Nelson is adorable. Swan too. So happy to hear your big boy is doing well. To think it all started with him! Fingers crossed for continued good luck against colic.
I am glad I stopped by today and read the posts. This thread makes me smile.
Good luck with your expanding family, Anna!
:lol: oh I began to think you maybe should try make jammies to him sleep on…
just joke… :winkgrin:
yeah white animals arent easy keep clean but I guess there is shampoo that whitens the horse if it goes too dirty look.
awww poor swan… will you rehab and keep him? or will you seek new home for him?
nice to hear things are well out there.
sends hugs thats to you all 2 and 4 feeted 
About swan - our plan is to get him back 100% and then let him go back to wildlife where he belongs - but it is not clear if it will be possible, and probably he will need to stay with us until spring - at present he can not fly due to the stiched hole in lungs, but wings are OK so he has great hope.
Just few more pictures
Puika has his winter coat on now, and he looks nearly black
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7581.jpg
Daddy, a kissss!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7591.jpg
Lets go see girls! (Puika feels so much better so Peter now can really concentrate on schooling him)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7605.jpg
Which one?
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7625.jpg
Giva
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7567.jpg
See, folks, I have a bum now!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7556.jpg
Mum walking Henry, the Swan
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/17-10-08/PICT7512.jpg
Hi Anna!
Nelson is adorable, and the swan is just gorgeous!!! Everyone looks so happy too! Thanks for posting the awesome pics!! – hard to believe what Puika has started–lol. 
Love the ‘Swan Tote’ too!! :lol:
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 potatoe 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 panick. 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.
Sounds like Giva will be quite the sport horse! She is so gorgeous.
My daughter’s first mare, who was a pretty small horse, jumped a pretty high fence to get into the neighboring field with a pony. Her pasture mate had been taken away for the day to a show, and I guess she just decided she didn’t feel like being alone! Even though she could see the little pony through the fence, she also was an alpha mare and wanted something to boss around for the day, I guess.
Very interesting Anna!!! I am so surprised that she was so concerned about Puika. The herd dynamics of horses is so fascinating to me. She obviously cares and worries about him, evan though she doesn’t want him anywhere near Shella. Peter is going to have a lot of fun when he decides to start jumping her… wow!
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, and the 2nd episode, about our swans is from time 8:25. First two minutes is about the place where cygnets were found and kept at the beginning, and then their yourney to us. At the end, time 13 sometning 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.boms.lv/Video.aspx?VID=9628
Scroll the recording from left to right to time 8:25, and there is our episode.
At least then you will know that we are real
(next 2 weeks will be furher episodes of the cygnet story, and how they were released in wildlife in September)
Peter rode Giva yesterday for the first time. Bareback. It was great and they both enjoyed it a lot.
[QUOTE=Griffyn;3585975]
Nelson is adorable. Swan too. So happy to hear your big boy is doing well. To think it all started with him! Fingers crossed for continued good luck against colic.[/QUOTE]
Ditto! It is great to see all are doing well. I LOVE getting updated on the animals and people in our own personal CoTH version of “Life in Latvia”!
Few good things with pictures
Giva has her “days” and we tried again to put them close to Puika. This time it worked! Giva was keen to see him
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/28-10-08/PICT7724.jpg
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!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7892.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7893.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7895.jpg
Chase us!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7900.jpg
I’m coming!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7897.jpg
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 excercises will help.
She is so sweet now, really happy horse on the mission!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7842.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7846.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/02-11-08/PICT7839.jpg
I found this thread yesterday and haven’t stopped reading. I am in awe. What an inspiring story this is. Thank you Anna & Peter. I now want to move to Latvia.
Anna, I continue to be awestruck by your posts and pictures.
This is just all soooooooooooooo wonderful.
Peter looks fabulous together with Giva. I bet ya, he’ll think about doing some shows with her next summer… They look like they’re a great match :yes:!
I’m so glad for Puika, he looks to be having so much fun out there. That’s so great for this horse, especially considering the ‘locked-up past’ he had.
GREAT job folks. Your posts are so refreshing and inspiring.
Keep us updated!
PS, sorry I didn’t manage to watch the little video, I don’t think many people in the US managed to. Somehow some European online vids don’t come thru here. I could hear the language (beautiful Latvian, didn’t understand a word however), but not see the picture, even my satsuki decoder couldn’t get it fixed.
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 decission, brave boy).
More good news about Puika - a week ago he misteriously 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 adn we put him back inside fence - he even looked quilty, 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 carzy 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.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8008.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8007.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8020.jpg
A small intimate moment of Puika’s current life - I bet he is one really lucky boy
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8051.jpg
(It is Shella)
A bit of gossips over the salt
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8039.jpg
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
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8053.jpg
And … I must to announce that on Sunday I was lungeing 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 guite 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 lungeing 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!
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/09-11-08/PICT8000.jpg
Will your swan return in the spring?
Did I miss something? who is this 4th horse in your pasture? I see Giva, Shella, puika, and one horse i do not know…I know you have nelson, but he is gray right?
[QUOTE=Megz;3646567]
Did I miss something? who is this 4th horse in your pasture? I see Giva, Shella, puika, and one horse i do not know…I know you have nelson, but he is gray right?[/QUOTE]
I said the same thing! Opened the picture and was like “aww how cute… omg. wait. who’s the other horse?!”. IIRC, Nelson is grey… Anna, you have not told us about this other horse and inquiring minds want to know:lol:
Well, sorry folks 
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 nervbreak… Nothing like Latvian breed. But other than that she has no issues, vices or health problems. Minuses - i woyuld 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
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/10-11-08/PICT8057.jpg
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)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/09-11-08/PICT7990.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/09-11-08/PICT7957.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/BBCedrik/09-11-08/PICT7970.jpg
