Vienna—or Miss Bee, as Frey calls her because of her Queen Bee countenance, came to the Sanctuary in April 2026, aged 11. Her owner loved her dearly but was no longer physically able to provide the level of care she felt Vienna deserved, so Tracey and the team agreed to welcome her for an assessment period. As we were already at capacity, the initial thought was to establish whether someone within our foster network might eventually be able to offer Vienna a suitable home.

From the minute she stepped off the lorry, we saw shades of our beloved Wybren, otherwise known as Teddy Bear (RIP). She had his big, soft eyes and an uncertain but gentle demeanour. Her mane was beautifully thick and fluffy, with her fuzzy forelock looking as though it had just been washed. Her coat was classically Friesian, deep black and dappled, and her ears curved in at the very tips, just like Mabel’s. She was stunning from the outset.

Vienna’s behaviour during those early days was quite reminiscent of Inne’s when she first arrived for assessment. Her appetite was good, but her mind remained very active, and her regular fence-line running revealed a significant amount of anxiety.

We decided to put Inne in with her, and a fast friendship formed. There came a point when we wondered whether Vienna might settle better within the larger herd, so we decided to give it a try. Ice was the herd leader among the girls at the time and made quite a show of demonstrating his status to the new arrival.

Interestingly, Inne immediately came to Vienna’s defence, displaying a level of confidence that showed just how much she herself had settled. Perhaps there was even a little empathy there, as Inne understood only too well what it felt like to be at the bottom of the herd’s pecking order. From that moment onwards, Inne and Vienna became inseparable, each gradually coming into her own within the herd, with the reassurance of the other always close by.

The final joining-up process involved another short period of separation from the main herd. This time, Vienna was joined in the Boys’ Turnout by her best friend, along with Dou, Maaike and Ren. Once that smaller group had become comfortable together and wise elder Hidde had replaced Ice as boss, the girls joined the larger Palace and Playground group with far less fanfare.

Even Hannes enjoyed a turn as their benevolent boss, although there can still be the occasional disagreement over a treat ball now that Vienna has discovered the treasures hidden inside them!

Throughout her assessment, it became increasingly clear just how important Vienna and Inne had become to one another. Their relationship appears incredibly valuable to them both, and separating them is not something we would wish to do.

The ceremonial beard trim still took place, marking Vienna’s growing place within Sanctuary life, and she continues to settle as she spends time with her best friend while otherwise keeping a fairly low profile. Vienna has also begun a little groundwork with Mollie, learning to give people respectful space, and recently celebrated her 12th birthday.

For now, Vienna will remain here at the Sanctuary while we continue to learn more about her and allow her confidence and personality to develop. We would only consider fostering her in the future if an exceptionally special home came along, one that fully understood her needs and could preserve the precious bond she shares with Inne. Until then, she is safe, settled and surrounded by people and horses who care deeply about her. You can follow Vienna's journey on our YouTube channel and Facebook account (The Friesian Sanctuary--Behind the Scenes).