20 June 2011

No more foals, the mares that ran with stallions last year are just fat. Both were maidens last year so had foals at foot and we know that in this breed that they don't always carry a foal every year. Fairy Flavian who arrived here from the Huckerby stud last autumn has been working and so has Elvis. We decided not to give Lomond any mares this year, he is only 3 and still enjoys running with his 'pals'.

18 May 2011

After such a high on Saturday we now have come back down to earth with a thud! Ambosia foaled last night but her foal, a beautiful bay and white filly, was dead. We think the foal may have clamped the cord whilst turning as the mare was bagged up and producing milk a day earlier. Amber was very upset but given her ordeal was amazingly bright the following morning. We are always so sad after losing a foal, the disappointment and anguish, you really feel for these little mares.

16 May 2011

We travelled to Ayr County Show having entered 2 ponies but at the last minute deciding to add in a 3rd. We were overwhelmed with our success under judge Mrs K Gibb. Res Supreme Ch (Willrose First Lady), Res Mini Ch and Jr Champion (Ardanbeag Fairy's Fire lily- yearling) and Ysgubourwr Kitty was 2nd in a good 2/3yo class missing out to last year's mini ch Dryfesdale Amore.

12 May 2011

Ardanbeag Bluebell foaled today, a beautiful chestnut colt by Flick of Annandale. Bella had a foal from the same stallion last year and Brodick had the most friendly nature so we wanted to try him again and hoped for a filly!

07 May 2011

Took 2 ponies to Neilston Show and came back with Res Mini Championship (Willrose First Lady) and Res Junior Championship (Ardanbeag Evening Primrose). The judge was Norman Blackburn.

05 May 2011

Enigma Poppy foaled this morning producing a smart strong chestnut colt. This colt is by Milday Smart Alex, whom we sold last year to Simonside Stud on Shetland. We have retained her previous 2 foals, one by Kerswell Rebel and the other by Elvis.

30 April 2011

Chewvalley Rosebud foaled today, this is her third filly foal. The foal by Athelney Elvis was not due for another 3 weeks so she is tiny but is strong and was up and on her feet before her dam. Her coat colour is very 'cream' at the moment but that may change. She has a beautiful head and we are delighted.

27 November 2010

Snow arrived this morning, not much of a covering but sufficient for the foals to rub their noses in when I let them out.  The foals are all well grown and weaned making life a bit easier as they come into one of the big sheds at night for their hard feed and hay.  Last week I took two of the colt foals to our Group Youngstock show, neither had been shown before and one of them only weaned the week before, but I felt the experience would suit these boisterous boys!  The show was uneventful, the venue disappointing and after travelling the 5 hours I really felt I had wasted my time and diesel.  My comments about the judging I will keep to myself!!!
It is unusual for me to run a stallion with mares over winter but I thought I would try and see how it works. Elvis is in with the mares that are supposed to be in foal and seems happy to run about keeping his ladies in order. We have a few ponies sold to private buyers and in spite of the poor society sales I have been surprised by the continuing enquiries I receive for miniatures at this time of year. Any foals that are not sold will be run on here until next year, when I will geld them before advertising them in the Spring.

23 September 2010

Been sometime since I updated some news here but that doesn't mean nothing has been happening. In August at the Central Group Show my yearling Mayflower won the yearling class and my 2 year old Evening Primrose was 2nd in the 2/3yo class. They went on to win the Group class of 2 ponies by same Dam/Sire and were then 2nd in the Group of 3 class. I was showing single handed so didn't take any of the foals to show. It was a new venue so not as easy to leave the ponies between classes as previous but there were some helpful folk about to help me in the progeny classes.
Yesterday I started to wean the foals. Started this because Bermar Trinity is leaving here next month to travel to Czech Republic where she will join a pony I sold there last year. I know they will have a fantastic home and Magda dotes on her ponies, so I know they could not be better placed, but I will miss Trinity. Her foal is soooo like her dam, very affectionate, tiny with the sweetest head. The 2 filly foals have been very grown up about the process but the colt (who is the oldest foal) is shouting!
His Dam soon gave up replying! I will be travelling to Aberdeen sale and for the first time I will take ponies to sell there. There are 2 stallions who are toppers but we now have our own stock ready for licensing and they are youngsters so keen to continue their work , despite this I will still miss both gentlemen.
Foals now getting sold, some will stay here until Xmas but all going to nice genuine homes. Next job to get some more recent photos on to this site!

29 July 2010

Last Sunday I ventured out to Moniave Show.  It was a last minute decision to go as I had no help and would be showing on my own.  That meant I could not take Bluebell and her foal (Brodie) who I had wanted to get out to their first show, not least because Brodie is such an 'in your face' and affection young chap!  Moniave is about 50 miles but takes about 1.5 hours to get to (country roads) and a typical horse show with classes for just about everything.  I took the yearling May Flower and my 6 year old Gelding Casanova.   Geldings are placed in the same class as stallions and colts so I didn't have great expectations but he came in with a 3rd.  May was 2nd in her class and was placed behind the yearling she beat the week before....judges opinion on the day!  Judge Mr K Scott.  Miniature Champion was the winner from the stallion class.
The remainder of this week I have been moving sheep and ponies around; lambs were weaned and I started to take the stallions out from the mares. Plenty of grass now that we have had continuous rain, would be good to see the sun back for a while!

18 July 2010

Never before have I attempted 2 shows in the same weekend but at the time I thought it would be OK!   Thankfully we had less travelling on Sunday morning to head up to The Heavy Horse Show, near Glasgow.  Today I had packed in a different group of ponies.  The weather was overcast and light showers and I could only hope not to get a soaking!   Judge today was Mrs Christine Hodgeson and never having shown under her, I didn't know what to expect.  My brood mare was 2nd in the combined brood/yeld mare class (first time out); 1st with foal; 1st with yearling; 1st with 2 year old in 2/3 year old class.  In the Championship we were placed; Res Junior Champion, Junior Champion and Res Miniature Champion.  The Miniature Champion was the yeld mare that beat my brood mare in her class.  We also received the Trophy for Best Foal.  I was delighted. 

17 July 2010

This morning we set off at 6am to journey down to the Cumberland Show. It was raining when we left and it rained all the way there, and continued to rain until the show classes finished!  Never having entered this show before I was encouraged to attend by a Shetland Pony friend with her offer to help me, and the opportunity to compete against other breeders who do not travel north of the border.  The show had moved to Carlisle racecourse, a large venue, with plenty of space but the light horses were out on the periphery, a distance from the rest of the show.  Our efforts were rewarded with 1st in brood mare class; 2nd with our foal; 3rd with the yearling; 4th in the 2/3 year old class.  We went on to the Championship with my mare Willrose First Lady, standing reserve to the well shown Parlington Quentin.  Judge Mrs H Wilson  The sun arrived in the afternoon, a tow out from the showground and we headed home.

19 June 2010

Nearing completion of our first phase of installing permanent electric fencing.  Our sheep as well as ponies use the fences for rubbing and eventually the posts work loose.  We hope this way we can reduce the time we spend on fence repairs.  The dry weather continues with no sign of any real change.  I have never known it to be so dry for so long in the west of Scotland but on our clay soil the grass continues to thrive.

The foals are all becoming very friendly and all come up to speak when I check them.  Lady’s foal Lewis is a real boy and although only 2 months old is already nosing around the mares and was mounting Celandine….not that she was bothered!  Still a few weeks off our first summer show but plenty to do in the meantime.

15 June 2010

Our last foal for this year arrived this morning.  Shortly after turning Celandine out she produced a beautiful black colt.  I was busy with the farrier at the time so missed it all, but one of my pointers was on duty and brought it to my attention.  He already has his dam’s wonderful nature, so friendly and so laid back.  I have never seen such well defined shoulders on a foal before, I am sure he is really a miniature racehorse!

Our foaling completed with a total of 9 foals, I am very pleased with them all.  The few mares that are going back in foal are already out with the stallions but next year we will have slightly fewer as I don’t intend to put all the mares back to the stallions each year.  I know it will mean extra work to keep their waist lines trim but I want to be sure that there are good homes available for any quality foal that I produce.

30 May 2010

In the last week or so we have had mixed fortunes. On the 20th I went out to find our little Tilly (Hazelhead Quickstep) with her foal part born. Unfortunately there was little I could do but call the vet as the filly foal was badly presented and could not be delivered without his expertise. The rest of the day was spent looking after Tilly and stoic as Shetlands are, she was soon calling to be let out into the field. The following Monday brought our 2nd surprise, but this time is was a happy one. Bermar Trinity had a filly foal, a cream dun, we think - a surprise because she was 10 days early and will need to grow fast to catch up with the other foals. Yesterday Annabelle produced our first foal to Wizard, a filly to be bright bay - lighter than her dam who is very dark. This is her first foal and she is really tickly so we are getting used to the 'squeaks that are heard when her foal goes to feed. With just 2 more mares left to foal we are definitely on the home stretch and only hope all will be plain sailing. I intend to get some more photos on this site very soon.

18 May 2010

We now have 5 foals born and all doing great! Rosebud's filly foal was born on Saturday evening just after I finished my dinner, very considerate of her! The foal was on her feet almost immediately and within 15 minutes was walking about as though she had done it all before. The older foals now play together since their Mums have 'passed the novelty stage' and are back focusing on eating grass. More foals due later this week and at the end of this month.

10 May 2010

The sun was out for a change at the Ayr County show yesterday. I took 3 ponies and was pleased with their placing. Ardanbeag Skye High was 1st in the yearling class and also Res Junior Champion. Leithen Wizard won the stallion/colt class and Ardanbeag Casanova was 3rd in the mare/gelding class and won Best Gelding.

02 May 2010

Everyone breeding ponies will understand the amount of patience required at foaling time.  Bluebell has been well bagged for this last week so we had expected a foal from her any day, but this day has yet to arrive.  Meantime her full sister Annabelle has also bagged up and although she has 6 more days until her due date, I am left wondering if there is a conspiracy for them to foal together!
Yesterday I took a few hours out to take my gelding Casanova and the 2 year old Evening Primrose to Neilston Show.  The weather wasn't kind and the perpetual drizzle made it easy to arrive, show and leave.  Both ponies were 2nd in their respective classes and Casanova also got the rosette for Best Gelding; shame he had no competition for this, he was looking fantastic.  The mare he was beaten by was the regular champion winner Lexus Daphne.  Judge Mrs. Lowthian.

22 April 2010

The weather has been dry for quite some time, a real bonus at this time of year but this week the frosts have returned and will set the grass back a little.  The foals are enjoying stretching their legs and dry fields make it easy to run around.  We still bring them in at night and also stable at night the mares that are due to foal within the next 2 weeks; this way we can watch them on our CCTV system, just now a pleasant distraction from all the election coverage!

20 April 2010

Our 2nd foal of the year arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning, our 2nd colt.  Despite the slight disappointment (we really wanted a filly), he is strong, well boned with a beautiful head.  The 1st colt born 10 days ago was sired by Kerswell Sprite so there is an expectation that he will roan out.  The 2nd colt is by our own stallion Athelney Elvis, out of our successful show mare, Willrose First Lady, needless to say he will be making his debut into the show arena once the summer arrives.  With foaling comes nervous tension and expectation, and a real wish that all arrive safe and sound.  Pictures of the foals will be on the site very soon.