Weaning and haltering.

Weanlings and their 'teenage carers' enjoy the rested pasture

The weanlings are being halter-trained, whenever we have the chance - we use our lawn as an enticement as there is plenty of grass. We've kept them in the 'home' paddock where we have a good shelter, and it's easy to take them to the lawn.

Florina and Fortune with their 'carer' Elstar at the front

However there comes a point when the grass is negligible, and with each shower it becomes more muddy, so today we led them over the hill to fresh pasture which had been rested since Christmas. They only have one of my wind-break/sun-shades over there, so we'll give them a couple of weeks, weather permitting, and then bring them back to try and get them clean(-er) for the Futurity, our first show of the year.

The adults gather around the hay-manger, while the young ones enjoy their fresh pasture beyond - Herdsire Scrumpy, minds his own business in the top left paddock.

This winter has been much better for us - the paddocks have held up well - before this recent changeable spell, we had four weeks without rain, and plenty of frosts. I took the mower out this morning to do a bit of scarifying, and was pleased that it started first time since November, no flat battery! The ground was a bit too soft and greasy on the hill, so I didn't continue.

Golden Delicious nursing Flamenco

We have one cria still being nursed, a September birth, so she isn't quite ready.

We have had a steady run of visitors, including a family considering alpacas as a business venture, and a group of ladies for a felting workshop.
We will be attending the Futurity in four weeks time with a finely-tuned show team, and we've just decided on different teams for another three shows, which I must get on with making the entries for, before they fill up - that would be disappointing. Good luck at the National next week.

Dyed fleece, ready for a felting workshop.

Mums look on proudly, to see their weanlings being independent (?!)