Brá and Hetja (Icelandic mares) have come home to run with our stallion, Taktur.
So we put Lilja (Icelandic filly) and Fivla (Shetland pony) in with the Minions.
Sadly it did not go well.
In theory the Minions were pleased to see Lilja.
But the worst was Waffle. He was hateful.
Poor Lilja was desperate to make friends.
But Waffle made it his business to to be vile to her.
Fivla, who has been Lilja’s “step-mum”, for the past few weeks totally ignored her “baby”.
So Lilja ran around the field very worried and stressed out.
The others then joined Waffle in at chasing Lilja out of her new herd.
It was quickly descending into chaos.
I felt really bad for Lilja. She did not deserve this.
The problem was not going to sort itself out.
Waffle was horrid and never gave up. Lilja was now threatening to jump out.
I was furious with Fivla for her total lack of caring or involvement while Lilja’s situation rapidly deteriorated.
So, in the end, Floss and I caught Waffle and Storm as he was beginning to be a prat too. We put them both into another field, further away.
This meant Lilja could make friends without being chased away and begin to be accepted into the herd.
Meanwhile, in the Naughty Corner…….. well, they can both rot in Hell.
Friends and neighbours are checking Lilja regularly. She is more settled now so that’s encouraging.
Sounds like Waffle truly thinks he is an Icelandic Stud instead of a Minion. Good for you to put him and Storm in a “time out”. Poor Lilja – she has not had an easy time of it. Filva must think Lilja is someone else’s problem now that she is back with the Minions. Kids!
Disappointed muchly.
Oh Waffle! Hero to zero in 24 hrs. He obviously thinks he is top dog now he’s been away to a party!
I hope Lilja has got over her rude (very rude) awakening.
I like Hero to zero – exactly that.
They can be so mean sometimes! Hopefully, without the naughty boys the others will accept the new girl and with luck, some of them will look after her when you re-introduce Waffle and Storm.
Waffle!! What a meanie. I’m glad you put him in his place!
I hope he figures out that getting along with Lilja will make life easier for him in the end!
Your post really made me sad today, Frances. So I can understand how you felt watching that go on. I hope Lilja will get along fine from now on and not be chased to hell and back by the nasties! Are you hoping for more babies from Brá and Hetja?
The girls had a year off so now it is time to make bebbies!
Tsk, tsk, tsk….What has gotten into Waffle? Did he fall in with a bad lot on his journey south? Poor Lilja, she deserved a better welcome. I am hopeful that, in their Time Out, the Bad Boys will reconsider their behavior and make amends. *sigh*
She is just a little girl, no threat to anyone, poor Lilja, not cool.
I see you are hoping to have foals again next year. I forget, did both ladys go with Taktur the previous year as well or was Brá pregnant when she arrived? Does Taktur have other offfspring from before? He is an import from Iceland too if I remember correctly? I would be very interesting in reading about your breeding thoughts and your plans for the foals. Are they staying with you or will they be for sale?
Brá came to us in foal by Álfur frá Selfossi and subsequently gave birth to Efstur. She then had one foal by Taktur – Dreki. We gave her last year off.
Hetja has had two foals by Taktur – Hjalti and Lilja. She has also had a year off from breeding.
So, we have thought about it and decided to run both mares with Taktur again because two foals have more fun together than one foal on its own.
The foals are for sale when I think it is best for them to be sold, preferably trained but if someone really really wanted an untrained youngster, I would consider it!
“My breeding thoughts and plans for my foals” – I try to breed good quality, good temperament, well trained Icelandic horses. Not necessarily high-competition standard, but horses that would suit a family and excell at a wide variety of disciplines. They will be trained by Bjorn (Level 3 Feif trainer/instructor) and have good manners and the potential to be brought on. Their gaits will be clear and ready to improve with more training as they build a relationship with their owner. The horse will be suited and trained according to the owner’s requirements and ability.
I hope that answers your questions.