Tsjemme, we will miss you

Like all of Hiltje’s babies, he was born early and was beautiful. His new owners had been waiting nearly a year for his birth. We telephoned them to say this was the blackest (pure, indigo black – like an ink spill) and BIGGEST baby we have ever had on the farm. He was too big to lift his body to nurse, so we trailered him and his momma to Virginia Tech where the docs could monitor him and bottle feed him for a week until he was strong enough to nurse on his own.

The vet techs called him “Tim” or “Timmy” (Tsjemme is Friesian for Timothy. We named him after my brother.) and commented on what sweet, pretty and big baby he was. “And my word”, they kept saying, “he is SO black!” Even now when they see me, the techs ask how Timmy is.

After a week, Tsjemme and Hiltje came home, eventually integrating back in with the herd.

Initially he was stubborn and willful, a trait that served him well as he demanded his momma stand still for nursing. But he always has bonded strongly with humans – after all, it was humans who gave him the love and care he needed in his first weeks. Soon he was the first in the herd to come and see any visitor. The first to want to be petted. The first to come to the gate.

After 2 months of working to get Hiltje pregnant, 11 months of gestation, a week at Tech, and 8 months here on the farm with the herd, Tsjemme has gone to his new home. His new owners are experienced horse people who sell carriages and show in driving classes. They hope to one day have Tsjemme advertise their business as he pulls carriages. They also want to ride him for fun. He will be perfect for those things – by the time he is 3 he will be a poster boy for Friesians. Rock star looks – really lovely. Big, black, with long locks of hair. And good natured if raised with love, training and fair/gentle discipline.

He will be close enough that I can go visit him anytime I want, and his new owners graciously left me an open invitation. Even though he is a fuzzy, gawky 8 month old now, his owners seem to really like him and can already see the pretty butterfly that will emerge over time as he matures.

I am pleased for Tsjemme and his new family. I think it is a good match and they will be happy together.

Still, when Tsjemme got on the trailer to leave the farm, I cried. It is so easy to fall in love with them and I hate to see them go.

We started a photo album for Tsjemme. I hope to add to it as he becomes an adult.

Hiltje had a colt!

Yes, he was a couple of weeks early, which was a good thing because he is HUMONGOUS. He had trouble getting up, because he is HUMONGOUS, so he went to Va Tech for some TLC until he could build his strength up enough to lift his HUMONGOUS body. Even so, it took 6 people to hold him down to put the feeding tube in. One vet tech, sweaty face, hair down in her eyes,  looked at me and said woefully "my word, he is strong". My guess is that Hiltje figured if Dahlia did not have to be pregnant anymore then Hiltje did not have to either. And Hiltje, our alpha mare, does whatever Hiltje wants. Thank goodness she is a sweetheart.

He's doing great now, standing and eating and pushing everyone around. He's at least 25% bigger than Tara – he probably weighs a good 130 pounds or more. Too bad this is not an H year because he would be a good "Hercules". Hiltje is having to get used to him again since he did not nurse on his own for a couple of days. When he goes to nurse he hits her like a Mack Truck, which pisses her off. But I think that will pass soon.

He is Sibald x Lute and the blackest thing I have ever seen. We got a lovely 1st premie filly with this cross a couple of years ago. So we are hopeful. Don't know much about his personality yet, but he is good looking. His name is Tsjemme (sorta like "SHEM-uh" but more of a "ch" sound up front), which is Friesian for Timothy. We named him after my brother. The vets call him Tim. After he's weaned he's going to a home outside Charlottesville to some folks who are excellent carriage drivers. A good thing since he'll probably be a "tractor trailer" sized adult!

Looking forward to getting him home and I'll get you some pictures.