Wairarapa Show 2010

This year we have none of our own horses competing at the Wairarapa Show but Aine (TF Summer Solstice) came over from Wellington with her owner Kerry to take part in the Sport Horse classes (in-hand). It was a big day for Aine (2 year old) and she behaved impeccably. Aine is Enya's full sister (Maude x TF Life O'Reilly) so is 3/8 Irish Draft and 5/8 Thoroughbred. She is going to be a big girl and is currently standing rather bum high!

Of course I took my camera and here are a small selection of the photos I took of Aine.

Reserve Champion Junior Sport Horse

Welcome to the World

At just before 10pm on Friday (22nd October - 335 days gestation) Hooty produced a beautiful big blingy filly foal. Murphy has a funny sense of humour as the same mare produced me a small orange colt when I requested a tall dark bay filly with bling. The next repeat of the same mating and out pops exactly what I ordered but the foal isn't mine! Argh! Anyway, I am thrilled to bits to have another safe foaling out of the way and a mare who has produced yet another 'to die for' baby. I am pleased that she can produce girls, even if she doesn't seem to want to produce them for me!

Now, without further ado, here she is!

An investment in the future

On Wednesday, Brennan, Karen and I made the trip to SYENZ Technologies Ltd (also Longspring Sport Horses) to take the first step in Brennan's AI training. I was quite nervous as I didn't really know what to expect or how it would go. I don't really know why as Brennan is a sensible pony with a super temperament and behaved himself beautifully.

Brennan spent the first half our or so in a smallish, fairly dark shed in crossties (a new experience for him) next to a couple of big warmblood geldings. He looked very small and VERY cute! It was funny to watch him have a wee think about the crossties, realise there was not really much he could do and promptly back up and swing his butt into the wall so he could have a really good itch! Classy Brennan, real classy!

The collection went very well. An in-season mare was used to encourage him and it was all done and dusted very quickly. Not sure what I was worried about! His motility is excellent and it's very exciting to now know that we can offer him via AI. Initially SYENZ will do the collecting so I will have to pass this cost on to the client however, if you factor in what it would cost to transport a mare to and from stud and then pay grazing for six weeks or so, it is not an excessive cost. In time we definitely hope to be able to collect him from here, at which point the collection cost (currently $250 incl. GST and hire of shipping container) will drop (in fact, first collection will probably be factored into the stud fee, which will of course be going up next season).

On Monday we take the next step, which is collecting and doing a test shipment to see which extenders work best for Brennan. I am not nervous about this now that I know how easy it all is really.

Because of the AI, I have changed our breeding contracts and have attached copies below:

Brennan AI Contract
Brennan Standard Contract
Hamish Standard Contract
Foaling Contract

So, if you have EVER wanted to breed a pony or small hack, you will probably never have the opportunity to access semen from such a super type at such low cost! We REALLY want foals from Brennan on the ground next season which is why we are making him available at such a ridiculously low price. We appreciate what it costs to breed a foal so we are doing what we can to make quality accessible.

No photos today, sorry. Maybe on Monday ...