Stuff

Click below for the world's most boring video of a Clydesdale stallion. Made this up for someone who is interested in (*SOB*) buying him but wanted to see a little more paddock handling. Turn down the volume coz I didn't edit out my narration and that's pretty dire too!

Other news ... Hooty was scanned today pre AI and only had a wee 18mm follicle on one side and nothing on the other or, as the vet said, an ovary the size of his ... haha, gotta love a vet with a sense of humor! So, re-scan on Monday and hopefully inseminate early/mid week next week. Exciting!

The 'as yet unnamed' ginger one had a poopy bottom this morning so we grabbed him in the paddock and gave him his first sponge bath. He alternated between loving it and hating it but managed to suck it up and let me get the job done. Ata was, I swear, laughing on the other side of the fence. The mares and foals are now grazing together with mares glaring at each other from a healthy distance and foals alternating between sleeping, feeding and staring at each other with great fascination - so cute!

Had an email to let me know that Hamish was a father again - no photos yet but little chestnut colt with two front socks and a stripe born on the 5th of November. Mother and son doing well. That brings Hamish's tally to 14 colts and 3 fillies so, if you want to breed a boy it would seem that choosing Hamish gives you pretty good odds. Not sure if the foal is chestnut going grey or chestnut. I can't wait for photos!

Maude's 'due date' is in fact Monday the 23rd of November, not the 28th (I think my brain had 28th because she was due on the 23rd but her LDOS was the 18th and I mixed those two dates together in my head) and is looking pretty damned wide!

Alii has finished her season so is hopefully now in foal and Hamish is doing a good job of taking care of his 'ladies' - He's literally like a pig in muck at the moment as he has dug himself a wallow in his paddock. Filthy toad!

Hamish - King of all her surveys

Maude - Lady in waiting

Rear view

Side shot

Bree - Stuffing her face!

Tuesday

Amy went back to school yesterday after having 10 days off - We got a phone call at 11am saying she would need to come home at lunchtime as was fading fast. Poor little bugger has had a horrible virus that has really knocked her for six. The good news is that it's 2pm on Tuesday and no phone call from school so she has made it through the day - Yay! Her birthday next week and plans for the bedroom makeover are not really going so well. Having her home has not really helped us get into gear and get into town and get paint tester pots etc. Oh well, tomorrow is another day ...

Foals are good - growing and strengthening by the day and very, very cute. Such an odd couple too. Ata is big, solid, strong, robust and confident whilst 'The Gingernut' is fine, delicate, cheeky and just a little shy (although that is changing day by day). Just goes to show how much the mum's added to their makeup!

In the firepit

Ata and his ears

Posing pony

Up we go

A mumma's love

Red ones go faster!

Did someone say shy?

Peek-a-boo!

Catching some rays

Some for me?Watch out! Here he comes!!!

Gussy the Cayuga/Khaki Campbell cross

and her new ToyBoy

Togetherness

Damn, Bugger 'n Bollocks!

Today I took a big deep breath and listed Robbie for sale. VERY bloody hard decision, there is no denying it! He's just such a freakin' lovely horse and makes such gorgeous babies but we're not able to use him ourselves again this year and, although he sees a few outside mares, I really think he is totally wasted here with us - He deserves so much more.

I have put an advertisement on the Trade Me website to start off with and will look at listing him elsewhere this coming week.

The Trade Me ad can be seen HERE:

This is the wording ...

Kintyre Lodge Robbie is a SI bred 7-year-old purebred Clydesdale stallion by Ashtencroft Tyrone out of Becky. He stands 16.3HH with 11.5" bone and is described as Blue Roan. His pedigree is here: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/kintyre+lodge+robbie

This is a regretful sale as we have owned Robbie for 6 years & he is very much a part of our family. However, the loss of our treasured mare & our financial circumstances mean that he is going to waste so we would love to see him find a home where he will get the opportunity to settle more mares.

Robbie has a gentle, friendly and reliable temperament, is good to catch, trim, worm, bath, float/truck etc. He is safe behind electric tape, respects fences and is happy paddocked alone or with mares. Robbie has always run with our mare/s and foals and is a very kind father/babysitter.

Rob has been backed but, through no fault of his own, has not yet been fully broken in - All he needs is someone to finish the job.

Robbie has powerful, ground covering paces, is straight and very athletic, especially for such a big horse.

I have included photos of some progeny & have plenty more should you wish to see them. His only 2 progeny to be shown in hand have won Champion and Reserve at their only outings. We have a daughter here who can be viewed - her full sister sold to a dressage home.

We are not selling Robbie because we have to, rather because we believe he is under utilised and deserves to find a home where he will breed more foals. The right home is what we are looking for - he will not necessarily be sold to the first person to front up with the cash. We are negotiable on price but definitely NOT on home.

We would prefer someone who has experience handling stallions and has a passion for the Clydesdale breed.

LEASE CONSIDERED but please be prepared to provide us with multiple references.

Robbie is the sire of my magnificent Megan as well as MacKenzie, Silas (RIP), Amos, KC, Karma, Madison & Hector.

At least we are not in a position of desperation and can bide our time and wait for the right home to come along. I am tempted to put him over Bella before she heads back to her lease home so that if he does sell, I will have one baby of his on the way at the very least next spring. We'll see.