Out of the mares that were bred, I've tested 10, so far 5 are pregnant.  Two more will be tested later on in the year once they are 4 months along.  So we have Dream, Ladybug, Buffy, Fly,  and Nellie confirmed pregnant.
Penny aborted a pinto colt at 4 months,  this is the first time I have ever lost a foal and it was a upsetting day for me.
Taylor has been gelded and I have cart trained him for a few months now.  He is doing so amazingly well that I am going to be showing him next year in the novices classes at MHANS shows.  The new stallion is Huybers Doctor Pepper.  I bought him from a friend.  He has awesome bloodlines and is going to be a very small boy.  At 13 months old, he is only 28.5 inches tall.  I don't expect him to go over 30 inches.  He has some pawprints so I am hoping he is homozygous for pinto. Here is a scruffy picture of my new boy.

Dream continues to do therapy work with the special needs clients in Enfield.  Her foal has begun to kick and everyone at CCOA cannot wait until she foals that little filly.

Summer hay is all put away in the loft for the winter, we are just putting in our wood this week and then we will be all ready to hunker down and watch the mommas grow pudgier each day.  I love the slow pace of winter, too bad it has to be so cold.

Dream has a huge day!!

First off we were invited to come visit the special needs clients of CCOA in Enfield, so I packed dream in the trailer and away we went. 

She did amazingly, never moved a muscle, never pulled when they led her around.  I'm so proud of her I could burst.

Got home and did a preg test on her and wow.  Dream is almost 4 months pregnant.  Maybe her and baby will do a therapy horse duo before you know it.  She obviously was born for this work.  There were some amazing smiles seen today from everyone.  Dream almost fell asleep with the combing and patting.

Taylor is being gelded in 2 days, seems appriate to get this news today.  Congrats Taylor, this will be one very special little one indeed. 

First mare tested is not pregnant

Tested Marcella today, and the result was a definite negative.  So, Dream will be next to be tested in a months time.  Dream certainly appears to be pregnant, but she is such a tiny girl (less than 32 inches) it doesn't take much food to make her pudge out.  Will update on her results at that time. 

With Taylor being gelded, I'm on the war path to find my future stallion.  Have my eyes on a little 1 year old pinto boy.  Just have to talk my hubby into the idea that I need a new stallion.   Hopefully will be able to post picks of the new boy before you know it.

Another long awaited update

Well, I see the last update was when Jack was born.  So a few days after Jack arrived, his brother Peanut (Huybers Utopia Lauras Horizon) was born out of Nellie.  No complications with the delivery, I was there at 1am when the little one arrived and quickly figured out the whole standing and nursing thing.  Peanut is going to stay small, I'd say around 32 inches tall, but is very correct for a little guy.

He will be for sale when he is weaned in late July (very soon). 

I saw an ad on Kijiji for a little pinto mare that I have had my eye on for about 3 years now, she was priced to sell and I decided it was finally time to bring her home.  And about time too, she is on the thin side and needed some hoof trimming immediately.  I've got her on 24/7 outdoors because she has heaves and for this reason she is also getting 3 large carrots a day.  Carrots contain a camphor like chemical that helps open up airways in the lungs.  Hopefully this will help her.  She seems to be doing well and is fitting in well with the rest of the herd.  Here is Pearl Creeks Courtney.

All mares have been bred this year and Taylor is to be gelded on July 31st.  There will be many little ones next year to pick a new stallion from, or I may buy a new stallion.  NOt sure on that one yet.  Hoping to train Taylor to be a future driving show horse as he has a nice trot and lovely conformation. 

Hay is in for the year, and that feels fantastic.  It is amazing hay too, nice and green and fine and smells like heaven to this old horse woman.  The logo on my trailer says I'm one horse shy of a crazy horse lady, but my daughter says Courtney was that one horse and now I'm officially the crazy horse lady.  My hubby would fully agree with that.  But I look out at my herd with all their colours and personalities and I count my blessings every single day, all 16 of them :)  I can't imagine what I would do with my time without these lovely personalities to share my time with. 

For those that follow Dream's progress.  She is doing absolutely wonderful.  I was so afraid as I drove home with her in the van that she would have to be put down.  But I saw in her eyes that she had the will to see this whole thing through and that is what she is doing.  She is pudgy, happy and shows no signs of lameness from her neglected foot trimming in her past.  She brightens my day every time I see her and her personality is second to none.  She's gentle and pleasant at all times.  She has been bred to taylor for a 2014 baby and I just can't wait to see that little one be born.  It's gonna be one special little filly (I hope).  Might even have to be a keeper. 

In a week's time I will be testing the first mare bred for next year, so will likely update again then if I get a positive result. 

Till then, enjoy your summer everyone.  It's gonna be over before we know it!

2013 Foal #2

This is my stallion's second foal, he seems to have what it takes to make nice babies.

Introducing Ladybug's foal - Huybers Utopia Jumping Jack Flash!!  Born April 17th, 2013. 

Hoof trim #2 for Dream

She's walking with ease, hard to believe how well she is doing considering where her feet were on tuesday. 

Took off another 1/2 inch on both back feet.  I do believe we can bring at least one of these feet around to a normal angle someday.

Another visit to the barn

I have had a sick stomache and a raging headache since I picked up Dream.  Knowing that my friend was in such a horrible situation and her horses needed so much help was killing me.  So a deal has been struck and I will take home her horses one or two at a time and rehabilitate them where needed and then sell them for her.  Alll money goes back to my friend.  Doing this helps me feel I'm helping out and eases my pain about the whole thing. 

So here is the second mare I brought home from my friends barn:

Gold Nugget

Her hooves are getting done today, Not sure what can be done about the poop crusted fur as it is too cold and damp to give her a bath, but after her trim shes' going into the paddock and I'm hoping she'll decide to roll and get nice and damp and then I can comb some of it off her. 

Nugget is for sale, if anyone is interested, drop me an email at ahuybers@ns.sympatico.ca

She has foaled out at least 3 foals that I know of and foals easily without assistance.

Saving a life - and giving hope

First off, I do not pass judgement on the previous owner of this mare.  I pray to God that I never have to walk a mile in her shoes.  She has suffered and continues to suffer tragedy.  She does what is right now by finding homes where the horses will be loved and cared for. 

This is just to document little Dreams journey into a new life.

From a tiny stall in a pitch black barn emerged this little mare; having not seen the light of a bulb or daylight for years.  Bless her soul, she broke my heart and found herself in my mini van on the way home.  I sang lullabyes to her to keep her calm, but she is so sweet and calm there was no worries of her freaking out.

Here was her condition upon arrival:

And here she is after 2 hours of intensive trimming, brushing and combing.  Still so much to do, but in small steps.  Last two pics are the pieces of hoof I hacksawed off.  Then I nippered another ~1 inch off. 

And here is her beautiful face.  This mare is an Angel.  I had to use a hacksaw to take off the worst of the rears and she didn't fuss at all.  She knew I was helping.  God love her, I already am in love with this doll.

Her world changes today....  Welcome home Dream!!

April 2013 updates

Wow, well first things first.  Pebbles was tested and was not pregnant.  So I bred her with Taylor and hope that she is now at the start of her 11 month pregnancy. 

Marcella foaled a lovely little silver dapple colt for me on March 11th at 830am.  Here are some pics of little King Solomon

He will be for sale when weaned. 

Next up are Nellie at day 326 today and Ladybug at day 310.  Both are looking very close and I figure on at least one foal but this time next week. 

This is Nellie and her belly :)

and this one is Ladybug who is carrying on her left side which usually means a filly.  Here's hoping.

Taylor has been very busy breeding the open mares in hopes of a 2014 foal crop.  So far it looks like maybe Fly and Pebbles are pregnant, but wont know for sure until I test them at 4 months.  So towards the end of summer I should know more about that. 

Show season isn't long away and summer flies by.  Life is good at my little barn. 

Fly has once again tested negative for a 2013 foal.  So she will be ready to go in April when the weather warms up and hearts turn to that type of thing. 

Marcella is at day 285 today.  He shape is changing, belly is hanging lower and she has a bit of edema.  She is not developing an udder yet, but she will be soon if she follows her past foaling here last year.  She foaled on day 317 last year and looks to be right on schedule to do the same this year.  Wont be long now.  I am firing up the MareWatchers camera next week and she will be viewable at nights.  Come help watch!

http://www.marewatchers.com/cam/huybersutopiaminiatures.htm

Nellie is at day 270 and is looking huge.  Going to be a strapping big foal in there perhaps. 
Ladybug is at day 240 and in her typical way is waddling around like she'll foal any second. 

I'm excited to see these foals as they are the first foals out of my 2 year old stallion Taylor. 

As April approaches, breeding season begins and I've got a bunch of open mares just waiting for their own dates with Mr. Taylor Man.  He's going to be busy!

Long overdue update

I have co-bought a pony mare that may be pregnant with my friend Terri.  Will test her next week with a weefoal test.  Here is Pebbles.

Missy our Great Pyrenees is now about 75 pounds and is almost 7 months old.  She's a wonderful but very independent creature, I guess that comes with the breed.  She has been guarding the nonpregnant horses at night for a week now and everything is going fine.

Marcella is at day 322 in her pregnancy today.  She foaled at day 317 last year, so we are very very close.  Here is a pic of her poor little belly

Look fro updates on the foal very soon.