The day dawned bright and clear, as they were wont to say in Jill books and the like. It wasn’t to last, and was possibly the second most positive thing to happen all day. We set off to Dunstable, to the Abacus stud to collect the miniature Shetland registered as Abacus Floyd. Jill, who owns the stud, trimmed his feet for him and helped to load him into the trailer. It was a bit of a squeeze (Ifor Williams 510; 30” pony), but we succeeded in fitting him in where he was cross-tied and given a hay net. He survived the journey, and despite producing a not-very-miniature quantity of effluent, had managed to force himself to nibble lightly on some hay. One thing we found out very quickly – he does like his grub! So we get home, and decide to pop him in the front part of the paddock and shut Toffee and Fraser in the top bit. Fraser looked suitable baffled (bless), but Toffee was absolutely disgusted and was not slow to make her feelings clear. Then both the big horses put on a spectacular display of flat-out galloping, bucking, running full pelt towards the fence and swerving at the last minute… Newcomer remained ambivalent about the whole thing. Eventually things calmed down, and we showed him how to get into the paddock with the others (under the bottom bit of electric tape dividing the field). He went trotting in, and Toffee soon set about showing him who was boss. He gave as good as he got though! First horse we’ve had here who actually answered back; he is a bold little thing and does the sweetest little squeals. Eventually things reached some sort of equilibrium and they all stood and grazed. Later on we looked out of the window, and he was nose to nose with Fraser. Too cute for words!
All the hooning around inevitably resulted in The Clumsy One cutting himself – this time, on the inside of a hock. Nina was trying to bathe it with Hibiscrub when he stamped the full weight of his shod foot down onto her toes. Poor Nina! :( He wasn’t having any wound powder puffed onto it either… *sigh* We caught Jimi/Patterson/Corbett when we brought the others in and tied him in the corner of the yard. He was understandably anxious at first, but soon relaxed and we gave him a little groom.
He seems a tough little character, yet very gentle and biddable. I am beginning to like him a lot… :D We are stuck for a name. We quite like Jimi because it is a Scottish name and he looks a lot like Jimi Hendrix. We like Corbett because of the ‘I look down on him’ class sketch featuring Ronnie Corbett (also Scottish), and we like Patterson because his registered name is Floyd and Floyd Patterson was a boxer. In time I expect he will name himself, but Patterson suits him because he pitter-patters…
Anyway, am knackered and rambling. More anon.
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