Stallion makes a good Father.Donder, a black Shetland stallion, has a small herd of three mares. Donder is a good stallion, gentle with his ladies but protective of their welfare. Should a stray dog enter the field Donder would charge with ears flat back and teeth bared. When foaling time was imminent I would remove the mare from the herd and keep her in the paddock with access to the barn. When the mare would be in labor Donder would pace the fence calling encouragement to his Lady. He wouldn’t leave to eat or drink until his foal was safely delivered. After a week of separation I would return the mare with foal to the field. Watching the three foals play together was always amusing. Donder basically ignored them until they were three months old and venturing further from their dams. When the foals would run and chase he would join in. I was both surprised and delighted to see his interaction with his foals. With amusement I saw him slow his canter so a foal could catch him. The foal nipped Donder on the flank tagging him, then turn and ran, having become the leader of the game. Donder, with the other foals, chased after the new leader. One day I stopped still in my tracks my, my heart in my throat. Donder and one of the colts were in battle! They rose in rears with Donder reaching for his son’s jugular vein. The colt jerked free and whirling kicked Donder soundly on his side. Donder returned his kick and squealing returned again for a frontal attack. The colt faced his sire and as Donder reared the colt came up under Donder and grabbed him by the throat shaking his head as he held on tight to Donder’s neck. Donder came down from his rear and then bowed down on a bended front leg. The colt let loose his grip and stood proudly, clearly sure he had won a terrible battle. Donder rose and walked off leaving his three-month-old son to savor the victory. After this first time I saw Donder win and lose in many mock battles with his colts. He had his own agenda as to what training they needed to become herd stallions. With his filly he would play tag but would not engage in mock battles, as a mare would not need to know that.
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