foal update

We grabbed the foals the other day and took a few photos.  I didn't clip them as with our weather I refuse to remove the foals protection from the sun and bugs.  So, we barely knocked the dirt off just enough to get updated photos.

It was hot, they weren't happy and very resentful for the implements of torture placed on their heads, i.e. halters.

So of the bazillion photo's taken we have a few 'okay' head shots.  We have a number of wonky, had bad can I stand, ears back, scrunched up necks, butt high I hate life photos!  My hat is off to photographers that take good animal photos, I do NOT have that talent.

Topper (WCR Top Cop) did good though with these three. They all have pretty heads, great conformation, his long neck and wonderful movement.  I wish I had used him this year.  Oh well more Topper foals in 2013 hopefully!

Now to get video of these three moving.  I'm very tempted to keep Jitters, as he's going to make an awesome driving/all around horse (likely gelding in my current mode!).  He's naturally curious and not afraid of anything, uses his neck and is willing to give his ears, unlike his sisters.  Bailey and Cricket in some of their photos look earless - lol!  But they both have that same gorgeous movement.  

Yeah Topper. Although credit must be given to Swan (Wesco Farms Rogers Lady Swan Song), Annie (Wesco Farms LM Rowdys Anticipation) and Val (Wesco Farms AToy4Me Brazen Beauty) for their input.  It's thrilling to see what the 'homebred' mares are producing the past few years.

Wesco Farms TC Ascended Allure "Bailey"

Wesco Farms TC Defiantly Different "Cricket"

Wesco Farms TC Up All Night "Jitters"

It's December which in Northern California can mean - warm in the 80's or wet and gray. We have the wet and gray right now.

We need the rain, so I can't really complain but my mood tends to go into the gray bleah too, when it's like this. I want a roaring fire, hot chocolate and a good book. My guilty side says how many things I need to do, so I'm sitting at my PC going through more horse related stuff.

I did get stallion reports done and dove into the AMHR paperwork yesterday. It's not quite as bad as I thought - yeah! Other than photos and filling out a registration for Remy (so Binks will be double registered too), it's coming together.  I think I've been building up my ant hill into Mt. Everest for no reason at all!

Miscellaneous Monday 5-31-10

Busy the past couple of week.  Our website is up, but only the basic pages.  I'm taking a CSS class this summer so I'm holding off adding back much of the information and individual horse's pages until then. It will make life easier to change things after I'm better with my CSS skills.  If anyone does need information on our horses, please contact me - I have it all - including all the reference horse page information.  Which I've been debating about loading all the photos on a Flickr or PhotoBucket account.  Being a pedigree junkie I always love looking at the ancestors of my horses.

Foaling season is dragging on, as we're still waiting on Libbe, Maria and Baybee to foal.  So much for the theory on keeping older mares pregnant! First ET, now Maria (24).  Both haven't been bred in 5+ years and one night of fun with (I'm suspecting Frenchie with the three remaining), and we're having a foaling season.

We did take Topper's mares out last week, so he had about 3 weeks to do his magic.  As this was his first time pasture breeding we'll see which of the mares did get covered.

Took some photos a week or so ago FINALLY of Ringo (thanks again Jenn for helping out!).  

It was about time considering all I had were yearling ones and he's now seven!  These are right out of the field, unclipped, so he's a bit flyaway looking but at least we have a few.  

Miscellaneous Monday

Another Monday after a busy weekend.  My wonderful elves (Holly & Gary) were out whipping the place into shape - yeah!  All these overdue projects are getting done thanks to this wonderful duo.  I have a year or so of work for them - lol!  That was for your benefit Holly!!!

Sunny went off to Tracy to his new family on Saturday.  The boys herd is shrinking.  We're debating on having Little (Grosshills Littlemans Anticipation) gelded as he's not selling, but we know he'd love to have free run time with the mares.  

I hesitate to do it as his foals have been nice and everyone that has them is very pleased with them, so we'll see.  As fly season is on the horizon he may dodge that bullet until Fall anyway!  

We are considering offering Demon for sale.  I really don't want to, but Ringo is my big gaga baby, and Topper is definitely a keeper.  So, do we need a two roans and a grey pinto stallion - no! 

Speaking of foaling - still waiting on the ladies. Chiclet is starting to bag up, but isn't due until June 2, but early could be umm today!  Hoping she'll hold out another couple of weeks.  Babyee is just getting a bag too.  Interesting to see who's your daddy on her foal! Fence jumping stallions obviously spread the love around!

We had a family powwow today, and we did decide to breed Topper to 4-5 mares for 2011 foals.  As Topper has never pasture bred, it may be a learning experience all the way around and we're likely to have fewer foals then the fence jumpers are siring this year!  Just in case he takes to pasture breeding like the rest have, we're not taking any chances and only allowing him a few mares.

WCR Top Cop

The mares we agree on Patsy, Swan, and Valentina.  The others we're going to consider tomorrow - Twila, Dresden, Annie, Sarah, Callita and Comet.  

Our biggest concern is Maria. She cannot stand to be separated from her daughter, Patsy. I mean not at all. Not minutes.  Not AT ALL! 

Wesco Farms Demons Checkered Past (Patsy) 

Patsy is five this year, but Maria treats her much like a newborn foal at ALL times.  So the dilemma is do we separate them and give 24 year old Maria a fit, or let her in and potentially get bred?  I don't think she's cycling and hasn't for a few years, but either way is bad.  She really gets hysterical even trimming her (concerned she'll have a heartattack or colic) if they aren't together.

My mares and their oh so quirky personalities!  Need to do a short story on Java the uber mom... lots of personality here!

Our internet tower is up and running - another big yeah!  So, we now have fast internet service direct to the house.  Soon it will be goodbye to ATT!  Loving this fast speed too!

Our website will be going down this week, and hopefully the main pages will only be offline a few days.  Reconstructing the whole site - 300 pages - ugh!  So likely to have a streamlined version of what it is now.  Saving all of the information to disk though - so it will likely show up here - lol!!!

This is one of my favorites - Charlotte you said it all well!  Check out Reflections if you want to see some gorgeous Minis (link below).

One of these priceless gems - wish I had penned it!

THE MINIATURE HORSE MARE'S SECRET CODE OF HONOR

The Miniature horse mare's secret code of honour is as old as the breed itself and is ultimately the breed's best kept secret. No Miniature horse mare shall ever produce a foal before it's time. (It's time being determined by the following factors):

1 .No foal shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your house must be a wreck, your family hungry and desperate for clean clothes, and your social life non-existent.

2. Mid-wives must reach the babbling fool status before you foal out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence mean your getting close.

3. For every bell, beeper, camera or whistle they attach to you, foaling must be delayed by at least one day for each item.

4. Vet check, add a day, internal add three. If you hear the words, "She's nowhere near ready. You'll be fine while I'm away for the weekend."  Wait 12 to 16 hours and pop that baby out!

5. Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.   When you hear the words "I can't take it anymore!" wait three days and produce a foal.

6. You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are necessary! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around in the bowl and then walking away from it are always good for a rise. Be creative and find new things to do to keep the adrenaline pumping in those who wait.

7. The honour of all Miniatures is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your stable mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. OH, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.

8. If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have this foal, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action! The power could go out and you could have the last laugh. You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!

9. Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each time someone comes into the stable to check you. Your stable mates will love you as the extra goodies fall their way too.

10. Remember, this code of honour was designed to remind man of how trully special miniature horses are. Do your best to reward those who wait with a beautiful filly to carry on the miniature horse mare code of honour for the next generation of those who wait!

From Reflections, a miniature horse ranch, Charlotte Lupton  12-1-2002