Spring is amazing and wonderful, particularly here on the farm! A few weeks back we got quite the surprise... the mare we thought was just looking like she has been fed a little two much hay was, in fact, expecting. Beauty had many problems conceiving due to a cyst on her ovary issue. I should back up and tell you a little about Ms. Beauty. My mother in law acquired her a few years back out of Canada. She is a silver Norwegian Fjord (You can really see the difference in coloring in the picture below). Her coloring makes her unusual for the breed and my MIL got her to breed with the Stallion, Rocko, we already had here on the farm. After hormones, vet visits, ultrasounds, and much help from my guys to help breeding be successful, we gave up thinking it would happen.
It's not as easy as it would seem to get breeding done!
2 weeks prior to her impending delivery we discovered Beauty was expecting. My daughter, Lil' Bit was excited ...needless to say. She and Beauty have a wonderful relationship and have spent much time together with 4h projects and all.
 Pa just watching over  Last years ribbons |  Ready to ride  Fjords are gentle and great starter horses |
My Lil' Bit is one of those kids who is right there into every aspect of farming and animal husbandry. She came down on many occasions letting me know about her mare waxing up ( you don't want to know) and milk being present etc etc. She was up every hour or so the night we knew the delivery would be impending but when her Nana rushed down to get her, that horse delivered so quickly, the cute little Filly was already born by he time they ran back up to the barn! She was that quick!
Wobbly knees with Mam watching close by
It is important for my family to have the horse's name reflect their heritage from Norway. We combed the internet and after Lil' Bit deciding peanut wasn't going to cut it, she chose the name Elli. Elli was a Norse Goddess who beat Thor in a wrestling contest. The irony was not lost on those who know my family as I have sons who have been wrestling their whole lives placing yearly at competitions!
My cowboy and his family use a gentling method from the start. Part of this "training" is developing the idea of the person being "in charge" so that the horse works cooperatively with the human :) Ted is helping develop this in Elli by picking her up and moving her around.
The fjords coat is curly and thick from the start
Phew! Everyone is tuckered out. We will post new pictures as Elli grows and let you know how they are doing. Mama and baby have been great this last week. Elli is already in a halter being led about the farm. She loves getting out for a walk with Mama and Lil' Bit everyday!
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