EddyTeddyFreddy - Okay, I took a couple pics. I call this “Patient Suitors” Looking for treats. Dirty Horse
StG
Oh, my. Even through the grubby winter fuzz you can see how nicely she’s put together. It appears she’s as interested in her suitors as they (or at least Indy) are in her. What a sweet face!
I wish I could reach through the monitor screen and skritch her withers!
EddyTeddyFreddy - I was planning to wait a week before turning her out with the boys, but two and a half inches of rain this week and the creek is running high. It’ll be hard to carry a bale of hay for her. She has enough to last through tomorrow, then I may turn her out. I wanted to do it during the day, so I could watch what happens, and it’s dark by the time I get home from work.
I’m seriously considering breeding her. That Bente D semen is so reasonable. I wonder how much it’ll cost to have the vet inseminate her?
StG
From the photo it’s clear that they can sniff noses over the fence, so it’s not like you’d be breaking quarantine, right? Is everyone barefoot? If so, they can still do some damage with a kick but it’s less risky; though I suspect that after some sniffing, squealing, and – from the boys – some high-tailed showing-off prinking and prancing, they’ll settle down nicely, especially since they’ve already had a couple of days to get used to the idea.
When I introduced Commander to Ben, his old owner and I held our horses on leadropes and let them sniff noses. After several minutes and a couple of squeals and strikes (from Commander, but then Ben became king; go figure), we unhaltered them and let them go loose in their paddock, where they alternated between eyeing each other and gobbing hay from the several piles I’d laid down. No problems at all.
Well, we already know what kind of foal she’d produce from that cross. Call your vet and ask!
I read this three times before I saw that you were saying “leadropes” instead of “telephones.” I was thinking that was the silliest thing I’d ever heard, introducing your horses over the phone. It’s early morning here, what can I say.
StGermain, she’s just lovely, I’m so glad it’s going smoothly for you.
EddyTeddyFreddy - Look at this 17-month old colt by Thatcher. It say below his stud fee is $100, but above it says $500. Probably $500 plus a $250 semen collection fee.
StG
Of course, one can never know how horses new to each other will react upon introduction, but check out this photo-story of Commander’s introduction to Ben, and be reassured.
Wow, gorgeous! You certainly don’t lack for choices.
Whoops – on a second look at that page, at the bottom I see his 2010 stud fee is:
More than you wanted to pay?
Wow, she is certainly a lady! My sister’s always been the one into horses <I just never had the opportunity>, so I’m ignorant on a lot of things. Do geldings still strut and flirt because a new pasture-mate is female, or is it more of a dominance thing that would happen with any new horse. Just curious 
Your mare is lovely! I have a grey mare myself and am very partial to them. I hope you have many wonderful days together!
If you plan to breed, you should reconsider your fencing. Replacing it with some hot wire and capping the posts won’t be expensive. It can go a long way towards preventing accidents. The holes in your wire are large enough that it would be easy for any horse to put a leg through it, especially a baby.
MaddyStrut - My fencing is hotwire except for that small paddock. It’s good to have a place to put them when the hotwire is down, when I’m fixing it.
EddyTeddyFreddy - That’s why I said I didn’t know what the stud fee is - it may be that it’s reduced if they haven’t had sufficient bookings. But he’s pretty spiffy…
Renee and Taomist - Thanks for the kind words.
StG
It looked to me on Thatcher’s page that the $500 discounted stud fee (from $750, no doubt) was for booking before December 31, 2009.
Hey, if you want incredible float in the foal’s gaits, how about another stallion, an Oldenburg, at Centaur Farms – Don De Marco? Watch the video! His stud fee is $250 higher, though.
Their Dutch Warmblood stallion Virgil isn’t as extravagant but he’s got plenty of big sweepy float of his own, and his stud fee is $500 plus the standard $250 booking fee. He’s actually less expensive than Bente D, who’s $750 plus booking fee.
ETA: I think I like Virgil better than Thatcher.
The strut is part dominance, yes, but there’s definitely more of it, and plenty of flirting, when the newbie is a GIRL! 
So glad to hear that things are going smoothly! I really loike that 17 month old colt… his movement is gorgeous! But I am still partial to Bente D… I do love me them Friesians!
Whatever you decide to breed her to, you are going to nend up with a spectacular baby!
Ooh, congratulations! I love that picture of her face; she’s lovely.
Someday if I have the time and space I want a horse. Especially one as pretty as she is!
I turned Nakota out with the boys tonight. She was eating and I opened the gate. She went out almost immediately, and went where the boys were eating their grain. Irish started trotting with her - no squeals or kicks at all. After a couple minutes she went back to her grain and Irish followed, but left her to eat. All very calm. Hopefully it’ll remain calm all night. YAY!
StG
Floaty indeed! It’s like his feet don’t even touch the ground. 
I fed Nakota and checked on her this morning. She seems fine. When Irish came up to steal some grain she pinned her ears back and snaked her neck around and he backed off. Good for her!
StG
Excellent. You now have a Herd Queen, and long may she reign over her loyal subjects, including her eventual heir(ess).