They’re home!

It’s a bit of a surreal and wonderful dream, but the realities of horse ownership are quite physical in that I’ve wrecked my hands getting hay off the bale! I’ll bring gloves tomorrow morning!!

Everything went well today, but Flora is less tolerant of the goats and sheep than Kveðja. I hope no animal (horse or sheep or goat) get any injuries. Hopefully the goats and sheep will get the message and stop trying to steal the hay (and getting some potato boxes will hopefully help). The grass is quite good but they love the hay - left loads out for them this evening, but if it’s all gone when I get there in the morning does that mean I’m starving them?! I have no idea how much nutrition there is in the grass right now!
 
I was taught as a rule of thumb that if the temperature is 55 deg F (around 13 C) then the grass will still be growing - so long as there is enough rainfall to feed it.

We are lucky at the moment that round me the grass is still growing and helping to hold off having to feed too much hay in the fields to the horses for a while with the shortage there is/will be.

You've got natives so beware of over feeding them. Nature's way is for horses to go into winter fat-ish and to come out of winter thinner. A thinner broodmare will be slightly more fertile as a result. For other horses coming out of winter thin means there is 'space' for them to cope with the richer spring grass whilst having less risk of laminitis.
 
reynold said:
You've got natives so beware of over feeding them. Nature's way is for horses to go into winter fat-ish and to come out of winter thinner. A thinner broodmare will be slightly more fertile as a result. For other horses coming out of winter thin means there is 'space' for them to cope with the richer spring grass whilst having less risk of laminitis.
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Yes! We're the same. Grass still growing here and I'm not haying yet. Despite that, neither the cob or the baby Connie are starting to lose weight yet. When I begin to start seeing ribs I'll put hay in. You need to use the winter to slim down natives a bit, so then you have a bit of leeway in the spring and won't find yourself dealing with fat ponies after only a fortnight's sneaky spring grass growth.

My two will inhale any quantity of hay overnight, regardless of weather conditions - some people are quite evangelical about "if you offer ad lib hay they will self regulate" but unfortunately I have not found this to be true. If you have native types out 24/7 they'll always have a little bit of something to pick at so try not to feel too bad. Personally I would watch the babies - if they're a comfortable weight and seem happy then they probably don't need hay.
 
Phew! I’m feeling a lot better now. I have had trouble sleeping as I imagined them starving in the field. 🤣 So maybe I don’t have to put out hay two-three times a day yet?
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
Phew! I’m feeling a lot better now. I have had trouble sleeping as I imagined them starving in the field. 🤣 So maybe I don’t have to put out hay two-three times a day yet?
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I wouldn't be. Once it's genuinely cold and there's wind and / or heavy rain, that's when I'd start worrying about them having enough forage. But their condition should tell you, even with a fluffy coat it only takes a week for my healthy horses to start dropping weight if it's really nasty weather (they live out). Then that's one of my signals to start putting out extra forage. The first is grumpiness. Obviously it's dependent on each individual horse but mine, who are usually very chilled, start getting a bit tetchy and frantic around dinner time if they're genuinely hungry. It won't take long for you to get to know yours like that, but fat natives are definitely a harder problem to resolve than dropping a bit of weight in bad weather.
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
Took it off this morning- he was a good boy about it. Horrendously wet and chilly today, Highlands are in the shelter and the Icelandics are not. 🤣
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Ah that's great news about the halter - definitely best to only have them on when being handled to cut down on the risk of accidents, even when they are adjusted to perfection!!
 
We’re still in November yet it seems ages since the horse move!

Things are going very well, but I hadn’t imagined the constant low-grade (most of the time) worry you have - do they have enough water, hay, are they cold in the storm, are they happy?? It does help having the camera, and we’ve seen some very funny and sweet things - like the colts playing, Flora the Highland smiling while she snoozes in the shelter etc. Right now it’s the frost - went up an extra time to try to save the tap (put a thick wool mitten covered by another warm mitten on top - have ordered a tap cover).

At weekends it’s very much a family affair and my husband and various kids come up. All our ponies (funny thing is the Icelandic is classified as a horse, but is smaller than my Highland Pony! 🤣) are turning into extremely friendly love bugs who love attention and cuddles. The Highlands are almost a bit much in your face, but I’m not complaining. The Icelandics are a touch more reserved, but only compared to the Highlands - they really are very sweet too.

Little Blesi, the youngest foal (Icelandic, four months) is coming on in leaps and bounds. We can now stroke him and he gives the sweetest kisses. Topsy the six month old Highland foal is quite bolshy and confident but completely lovable. It’s taking me ages when I poo pick or do other jobs as I spend so much time just being with them - they all follow me around (and I don’t give treats - in general - so they just like people).

We’ve taken both mares for a little in-hand walk last weekend. They were very sprightly and a bit nervous at first, but calmed down after a few minutes. The rest of the herd were going slightly bonkers in the field in the meantime.

I have a lesson this Friday with a BHS instructor who is big on connection/horsemanship - it will be just getting a plan for bringing my Icey into work, putting a headcollar on Blesi (as he needs to be registered and microchipped soon) etc. But I hope to be back in the saddle by Christmas - I would love a Christmas ride, even a tiny one! If not, definitely an in hand walk.

The plan was to share the jobs and responsibilities with my field mate, but apart from getting photos of the muddy bits of the field (which I’m well aware of of course) I’m not getting any help. But another livery in the next field is lovely - we have daily chats and she’s so positive and really likes my horses (my field mate doesn’t say anything positive about them - hopefully she’ll change when she gets her own horse).
 

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So you'll have two foals to raise and produce and back and all that? LOL. That sounds like a lot of work. I'd wondered if he was sales project or something.
 
I think with each other (the foals), and basic handling so they are polite to lead/pick feet up/little hand walks etc then send off to be backed when old enough and hopefully all will be well. They are a lovely looking group of ponies.


ETA obviously a first time owner getting young stock is not ideal but they are breeds with sound heads on them usually so that, coupled with OP getting experienced support, will hopefully work in everyone's favor.
 
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FieldOrnaments said:
I think with each other (the foals), and basic handling so they are polite to lead/pick feet up/little hand walks etc then send off to be backed when old enough and hopefully all will be well. They are a lovely looking group of ponies.


ETA obviously a first time owner getting young stock is not ideal but they are breeds with sound heads on them usually so that, coupled with OP getting experienced support, will hopefully work in everyone's favor.
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I never planned this exact situation, but it’s how it unfolded. I wouldn’t advise others to copy me (unless they’re a bit mad and have support) but I’m not going to do it all alone. I have professionals to draw expertise from and family and friends to help with the more mundane stuff. Although I do do a lot myself.

Just being with them is wonderful and my back and neck pain has gone completely since I moved the horses. It’s all the poo picking and cuddling and using my upper body more, I think.
 
Gloi said:
Two native type foals aren't exactly hard work to raise.
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I’m planning to let them be young horses most of the time, but getting them civil enough to be handled for the vet and farrier and basic leading. I do think most of their education will come from playing with each other, though, as well as getting input from older horses.
 
First session with my trainer done and In so proud of them all. Icequeen (ie my Icelandic and boss of the herd) tried on two saddles and a bridle (a bit too snug but she put up with it anyway). The 17 inch Fhoenix saddle was too long, so going with my smaller treeless Icelandic saddle for now. That fitted her well and we went for a walk around the field, with Flora the Highland behind (led by my trainer) and then the little boys walking behind us very nicely. Will be tacking her up and walking her a few times before getting on board.

The lovely thing was not only did she behave so well, being completely chilled out and sweet, but my trainer was in awe of all of them. She thought they were super friendly and loved them all. We’ll slowly start the breaking in process with Flora soon, just putting a saddle pad on her back soon and take it very slowly from there.

We’ll also work on Blesi (Icey colt) to get him more comfortable with being touched and soon wearing a headcollar.

It’s so exciting starting to do things with them!
 
Kirstineridesagain said:
We’re still in November yet it seems ages since the horse move!

Things are going very well, but I hadn’t imagined the constant low-grade (most of the time) worry you have - do they have enough water, hay, are they cold in the storm, are they happy?? It does help having the camera, and we’ve seen some very funny and sweet things - like the colts playing, Flora the Highland smiling while she snoozes in the shelter etc. Right now it’s the frost - went up an extra time to try to save the tap (put a thick wool mitten covered by another warm mitten on top - have ordered a tap cover).

At weekends it’s very much a family affair and my husband and various kids come up. All our ponies (funny thing is the Icelandic is classified as a horse, but is smaller than my Highland Pony! 🤣) are turning into extremely friendly love bugs who love attention and cuddles. The Highlands are almost a bit much in your face, but I’m not complaining. The Icelandics are a touch more reserved, but only compared to the Highlands - they really are very sweet too.

Little Blesi, the youngest foal (Icelandic, four months) is coming on in leaps and bounds. We can now stroke him and he gives the sweetest kisses. Topsy the six month old Highland foal is quite bolshy and confident but completely lovable. It’s taking me ages when I poo pick or do other jobs as I spend so much time just being with them - they all follow me around (and I don’t give treats - in general - so they just like people).

We’ve taken both mares for a little in-hand walk last weekend. They were very sprightly and a bit nervous at first, but calmed down after a few minutes. The rest of the herd were going slightly bonkers in the field in the meantime.

I have a lesson this Friday with a BHS instructor who is big on connection/horsemanship - it will be just getting a plan for bringing my Icey into work, putting a headcollar on Blesi (as he needs to be registered and microchipped soon) etc. But I hope to be back in the saddle by Christmas - I would love a Christmas ride, even a tiny one! If not, definitely an in hand walk.

The plan was to share the jobs and responsibilities with my field mate, but apart from getting photos of the muddy bits of the field (which I’m well aware of of course) I’m not getting any help. But another livery in the next field is lovely - we have daily chats and she’s so positive and really likes my horses (my field mate doesn’t say anything positive about them - hopefully she’ll change when she gets her own horse).
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Totally cuddlesome, beautiful, gorgeous 😍 🥰 😍 🥰 😍 🥰
 
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