Routine Stuff

What an idiot! I left my camera behind (which I didn't use at the time) when I was in Newmarket so my blogging is not going to be illustrated until next week when I go back for a few days so I will just have to try and make my text interesting!

All has been routine since I got home we had the farrier last Thursday to trim the yearlings feet we try to do them about every 5 weeks. I used to get them done every 4 weeks but times are a bit tight financially so I have made small savings where I can without jeopardising the horses welfare. The yearling sales last year were difficult we sold 2 out of 4 offered and I have 7 to go this year which may prove a challenge. For the last two years we have had mainly fillies and this makes selling all the more difficult as commercially colts will always have the edge.

The unsold fillies from last year are in training which is a big risk and expense but I am a believer in supporting my own stock after all if I don't think they are worth training why would anybody else think so! The first one to bite the dust so to speak is "Shot Silk" she has run twice and despite showing a good turn of foot at home (she's been in training with Nick Littmoden) she has been disappointing on race days. She is very light on pedigree so she will have to go and do another job. Luckily she 's a nice strong good looking filly and someone will be able to retrain her I'm sure. Veil of Night by Val Royal out of Tenebrae that is in training with Derek Haydn Jones at Pontypridd is a much better filly she has been 4th twice and she will run at Nottingham next Saturday all being well. He also has "Lettering" by Iceman out of Calligraphy she has not run yet as she did not go into training until March reports of her work are good so far.

The two fillies we sold last year were both really nice horses . The Haafhd filly out of Divina Mia is with Stuart Williams and I called to see her last week. I thought she had done exceptionally well since I last saw her, she has developed a very strong top line with a good hind quarter. Stuart thinks she will be ready to run in about a month. She has been named "Apple Dumpling". The other filly a Bahamian Bounty out of Serriera has been named "Tribouley" but I have not been able to get an update on her.

Today I have just been doing routine stuff I wormed the yearlings and moved them onto a fresh field, then had to bring in some ponies that were getting too fat always a problem at this time of year. The recent rain has flushed the grass, very welcome for the thoroughbreds and the sheep but not so good for native ponies. They will be in a yard during the day and out on a bare paddock at night for the next few weeks so that they don't get laminitis. I already have one old mare in who is very prone to bad feet and she has been in for a while.