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Færslur: 2012 September

16.09.2012 22:05

Hraunsrétt 2012

Saturday early in the morning a group of farmers and helpers started to drive the collected sheep (around 3.000) down to the valley. They were accompanied by snowscooters, quads, cars and a tractor with a trailer to take tired sheep. Everything went well and they were really early down at Þverá, where they take a 2 hours break before continuing the journey down to Aðaldalur.

We took Amor and Ögn with us as Hrund and I were planning to help herding the sheep the last part. The horses were doing fine, neither being scared of the snowscooters nor of the quads or other vehicles. Hrund was a bit stressed and after having to jump off horseback because our horses got stuck, she decided to rather put Ögn back into the trailer. I continued on Amor and was once more amazed by this powerful worker. He's already 20 years old, but still the best co-worker you can wish for. Always willing to please and always doing his best. Being the only rider we were sent uphill to stop sheep being on the way up and press them back down again. He did really well, but we got stuck a few times in big snow piles. I was leading him quite a part of the way, where it was difficult for him having me on back. After arriving down at Presthvammur, I put him in the trailer and we went back to Hólmavað. The last part of the way went very well, the sheep happy to go to the field and get something to eat.

Today we took a quick ride to Hraunsrétt, List being very willing in the start, the other horses having fun going fast too. When we arrived, they already had started the sorting. Hjördís came with us to help and I think she had quite a lot of fun, walking through the arena, looking for sheep with 45Þ5 on their eartags. I was really surprised when my sheep Mysa came, I didn't count on that. But the surprise was even bigger, when Hjördís and Ingólfur came with my spotted lamb! The last news I had from my lambs was, that they were at Tjörnes... So no idea, which lambs are there with my marking, but at least my spotted one is now back home in Hólmavað.

All in all it was a rather short day in Hraunsrétt, just so much less sheep than there should be. We were the first ones to drive our herd back home, Amor in front as usual. It was strange not to have old Móra in front, but I think Axa will get a good leader for her flock. At least she knows her name and where home is.

Back home it was delicious Hangikjöt and everything that is supposed to be with it.

Later we calculated how many sheep are missing and it's around 150 of about 520, which means around 30% of Bensi's herd is still missing. Let's hope that they'll come home too!

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15.09.2012 07:18

Short update

Another day of searching and herding the sheep.

People were busy looking for more sheep under the snow, up on the hills and mountains and then driving the found sheep to a central collecting area. I have no idea, how many sheep there are, but today those sheep already found will be driven down to the valley. The first groups are now already on their feet and on the way up to the collecting field to start the long journey down. There will be a bulldozer in front of the herd to make a way through the snow all the way down to Geitafell.
As usual we will take a break there and fresh people will drive the herd from there down to Presthvammur.

Tomorrow will be Hraunsrétt, but I think it won`t be like usual.

Thanks for sending good and warm thoughts to us in the North!

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13.09.2012 13:17

Sheeproundup

...at least it should be. Ingólfur, Bensi and Ditta should be on horseback now, having a good time collecting the sheep in wonderful weather in Þeistareykirarea like the years before.

In fact they, Ella and a huge number of rescue force are up in the mountains trying to safe as many sheep as possible after the forceful snowstorm from Sunday to Tuesdaymorning.
Þeistareykir is covered in snow and ice, people are on snowscooters, huge cars and a lot of other vehicles roaming the area and trying to find sheep under the snowcover. Some of them are in more than 2m depth and can only be found by using the same technique used to find people under avalanches.
There are around 5000 sheep in the area, they found around 1500 yesterday and the search is continuing today and probably the next days. Til now there were just a few sheep found dead, the biggest amount still alive under the snow and waiting to be rescued.

Please send us good thoughts and cross your fingers that people manage to find as many as possible in time!

I attach an article with a video from yesterday.
Video

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06.09.2012 22:30

Autumnwork

Well, September it is and time to think about the coming winter and the things to do before it is too cold for them.

We were busy the last days with improving the doors in the stable (not finished yet), putting new lights on, getting our hay home (still some missing), helping packing more hay, moving horses and so on.

Interesting and necessary, think we are quite well prepared for the winter to come, specially with the hay for the outsidehorses, which we put they way, we can move the bales without a tractor.

Today we had to move Embla as she was starting to get a bit too independent and leaving the herd and the fence. She now is staying with her younger brother (Þokki), sister (Þyrnirós), their mum's and Aldís and Þeysir. Þokki was really happy about getting his big sis to play with and was just following her everywhere. Think he's gonna be her shadow for the next time. The older mares were not that friendly showing Embla her place, but didn't harm her.

Embla is rather big for her age and definitely had a very good summer, she's quite fat...