Inka

Nov. 12, 2008

It is Inka, our new addition. She arrived on Saturday, on Monday morning she was out of wooden pen and was hanging around electric fence, asking to be let in... It was easy.
She is tiny (about 15.3h), 13 yo, TR/TB mix - so temperament... She jumps up first, even when mouse farts, and thinks after the nerve break... Nothing like Latvian breed. But other than that she has no issues, vices or health problems. Minuses - I would say that with her long and soft pasterns (?) her hoofs were trimmed in a wrong angle (last owner into barefoot) but our farrier hopes to change it a bit until spring - at 13 he can not do much, but at least some he promised. Other than that hoofs are OK.

Here she is

Friendly sweet rideable hobby girl... Owner said that she is hard to catch - so far no issues, when you call she arrives (and if she hesitates, Give tells her off - I'm starting to really like Giva as a herd leader) and the same when she escapes - others tell her off so she just obeys.

She has had some foals, trying to trace them to see what she is producing with what (she really is a mix of everything). Other than that - sweetie (she likes her ears to be rubbed).

Inka has been loved and cared (not ideal, but best intentions). She has no health problems - so far I would say our only horse without health problems.

She has some training problems but nothing drastic, and in general she is very spooky, nervous lady, but again - vet said that it is OK for TR/TB mix. Owner is moving, suddenly, and needed new home for her ASAP... With winter coming there are no many stables left with a free space... So it happened.

For me she really seems tiny, she is small even in comparison with Shella, and when she stands next to Giva she looks like a little donkey. Hardly 16 h.

Mud and rain

Nov. 12, 2008

Weather had been warm, rainy and thus very muddy, but horses likes the still green grass.

Nothing much had happened here. Injured swan had recovered and left here (hope he was strong enough as it was HIS decision, brave boy).

More good news about Puika - a week ago he mysteriously escaped fencing - we know that he had never jumped so his escapade is still a mystery but the goood thing was - he was just hanging around, we called, he arrived and we put him back inside fence - he even looked guilty, poor boy. He is having wonderful life - running and playing with girls, Giva is teaching him to run out his tummy problems, so he is doing better and better with just few help from us. Strangers who do not know him thinks that I'm crazy telling that he can not be trusted 100% while they are cuddling him like a big teddy bear.

In general we are working on pack training - they all respond to their names and when we call, they are galloping down from field to greet us.


A small intimate moment of Puika's current life - I bet he is one really lucky boy

(It is Shella)

A bit of gossips over the salt


In details - vet was here today and looked at Giva's withers - I was a bit worried but vet calmed me down that withers are healing actually very well and nothing need to be done, just love and time is needed to heal.Vet is happy about her overall condition as well so she is a proof that we are doing not so bad

And ... I must to announce that on Sunday I was lunging Giva (and in general - a horse) for the first time in my life. We did it! Giva, who had been busy doing nothing since August was a bit lazy at the beginning but did it all. She understands and obeys to verbal commands, is not pulling, so it was quite an easy job and I enjoyed it a lot. I did it for only 10 minutes as she must start slowly. Giva got a lot of cuddles before we changed directions and seemed to enjoy it. The best thing - she did not needed the lunging whip - I bought it but was worried what I will do if there will be need to use it. It worked out that there is no need for a whip at all, that this big girl is keen to do job when just politely asked. I'm learning a new thing now!

Few good things

Nov. 2, 2008

Giva has her "days" and we tried again to put them close to Puika. This time it worked! Giva was keen to see him

So today we put them out in electric fencing - all together. Giva was please to see him and invited him to canter with her! You needed to see how happy Puika was cantering along with her in pastures - happy and free! Puika is in heaven now, indeed - he has learned to bear with electric fencing so off from chain (he had been on chain all his life), he is not left in box anymore (without a window and equine company), outside 24/7 to see the real life, and most of all - he is accepted by herd and can enjoy company of 2 girls!

So now I'm really happy - since January in our beginner hands Puika has turned from wild, dangerous beast to sweet and happy horse! He is off medications nearly a month now - I'm feeding him with laxseed, canola oil, pumpkins and herbal mixture (selfmade) - and seems that it is working so far - no more colics! Shiny coat and well working tummy. And all this - thank to you all who had patience with me and my silly guestions!

Run with me!

Chase us!

I'm coming!


And our other little good news - Peter has started riding Giva. So far only small, 10 minute walks 2X day, bareback (her withers will be not ready for saddle at least another month, maybe even more), but this way she can feel not left out (she is very happy to be ridden again!) and most important - she can start to build up the right muscles now. She still needs gain some weight, but not much, and the right exercises will help.

She is so sweet now, really happy horse on the mission!

Peter rode Giva

Nov. 2, 2008

Peter rode Giva yesterday for the first time. Bareback. It was great and they both enjoyed it a lot.

Shella on TV!

Oct. 29, 2008

I do not know, is it right place to post this here, but if somebody is interested, there are few seconds of Shella on our State television.

This is the nature program. First two minutes is about the place where cygnets were found and kept at the beginning, and then their journey to us. At the end, time 4:00 something you can see Peter riding Shella for few seconds and at the end when cygnets are put in the new pen in our garden, there is TV girl on Shella, looking at cygnets. So if you would like like to watch, it is here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7AmmBluXko&feature=channel_page

At least then you will know that we are real. :)
(next 2 weeks will be further episodes of the cygnet story, and how they were released in wildlife in September).

Bad tractor :)

Oct. 24, 2008

Today we had an interesting episode. Giva attacked the ploughing tractor to protect Puika (Maybe you have thousands of such episodes, but for me it was great experience).

So imagine picture - both girls Giva in Shella are gazing in electric fencing near the home, Puika is gazing in other lot (BTW, he is still in electric fencing, and is an angel), and between them is a small , 2 acre potato field. Tractor arrived to prepare the field for winter (deep ploughing) - noisy, of course, but all our horses had grown up with tractors, so no problems at all. Until girls moved to the bit uphills.

Mother was in garden - she saw the full episode. Suddenly Giva took off cantering, crossed the paddock, jumped over the electric fence (fence is 4 ft tall, but mother said that she was jumping as high as it would be 6 ft tall - a BIG gap between her and fence) and run directly to Puika. Puika was surprised, but come over to meet her, sniffed, gave her a kiss and then went back gazing, but Giva started to run loose in line between Puika and tractor until driver stopped in panic. Until then I run out of house, went to Giva and took her back in her paddock.

Then tractor left without her charging it again. We investigated what happened, and the only thing that we found out - from the bit where Giva was standing uphills, it might seemed that tractor is attacking Puika, so Giva as a leading mare had felt mandatory to save Puika's life

At least we know 2 things now - Giva has a great jump (she had not jumped until now here as her back still needs some healing time) and Giva loves Puika Two good things out of crazy episode.

Just few more pictures

Oct. 18, 2008

Puika has his winter coat on now, and he looks nearly black

Daddy, a kissss!

Lets go see girls! (Puika feels so much better so Peter now can really concentrate on schooling him)

Which one?

Giva

See, folks, I have a bum now!

My mum walking Henry, the Swan

Useful way to handle a big, heavy and muddy bird

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