Banner!

 

I came home early today so that Banner could get her feet trimmed.  The drought and our hard clay have done a number on the horses’ hooves.  She was very good.   Since Bruce was home on vacation, we hooked up the trailer for practice as well.   I couldn’t remember the last time she was trailered anywhere so I thought it best to remind her before she leaves this weekend.   She was a good girl – we got on and off four times!  She has definitely matured a lot mentally this year.  We’ll practice a few more times because it’s good for her. Our trailer is notoriously troublesome for a lot of horses so I’m very proud of the little girl.  J

Padi's Classic Banner

by Silver Granite out of Loguestown Classic by Annaghdown Star

Photo taken this afternoon

The Boys

I noticed that Calum seemed larger last night when I was giving him some hay.  It was still light enough so I got the measuring stick and measured him.  He was indeed taller -- He is now 16.0 hh.   His biggest problem is that his very substantial brother makes poor Calum look diminutive in comparison. The photos were taken early evening today.

When I looked at the photos of Brian I noticed that he is butt high right now -- must be going to spurt up again. He was 16 hh when I last measured.  He is quite a substantial guy.



The young'uns

Photos from today!   It was 99 degrees or something.  Brian had been sweaty and rolled so is very dirty. Oh well.  :)

Padi's Copper Key by Regalia Prince Arthur out of Padi's Copper Bling

(sorry I cut off his nose....)

Padi's Classic Banner by Silver Granite out of Loguestown Classic by Annaghdown Star

Padi's Brian Donn by Regalia Prince Arthur out of Magrathea by Ten Yard Star xx

Cork :)

I put that photo of filthy Grania because I intended to put a photo of clean Grania the next day. She's in need of more baths first though :-/ Meanwhile I received a photo of Tristan's 2012 colt. Ta da!



Cork by Regalia Prince Arthur out of Lady Laras Love by Brown Lad Lara

7 weeks of age

Filthy Grania

Shuttlewood Rose

by Silver Granite out of Diamond Shuttle by Cream of Diamonds

Thoroughbreds

I’ve been thinking about the Triple Crown of late.  I’ve come to the conclusion that there will not be another Triple Crown winner until the TB breeders stop breeding for speed only.  A horse breeder has a responsibility to set goals for the traits that you want the horses that you breed to have.  Temperament, conformation, size, endurance etc.  Then you select mates for your horses accordingly hoping that the combination you’ve decided on will end in offspring that have the traits you have bred for.  I doubt any TB breeder has the goal of breeding unsound horses but that is exactly what they’re doing.  They are purposely selecting unsound/broken down horses and placing them into breeding.  How many times have you heard that a racehorse was being retired to the breeding shed because he/she couldn't run anymore because of some unsoundness or another?  The effect of placing an unsound horse into the breeding pool is evident.  Just look around and compare the TBs you see today and those from the past that could race 100 races and retire sound.  There is no comparison.  It is time for TB breeders to stop selecting for speed while ignoring all the other traits that make up a horse.

Goofing off yesterday

For some reason, the children decided to run around like maniacs yesterday in spite of the heat. You just never know sometimes.

Brian wondering where the hay goes - all he did was play with it and turn it over!!!!

Calum cruising

 Here we have Brian doing something.... not sure what he's working on there

I'm including this photo of Calum. You are to just pretend that the ears and feet were not cut off





And Banner looking perfect as usual

Growth

March/April 2012 Warmbloods Today included an article entitled "How slow do warmbloods grow? by Erica Larson (pages 48/49, 52/53)  The article included Dr. Deb Bennett's growth plate timeline which I had forgotten about since it had been quite a long time since I ran across it.  I am including a link to a most interesting article by Dr. Bennett about growth and what humans are demanding of young horses and it includes her growth plate timeline.  It is well worth reading.  The title is "Timing and rate of skeletal maturation in horses, with comments on starting young horses and the state of the industry"   It is copyrighted by Dr. Deb Bennett
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

Alanna

In honor of Alanna's step out into the world I'll put some "This is Your Life" kind of post.   :)    Alanna's registered as Loguestown Classic by Annaghdown Star out of Loahean by Lahinch

Separations

Grania is frantic because her best friend is off to a new home.   This is the second hardest part of selling horses.  Alanna is off to the capable hands of Janeen and will be greatly loved.  Grania will get over it and life goes on

As to the previous post -- I haven't figured out how to add a pdf file here or in facebook so until I do or someone else knows how to it won't happen

"Irish-bred"

I was reading the newest Warmbloods Today (May/June 2012).  One of the things I always  look at is their conformation column by Judy Wardrope.  The subject of this issue was Ben Along Time.  The last sentence of the 1st paragraph speaks volumes and corroborates my notion that the term "Irish-bred" no longer has any meaning.  I am placing a pdf of the article on the Fox Hollow Sport Horses page in Facebook

"Although he is registered as an Irish Sport Horse, his sire is Cavalier Royale, the famed Holsteiner used with so much success in Ireland"

Sad, Sad, Sad  Unfortunately, I see no evidence that adequate measures are being taken that will improve the situation. Sigh

Report from a proud owner

Caitlin Young is proud to announce good placing for her Pearl. Congratulations!

She received that following:

Third in Mares Two and Older

First in Non Stock Halter

Reserve Champion from classes 1-8

First in Hunter in Hand

Pearls Purple Saffron (aka SSF Take the Ride)

by Mountain Pearl out of Meadowhead Purple 'n Saffron by Kildalton Son

Padi's Celtic Measure

It's past time I showcased the Padi's Celtic Measure success story. She is by Mountain Pearl out of Magrathea (by TB stallion Ten Yard Star and out of an Amish bred mare). Mountain Pearl has exhibited great jumping ability and is producing good jumpers in Ireland. One of his grandchildren scored 10 out of 10 for jumping in Ireland. Much lesser known is Magrathea's jumping. Maggie jumped at least 4 feet as a weanling. Maggie was in a paddock with some other weanlings - 1 in particular was her best buddy. He best buddy's owner took him out of the paddock. Maggie thought that she should be able to go with him and jumped out the gate to join him. The gate was 4 or 4 1/2 feet tall. I don't recall any other jumping episode but I think it is a good illustration of her ability none the less. So it is not that surprising that her daughter Maggie Junior can jump as well.

Maggie Junior is living with Sarah Greenway at Levremont Farm in Powhatan Virginia. Sarah reports : "

I am the owner of "Moo" aka "Maggie" to us. I love her tons (she is def a barn favorite, everyone who rides her falls in love). These pictures were taken at her first jumper show ( I bought her in May '11 and started showing her a couple of weeks later, she had done mostly dressage and some hunting). She is now showing in the 1.10 classes and placing very well (at the bigger A shows). She is a total sweetheart who tries her heart out for me."

It's heartwarming for me to find one of my horses placed in such a wonderful home but also that she is performing successfully. Maggie Junior seems to have won the lottery. Photos are from Sarah.

It has come to my attention that someone has spread some false information about the stallion Regalia Prince Arthur. Regalia Prince Arthur was inspected initially and was given a deferment based on his immaturity but mostly for the fact that his right hind was weak. His subsequent passing inspection scores are available on his webpage at www.solutionfactor.com/stallions/regaliaprincearthurrid.html If anyone has any questions about any of Fox Hollow horses please feel free to ask me. I have nothing to hide and will tell you what I know about any of my horses. And please don't believe everything you hear.

Thank you.

Diane