Cuteness

I stumbled across this pic recently:

late April 2009

Winter sux

Need I say more...?

Whose ya daddy?

I have been asked why I chose to breed Bella, and particularly, the choice of bloodlines/breeding.

I ride for fun and if I win some ribbons in the process, that is a bonus. I rate temperament very highly - I don't see the point in having a horse that is super talented, but that I can't ride or handle; I'm often by myself when working with my horses, whether handling them, riding or travelling/competing.

Eden is by Gibraltar II (Swedish Warmblood) out of Shipside Sally (TB - by Wharf). I liked Gibraltar II from the moment he was advertised in New Zealand, which must be easily 15 years ago. I used to see him regularly as the ladies who owned him had lessons with Edgar Lichtwark, who I also had lessons with. I saw an advertisement in the Horse & Pony listing horses for sale from the stud Gibraltar II stood at. Years later, bored at work and trawling the internet, I stumbled across an advertisement for Eden, who happened to be the one I liked in the advertisement (fate?) and, as she was local to me, I rang to ask if she was still available for sale - the rest is history.

Eden is never going to go to the Olympics but that is ok, neither am I. Eden competed in her youth (predominantly eventing and dressage) and has the sweetest temperament. She moves well and while her conformation isn't perfect - she has 'mare ears' and is slightly pigeon toed - I felt Glenvar Meteor compliments her faults.

Glenvar Meteor is by Kilvington Scoundrel (ERP), out of Greenlee Prudence (Welsh). I don't follow the British Showing scene closely, but I have read enough to know of Kilvington Scoundrel and his super progeny while Greenlee Prudence has thrown some exceptional show ponies.

I feel Bella has the best from each breed:

• TB - proportion and speed (one day I might be brave enough to event again. If not, I'll just hunt). I love TBs and one of my most favouritest horses ever is a chestnut TB mare.
• Warmblood - movement
• ERP - conformation and presence
• Welsh - sane brain (I'm yet to meet a loopy Welsh)

To date, Bella has been a delight - she is bold but sensible, has presence, is very intelligent and loves attention.

Oh, what a night

Eden choked last night.

Sarah came over to my place so I could dye her hair – how does this relate to Bella? Read on.

Sarah and I loaded up the trailer on the quad bike with feed buckets and hay only to discover the bike wouldn’t go – that saved Eden’s life. Muttering about having to lug feed and hay to the horses through the Muddy race (yes, an initial capital is needed – it is Muddy here), I decided that they didn’t need hay – they had just moved into a new paddock. Sarah and I trundled down the race and distributed feed buckets. As the bike wouldn’t go and I’m lazy (hey, at least I’m honest!) I wanted to wait for them to finish their feeds so I could take their feed buckets then and there, rather than make another trip down the Muddy race to collect them later.

All my horses like their feed and I’ve always said if one isn’t eating, it is a definitely a sign to call the vet. All were happily eating when Eden stopped eating and looked blank. She stood still for a little bit then moved away from her feed – definitely out of character for her. When she started drooling I knew something was wrong – I figured it was choke; something I have read enough about to identify, but not read enough to know what to do.

I called the vet then Sarah and I moved Eden and Bella into the race. I found a lump in her throat and massaged that in between pulling out as much food out of her mouth as possible. Sarah distracted Bella by giving her cuddles. It was quite scary – while you can help a person who is choking, there isn’t much you can do for a choking horse. Eden coughed up food and goo came out of her nose – it was rather gross. Occasionally she gave huge straight-legged whole body shudders – that is what scared me the most; it reminded me of the horse I saw that had a heart attack at a competition. I can deal with life (including blood and gore) and I can deal with death, but I struggle with the process of death.

Mum came down with the vet so once the vet had done her thing (checked her stats and gave her a couple of jabs), Sarah and I led Eden and Bella up the race to the yard so I could keep an eye on her during the night. By this stage, it was dark and Eden was feeling better so was stepping out. Bella wasn’t too sure about following the strange lady (Sarah) in the dark and dithered. Eden didn’t call to Bella – I’m guessing due to having a sore throat (is that, a hoarse/horse throat??) – so pulled back and away. I called to Bella and she came straight up to me. I’m very impressed with that. Unfortunately, just as I was about to grab her leadrope, Layla whinnied and Bella took off. She came back again though and I reunited her with Eden in the yard. While Bella was upset, she didn’t panic so I am very pleased about that – I particularly like how she came to me when I called her.

I have been weaning Eden and Bella but decided that Eden had had enough stress for one night and I would rather disrupt the weaning process than upset her any further by separating her completely from Bella. I did separate them in the yard though – Eden wasn’t to have any food and Bella needs to eat so I put Eden in the yard and Bella inside. I checked on Eden a couple of times during the night. Bella isn’t bothered by my nocturnal wanderings with the flashlight – as far as she is concerned, the flashlight means people and possible carrot handouts. She loves being inside so I think travelling away with her for future competitions will be a breeze. Eden is ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’ today and happy to be back in the paddock where she is making up for lost eating :)

Enjoying the sunshine

Six months

Bella has had a busy time of late – 24 June was her six month birthday, woot!! To celebrate, I introduced her to carrots. It took a while, only because Layla and Eden would swoop out of nowhere and steal the carrots I was offering. How rude! Anyways, Bella now has the gist of carrots, including how to eat them – for a while she nibbled on them rabbit style. While she loves carrots (and can locate which pocket has the carrots in it), she is gentle about endeavouring to acquire them.

I’ve been reiterating her lead lessons. Every now and then Bella stands and looks at me as if to say “I don’t really understand what is wanted” but never makes a fuss about it – no pulling back or any carry on – just looks at me then walks forward as requested.

I did work with Bella ages ago re picking up her hooves. I’ve been slack lately (picking up muddy legs really doesn’t appeal…) so I was a little anxious about her first hoof trim. Mike (our farrier) is great with the horses and how he handles them. I held Bella next to the wall so she could balance easier. She moved back a little but never tried to get away – it was more to correct her balance. She did wobble a little occasionally but was calm about the whole ‘ordeal’. By the time Mike did her hind legs, she was happily resting her head on my shoulder – so cute!!

A storm is due – again – so while Bella am stabled at night, I felt it appropriate to rug her for when she is outside. She couldn’t have cared less about having a rug put on, and stood quietly while mum (Yvonne) and I faffed about with belly straps and hind leg straps. The rug is 3’6” but needs darts in the shoulder to fit correctly – Bella didn’t even flinch when I hauled the rug back into position when it slipped. I'll have some darts put in the shoulder so it fits her better.

I noticed today that Bella spent the whole day with the other ‘girls’ (Tami, Layla and Splash) at the far end of the race, while Eden grazed at the top end of the race – weaning time perhaps? I’ve read a lot about weaning methods and prefer the gradual/with friends method. I know some people employ the cold turkey method but I feel that works better with a herd of foals due to their similar ages. As I only have the one foal, I prefer the gradual weaning process – I gradually introduced an ‘aunty’ (Layla) and just recently put all the horses together as a herd: Eden, Bella, Layla, Splash and Tami. So, tonight Layla and Bella are inside while Eden, Splash and Tami are outside. Bella and Eden can see each other and in the 5 hrs they’ve been separated (albeit in sight of each other), I’ve not heard a peep out of them.

Bella is such a delight – so easy and trainable which bodes well for the future

Early July '09