Australia Day 2010

Gracie, ("Amazing Grace") checks out young Laddie, newly gelded at 13 months, then meets him without fuss, allowed into her paddock, on her terms. Why did I worry! She managed him perfectly!

Then Paeon joined them at the dam; all very civilized really!

Gracie then visited the other paddock while the boys "went for a burn" around their new one, without her.

Grace is already much happier with company; she was really looking like a tired old lady in the paddock on her own, with Maybellene and Cloud away with Jeremy. She looks instantly younger and more 'involved' now she's got the youngsters to take charge of. I hadn't expected that! I underestimated her skills in managing the herd!

Vet top-up

To start the year, Joe Raines checked all teeth.

Cloud, almost 3 yrold, lost two caps top and bottom and had wolf teeth removed 0n top; next check in 6 months as she's losing more baby teeth.

Paeon, 4 y.o., (shown here at first treatment losing wolf teeth as a 2 y.o.) needed 'balancing; and sharp edges filed and 'rounded'.

Maybellene, 5y.o, needed front teeth filed to balance back teeth, and edges rounded as annual routine maintenance.

Gracie, 23 y.o. and pregnant, will need to wait till after foaling to have her sedative and teeth rasped,k so as not to be stress affected.

Big news; Laddie met the Vet, Peter Tabak, and 'lost his manhood'! No suitable owner presented for a young colt at this stage, so he now has the opportunity to pursue his athletic career without being distracted by his sexuality!!.

He's recovering well, and doesn't appear to be blaming me for his discomfort, thank goodness!

Season start 2010

The two girls went off to North Kaludah this afternoon, back to work after a break. Cloud's off for a few weeks' top-up after initial 'breaking' to saddle and time out to grow a couple more inches. Maybellene is looking even more 'substantial' than before and it will be interesting to see how her paces are developing for dressage and whether she has an eye for the jumps. Farrier, Kris Geddes, and Dentist, Joe Raines, timed their services beautifully, so they should be prepared to put their best feet forward, so to speak.
Jeremy Janjic and Megan Riley drove up to collect them in the truck and they were so excited to go! Bit of a competition to see who could get on first.
I whistled them up in the paddock and they came galloping up to see what was going on. (It wasn't yet dinner time!!) Clipped up the leads to the headstalls I'd put on in readiness earlier in the day and they were off! Must have taken five minutes to collect and load!! A record???

I was torn between varying emotions. Proud that they were so amenable to leaving home and going back to work; they know Jeremy and Megan well! Laughing at their eagerness to get onto that truck! and like a Mum with kids back to school, already missing them when they're not at home.
Gracie was bereft for a moment, but is now allowed to talk over the fence to the boys; she quickly let Galahad know she's in foal and not interested in him, so hopefully she'll enjoy not having to compete for the shelter of the stable whenever she wants to go indoors!
I'll try to get before and after photos this time!

Last event of 2009

Rocco with Kate's young Ozzie riding pupil, Kaden Weaver, from the Central Coast. This was Rocco's last One Day Event for the year, at the end of October, at Waredaca Horse Trials. They placed 3rd, finishing on their dressage score of 35p.p, in the Novice Rider class. Kaden's first competition in the USA and his first on Rocco!