What's Wrong With This Picture!

Can't quite put my finger on it...but...? This is Heidi. The latest addition to the ever-growing menagerie we call home. She was an 'Autumnal Blunder' who was mis-mothered in the confusion of culling and spent 3 days out the back on her own, before a sharp-eyed neighbour picked up on her plight and called us. She has taken to the bottle straight away, and comes to the whistle (as does everything around this place, except the dog) but especially loves her big orange mate in the video. Red, is not so sure. He is not particularly fussed on sharing any feed with Heidi-Moo, however, is definitely keen on having a bottle as well.....

Pic of JK My Penny and filly foal by JK Rodin, RG Ricochet. Now 3 months old.

Another good horsework day:)

Rococo (aka Rocky) in again today for more groundwork. He was introduced to a saddle today and took it all in his stride. Complete with breastplate and flopping stirrup irons, it was all a bit of a non-event....very calm and sensible. I have to confess it was rather tempting to try to crawl all over him...! Note to self: Put mounting block on the shopping list. We went for a walk around the yards and buildings, even venturing into the shed and backing out a couple of times; thinking of future float training. He was tied up for half an hour, while I had a cup of tea (!) and then re-covered and sent back to his dusty dry paddock. Nice pony.

Moved all the cows, removed the bulls and to put the icing on the cake, said goodbye to Lavanderlilac and Hugo as they very happily rejoined the main herd. (Falkor didn't make it - crossed the bridge a little while ago....) Was a bit sad to see them skipping off to be 'big cows' but great to see them with all their own kind. For a while there, Hugo thought he was a chicken.

For those of you who are following the news of the kiwi firefighters in Oz, here is a link to the crew from Heli-Harvest. Am very proud that Dad is over there, but hope he stays safe.

http://www.heliharvest.co.nz/heliharvest/Firefighting

35 Degrees In The Shade....

That is just too hot. I attempted to do some 'horse-work' (as opposed to house-work, which also desperately needs doing) before it got too hot, but I was about an hour too late. Hence, Rococo got off very lightly and I ended up a wringing wet mess all by about 11am. What a tremendously kind young horse. He is getting quite big and brawny, now 2 years old and very much entire. But sensible and well mannered considering his shocking lack of handling! Am really looking forward to riding this boy.

Too hot to do anything else.

A huge branch came crashing down off one of the old gums by the stables. I rushed out to make sure Red wasn't squashed beneath it....knowing his love of the first-aid kit. But it wasn't even clever enough to squash one of the ten trillion turkeys that have taken up residence out there. Still, it was a huge branch - about 18" diametre, which will be great for 'popping over' once we trim it up.

It has just started spitting....big fat wet drops spaced about 3 feet apart...but WET. Keep your fingers crossed for us. It is way too dry in HB right now, and my heart really goes out to the poor Aussies with the fires in Vic.

Another Youngster For Sale:

This is a lovely yearling colt by JK Rodin, out of a Tom Schu mare. Very well put together for a yearling and showing a maturity and attitude well beyond that of 12 months! This boy was bred by John Tulloch of Puketitiri, Hawkes Bay and is currently due to be gelded any day. He is very similar in type to RG Redman - I just LOVE the Holsteiner/TB cross that Rodin produces. This colt is straight, sound and unblemished. Very stylish with plenty of chrome, what a fantastic dressage/jumping prospect - and if showing is your thing? - certainly no wallflower. Weaned and ready to go:

Leave a message on the blog if you would like to be put in touch with John:)

Jack and I are having a lovely 'horse day'. Due to the lack of rain and hence the ensuing lack of grass, things are getting tight. We have moved the stallion and Cuddles into their new paddock. 15 Acres of tree-lined luxury complete with water feature! JK MY Penny and her filly will be moving in there this afternoon also, and that completes that happy family. Penny's filly has really grown....and am still a little puzzled over the final colour? Definitely NOT orange.....but possibly not bay either? Time will tell.

The TB broodies are all well out the back. Thriving on neglect! I have decided that it is to be "Lady' that I will sell. She has the best conformation and the most potential for life outside the broodmare paddock, being only 7 and un-fussed with. Apparently she has a good 'jump' in her and will enjoy regular routine when brought back into work. Ducky was the obvious choice, but I am unable to part with her. She is such a nice size, very sensible and will be a useful farm hack if nothing else. (She is also very snuggly, leads behind the 4-wheeler and comes to a whistle...)

Red has had a few well deserved days off. We will concentrate on happy hacking as soon as the school holidays finish. We are having a saddle fitting this weekend so should be all go. It has been so hot and dry that the ground is like rock. We are all being driven insane by the most annoying little fruit-fly-type-thingums in swarms, sticking to every last molecule of moisture they can find, which is usually either inside your eyeballs, up your nose or GULP, inside your mouth. You DO NOT want to get 'caught short' out there right now!

The river level is dropping and the brown slimy weed has taken hold. Still plenty of fish in the backwashes, but they will be starting to taste 'muddy' and aren't worth catching. The vineyard is enjoying this weather too. A wee southerly blew in yesterday, lowering the daytime temp from 29 to 15 in 2 hours. We will get another cool night tonight, then should be back to blistering temps for the weekend. If we hadn't lost nearly 80% of the Pinot Noir in the early frosts, we would have been laughing. Last weeks dilemna was being at the mercy of contractors for the pruning: As we couldn't get a spray on until we were trimmed. Now we just need to fight the powdery in the Reisling and get the bird nets up. It all sounds a bit doom and gloom - but it's really not! We don't rely on the vineyard as a sole source of income. Yes, prices have dropped, yes, the frost nailed the Pinot. But the Reisling is looking great and the winery has indicated it may be suitable for a single block label. It is also great therapy walking the rows. No smelly sheep (unless we need them for leaf-plucking!) or bolshy cows. Totally horse-free. Rabbit-free, however, it is not.

And it's a big welcome to the latest addition to the family: Little Bunny FruFru. >sigh<

We Did It!

Have just returned from the Wairoa A&P show with one tired horse and one befuddled and totally knackered rider! What a great way to learn about your youngster: Take him in company travelling, overnighting in yards, warming up and competing alongside other experienced horses surrounded by all the normal fairground attractions and topped off by multiple aeroplanes taking off and landing overhead! Absolutely brilliant fun. We crossed quite a few personal boundaries for the both of us and have come out better for it.

The dressage was a bit of an 'ask' for us. As the canter is only just starting to happen:) But we managed to enter AND exit at 'A' (was worried about 'M' for 10 seconds at one stage) and came away with some '7's....so not too bad. We managed a 4th place in one of the training tests - but definitely plenty of room for improvement. The only way is UP! Couldn't resist posting the pic - don't the faces just say it all?

It was lovely to see the last of the broodmares picked up today. Maddy and Alex off home. Alex returned a positive test on Friday morning....very happy about that. Rodin is tuckered out and turned out with his girls now. Once again, he has a 100% conception for the season! Not bad for the old boy aye?!

Kylee from HOT SPOTS thermal imaging came out today to check the 'boys' for me. Was really interesting to see what was 'hot' and what was not. What a fantastic business - wishing her all the best....and booking in for the HOY when she will be down next. I was particularly interested when we 'imaged' RG Rococo's face. Approx. 11 months ago, he sustained a blunt force trauma to the head - we think he jammed it between the walkway on the cattle yards. No lacerations, but extreme swelling, bloodied nose etc. His pretty wee face was quite sore and really hasn't ever gone down to normal since the 'event'. When Kylee 'photographed' his face, there was a large green area (manhand size) which indicated little/no blood flow/circulation? Fascinating. Am now researching lymphangitis cases and look forward to showing the images to my vet and discussing options.

Will try to update this a little more regularly, now that the breeding season here has finished. The vineyard is always calling....but we have been baking in 33+ degrees here...so the calls tend to remain unanswered by me! The river, on the other hand, has become a favourite spot to retire to....

It is with something akin to relief, the year is drawing to a close. Not that it has been a rough year - far from it. It has just been super busy round here of late. Everyone is tired and cranky...but nothing 2 weeks on a tropical island wouldn't fix!

The last of Rodins 'booked' mares arrived this week. She is a real sweety to handle and serve, so everything should go to plan. He has a re-serve arriving in the next few weeks (aborted mid-way) who was a real challenge last year (!) and then lucky last, he can go back out with My Penny and Tricky (Ricochet). The 3 TBs are all vetted in foal and turned out the back (right out the back)...out of sight, out of Greg's mind!

The vineyard has been totally finished (planting) now and we have been busy de-budding (again) and getting the second tucking wires up. Greg put a copper/sulphur spray on today as the weather has been somewhat moist (YAY!) over the last 3 days.

Pleased to see a couple of purpose bred Rodin youngsters for sale on TM this month.

Rockman, by Rodin, out of 'Lips', owned by Sharron White TM Listing No.188027966 This boy has a neat attitude and a rather good jumping technique, don't you think!

Also: Filly out of 'Lucy', clyde/TB mare, owned by Bridgit Lowry, TM Listing No.191673888

Rodin is really 'stamping' his youngsters - they are so easy to spot! All seem to have the wonderful temperament and easy trainability of their sire, making them a pleasure to handle and a joy to eventually ride!

Speaking of riding: Red is sound and back under saddle. We have bought a new saddle, well, new secondhand. Red is going really well in it...and so am I! We are aiming to do the Wairoa A&P dressage and maybe a dabble at some saddle hunter classes. It's great after having a bit of rain, being able to work him without worrying (too much) about the jarring on this awful concrete-like ground. I only had 15 minutes to work him today, but even so, managed to get off with a smile from ear to ear at how well he went! I really have to work on keeping my left side soft, esp. my left hand, and keeping my sodding hands STILL. I wish I had some pics of me on him....