Christie is a wonderful reindeer for many reasons. She was born in 2017 making her seven years old. I’m particularly fond of all that cohort as they were all born the year I first became a reindeer herder and so I’ve had the privilege of watching them grow up.
She’s a beautiful lass and very distinctive with her gorgeous freckly nose and back legs. She comes from a wonderful family line, her mum Caddis was also big and beautiful, and her younger brother is Sherlock, perhaps one of the most ‘famous’ reindeer in our current herd due to his enormous antlers. Christie has now had a calf every year for the past four years and all four have been male, dark, and very similar looking.
We rarely breed the same female on the trot year-on-year but Christie is just such a good mum and always comes back after a summer out free ranging in great condition, with a cracking set of antlers, and a stonking big calf by her side. Often mothers with a calf at foot may grow smaller antlers or look a little bit lean as they have diverted their energy to their wee calf, but not our Christie! This of course might change as Christie gets older and I’m sure she’ll enjoy a year off from motherhood before too long.
Below is a load of photos of her four lovely sons. They look so alike that for some of pics I only know which is which due to the date taken!
Akubra – born 2021
Gelato – born 2022
Colorado – born 2023
Espresso – born 2024
Ruth