Life with puppy!

Well I have to say I was not sure if a new puppy was a great idea but I'm sure now.  Missy (our new Great Pyrenees) is awesome.  She is an independent, ADD little bugger but just so sweet and lovable.  She is already spending about 75% of her time outdoors.  She sleeps on our front stoop and on days when it is not raining she spends her time in her chain link fence 5x12 kennel inside the horses paddock.  The horses are adjusting very well to her and basically ignore her when she walks around them now.  That took a bit of time as my other two dogs are very nippy and irritating to the horses (which is why I have an electric fence system between them).  Here is our Missy.

Charlie and Kato have gone to their new homes and I only have Terre from this year's foal crop left.  I have been natural horse training him for a few weeks now and am so very pleased with his progress.  He is now leading perfectly beside me with no rushing or lagging behind.  He will put his front feet in a tire and do a 360 degree turn with only his back feet.  He is lunging nicely; but best of all his personality is so much calmer.  If he is still here in the new year I'll be showing him in halter classes and in hand classes.  He's got show horse potential for sure.

The foals for 2013 are making their existance known.  Both Nellie and Marcella's foals are now kicking at mealtimes in their momma's bellies.  So far three mares are confirmed in foal for 2013.  Fly turned up non pregnant so I bred her one time only in September and have not seen a heat since, so she may give me a late summer/early fall foal next year. 

That's all that is new in my world.  My two children and my hubby are all still attending college this year, so it is a hard year financially for us.  Hopefully next year, with both Mart and Lynds being done school things will return to normal.  It will all be worth it in the end.  :)

two more mares tested....

Tested Ladybug and Fly.  Ladybug is pregnant and Fly is not.  So Fly gets the year off, too late to breed her now.  One more to test next month.  So far, three pregnant out of 4, not too bad for my stallion who was only 1.5 when he bred these girls.  Can't wait to see what he produces.

The new Great Pyrenees puppy arrives tomorrow.  Got a crate ready for her and a new collar too.  It's been a long time since we've had a new puppy (11 years).  Looking forward to it.

Fall is in the air

Nellie has been tested and is confirmed in foal for 2013.  She is at day 135 today.  She is still for sale along with her last foal Terre.  Gonna have a barnfull if they dont sell, but the more the merrier I guess.  Here is Nellie's test , one line means pregnant!

And to help make my life easier and to allow me to leave the horses outside on fair nights, I have put a deposit down on a  Great Pyrenees pup.  Her name will be Missy and she will arrive in a few weeks. 

Meanwhile, Charlie (Buffy's foal) is being gelded tomorrow, Sept. 26th and will be going to his new home next month.  He is going to be a 4 H horse or a lucky girl in Antigonish.

Things are good here at the barn,  I remember to count my blessings and horses daily :)

foal kicking!

Marcella's foal has started kicking!  Felt it tonight at suppertime for the first time.  Good job Taylor, you're gonna be a Daddy!

Marcella is pregnant!!  One line means pregnant and two means not pregnant.  There is no doubt about this one, there is only one line there.  Makes sense as she has not been in heat again since April 16th.  I guess even though Taylor is young, he has what it takes.  Can't wait to see what he can produce. 

Nellie is coming up on being able to be tested in a few weeks and I will test her then.  Nellie is up for sale presently but if she does not sell before winter sets in, she'll be staying here and foaling out with me.  Gotta get her 2012 foal (Terre) weaned off her in the next few weeks too. 

Aug. 7th 2012 updates

Both Buffy and Carmel gave me gorgeous little pinto colts in June/July.  The top photo is Kato, Carmel's foal, for now he's a keeper until I see how he grows.  He's a small guy at this point.  something I like in a breeding stallion.

Charlie is the second photo (Buffy's foal).  He is already sold and will go to Antigonish in October. 

Charming has been sold and is now living in his new home.  He will be a show horse someday for Karen, his new momma and is a beloved pasture mate of Flash (a gelding mini horse). 

All the mares have been rebred except for Carmel who had a very difficult delivery (dystopia) and had alot of trouble shedding her placenta as well, so she will take the year off and I will think about showing her in Novice class next year. 

Daisy the new show horse is a keeper.  I have paid a deposit on her and will be paying the balance over the next few weeks.  I have shown her in 3 shows will wonderful results.  She seems to enjoy the games part of showing and is not fearful of anything that is asked of her.  I'm very pleased with her.

Sugarplum is now back with us.  I bought her back from the lady that had her for the last year.  She is back in show condition and has attending the last 3 shows with us as my daughters trusted show mare.  I'm glad to see her back in the herd and she seems to be happy too.

Have begun ground driving the stallion, Taylor since he has not much to do now that the mares are bred.  HE did well on his first lesson and I see lots of potential in him as a drviing gelding someday after I've got a few foals out of him.

Progress report

Wow, so much to cover. 

The new lease show mare, Daisy is working out wonderfully.  I showed her in Windsor at the spring Warm-up show in early June and she was wonderful.  She fussed a few times, but never acted frightened or freaked out.  I felt safe and in control at all time.  So I am pleased as punch with her. 

The four March foals are growing fast!  Hat Trick and Blossom are now sold and will go to their new home after Hat Trick is gelded and they are both weaned.  As of now, Charming is a keeper and Terre is still for sale.  All foals have had a bit of lead line training and have had their hooves trimmed twice.

Buffy and Carmel are about 14 days from foaling!  Both have substantial udders but their milk is not testing ready yet.  The next few weeks will be a busy time, as I have a wedding (nephew's), a horse show and these two girls to foal out.  What dont kill me makes me stronger (sure hope so anyways)