I was pleasantly surprised by Kika's reaction to Nancy, I actually think she may remember and/or recognise her from when they were in Ireland - although Nancy would have been a foal/yearling when Kika left so they wouldn't have actually been turned out together or come into direct contact with each other per se.
However Kika is very maternal and loves foals and animals smaller than herself in general - she will make a great mother some day - if I ever get her to that stage!
Kika actually got an eyeful of Nancy yesterday evening when the haflinger stabled between them was out of the stall and to see Kika stare ears pricked at Nancy was adorable for me. Maternal Kika may be making a reappearance!
I was apprehensive about turning them out together as I thought Kika might be aggressive and nasty towards Nancy, but I couldn't have been more wrong!
She was an angel and really interested in saying hi and playing nice with Nancy, however N wanted none of it and wasn't too interested in befriending Kika!
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| "Why won't the new girl play with me?!" |
Nancy def has a mind of her own and won't let herself be bullied or intimidated - I noticed this when I was in the stable with her earlier and the neighbour was making faces at her through the bars. Nancy gave as good as she got, so she won't be a push over which is reassuring as Miss Kika can also stand her ground and knows her own mind.
Prior to the "Grand Introduction", I had popped Kika on the walker for an hour while I sorted her stable and gave Nancy a bit of lunge on the line and loose so that she could stretch her legs a bit after the traveling and learn the lay of the land. I only asked her to walk and trot a little bit, so long as she wanted to trot, to let her work out the kinks.
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| "Mirror Mirror - on the wall who's the fairest of them all? " Nancy's first encounter with her own reflection |
She was very good, tends to look out when on the lunge so we'll work on correcting that sooner rather than later so that the wrong muscles don't develop. L has said she has quite a neck so we'll have to be careful that she muscles correctly as otherwise it'll be very difficult to correct later.
She's still very young so we'll take things slowly and try not overwhelm or push too hard too fast but at the same time we want to set up a schedule/regularity to work so that she doesn't get used to the easy life and then get a shock to the system when we look to start working her more often - lesson #1 learned from Kika's younger days.
As always with young animals consistency is key - I may need to be reminded of this and "1 step forward can be followed by 3 steps back" in the future. ;-)
She had a bit of a nosy around the arena loose, and I had her trot around a little bit more but no fireworks. Not once did she look to go for a canter or throw a buck. Shall wait and see how she adapts once she's had a bit more time to settle and get used to her new surroundings.
In all honesty Nancy was more interested in following me around as I filled in the wholes she attempted to dig yet she didn't seem that interested in rolling - am sure that will come once she feels more settled.
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| Already less tucked up than the day before - relaxing well |
She looks like she's settling in really well! And poor Kika, she just wanted to be friends. It's good there were no fireworks at the first meeting - I've always known mares to be possessive/protectice of what they deem 'theirs'
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed all continues to go well and that I don't mess things up!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what happens when O is added to the mix in the summer whether Kika will be as keen to play nice then as O is her best buddy.
The three won't be turned out together until May 1st when another horse will be added to the mix. I don't want there to be a three against two situation come the summer so I won't be turning K & N out together until May 1st at least!
If there was little to no squealing I think they'll do well together :D
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so, it would def make my life that bit easier if they get along. :D
DeleteNancy's an elegant looking girl, what a nice addition to your family, glad Kika's playing good older sister so far :)
ReplyDeleteThanks KK, she has plenty growing and filling out to do - here's hoping she doesn't get monstrously heavy/wide.
DeleteKika has been such a doting admirer of Nancy, long may it last!
Hopefully Kika does recognise/like her and that it isn't a smell of Ireland that might wear off soon!
Yay!! Glad they got along! How cute are they together!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karley, Am so glad I managed to immortalise that first meeting. It's a pity the phone camera doesn't have a zoom - I wasn't going standing any closer on the off chance the didn't get on! ;-)
DeleteYAY I'm glad they seem to at least tolerate each other - keep at it and I bet they'll be buddies in no time :) It's helpful when they like each other... That's the one thing I said about E and D together - if they at least tolerate each other life is easier. No naughtiness between them if they're tied near each other, smell each other on my or have to be in a trailer together.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping they'll be buddies!
DeleteThanks Allie - hopefully I can do as well by my girls as you do by your two!
Cute pictures. It is good that they tolerated each other! Mares are so funny to me. Houston would be friends with anyone if they will put up with him!
ReplyDeleteMmm the females can be tricky alright...as with any species, ;)
DeleteKika has been so good under saddle, to handle and indeed with Nancy in general - I really hope she has matured and that this is what the future holds for us!
Fingers crossed!
They are both really pretty horses. Glad she's settling in well and that the introductions went well.
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