Happy (one month) birthday!

24 January meant I was one month old. This was celebrated by giving me my own feed bucket at meal times. Mum (Eden) was quite relieved as I used to pester her non-stop. She gets *reallly* tetchy when I try to climb in her feed bucket. Talk about no fun!! She now gets quiet time twice a day (breakfast, and dinner) and I get to play at being a 'big' horse with my own feed bucket.

Mum (Kyrie) hasn't taken many pictures of me lately as she was/is secretary for Waitemata A&P Show and therefore quite busy. However, that was a week ago now so I expect to be getting some more attention from her. She does however, still feed us twice a day and bug spray us regularly. Life isn't too bad...

Educating Bella

At three weeks of age, I'm happy to have all my hooves picked up, be bug sprayed and have my ears played with. Grandma (Yvonne) made me a break-away foal halter so that if I managed to get caught on anything, I would be freed easily. I've had my halter on a couple of times but really didn't want it on tonight. So I showed my displeasure. Sadly Kyrie had her cheap camera that struggled with the light at that time of day, and my speed...

I'm not sure where my near hind went in this pic!!

However, I did settle down and pose with my halter on:

Brat...?

Both mums now probably think that I should be named "Brat" and not 'Bella' as I am firmly convinced that the world revolves around me. Especially at meal time! One of my favourite games is to back into Eden's chest and buck until she moves away from the feed bucket. I'm quite confident, and am gaining better control of my legs...

It is awfully hard work being so cute though!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Day dawned bright and warm so my human mum (Kyrie) was happy enough to put mum (Eden) and I in the paddock while she went up north to join in the family Christmas bunfight. Mum wasn't too sure about the other horses in the paddocks (we were going down the race) and got a bit anxious, so I put on some moves to impress the other horses. I don't think either mum appreciated that...

My human family put their thinking caps on for names for me - a paddock name and a showname is required. "Bella" was decided on as a paddock name - it has a Christmas theme ("Bell") and starts with "B" - grandad (Barry) shares the same birthday as me. He is a *little* older than me though...

Kyrie came to visit us when she got home, and brought friends with her. They thought I was very cute, and exceptionally bold. Eden loves the visits, as Kyrie brings food - twice a day!

Aren't I just the most beautiful foal you've ever seen?

Introducing...

My human mum (Kyrie) arrived home from work on 23 December and promptly put warmer rugs on all her horses due to the cold, wet weather. My true mum (Eden) wasn't rugged due to being somewhat large with Yours Truly so Kyrie put Eden and her friend Layla in the stables. Due to Murphy and his "Laws", the sheep were in a stable due to having an appointment with the shearer the next day so Eden and Layla shared a stable and the Annex. Kyrie checked Eden and Layla about 11.30pm and again at 3am. The sight of Kyrie in her PJs at 3am probably tipped mum over the edge and I was discovered at 6.20am on Christmas Eve - a few days off Kyrie's estimation of 28 December.

My mum, "Eden Garnet", is Swedish Warmblood/TB - by Gibraltar II (RIP grandad) out of Shipside Sally. Eden apparently looks a lot like Gibraltar, but a little smaller, standing 15.2hh. She competed in dressage and eventing in her youth.

Eden - one of the few ridden pics mum has.

Gibraltar II

Dad, Glenvar Meteor, is by Kilvington Scoundrel, out of Greenlee Prudence. I'm the FIRST foal from Glenvar Meteor - how cool is that??

Kilvington Scoundrel (UK): http://www.whaltonstud.co.uk/kilvingtonscoundrel.html

I spent the day in the stable with mum but was allowed in the yard when Kyrie got home from work - it was fun exploring and stretching my legs. It was cold though, so Kyrie put us back in the stable for the night.

Kyrie was sure she was going to get a grey colt so didn't have any suitable names for me - I'm a gorgeous bay filly. Kyrie and her family decided they wanted me to have a name starting with "B" as I was born on Barry's birthday.