Spring at Talisman Farm

I took my camera with me doing my rounds this morning and here are a few of the photos I took ...

Bados - Grand old man

Cheeky Reilly

Paddy, Meg, Twinkle, Bree, Maude & Saffy

Do ya think he's a bit speshul?!

Hamish, handsome as ever

Paddy, 20 years old now (& with me for 18 of those years)

Bambimoo

Still turning over garden beds - So far have planted sunflowers, basil, sugarsnaps, onions, rocket, mixed lettuces, garlic, spinach, sage, thyme and zucchini. This afternoon am going to find spot for blackcurrant bushes.

Reilly makes a new friend

My constant companion at the moment

Pretty Twinkle

And so breeding season begins ...

with the introduction of Hamish to Libby this morning. After a couple of weeks of staring longingly at each other from across a raceway with Hamish trying all his very best chat up lines it was time to introduce Hamish and Libby to each other formally. All went without a hitch and now the two love birds are inseparable. Very cute. Libby is in season and although I have not seen Hamish serve her, I am pretty sure that the deed has been done. We could very well have a rather early foal due next season! Finger's crossed - I am very excited about breeding a pony foal at last!

Grazing buddies

Hamish proud of his new girl

My handsome boy

And stopped on the way home to snap off a couple of photos of Robbie who has gained back a fair amount of the weight he lost during his journey home. He's such a dude, I am really loving having him home. His first mare is due shortly.

Is this my best side?

Or is this side my best side?

Another handsome boy

Very boring entry ...

There is not a lot happening around here really. The grass is starting to grow, the horses are moulting buckets (and all, except Reilly, naked now), Strawberry and Queenie have gone back home and Libby is now grazing up the road and across the race from Hamish in preparation for their introduction in the coming weeks. Robbie has settled in back at home well and is loving his twice daily hard feeds - the trip home knocked him quite badly and he lost a lot of weight - and while he puts the kgs back on, I am back on the weight loss wagon (5kg down - 15kg to go *sigh*) in preparation for the coming season.

I had a wee email in my in-box today from the lady who has Hooty at the moment showing a tummy that is very clearly carrying a foal. Too cute! Cannot wait to see what she produces to Reilly and so excited that she will be foaling here.

I still haven't finalised plans for this breeding season but, at this stage, it looks as though most of my girls will have a year off unless I find breeding lease homes for them. Right now I plan to breed Libby to Hamish and that is the only definite. I would LIKE to breed Twinkle to Hamish (she's four now, time to start having babies!) and Maude also back to Hamish (she's 21 now, needs to KEEP having babies) and then there is Hooty (time running out agewise with her to breed using frozen) and Bella (who would have such a gorgeous baby to Robbie) but with the uncertainty of the economy and the current economic climate, I am really hesitant to breed horses to sell (Libby's foal is a keeper).

Robbie's first mare is ready to roll so, once he has gained a few more kgs I will tell her owner to bring her over and we'll get the season underway.

Hoots says 'Hi, got any food?'

Caution, W I D E load!

Foal is due 17 October