Life at Roble Stud - 2009

December

27th

December always seems to be a difficult time for us here at Roble Stud.  It started off with a trip to the horse hospital after Cinnamon inured himself in the field.  We went up to make sure there were no broken bones which fortunately there werent.  We then found Peonia caught up in the post and rail fence and whilst not badly injured from the look of her she had been there for several hours and was touching the electric fence with her leg.  She was very shakey when we managed to get her unstuck and up on her feet.  The electric is a mains fencer and whilst it was earthing out because of her antics she still would have been getting a fair shock.  Still from the way she was charging around the field this morning there hasnt been any lasting damage to her either, although there may be a superficial scarn or two.  What with that an several annual injections due this month, the vets have spent a considerable amount of time with us.

On a more positive note, our new colt arrived from Spain.  I would like to point out that i only went to Spain to find a colt after it was clear that i was not going to be able to get what i wanted in this country.  All my other horses have been purchased here in the Uk.  Emigrante Santo is here a few months earlier than expected but is everything i had hoped for.  I have to admit i hadnt been over to Spain to see him before purchasing and was relying on others so it was a huge relief to meet him.  I am especially pleased with his temperament.  It is obvious he hasnt experienced heavy handedness and his laid back attitude to life is going to fit in well here.  He just needs a bit of fattening up so he ldoesnt make the rest of mine look fat. I am really grateful to Lisa Hurlong for all her help. If i was going to buy a horse from Spain again, i would certainly contact her for assistance.

I dont have any photos of him since he arrived but these are a few of the ones i was sent when he was in Spain.  I hope to add some up to date ones shortly.

November

7th

Still a bit wobbly when this video was taken but this makes it worth those sleepness nights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SMDNeqU9f0

3rd

Where do I start.  Last Wednesday we knew Ninfea was going to foal Imminently.  Last year she decided to take herself through several fences and jumped in with Noggin so she only had herself to blame for what was about to happen.  After getting up every 1 1/2 hours she started foaling at 5am.  I grabbed the video camera and started to film.  Two legs, a nose appeared so i left her to it.  She looked a little stressed so i went in the stable to get a closer look......there were two more legs ahhhh.  My first thought was twins but after further examination it was the back legs of the same foal so everything was arriving at once.  I immediately called the vet and Bry (my other half who is a dairy farmer).  We tried to gently push the foal back in but Ninfea was pushing so much we couldnt ease it back.  It became obvious that it was coming out whatever so one gently pushed back legs and one gently pulled fronts and out popped Roble Cinnamon, a black colt foal.  He had been a little stressed coming out because he was a bit tangled with his back legs.  Once out it was obvious he wasnt breathing and his heart wasnt going although he was still attached by the cord.  I breathed up his nose and Bry pumped the foreleg and immediately he it all started working....then the vets arrived.  In fact two arrived because apparently this presentation is very rare and often results in a rapid trip to the equine hospital.  We felt extremely lucky.

Unfortuantely it didnt end there.  It seems the foal was probably lying awkwardly inside the womb so one of his forelegs wasn't working properly and he couldnt stand on his own, not an uncommon problem with foals but i called the vet back to make sure there weren't any injuries causing the problem and to make sure he had had enough colustrum for the antibodies.  After careful examination the vet informed me that the best thing to do initially was to get up every hour and get him up for a feed and hold the leg straight.  After two previous sleepless nights this was not the news i wanted but he was right.  Putting in that effort meant that by Friday night i had a foal who was able to stand and suckle by himself and he has gone from strength to strength ever since.  We were also happy to hear that the blood tests showed he had received enough colostrum within twelve hours and was going to be getting plenty more in the next twelve (before colostrum is no longer such a benefit to the foal).

I am so proud of Ninfea through all of this.  She has been a superstar, standing perfectly still whilst i manhandled the foal over to her for a drink.  We were worried she was going to be a bit protective but we couldnt have asked for a better mum.

Cinnamon is already proving to be an intelligent little chap.  At four days old he was telling me where he wanted his scratch, he was leaping and playing and just being a beautiful, cheeky little chap.  I love him already.  In some ways its good he is a colt otherwise he would be staying.........i cant keep them all :-(.

October

23rd

Just when i thought it was time to relax a little, it starts to get busy again.  Roble Cayena has the vet for her microchip and DNA blood samples yesterday and although it was the first time in a halter and meeting the vet she was a superstar.  She stood perfectly still even when being chipped. 

Unfortunately the same cant be said for our little Exmoor filly.  I have a swollen hand, a bruised foot and a sore knee.  Id forgotten how spoilt ive been with the laid back temperaments of the Spanish horse.  Exmoors on the other hand are the opposite end of the scale.  We had to lassoo her and then hang on for dear life...and that was in the stable.  Still she will make a great bucking bronco.  I am glad to say that we all survived the experience and the microchip was inserted. 

As much as i love the exmoors, i am pleased to say that she belongs to the owner of the sire.  Our exmoor mare, Nuts, is a lovely mare and i am keen to keep her lines going but wasnt really in a position to have exmoor foals around so i spoke to Judith who lives up the road (and owns a lovely stallion) and likes to take Nuts to shows and she wanted the foal.  The agreement is she has the foal....i get to see her grow up without the time and cost of looking after her. I think its a great deal.

September

12th

The final visiting mare was scanned in foal over a week ago now which marked the end of our breeding season.....apart from our escapologist mare who is due to foal shortly.  So there should be 10 Noggin babies to look forward to next year, one of which is ours (see below).  We are pleased with the success, in particular with the AI as it was new to us this year and has proved popular with those who have non PRE mares.  We are proud of our Nog who even in the wind, rain, following his only ever case of choke (although a very minor case) and without a mare in full season to tease, still managed a collection for two mares and got them both in foal.  We also owe the AI success to Sue Carden who has done all of the collections and most of the AI work for us.

August

30th

Alto Escarlata, the one mare we are putting in foal this year and in the picture below, has had a positive scan so we are excited about that.  She is great with Cayena so i have no doubt she will make a fabulous mother.  We are now expecting 9 foals from Noggin next year. 

22nd

Ive finally named our foal from this year out of Cenicienta.  She is called Roble Cayena.  I decided it was about time Cayenas mum had a grooming partner who could reach the parts her daughter couldnt reach so i turned Essie (Alto Escarlata) out with them today.  Essie was brilliant, especially when Cayena went to see if she had a milk bar like her mum.

9th

Last weekend i went up to the BAPSH National Championship show.  It was a brilliant day although it would have been better had i been able to take Noggin.  Nogs has been too busy with covering this year that we decided to concentrate our efforts on getting mares pregnant instead of taking him up to Hartpury.  I met some new people, put faces to names and met some friends.  Again the committee put on a wonderful show.

We are seeing the rewards of the work with Noggin, we have had another two positive scans this week for mares who conceived from one covering via AI.  We have more scans due in the next couple of weeks, including a mare who was in foal but sadly lost it.  Some of the visiting mares have gone back home so life is a little quieter (although not much).  We still have one foal due this year.

July

25th

Got Batteries for the camera and these are the results

    2009 Family-mum, dad & daughter                 Roble C.............yet to be named

21st

Its been way too long since i did an update.  So what has happened over the past month......well first of all Shelley has kindly sent me pictures of Noggins third foal born this year (see posting from June 7th) and Electra.

The last i heard, this little filly was practising her handbrake turns.

We are also excited to let you know that our mare Cenicienta has foaled, quite early but mum and daughter are doing very well.  She foaled in ten minutes and as usual is a fantastic mum.  Its a shame about the weather being so wet and windy, we havent been able to get many good photos.  We promise some will follow shortly.

We have been pleasantly surprised about the interest in our AI option, and are now getting the news from the positive scans across the country.  Noggin has been busy with the visiting mares as well so hes a happy boy. 

June

13th

Photos of our Nuts (Exmoor) and her foal

7th

More exciting news.  Last year we had a beautiful visiting PRE mare from Devon.  She foaled between 9-10pm last night and has had a healthy filly.  Apparently she is a vocal little girl.  Hopefully photos to follow shortly.

2nd

Well not only have we got some lovely photos of Maryss Tanasia, Noggins second foal of the year, but we've also got the first lot of hay in the barn.  These photos are of Tanasia at a day old.

I've also just realised that I have forgotten our little Nuts.  Cuckolds Nutkin, our Exmoor mare foaled on the 24th May and has produced a beautiful filly foal.  The sire is an Exmoor stallion who lives down the road.   As usual Nuts went wild for a week but is now back to her usual self of wanting her scratches.  The foal belongs to the stallion owner who shows Exmoors.  We are happy that our beautiful mares is assisting to keep this rare breed alive and well in the UK.  Photos shortly.

May

29th

A while ago we took our Nog up to West Kington AI centre to get him to mount a dummy mare.  It was a very succesfull trip as not only did he take to it like a natural but also the analysis on his semen confirmed that both in terms of concentration and health, his little swimmers were the business.    Anyway we have now done two collections back here at home, with Sue Carden coming to do the collection and semen preparation and then taking the semen and inseminating the mares at their locations. I have to admit, i was concerned that we would  not be as successful at home with our dummy.  I was aware that people were waiting with mares in season and we had to get it right so we didnt let people down.  Well i forgot how intelligent these Spanish Horses are and i neednt have worried.  Sue is brilliant at working out what we need to do and is happy to share her vast knowledge. 

Another piece of exciting news is that Alto Escarlata passed her grading and now has APTO status.  This means we are able to breed from her so will be introducing her to Noggin shortly.  What a lucky boy.

17th

He's a daddy again.  We received a text early this morning to let us know that Mill Mitica, who lives at the MARYSS PRE stud in Somerset had given birth to a beautiful grullo filly. We are looking forward to seeing photos but i will also be popping up to meet her shortly.

April

25th

This is the best time of year.  The lambs are getting together in gangs and charging round the fields, leaping and springing.  The foals are starting to be born across the country...and here at Roble stud we are pleased to bring you news that Brisa Dorada, owned by Sarah Sutton, is the proud mum to a beautiful Palomino filly and Noggin, the proud dad, has been keeping an eye on them from the neighbouring field.

She has been digging the ground,

just like her mother does before rolling. 

Mum and daughter having a close moment.

Brisa was the first visiting mare to Roble stud  and we are delighted that we have been part of the journey the whole way through to the delivery of this fantastic filly.  To watch her strut her stuff around the field with her fantastic paces is a joy.  They leave for home today and will be missed. 

I am really pleased for Sarah as although she was wanting a healthy foal, her dream was to have filly to make a matching driving pair.  Looking at these two i think she may have succeeded first time. 

Earlier on this month, Noggin and I went up to West Kington AI centre.  He went to learn how to mount a dummy and to see if he was happy to be collected from.  It was an extremely succesful trip, even though i did get lost, making the journey three and a half hours.  Not only did we get a good sample first time, it also freezes well.  So now owners of non PRE mares have the choice of Chilled or Frozen semen as well as natural covering.

March

21st

I've received the phone call to let me know that Nog and the girls swabs were clear which although expected is always good to hear.  Certificates should be arriving shortly

The horses have been enjoying the wonderful weather, as have the lambs.....ah yes, the lambs. We decided not to lamb this spring as with all the building and other work going on, however one of my rams had different ideas.  I knew he had escaped and was in with the ewes for two days however i didnt realise he had managed to get 30 ewes pregnant Its been a busy few weeks but i am pleased to say we are now finished and have healthy bundles of wool running round the field.

12th

I'm happy to report, a couple of days box rest and Ninfea is back to bouncy self.  We've started trimming up the girls as they were looking a little windswept.  Two of them are eligable for grading this year and have to be correctly turned out so the manes have had to come off.  They tend to get a bit bored after a while and because i am short, the blood runs out of my arms reaching up to trim so at the moment they are sort of half trimmed in a sort of mohican style....its very fetching.

8th

The snow all melted but has left the ground a bit slippy.  Ninfea in bouncy springtime mood has now done herself a mischief, i presume cavorting around the field with Bolero.  I went out this morning to find her hobbling, with a pathetic look so she is now in the stable stuffing her face on the lovely sweet meadow hay, obviously in so much pain, she has lost her appetite.....NOT. Anyway, a lovely big straw bed, plenty of hay and water and a horse in the neighbouring stable, she appears to be a contented little lady so hopefully is on the mend. 

3rd

Just when we thought we were in for a lovely dry warm spring, the snow arrived again.  It was bound to happen as we have just started lambing. 

The horses certainly know spring is the air.  The girls are starting to chat up Noggin and he obviously is quite happy about this development.  Ive not told him yet that he is having his swabs done next week.....poor little lad.

February

I hope nobody notices that i missed January.  Ive neatly hidden away 2008 blogs too so that you cant see that i havent written here since October.

Well where do we start.....we are currently under 6 inches of snow. My car is stuck halfway down the road where my slide yesterday came to a halt, fortunately it was in a gateway so ive left it there.  The tractors are unable to make it up the hill so it is there till we thaw.  The road is currently busy with snowboarders and tabogganists anyway.  They are certainly getting up some speed but also having some spectacular falls...ouch!.  The video camera is on charge......£250 for youve been framed is it??

The Spanish Horses are taking the snow in their stride.  I was tempted to take the rugs off and take some photos of them looking lovely in the snow but it is really quite chilly so i thought it a bit mean.

So here are some updates:

Cenicienta is looking extremely well, she is in foal again to Noggin and has her foal at foot - Bolero.

Bolero, our foal from last year is growing at the rate of knotts and is a very nice natured boy.  That and his good looks mean that he is going to make a cracking horse.  He is due to be weaned when the weather starts to warm up.

Ninfea is a wooly bear.  She and Bolero have a bit of fun in the field leaping and jumping.  I haven't the heart to tell her she is three, rising four and should be setting a good example for the little lad of 7 months. 

Inca, Essie and Peonia have spent the winter destroying rugs...bless them :-{.  I have to laugh when they get their hay because it doesnt matter how many piles you put out, they seem to like to all eat the same one.  They also have two rams in with them and they eat from that pile too.  Inca and Essie are due to be graded this year and then their first trip to a stallion.  I plan to cover Essie with Noggin and Inca is off to visit an outside stallion......more to be revealed at a later date.

Noggin is keeping watch over the girls in the neighbouring fields. Another two months and he starts his stud work again. We currently have one of the mares Noggin covered last year staying with us on a temperorary basis whilst her parents move house.   She is due to foal next month so the excitement is starting early in 2009.  Fingers crossed for an early spring.  We also have another mare here waiting for the Spring so she can be covered so he will be busy from the off. 

We've started to see people who are interested in using Noggin for their mares this year which is great.  I get to chat about horses with people for hours.  What more could a girl want.

Moving onto the farm, the barn extensions are coming along slowly.  The roof is nearly complete but the sheep are currently occupying the barn so it is a little difficult to continue working.  Again fingers crossed for an early spring when i can let all the sheep out and get cracking on with the building again.

Well thats about it.  We have plenty of plans for the year but i think this is enough waffle for the moment.  Hope everyone is well and horses are happy.