Foaling season has started with...

a bang!

Here at MDA. I started the month working with my two hand trained babies Aasta and Anna. I got the other 8 to the point where I felt comfortable turning them back over to the hands to train. I will be picking one, yes just one, of this years foals to work with. I have a feeling it will be an impossible decision! Why? Well if the first two foals are any indication the task will be impossible as I will have 5 for sure and I have a feeling there will be a 6th but there could be 7. I just don't think the 7th mare is pregnant.
Both were born in the pasture run-in stalls. Rose's second foal and the first of hers to be born in the pasture she went to the run-in on her own accord and her friend, my disabled girl, Amalia stood guard. Not the first one born this season but the first I saw as Rose, Amalia and still damp baby met me at the gate this morning. Without further ado Buff Roan Tobiano Filly. A check on the other mares in the pasture that were expecting yielded nothing. A count of heads revealed 18 (counting Rose's filly), who was missing? A scan of the horses did not show my coppery bay mare Suede, she should stick out in all of the dull bay mares. A check of the runs found her and her dry foal. This baby was less wobbly on its legs and I approached cautiously this was Suede's third foal but Rose and her filly were close behind me. Amalia, ever in her herd protection mode, stopped Rose from entering behind me. I made a mental note to put up the gates before they get dinner, so I can keep the other mares "safe" from the herd. I stared in awe of this foal as I pet Suede and let the tall leggy baby come up to me on its own. It did after seeing the other horses were not coming in and mom was relaxed with my presence. A quick peek revealed another Filly this one as black and shiny as a fine automobile with spots?! I slowly crouched down and studied this fine creature more closely with Suede nuzzling my shoulder. I found random spots from pinky tip size to thumb print size on her face, neck, shoulders, barrel, rump, but not below her knees and hocks combined with a perfect star and a sweet temperament. I have a feeling the other foals will be really something too. Suede's Black Filly.
I brought both mares up to the barns for a vet check for the foals. Settling them into the large stalls I went and checked the other pastured pregnant mares more closely. Edith, who is new to me this foaling season had the beginnings of a baglet. She would start getting closed in at night in the run-in stalls. From the mares pasture I headed to the Somali barn where Roama lives. I'm pretty sure she's pregnant but I'm not sure. From there to the Irish Cob barn to check on Caviar, my gut says she's not pregnant but she's under watch to be sure. To the Fjord mares next, Freedom was also not showing any signs. Then to the welsh barn to check on Boo, no signs there yet either. I am excited to see what these mares are hiding!

Some Changes taking place

Well I've thought about it long and hard and some changes will be taking place here at MDA. I've got some horses up for sale and I've put in for less hours at work so I can put 10 sessions in with my horses myself. Now to figure out what horses to work with so I can fire those hands. I really don't know if I want to start with the babies or the older horses that need to refresh on their ground manners and saddle/harness basics.

Thrill, shown under the name Ariannaid Aur, earned her Beginner's Championship title and plaque last month! Very proud of this Dew Granddaughter. Her dam has stalled at 12 points perhaps she needs a refresher from the ground up. Might put some time in with Snow, we'll see.

I think I will work with the older horses first. Now the question I have is do I work with 10 horses or spend more time with just a couple? Thoughts and guidance please!


In other news, there are five mares confirmed pregnant and two more that I missed getting the vet out for. Since none of the foals are nominated, taking some time off to get settled in a new routine, I am just hoping both mares caught and only have one foal in there growing. I'll post updates on them as I know them. 

Eyz year 195!!!!

Daaz came to a close with me not getting entries in for early Eyz shows. I did manage to get my Advanced Draft entries in for the early shows. As CaviarDreams was only one point away from her Advanced Championship. She earned that last point and Clabar Pale Face is only one point away from his now. Caviar has been retired to get a few foals from her as her pedigree is great and with hopes that she will pass her love of competing to her offspring. Caviar has been bred to Pride Of Caerul lots of potential between these two!
Caviar has earned a new photo! The photographer is on her way over!

I brushed some flowers on her hip and brushed out her mane and tail. I opted not to clip her and up to the mountain we went. The preview image is :

Waiting on results from the late classes there are several horses that are close to titles. I think I will be cutting down on the herd a little more, some I just don't see myself breeding so a vet visit is in those boys' future. Maybe that will get their minds on working a little better. Lots to do and not enough time as usual.

Busy couple of months!

Well it has been busy here on the farm. I got called away on a business trip, no I did not bring back any horses! I actually missed 5 out of my 6 expecting mares foalings! Normally I miss only one or two on trips into town for supplies. They do wait for you to leave after all! I did get to be with Aware when she foaled this lovely filly.
Here is the line up of this years foals. Now I have to figure out names for them!
In order, as near as the staff notes indicate, by birth.
First on the ground was a gorgeous TB filly.

 The above filly is a Bay Tobiano with possible Splash markers. She is a granddaughter of Ivory Gold Coast and is 100% foreign bred lined. I wish her temperament was a little better, but she is a good bit sweeter then her momma!

The next foal to slip out into the world a couple of days later was this stunning Fjord Filly.

She is our most extreme expression of pangare that we have had born on the farm. The rabicano is just icing, if only she had inherited her sire's dun. I am very pleased with her temperament and hope she develops into a nice mare.

The third foal is a blue eyed Standardbred colt. He was born the same day as the Fjord filly. My hands didn't mark down am or pm on the chart and of course they don't remember, I feel lucky when they mark down a time at all!

His blue eye is Splash coming through from his maternal great-granddam (mother of his mother's mother), who had a high white hind stocking and a cornet ring. He is on the low side of our aspirations for the Standies, but he will be trained up and given a little time.

The next foal was a linebreeding experiment. Her sire is her dam's grandsire. The result a striking grey Welsh Cob filly.

Her temperament leaves something to be desired as I am hoping to start moving up in that area, but Dew's get are doing well in both Draft and Dressage so I have some lofty dreams for this girl!

The next foal, our second colt of the season, is probably the most anticipated foal of the season. Our Irish Cob colt out of our Dikanodi lined mare by Three Sisters' stallion Pride Of Caerul is not exactly what was on our wish list, but is no less stunning in every way.

Ivory Amber Silver with a Cornet Ring on his left hind with a sweet disposition. He's got the look to add to our Champagne hitch that is slowly building up.

I returned home to find I had missed all of the above babies being born and miss Aware uncomfortable and huge. I knew she would only hold on for a couple of days tops, and I was right. One good nights sleep was all I got because the next night she was in labor for hours, poor girl. It was like she was giving me the dramatization of the mares I had missed foaling. In the end when her, grey, filly slid out into the world I was overjoyed that I had been able to attend one of the foalings this year. Here she is the last foal of the season, Somali Filly

I am currently plotting out breedings for next years foals, far less as I am only AI'ing this year.

 

Newest Champions!

Well I had a whole other post planned, but our newest Beginner Champion has postponed that idea!
A couple months ago Thorsen earned his BCh in Three Day Eventing. Ever so pleased with this boy. At 10 years old Thor has been nothing but a pleasure to have on the farm.

The early Draft shows brought home another BCh title for the farm! Hydref Noswyl earned her last two points following in her grandsire's hoof prints. She is a Dew Granddaughter and I couldn't be more pleased with her progress!

Month 2333, Qerta

As Spring turned to Summer here at the farm the trailers coming and going with the show string for the late month shows. Two of the foundation line Somalis brought home points, not two I bred however.
Bamidele; whose name means Follow me home. He earned it too. When I was in Africa selecting horses from this rare breed to ship home, this boy as nearly a yearling followed me where ever he could. When I was out of his reach he stood at the place that allowed him to be closest to me. Of course I shipped him home. He hasn't disappointed me either. I had him gelded to reduce the temptation to keep breeding him and getting a thick inbred herd. His two sons, one now gelded will carry on.

The other point earner was Nthanda; whose name means star. I selected this boy's parents as a custom brood from the importer. I was so excited almost exactly what I hoped to get from the parents. I really really wanted a clear filly, so of course I got a carrier colt. But Star hasn't let me down one bit. Earning his BCh in Draft against an established line of Irish Cobs and his own farm mates he still picks up a point against a nice line of Haflingers and his farm mates.

The other three winners the farm had last month rounding out our months points to 7 were two homebred Welsh Cobs and one of the farms Irish Cob studs.
The two Welsh Cobs, one in Beginners Draft and one in Beginners Dressage brought home 4 points!
Thrill and Red. The IC was Crimson in Advanced Draft.

No shows for us this month, getting some of the show string refreshed on their ground manners. Nothing like watching a nearly 30 year old horse drag someone across the driveway. He knew his manners, but a reminder now and then is a good thing.
Until next post!

Welcome!

Magik Dream Acres now has a blog! Here we hope to keep everyone updated on the progress and goals of our herds. Yes herds, TBs, Somalis, Welsh Cobs, Irish Cobs, Fjords, and Standardbreds all call this farm home.

I am hoping to get up to a post a day, but for now three posts a week is my goal.

For those browsing this blog is based on a fictional ranch in a game called Equine Ranch.

I plan on including a story about special horses, milestones in our breeding program, and anything else that I find worth sharing.