>>> Is Skjoni living in the front with the older horses now? Is the integrated >>> herd working out okay?
I still have the old horses in front for ease of feeding, but Gracie is "young" at 13. They are in the back herd that consists of the Icelandic geldings, and the non-pregnant-under-20-year-old mares. The integrated herd includes geldings: Loftur, Melnir, Skjoni and Buck, then mares: Gracie as the sole remaining non-Icelandic in that herd, Sina, Saga, Brunka, Ima, Svertla, and Bjola. They are doing great - Melnir is "boss" but not a very aggressive one. Buck, always the thinking guy, knows he's too small to be boss, but in his usual style, sucked up to Melnir to become his first deputy! Eitill, another mild-mannered-Clark-Kent kind of gelding, surprisingly rose low man to challenge Trausti for a couple of mares, so before I introduced Melnir to the herd, I decided to put Eitill, Trausti and the two colts together, so I wouldn't have to deal with it all, especially knowing that Eitill was going back to Michigan - no point in him having to work through "herd politics" when he was a short-timer here. Knowing that Angie was coming, I haven't gotten around to putting Trausti and the colts into that herd, but once she's past her little semi-quarantine, I'll address that. Runa is with Angie - I suppose I should have her totally isolated from all the horses, but I worry about the mental stress of total isolation of a new horse. Angie came from a closed herd, so there should be little risk. I originally had pregnant Flekka and Maja alone together, isolated in their no-fescue-hay herd. But, once I realized that we have coyotes in the area, I decided I'd feel better if there were more than just two in that herd. So, Tifa and Kola are in with them - they will get a lesson about birthin' babies in April. Karen Karen Thomas Wingate, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.12/1162 - Release Date: 11/30/2007 9:26 PM
