Tragedy and triumph

It's been quite a week...

It started with the idiot neighbours up the road setting off fireworks late on Saturday night. They had given us no warning - We have lived on this road for 12 years now and never heard so much as a double happy cracker go off so the loud bangs and sky rockets were completely unexpected and the horses were very upset. I had Hooty in the foaling paddock beside the house and she was beside herself. I managed to catch her eventually and Nick sped up the road to find where the fireworks were being let off and ask them to stop. Sadly the damage had already been done and Cindy slipped her premature foal as a direct result of the stress. She was not due until December. I was devastated to find the beautiful little bay baby with blaze and stockings in the paddock. We only bred Brennan to two mares last season so Hooty's foal is to be his only foal for us this year. Cindy will be re-bred to Brennan and sent to her owner in Auckland.

This morning at 3am Hooty foaled a beautiful big chestnut colt with all the chrome. He really is big - Surprisingly so considering the size of his sire! But, he's about as close to perfect as they come. He has a wonderful blaze and high whites on three legs and a sock on the remaining leg. I am thrilled with him. Put him and the 'Little Cracker' (the filly in Wellington) side by side and they could almost be twins!

Updated Conformation photos

Today Brennan got the works! He scrubs up pretty nicely tho, don't you agree?

What's been happening and what's coming up

Congratulations Brennan, you are a father at last. Amber, a pony mare in Wellington, foaled a delightful (sex not known to me at this stage) foal over the weekend. I am hoping to get over to Wellington next week and will try and call in to meet him/her and get some more photos if I do. It is so nice to, at last, have a foal by Brennan on the ground. Hopefully next season there will be lots more!

Brennan's next outing is in a couple of weeks. Just down to Solway for a dressage ribbon day but this presents the perfect opportunity to give a L2 test a go. He was going to do two L2 tests but the second test is 2.5 and, after a bit of a play at home today, Karen and I decided to just do the 2.2 and 1.5 instead. 2.5 is just a bit advanced for him right now and we don't want him to have a bad experience in the arena.

Last night was Guy Fawkes and for the first time in 12 years of living here someone on our road let off fireworks. It was NOT good as Hooty, who has an expected foaling date of 18 November and is heavily pregnant, was very distressed by the loud bangs and bright lights and was rushing around her paddock in a right state. Nick flew up the road in the car whilst I tried to catch and settle her. Eventually she stood for me to catch her and Nick came back to tell me that he had found who it was and they had promised not to let any more of the really loud and colourful sky rockets off so I stood with Hooty whilst the last of the crackers went off and then waited for a bit until all was quiet and let her go. No sooner than I had removed her halter and there was a God almighty wail and a series of bangs and a lot of bright flashes and, of course, poor Hoots bolted straight for the fence-line with me in hot pursuit. I managed to catch her again (I was very angry by now) and calm her and eventually was able to let her go again and head to bed.

This morning she seemed fine so hopefully no damage has been done.


And last of all for today's blog entry, one of Nick's latest songs:

Clydesdale Pony