Miracle

I'm a very proud parent. I received a call from the owner of my beloved Rachel's filly Pearls of Faith aka Miracle. Miracle was born in 2005 and is quite a remarkable filly. She is being ridden regularly and is thoroughly enjoyed by her new family. At the tender age of 4, it appears that she has already become the mount for the timid, never ridden before riders. She began this new career last weekend. Her owner is thrilled to pieces and I have to admit to the same.

Miracle is a wonderful example of the genuine Irish Draught. It is the temperament, bone and type that make an Irish Draught. She is the epitome of all the traits that I am breeding for in my program. She's traditional - small, short shinned, close coupled, good bone/height ratio with the "how can I please you" attitude. She has the wonderful temperament that Mountain Pearl has consistently passed on to his stock and at four years of age who knows what her future holds or where her true talent lies.

I just had to take a moment and pat myself on the back for breeding Mountain Pearl and Rachel. I also have to kick myself once again for selling her in utero because had I waited until after her birth she would never have left my farm. On the bright side, her new family have agreed to allow me to breed her next year so that I may have a foal out of her (start praying for a bay filly already folks and pray hard).

Saturday

Saturday proved to be cloudy and cool (for July). I was somewhat productive. I pulled Conor, Maggie and Neela's manes. I shortened Neela's just a little bit because I wasn't sure how much Shannon and Alicia wanted off. She definitely looks better with a short, thinner mane.

I also took a few photos of baby Calum. He's extremely talented -- he can jump air!

Ideal day

Monday the 13th was a fantastic day. The weather was reasonable for July and we had some visitors from Texas here to see all the critters. It’s my favorite kind of day. I took a day of vacation and spent it talking about horses in general and Irish Draughts in particular. Who could ask for more? It’s this kind of day that reminds me why I do all of this horsey stuff in the first place. Wooo-weee!
(The rest of the week not so grand – hence the delay in writing this short piece up for the blog)

Padi's Classic Banner

By Silver Granite out of Loguestown Classic (Annaghdown Star x Loahean x Lahinch)

Cleaning day

Cleaning day was not too bad and it was great to finally see Sarah's new place. It's very nice and in a quiet location. There's still lots to do but we made good progress today. I'm looking forward to the move now that I've been there.

Big move

Just a few more hours until the start of the big 3 day holiday. It's a big weekend for the trainer Sarah & her Wolf Ridge Farm. Sarah has found her own place for a training barn. She won't have to arrange her training schedule around a large boarding stables schedule or deal with multiple types of riding in one arena - no reining while trying to teach a half-pass or some such thing. And she'll be able to jump at any time she wants to -- no reserving the arena weeks ahead of time for jumping.

Tomorrow is clean up day at the new barn. I haven't been there yet so I don't know what I'm getting myself into. It may be quick or it may be tedious. I'll be able to tell you more afterwards. Then the day after tomorrow all the horses and equipment at Crystal Creek get moved to the new Wolf Ridge Farm. It's exciting news. Carol would have been very proud of her "adopted" daughter Sarah.

I am expecting Tristan to move smoothly. Fingers crossed. And Jasper of course will be the trooper he always is. That boy is one remarkable horse.

And then Sunday, I'm hoping for good weather because I'd like to take some more photos of the babies and young boys. I really need to get Una & Conor spruced up for new "portraits" as well. I worked on Una for a while last weekend. Her mane is pulled and she's had a bath. I'll have to start from scratch with Conor though....