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