Around the farm

Hooty is getting closer to her due date and her udder is filling nicely. She likes to race me up the raceway when I ride the quad up in the mornings with her feed but I have noticed the 'racing' has slowed considerably over the last few days. She looks good - can't wait to see what she produces.

Obligatory filling udder photo

Miss Hooty

Miss Hooty strikes a pose

Miss Hooty and her ears

Bady seems to be feeling good at the moment and tried to show off for me today - I wish he wouldn't though! I would be much happier if he would saunter around quietly rather than try and hoon everywhere like a young'un. I keep waiting for him to fall flat on his face! I've opened up the gate to his paddock to give him access to the race which has quite a lot of grass in it - He thinks that's 'ace thanks mum' although the yearlings are not so sure that they want their Uncle B quite so far away. They'll cope.

B wonders where his grass is

B thinks he's 'all that'!

Close up of stance

It's comfy to stand like this

Portia and Maxi spend their nights in the yards and get to graze the race during the day. It's pretty bare but clearly they are finding enough if Maxi's belly is anything to go by. No photos of Maxi today but Portia was very interested in the camera so I took some photos of her.

Portia

and her wondrous ears

Posing Portia

Eye can SEE you ...

Everyone else is good - Penny Lane and Little China Girl are grazing up the road at the moment whilst we have some trees in our front paddock attended to. Unfortunately the tree people have only been out once as the weather disintegrated completely when they got started. Hopefully we will have a good run of weather soon so they can be in and out and life can get back to normal (what ever that is!) around here.

Tough decisions

So here we are, approaching the anniversary of the death of our beautiful Debi and it seems we are now facing the loss of another of our precious equine companions. Bados' condition deteriorated over the weekend and my wonderful vet came and assessed him for me this afternoon and gave me the news that I knew, in my heart, was coming.

Unfortunately his condition, which is not all that uncommon in horses of such advanced years, is not treatable so it is really just a case of keeping an eye on him and making the call when enough is enough. I believe, in my heart, that the fact that we can choose for our beloved pets to meet a dignified end without pain and suffering is a wonderful gift but it really does not make it any easier!

The good news is that I have been assured that he is in no pain at all - the nerves that are pinched and the associated numbness are what is making it difficult for him to walk properly and it will slowly worsen (as the disc continues to calcify) until one day he lies down, and is unable to rise again. I therefore have to make the hardest of decisions for him BEFORE this happens. For now he is on a flat paddock with plenty of hay and anti inflammatory medication and I get to spoil and fuss over him for how ever long he has left.

He's just the most wonderful old soldier with the gentlest soul wrapped in a cast iron body that is finally beginning to fail him. The spark of life is still very bright in his eye which is why it seems so very cruel that his body should start to fail him like this. I only hope I can make the decision for him before it is too late and it is made for us both...