Hay, it's Springtime!

Today the last paddock was shut up for hay so the fertiliser spreader was brought out, the fertiliser bags opened and fertiliser spread upon the paddocks. Horrible dusty job but has to be done and is important if we want a reasonable cut of hay. Now it's up to mother nature to provide the rain and sunshine for the next 10 or so weeks so that the grass can do it's thing and GROW!

Bados is looking great! I have some video of him trotting around looking much better than he did a week ago. Now he just has to take care of himself and stay that way!!! Check out the video, see what you think!

Libby was due to come back into season and hasn't so it looks like she is in foal which is great news - Just need to organise for my vet to come out and confirm it for us and that's my breeding done for the season! I have decided, considering the economic climate and our current financial situation, that it is probably for the best if we don't breed anything to sell next season. It's true that we have never had any trouble selling any of our foals but we have also never been breeding in the midst of a recession before and I don't want to tempt fate! Ideally I will be able to repeat what I did last season with a couple of the mares to keep them gainfully employed for a year but, if that doesn't happen, it won't be the end of the world. With Maude being 21 now, this could be her last foal but she's a big, strong, healthy girl and it would not surprise me if she still had 2 or 3 foals in her. She's been such a wonderful broodmare that it would be a shame for this to be her last foal - fate will have to decide this one I think.

So, if any of you reading this would like a good deal on a breeding lease, let me know!! Mares available are:

Wynyard Nightowl (Laughtons Legend x TB mare) - 16.2HH dark bay ISH mare. 17 years old. Lovely mover, has SJ and hunted successfully. Lovely kind natured girl. Currently in foal and due in 4 days. Easy breeder, foaled down no problems last season and is a good mum. Dam of TF Rory O'Moore.

Century's Glee (Lord Century x So Gentle/So Bold) - 16HH dark bay TB mare. 16 years old. Currently in foal and due early November. Would consider selling mare in foal to TF Hamish for $800.

These last two mares must stay on the property with us during lease period whereas Bella and Hooty can be grazed on your own property if you so wish.

Fantasy (Kingsway Diamond x TB Mare) - 16.2HH ch ISH mare. 21 years young. Currently in foal and due late November. Easy breeder and has always foaled down without trouble. Dam of TF Malteser, TF Rafferty, TF Liath, TF Summer Solstice (Aine). My best broodmare, Maude has produced superb progeny!

Kingcroft Tickled Pink (Holme Park Flute x Byzance/Kenfair) - Super pretty and very sweet natured 15.3HH grey trakehner/TB mare. Beautiful uphill mover with a gorgeous floating trot. 4 years old. Maiden. Can be bred to TF Hamish for reduced stud fee and very reasonable lease/grazing costs.

Aine leaves us on Saturday - it was supposed to be last Saturday but we postponed because of the dire weather forecast. I popped out last night with my camera and took a few photos which I will post today. She's such a ginger giraffe at the moment - I can't wait to see what she looks like in a few years once she grows into herself!

My grazing stress has been relieved immensely by again negotiating grazing with our neighbours across the road which is a great relief. Our two big girls have spent the last year up the road with our friends Karen and John but really needed to come home so we collected them on Sunday as it was TB testing on Monday. Our three 'littlies' have gone across the road and Pandy and Cardy will follow them on Thursday once their TB testing is complete. We've also discussed shutting up their large and rather lovely flat paddock for hay which they have agreed is a good idea. Best part of that is that they will keep what they need for their own stock (7 yearling heifers) and anything extra we will take off their hands which should help cover any shortfall we might have this year - Yay! Things feel like they are starting to fall into place, at last!

Amy

Bados

Ginger Ninjas

Aine

Aine

Bados video

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...