Strike a Pose

It’s been a busy week for photo shoots on the farm. Quite by accident in conversation with a couple of customers in the pottery and I find those Highland ladies have been striking a pose for the lens of a passing camera again. With the small single-track road meandering through the farm on its way to Ardnahoe and Bunnahabhain Distilleries those ladies are becoming something of a tourist feature in the area. They can be seen modelling away on a regular basis, with a quick flick of their horns, their windswept wiry thick curls, and huge eyes shaded with long thick lashes, they make for quite a picture, attracting admiring glances from all walks of life the world over.
Not wanting to miss out, the other animals on the farm have been queuing to get in on the act too. Muffin was spied posing away all weekend at the edge of the garden. A milky grin on his face, from the grey hairs framing those lips, he is always happy to be in front of the camera, and knows that a camera is often accompanied by goodies from the farmhouse kitchen of fresh peelings, together with a pat or a rub from his favourite lady. Muffin, our cheeky pony, arrived when eldest was just seven years old. He is now 33 and has been a member of the clan at Persabus for nearly twenty years and eldest loves him to bits, travelling home frequently to get her ‘horse fix’. He arrived on the farm as an ILPH rescue pony and it was love at first sight when eldest clapped eyes on him. He came complete with saddle and bridle but from very early on it became blatantly clear that he had absolutely no intention of ever being ridden. Muffin’s answer to a rider on his back would be to trot along smartly, fixed grin on face, and then without warning, a flick of his hind quarters, a sharp buck of the back legs, and the rider would be flung unceremoniously into the air and onto the ground, as Muffin made a quick bolt for it. Even the Happy Farmer has somersaulted off Muffin’s back. Muffin you see had the most terrible sweet itch in the early days and who knows what awful treatment he had endured before coming to live at Persabus. Eldest wouldn’t have dreamed of forcing the issue, she was far more interested in the happiness and contentment of her horse companions. Instead as a youngster she spent most evenings and weekends grooming him, patiently chatting away to him and playing alongside him whilst she saved her riding skills for Rosie, her Highland pony and latterly Hansel. These horses are also keen to model around the farm and can often be seen posing away on the hill just beside the cottages, being sure to attract admiring glances from guests staying in our farm accommodation.
Not to be left out the sheep are always happy to be photographed too At lambing time there is often an enclosure on the farm with a pet lamb or two bleating away looking for a bottle of milk and a fuss. Just now, with’ tupping season’ upon us, the sheep barely move when I make tracks though the field, minus the dogs of course, that would be just a little unsettling for the flock. The tups happily ‘nose’ their way around the field choosing which of the ladies is ‘available’. The sheep laze, happily chewing the cud. In the neighbouring field Markus the bull is munching on a bale of silage dropped in by tractor earlier in the morning. Those animals happily pose away daily for my passing camera.
Back at the farmhouse the dogs can be found, lazing on the patio, whilst the cats make their own cosy nests in various corners of the home, sprawled out across chairs and sofas, tucked up on rugs and throws.
There’s no shortage of pets at Persabus and then of course we also have the Happy Farmer….
Until next time…