Speaking of good pictures. I need to get some more pictures of Angel before she leaves for Germany this month. Yes Germany. We are very excited as though we have had foals in Europe before using Zippy’s semen, this is the first horse that we have had exported. She will leave here to Oklahoma at the end of the month and thenafter the quarentine period she will fly to Germany. I can’t wait to go visit her.

Marla has been working with Matilda and both of them will be attending the Midwest horse fair this year. They will be riding in a competition that involves a wide variety of differnt events. Kind of a skills test for horses. Matilda is kind of young for this competition, but she is doing very well. Here is a link to a video where you can see her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCWgXErLUHk

Thanks for watching,

S/B

Fanny was amazingly fit and not even a tear after the tough delivery. Bigger foal, two weeks late – and the rough pulling didn’t do any damage. The vet said there was some very typical bruising and she looks great. She also has all good vitals and was calm and accommodating about the guys handling her baby. Good girl!! Thsi new vet I am lking. He believes less is more, and does not give a shot to clean out the mare, nor penecillin to the foal as a safety measure. He talked about studies that show it may do more harm than good, and from a customer’s standpoint, he is also advocating a less invasive – and less expensive! – way to go. Very different than past vets who wanted to do everything, all the time.

Here is a little video of her…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWbRdkXKtA

Thanks for watching,

S/B

Dr. Schmidt is predicting a filly for Fanny and colt for Roxy. We are planning to bring one of these pairs to the Midwest Horse Fair in April. Hopefully at least on these will have color. Roxy has had Spice and I am sure Fanny could produce a solid foal. We need a colored one if we want to go to the fair so keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks for watching,

S/B

Thanks for watching,

S/b

Thanks for watching,

S/B

Around the farm we have been also doing alot of small projects. Painting, replacing windows and of course fixing fence. All of the stalls now have matts in them which has really helped us use fewer shavings. The kids are much better helpers also now that they are older. They have been moving hay, and dusting cobwebs. The hay crop was smaller than usual this year. We ended up selling our second cutting and the it turned out that the third cutting was much smaller than usual because we had so little rain. Now I will need to buy some hay so that we have enough for everyone.

Thanks for watching,

S/B

 Meanwhile Spice is back and doing very well. Our new trainer Marla Zellmer is also riding Annie and Sport and they are both coming along. I even showed Trace a couple of times this summer. Wow we have done alot horse wise. I was able to take some new pictures of Trace also. You can see them here.

We also have done some major projects around here putting a new roof on one of the barns, and painting and cleaning. Even the hay came again since the last update. Time sure flies when you are having fun.

Thanks for watching,

S/B

Friday was busy too, with Drew going to his last day of soccer camp, big squirt gun in hand.  The last day they have a water fight for the last 30 minutes, and pizza, and awards and pictures.  I had a day of vacation at home to get ready for our exchange student to arrive, but had two conference calls, one at 10:30 and one at 2:00 that I could not move around and had to attend by phone from home.  So I missed the fun but Bill got pictures.  I had to take my car in for new brakes – we are selling it and I wanted it to be safe and set to go.  Tried a new service place I pass on my way to and from work, and I was thoroughly happy with the experience – the initial call, the follow-up estimate to us, the appointment, the way they talked to us while dropping the car off, the price, the work – everything.  They even gave Bill a tiny bag of Famous Amos cookies when we picked up the car and paid later in the day.  So he is a True Believer.  Great service is something to remember these days, and especially car repairs where I always feel I am getting sold, buying more than I need.  Who ever knows??  So I will use this place again for sure.  They are new, and trying to build their business – so far, so good!

Then we hurried home from dropping my car off  and Bill had to take Zippy into the vet clinic to be collected for our buffalo-driving customer in Michigan.  He did not mind a very late foal next year as he does not show. That joo-joo got shipped off and Bill was home again, bathing and clipping Trace.  I was changing sheets and vacuuming and making looooong grocery lists.  Joe and Sarah cleaned up Bill’s Durango with ArmorAll and a vacuum, and it is looking better than it has in years.  Nokolunga arrived with the Rotary Youth Exchange coordinator in early afternoon.  She is easygoing and friendly and I think this month will be fun.  She is 18 and at home in South Africa has two younger sisters and a younger brother.  The kids played games while I was on the conference call and then we all got to know one another.  Bill pulled out of the drive with Trace at about 6, heading to West Bend which is just 20 minutes away or so.  Bill said he was amazed at how laidback Trace was with the ear and muzzle and pastern clipping – like an old pro.  Now if he only had a tail……LOL.  Maybe Fanny’s foal next year by the same stallion will take after his dam instead of his sire in that one regard.

So last night Bill arrived at the show safely, got Trace settled into his stall, and planned to sleep in the tack room of the horse trailer on the blow-up mattress.  Yuck.   Watch those spurs!  I’ve checked in with him already this morning and the show is delayed, as it is raining hard and lightening in this area.  And it is an outdoor show, sad to say.  This is where easygoing horses like Trace can do really well, because they don’t mind mud or rain or far-away thunder.   But it just may be cancelled altogether if the storms continue.  Or there might not be enough horses there to make it worthwhile.

None of the kids have gotten up yet, it’s just that kind of gray day.  However, I believe Drew may be playing GameBoy under the covers and pretending he is still sleeping!  I may take the girls school shopping later, there are big sales on at Kohls.  The kids will do the chores this morning but not turn the horses out till the storms are gone for good.   Someone was supposed to come look at the apartment yesterday but I don’t think she showed up.  It’s a friend of the owner of Scoops, the little paint gelding we have here as a boarder.   Have a great day, EveryBuddy.