Snorkel

The new foal has a new name - Snorkel, in honour of the weather conditions leading up to, during and after her foaling! Thanks Rachel :)

I hope you like today's photos.

Hmmm, Snorkel is not so sure

I can actually pick her up!

Sorry Snork, you didn't like that much did you

Mum's making sure everything is ok

Cuddles

Portia watches on

Portia is no longer despised by Libby

Freedom!!!

Earlier in the day

Gorranitch

Goggles

Gorgeous wee girl

Our first pony foal!

This morning at the very civilised time of 6.30 am Libby (Glencree Liberty High) foaled a lovely little chestnut filly(she will go grey) with a white stripe and four white socks. I am so thrilled to have a healthy foal and mare and even happier that I finally got the Hamish filly I have been trying for.

Hopefully she will make a stunning girlfriend for Brennan in a few years and, if Amy decides that she wants to ride, a very nice future large pony for her.

Watch this space for names or, if you have any suggestions, fire away!

Here she comes!

Ooo what's that?

It's a baby!

Upsy daisy

Oh hai!

How's that for a proud mummy pose

Splish splash I was takin' a bath ...

It's officially spring but realistically spring is still a month/six weeks away. Sure, there may be daffodils and lambs popping up in the paddocks and blossoms on the trees but there still isn't a lot of grass growth and what grass is trying to grow in swamp like conditions. I really will not be sorry to see the back of this awful weather/season. We have already bought in an extra seventy five bales of hay and have another seventy on standby. I need to price up grass seed (which I know, from previous experience, is not cheap) and see if I can get hold of a roller from somewhere to try and resurrect my hay paddocks before shutting them up. We are going to have to shut up later than usual and cut later than usual so I just hope that mother nature cuts us a break and at least provides us with the warmth and moisture we need to grow our hay crop. If we do not get a decent cut I will have to seriously destock for next winter and this would not be easy.

Brennan is due back from being started under saddle next week. I had thought I had lined up a young rider for him but it seems she is somewhat over-committed so, the hunt continues. For now I will be riding him at home with the help (I hope) of my neighbour /good friend who is pony rider size and very experienced. I can't wait to see him under saddle!

Libby's due date has been and gone but fortunately she is keeping her legs crossed through this awful inclement weather. She has changed shape in the last few days and lost her mucous plug so I am picking we will have a foal in the next week or so.

There was some excitement last week when Enya managed to get herself stuck in the bath that serves as a water trough in her paddock. Fortunately no damange done although my nerves took a bit of a battering! I would love to know how she managed this: ...

Enya and her predicament

Enya as I found her

Battle wound