out and left us to nom. The chiddlers arrived but it was mostly cold and damp and muddy so we didnt see much of them. Apart from the wee one. He loves us. We love him too. However I loved him so much the other week that I accidentally might have nipped his tasty fingers. I may have tried to do something similar today so he went and chatted to Lyra instead.

The middle one is very keen to ride me as she knows that I am most fabulous. TW has been telling her that she needs to eat up all her grub and grow big and strong and then she can ride me.

Anyhoo TW noticed I had a slightly runny tummy first thing again. A man came mid morning and delivered 50 bargainous bales of meadow hay and we got extra nets to see if we liked it. We all swapped nets straight away to nom the new stuff. Apart from Lyra who seems to prefer nomming one net until its ended. Wierdo. Mr Boblet really enjoyed stacking the bales up i reckon. We stood and nommed for 6 hours solid. TW was very impressed. By the end of the nomming my tummy was no longer runny and the sun had come out so we all went to sleep. 

Oh, and TW got some yea sacc delivered cos I told her I needed some. She was very proud of herself when she put a bucket out with some good dollops in it for me. I thanked her by kicking it over and chucking the yeasty stuff in the muck so no-one could eat it. Ha!!

Now I am 9

I thought it might be about time I started blogging again. Now I am 9 and all mature and all that. So TW says.

Things have changed alot again which isn't good for an anxious bot like me but they seem to be settling down slowly. We are back where me and Bee started in Derbyshire but this time it's no livery shizzle. It's just us and TW. Plus Jez of course. And the other 4 girls who TW needed  to make things complete. It's working surprisingly well tbh. Not sure Brack agrees that much though I think he'd like the cows back, And probably a boys own gang.

Anyhoo, I have been mostly chilling and getting better slowly. This morning TW gave me a lovely brush all over and I actually enjoyed it. That, she says is progress. No gut aches here!! The grass is growing so we shall we how we get on. She has worked very hard in the last year I reckon figuring stuff out and trying to be a better TW. She listens more and stresses less which is helpful. Apart from when she tried to put Bracks sweet itch rug on yesterday. Then the bad words and tantrums almost appeared.

The plan is to get very slowly fitter this year. TW says it was very bad of her to do so much with me when I was younger and she is VERY VERY SORRY. I forgive her. Mostly. Now I am 9 I might be ready she reckons. Dildred is nearly 15 and has made it very clear that she is ready if I am not. It could be interesting.

So today I am relaxing with my hay nets with my gang. It's lovely. Bee is just Bee and Jez is floating around doing her earth mother lovey shizzle that TW things is fab. The other dudes are Misty (Shetland, independent lady), Dilly ( cob, chilled, likes eating), Lyra (baby, my chum) and Mikka (Ginge whos slowly learning the ways of the native crew). Far too many girls. Fortunately the donks next door are both boys.

We have a trailer now, TW can't drive it. That is shite as it means Boblet needs to be my taxi. Boblet is jealous of me. TBH so he should be. We all know who TW's favourite is......