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January 2010

UK STALLION EXPO

Much of this month is of course being dominated by the snow! However, we are trying to ignore that as much as possible and instead, looking forward to our first 'event' of 2010. We shall be exhibiting at the UK Stallion Expo at Keysoe on the 13th and 14th of February and hope to see as many clients, friends and new faces as possible there. Information on all stallions standing with us in 2010 and the services we provide will be available and of course, a chance to see some of the best competition sires available in the UK in the flesh. You can see more at www.ukstallionexpo.co.uk.

November 2009

RECENTLY WEANED FOALS

All weaning is now completed! We wean the foals in small groups with their friends, so all have settled easily into their new independant lives, and their mothers seem rather relieved to have some time to themselves! At this time of year, we now concentrate on getting all those little jobs done - de-cobwebbing the barn, disinfecting everything, sorting through the hundreds of rugs and of course this year, as we are in our new yard at Nether Westcote, making sure everything is just as we want it for next season. All the cameras and infra-red lamps need testing before next foaling season and our brand new stocks will be going in shortly. Of course, we may get the chance for a bit of a rest too!

September 2009

ZFDP GRADING AT MOULTON COLLEGE

Having taken Vagebont for an assessment class, we were surprised to be asked to present him for grading. The last time he had been down a jump lane was at his ECHA grading 3 years previously, so we were hoping he would remember what it was all about! He did not disappoint though and showed himself off well to grade into Studbook 2. Due to his age, he will be required to take part in a performance test within 15 months to upgrade into book 1, but his graded status does mean his foals are now eligible for Zfdp papers upon inspection, giving mare owners another option when registering his foals. As we hadn’t planned on grading him that day, he was also required to have a full five stage vetting after the grading (stallions entered have it done beforehand), which he passed with flying colours.

AI STATS, 2009 SEASON

With the last mare confirmed in foal, we have been going over all our stats for this year, and were thrilled to discover that 81% of visiting mares were in foal on their first cycle of AI (Frozen AI included in these stats). We obviously realised it was going quite well, but it was very pleasing to actually work out the numbers. As well as a big thank you to the team here who work all hours dealing with vet visits and late night scanning and inseminated, thank you must go to our vets – both McGonnell and Gillatt, and Bourton Vale who have taken over our stud work since our move to the Cotswolds.

August 2009

BEF FUTURITY SHOW – SOLIHULL

With a lorry full of horses, we set off bright and early (6am to be precise…having already been up at 4am to do all the other horses) to Solihull for the Futurity evaluations. A great day was had by all with Touchwood Classic Jollian gaining a First Premium in the show jumping section and Touchwood Donna Camille gaining a high First Premium in the dressage section. We also presented and prepared a further two mares and foals and a yearling, who gained first premiums and a very high second premium meaning smiles all round!

HANOVARIAN REGIONAL FOAL SHOW AND MARE GRADING – ALVESCOT

Luckily not too far too travel today…just as well given the number of horses we took along! Ell Bee Bee was taken along for grading, she is already graded with BWBS, but in order for Donna Camille to receive her full Hanovarian papers and brand, Phoebe had to be graded. She graded easily into the main studbook, and Donna Camille duly gained a high score of 8.0 in her inspection and was then branded. Classic Jollian also received a great score of 7.7 (and a score of 8.0 for his movement) before being branded. Another big success of the day was Briarwood Freude, belonging to our working pupil Laura, gaining a score of 8.5 in her inspection – the highest of the day! Her mare Davina, also graded very well, and another boarder, Carmen, who is in foal to Rubinero graded with pleasing scores.