Moving to Raw Property Part 2 Fencing

So, how does one fence their land well for Minis? Despite yesterday's post, it really isn't too hard, one just has to "think Mini". If it can be climbed through, rolled under, undone, or gotten apart, it will be-at least, plan for that. Yours might not be so mischievous as mine *laughs* Better safe than sorry, though, I believe, and so I plan.

Here's my list of 'favored fences' for Miniatures:

1. Cattle panels. NOT hog panels, which are more expensive anyhow, because most any Mini can jump them, and so can most any predator. The advantages of cattle panels are that they are easy to install (read: pre-stretched and of a manageable length), quick to install, sturdy, and long lasting. I do recommend wrapping them to the T-Posts with a reasonably heavy gauge wire (and if I have it right, the lower the gauge, the stronger the wire, so 12 gauge is going to be heavier and stronger than 22 gauge, for example) as well as or instead of using the clips that come with the panels. The clips are great, and can be strong enough, except Minis *really* love to full body scratch on fencing, and I have seen mine pop off even well installed clips when they are putting their full weight+pressure on them. If you plan on installing a single wire of medium impedence electric at Mini-body-scratching height, then the clips should do well on their own. Or, with the help of the electric, really! The DISadvantages of cattle panel is primarily in their initial cost, which is currently $20-25 per 16' of fence, depending on where you live in the country. This really is NOT a high price for such a long lasting maintenance free fence, however it can be prohibitive to someone on a budget. Oh, and don't forget the 6.5' T Posts, which can be spaced every 8' for this kind of fence, and run $4-5 each, again depending on where you are in the USA. 
2. Woven Wire Field Fence. This fence is the lower-starting-cost-more-maintenance version of cattle panels. Both Tractor Supply and McCoys sell a roll of 330', 48" height, which works very well for the Minis. It is 6" squares, which is perfect as you don't need to worry about a horse getting it's hoof stuck in a square, and which is why I do not like 'horse fence' for Minis-the 2" wide squares are perfect for catching a hoof when a horse lies down to roll or nap. This fence runs pretty consistently in the $150-160 per 330' range, and if stretched properly and well, you can take your T Posts to 10-12' apart, cutting initial costs there. It does the job of keeping them in well. The cons are it can sag when the aforementioned body-scratching is applied unless it is VERY PROPERLY tightened, or one uses the electric-at-mini-body-hgt trick. Sagging fence looks awful and really ruins the look of a property. It is also not as strong as cattle panels are, and although galvanized, does not seem to hold up to rust for as many years. TPosts must be well sunk, and they will start to sag too over time and scratching. Clips are fine for this type of fence, but do need to be checked on and missing ones replaced semi-annually. That said, it is what I just fenced with! 
3. Traditional wood fences. These are very strong when properly installed and no mini will knock one down. They can scratch and rub to their little hearts content and do very little damage, if any. It can look especially beautiful, and the vinyl version solves the 'paint the fence every year' dilemma. Of course, it runs more...and, whether real wood or vinyl, this is almost the most expensive fence one can install. And, with Minis, there are a few things to keep in mind.....A) Is your ground rolling or level? If rolling, you need to adjust so your bottom fence rail is No More than 8-10" off the ground, and personally I would say 6". I have seen Minis over the year that will LOOK for a rolling place, and use it to gain the extra space to roll out under the fence, and I have known others who have had the same thing. B) Your rails should not be more than 12-16" apart, as some minis will climb through them. Foals included. C) It needs to finish at a big horse height, or some will go over the top....do not underestimate a Miniatures ability to jump! And esp a stallion when mares are around. 

So, there are my top three picks for Miniature Horse fencing. Next time, I will go over fencing I do *not* like, and why. 

Moving to Raw Property with Minis, Part 1 Fencing

The property I moved to is a lovely 5 acres, with home situated about center on the land. There is an 18x40 steel building to the right and behind the house, which has been turned into a barn. And...that was it.

In some ways I really prefer 'raw' land. The one way I don't, is fencing, which I am sure many of you can agree with! At the same time, I get to layout my fields how "I" want them, and that is a blessing.

I wrote an article some time ago that was published on a now defunct mini site about the needs of Miniatures as applies to fences and fencing. I have learned a bit since then (hopefully), and am thinking I will re-do that here.

One of the biggest things one needs to keep in mind when one has Minis, or is looking to buy them, is the type of fence one has, or will put up. Having lived with and worked with everything from Minis to TB/Shire crosses, I can tell you Minis are NOT like horses when it comes to fences. It never ceases to amaze me what will keep a large horse "in".

One does not have that luxury with a Mini. If you watch close enough, you can see the wheels spinning when they survey the fence, and survey they will! If there is a weakness or a way out, they will find it. I don't care if the grass is up to their knees, over their shoulders or over their heads in the field you put them in, they are intelligent and they like to work out puzzles and they will put their little minds to it at least part of  a day!

Hello! Well wow...the last couple of months have been crazy, but in many ways, crazy good. Which is a definite plus!

Moving in itself has always been crazy. This one provided me with a few new experiences. I have not had a trailer for the last 3 yrs, and even if I did, do not have a vehicle I could haul with. That said, I had 13 minis to get moved, and my friend Katrin who was going to volunteer her truck and trailer suddenly found herself minus said truck when hubby took it to work one day and came home without it *shakes head* Traded it in =) So, how does one move 13 minis 22 miles?

Well, it turns out, in the back of one's minivan! Except one trip made with Fancy and Sunrise, and Silk in Wendi's new trailer, the rest came by minivan....and was that interesting. For one thing, it was neat to see again how much my horses trust me-not one hesitated to jump up in there more than a minute. And then, to see how very much they LOVED it! They were absolutely entranced by the views out the back windows, and now I have to be careful with 2 of them esp, who will happily climb into the 'horse trailer' and look at me with that 'I want to go for a ride, mom!' look. Minis...life is never dull with them! Sonata even decided to come up into the middle row of seats and 'sit' in one of them...if I can get that photo on my phone to not be so dark, I will post it. Front legs on floor, butt and back legs in the seat, and her head hanging over my shoulder watching...*smiles*

And people wonder what one does with minis or what purpose they serve?! In this case, they gave me a good laugh and a warm fuzzy I will probably never forget!

WOOOHOOOO!

I am very happy to announce that my absence (again) was for a very good cause...Enyalien has moved and for hte first time in 3 yrs we are ALL back on piece of property, and it is oh so wonderful. We are now located on 5 acres, still in Georgetown, but on the opposite end of it.

Now that we are settled in mostly, I will begin posting regularly again. Thank you, dear readers, for your patience!

Love Gold? You want the creme gene!

Ok, so on to one of the most popular and sought after colors in horses in general--GOLD. Whether golden palomino, like the ever-famous Trigger or golden buckskin like Pa's horse on Bonanza, gold shines. In Miniatures, the Gold Melody Boy and Kahoka lines are well known for consistency in producing palomino; the Buckeroo line for creating golden buckskin of top show quality one after another.

So, how does one find gold?

A palomino is actually a chestnut horse, with a single copy of the dilution gene known as creme.
A buckskin is actually a bay horse, with a single copy of the dilution gene known as creme.

Because these colors are the heterozygous version of creme, the horse has a 50/50 chance of passing on it's creme gene when it breeds. This lack of consistency used to cause all horse breeders no end of frustration, yet it was realized the only way to get a palomino or buckskin was through one or more parents being that color.

For a time, it was thought that crossing two palomino's or two buckskins had a chance of producing a foal similar to the lethal white's of frame overos. This is now known to be not true.

What you may produce with crossing them is the homozygous version of either color, in which the resulting foal will always pass on it's creme gene. These colors are known as:

Cremello-two copies of the creme gene on a chestnut
Perlino-two copies of the creme gene on a bay

It follows that if one wants to produce palomino, a cremello bred to a sorrel or chestnut is your best bet. Likewise, a perlino bred to bay is the best chance of producing buckskin.

A cremello is a beautiful ivory color, with blue eyes. ALL homozygous creme horses have blue eyes. A perlino will be that beautiful ivory color also, but with slightly darker points...a smoky ivory shade there.

It is now, with the knowledge and genetic color tests available, much easier to produce gold in Minis. Do not forget though that conformation has to come first over color! A horse should never be bred just for it's color!

Basic Genetic Terms

This will be a short and quick post, but needed for future discussions on genetics. This is a post of the most common genetic terms and their definitions that one runs into when researching Minis.

Genotype-this is the actual complete genetic make up of the horse, including dominant and recessive genes.

Phenotype-this is the physically visible genetic make up of the horse, what actually shows in it's conformation, color, and temperament.

Heterozygous-this is the term for when a horse carries ONE copy of a given gene, and thereby has a 50% chance of passing said gene along.

Homozygous-this is the term for when a horse carries TWO copies of a given gene, and thereby will ALWAYS pass this particular gene along.

Most often one will see these in reference to color, as we have tests for most of the color genes now. I am looking forward to the day when tests exist for conformation genes....

Signs of Foaling

As I said last week, foaling season is upon us. My first mare, my heart Sonata, has begun to bag so I think it is a good time to test my memory *smile* This is an 'off the top of my head what I need to watch for for foaling' post.

The most obvious of course is a milk bag. Mares will begin to "bag up" anywhere from 45 days ahead of time, on. Some mares are 24 hr baggers, as they have not yet read "Blessed are the Broodmares" or any other foaling book and learned they are to give us a few weeks warning by bagging slowly! Once a mare does that, or if she has a mother that does that, I know to be watching for other signs. Mares often pass on their personal foaling traits to their daughters, so those are good things to know, as it gives you a bit of direction at least in what to be aware of.

Miniature mares, unlike their full size counterparts, rarely wax or stream milk. In 18 yrs I have had ONE mare who waxed. From talking to friends with long term Mini experience, I hear they have had pretty much the same. So don't count on waxing in Minis!

Waxing, just in case, is when the tips of a mares teat's get covered with a bit of dried colostrum, and they look
like they have been dipped in candle wax and it was allowed to dry on.

Other signs....
..... when standing behind the mare, her rump will assume a varying degree of an "A" shape, as the muscles loosen up and droop.
......when pressing on the muscles around the tail head, they will have a jello type 'watch it jiggle' looseness, as opposed to their normal tight and firm feel. This jello feeling will trace all the way down the buttocks.
......she no longer has the ability to clamp her tail down when you lift it.
.......my biggie--within 24 hrs of foaling the brain will release Oxytocin, which results in the complete loosening of all muscles in that area. This loosening means the body can no longer form the stools into the common 'apples', and her stool will go to mush. When this occurs, I do not let her out of my sight until she foals! I have *never* had a mare go over 30 hrs (1 that went 30) and the majority don't go 12 hrs without foaling.

Later this week I will look at my vet books and see if I forgot any =)

Basic Information for Mini Horse Owners or Those Wanting To

I thought a post on 'what do you need to take care of a miniature' would be a good thing.

Ok, first off, the annual cost of upkeep of a Miniature is going to vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are in. It is also going to be roughly the same as the cost of keeping a dog. The lifespan of a horse, however ranges from 25-40 years--considerably more than the average dog! So do keep that in mind when you are buying.

The bare bone basics are food, water, and shelter, of course. Miniatures are extremely hardy, due to their Shetland Pony ancestry, and are typically easy keepers. There are, of course, exceptions (looks pointedly at Snippa)....every breed has 'hard keepers'. There are just fewer in Minis. Which is good news, except one has to watch their weight in the other direction-obesity is no better for a horse than it is for a human!

Clean water is of course, a bare necessity. Minis do not drink near what a large horse does, and do be sure they can reach the water-the standard horse trough is going to be too tall for most Minis. Mine will vary from 1-4 gallons of water a day each...the lower end being standard. They of course drink more in the hot TX summer's, and lactating mares are on the high end, esp combining TX summer with lactation.

Food for Minis consists of forage and grain. Forage is the MOST important, and if you have plenty of high quality forage, grain becomes something you give them just a handful of (literally) to keep them going 'oh, the good human is here!' and coming to you eagerly.

A horses' digestive tract is designed for slow, constant grazing on high fiber forage. Out at pasture is therefore, of course the single best option for any horse, Minis included. When pastures are thin, or drought hits and they die, or it is winter and there is not much to eat on, supplement with a quality hay. Orchard grass, coastal, bermuda, alfalfa, timothy, clover(as a mix with one of the aforementioned) are all excellent hays for horses. Fescue grass and hay needs to be avoided if you are breeding-it can cause abortion of the fetus-more on this later. Never feed moldy hay! Hay should be green (brown has been sunbleached, and the majority of the nutrients will have leached out, it is simply fiber at that point), clean, and a good example of it's 'type'....ie, you want leafy alfalfa, not all stems.

Grains are used to supplement forage, and to make sure the horse is getting all of the nutrients it needs. There are many very good pelleted feeds and sweet feeds on the market now, and are often now even marked to help the mini owner determine how much to feed. They will say something like '1/2# per 100#'s of body weight'.

Shelter is needed, of course, for intense sun, rain, wind, and cold. An open, airy run in is often plenty, unless you are breeding. Make sure it is situated so the prevailing storm and cold winds are blocked.

I need to go feed my little ones now, so I will get back to this in more detail soon. Be blessed!

A Relaxing Sunday Evening

Hello Readers! I hope you have had a blessed week, and are looking forward to the one ahead of us. I am still adjusting to the sight of so much green! The first cutting is being worked on by many of the farmers here in central TX and it is so wonderful to see hay laying cut and drying in the fields after last year's no-show crop.

Sunday is my Friday, and after I left work this evening I went to pick up my son at his best friend's house, and had a very pleasant visit with my friend, who is the best friend's mother. She is a 'big horse' person, rides dressage, and has recently bought back a lovely grey Polish Arabian mare she bred a few years ago. We talked Arabs while she bathed and I combed out forelock and mane, then had coffee and cake and talked horses more *smiles* All in all, a very relaxing evening!

I must say it was again gratifying to see that my Jangles sports a *true* Arab head...lovely dish, jibbah, nice small ears, large jowl, sensitive teacup muzzle all set off with those gorgeous Arabian eyes. I value truth-in-advertising, so it's nice to know I am accurate in assessing him, by comparison to another real-life old original bloodlines, Arabian.

My friend also owns Trakehners, gorgeous animals. Over cake and coffee I was educated in the history of the Trakehner breed, as opposed to other Warmblood breeds of German origins, and what is different about the Trakehner registry--ie, their standard of purity and no outcrossing to other Warmbloods. A preservationist myself, I found it very interesting, and also saddening as we discussed the loss of bloodlines that had been in existence in the registry since the early 1700's. Were they inferior lines, it would not be saddening, but the lack of foresight, and long range planning, of many breeds nowadays in pursuit of the 'almighty dollar' (or is it mark or euro, now?) is just flat out disheartening at times. But, then, there are always thank goodness, a few purists in every breed who keep alive what they can. And it gave me reason, again, to continue pursuing my goal, even when it seems like most simply don't care. Rev's blood is worth preserving. So here's to this year's foals, and another generation! 

My Last Filly of '11 that I never posted!

Ok, so today is bragging day =) I need to get updated pictures, as she is what...6 months old now?
Last Nov 1st my Bond Snippet daughter gave birth to one of my most anticipated foals for the year--her 2nd Jangles foal. I was praying for a filly, and oh did I get one! This girl is a keeper, as she is Snippa's first filly, and I am also praying she is now on a filly streak as she's been colts for her whole life....it's about time! So, introducing  Enyalien Delightful Revelation!

She is a loudly marked tovero, and was just a few hours old in these pictures.  Wait til you see her now! This girl is a keeper, as she will be Snippa's replacement when she retires, Snips is 17 this year. Here is a picture of Delight's older full brother, to show the consistency of this cross:

This gorgeous young man went to a 'show' home, and I hope they will show him one day. His name is Enyalien A Snippet of Revelation =)

So, Roys Toy Snippets Delight will be bred back to Jangles this year for a '13 foal. With foals like these, I can't see giving her to anyone else! If you would like to hear when she foals, or put dibs on that foal, just email me. 

Horse Color, Part 2--Agouti

Ok, so way back when I began writing on color. Time to take that up again.

We established last time that there are really only two base coat colors in horses--black and red. Everything else is created by a modifier on one of these two colors, and I will begin with the most basic and common--the agouti gene.

Agouti (pronounced ah-goo-tea) is the modifier that creates a bay horse. It is so common in some breeds, such as Arab, that a pure black is not easily came by and is prized. In other breeds, such as Friesians, it doesn't seem to exist-but then again, neither does red in a Friesian *smiles*

In American Miniatures, it is actually not overly common. There seems to be, at least in my years of observation, as many blacks, if not more, than bays. Why do I keep mentioning black? Believe it or not, a bay horse is really a black base! The reddish coat color can make that seem improbable, but they are. Here is why:

Agouti acts on black, and only on black, and restricts it to the 'points' of a horse. The points of a horse, an old time horse-lingo phrase, refers to a horses lower legs, from the knee/hock joints down, and to the mane, tail, and forelock. In a homozygous bay, you may also see the ears are outlined in black. Agouti pushes the black back into these areas, leaving the torso, neck, and head a variety of brownish/reddish/blackish shades. Bay is therefore a general term, and can be divided into it's own categories.

The common varieties of bay in Miniatures is mahogany bay and black bay.
 Mahogany bay is rather self-explanatory--the horse is the shade of mahogany wood (a very lovely color, I might add!).
Black bay *can* be difficult to distinguish from a black horse, as the horse is such a dark shade, so very nearly black, it appears so. You can tell a black bay though by it's muzzle-the muzzle hairs will be lighter, usually a shade of brown. I am researching now, trying to determine if black bay is a result of a weak agouti, or the sooty gene in combination with agouti. Either seems a likely possibility.
Brown bay is also rather self explanatory, and the body shade of the horse will be a very normal brown color.
Sandy bay is the lightest shade of bay, and could be mistaken for buckskin at times. It is a very light brownish, but should still have the faintest tint of red to it. Also, only a dilute horse can make a dilute horse, so if a horse is advertised as buckskin and does not have a buckskin, palomino, smoky black, cremello, or perlino parent, it is a sandy bay instead, most likely. (Trying to think of other things it could be...and not coming up with any just now.
Red bay is again, self explanatory--the body will be very like a chestnut's shade, only with the black points.

I got rather upset a few months ago, when I was browsing mini sites around the country, as I saw a horse falsely advertised as 'An extremely rare special color--this horse carries all 3 base genes, black, chestnut, and white'....the horse was a bay pinto. There is no such thing as a horse that displays both black and red base genes, and a horse carrying both genes is not at all uncommon! And pinto most certainly is not rare in miniatures....*shakes head* I do not like either option for this person's listing-either they are purposely trying to deceive (there was a $4500 price tag on this rather nondescript pet only quality miniature), or they really don't even know two of the most basic colors in horses-bay and pinto. It is not good representation for our breed, and that sort of thing only serves to drive in more a reputation of mini people are not REALLY horse people. Never good....

Ok, vent over. Thank you readers for reading, and I will be back soon!

Catching Up!

So, it's mid-April, and how in the world did we get here already?! How the time flies! It is actually GREEN here in Texas, and oh what a lovely color that is. I didn't realize just how very dead everything was last year. The farmers are preparing to cut the first baling, according to the ones who come in to my work, and I am still praying for life-giving rain throughout the season.

April also means foaling season is upon many, has been here for some, or is really close for others! I am still adjusting to being able to breed for earlier foals-in IN, you didn't want those babies coming any sooner than May if you could help it, April maybe!

Sonata is bagging, so she is now under 'watch', although I don't expect the foal for another month. This is her first, so I am praying for an easy delivery and for her to adjust well to motherhood. I have to reason to think she won't. Still...yah. Moms!

Fancy is really showing, but has not begun to make milk yet.

Melody is working on a milk bag, but went to her new home this past weekend! She was not an easy one to let go of, but I know Carlos and his little wife love her and will give her a great home, and she is close enough for me to visit often, so I am content. It is always so neat to mentor new mini people and see their enthusiasm!

Lillie I am seriously beginning to think is bred...that girl is getting a track record for breeding without permission! Time will tell....

I need to get new pictures up, and pictures of the girls who don't have any yet, ie, Buttercup and Delight! I will be having a photographer friend out this summer to take professional pics, and am VERY happy about that! Gabriel does such lovely work...

Well, that's where things are at now. See you soon!

Losing a Loved One

Well, here I am again, apologizing again for not posting.

My father was in and out of the hospital from shortly after Christmas until he passed, Jan. 21. I am a firm believer in grieving...I have found out through experience how necessary it is to let oneself grieve, and had to take some time for that.

Dad was 84, a hardworking, hard knocks MI farmer-WW2 Vet-truck driver. His soul was always in farming...unfortunately when he came back from the war, he found out his sisters sold the farm out from under him while he was gone. I don't think Dad ever got over that.

I know the 'popular' belief is mansions in Heaven....but if it is Heaven, Dad will have a farm and be growing the crops for those living in the mansions. *soft smile* RIP, Dad. I hope the full military burial touched your heart...never thought you'd get a 21 gun salute, did you?

The Basics of Color

Although a horse should be bred or bought for it's conformation first, we all have our preferences on color. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to color! I have seen over the years false statements on what color a horse is or would produce/sire, and I have seen buyers who have been duped, and I have seen people breeding trying to produce a certain color ...so let's go there. Color. It's more than what you see...it's in the genes.

First though...basics. What you see!
Scientifically speaking, this is called 'phenotype'.

All horses are one of two basic coat colors, believe it or not! All the variation comes from modifiers. Horses, at their base, are either black or red.

That was easy! We humans call 'red' a couple different terms....chestnut or sorrel. You will not find a 'sorrel' Arabian-they don't exist. The term 'chestnut' is used for all red Arabians. The opposite is true of Quarter Horses-they are all sorrel, if they are red. American Miniatures differentiate!

If a Miniature is a bright red, no hint of brown to it, it is sorrel. My Fancy is a sorrel. Here she is:

Sorry the picture is so small...it's the only copy I have left. Back up your photos! I am kicking myself now.
oh, her daughter, Princess/Gentle Spirit, a few blogs ago...she is also a sorrel (pinto)

If a Miniature has a brown tint to their red, it is a chestnut. Snippa is a chesnut, as is her colt here, from '09.


The difference can be subtle, and both are genetically 'red'.

The basic variations one will see are:

• bay
• brown
• smoky black
• buckskin....these 4 are modifications of a 'black' horse. 
• palomino...a modification of the 'red' horse.
• pinto's of any color-the 4 pinto genes are their own modifiers, and adds white to any base coat.
• true grey (a 'white' horse)(and not very common in Minis)(we will get to this in detail)
• silvers...which have a whole variety!
• roan, which is like pinto...it adds white hairs to certain parts of any base coat
• perlino...a double dose of a certain modifier on black
• cremello...a double dose of the same modifier on red

There are others...appaloosa, champagne...both modifiers that apply to any base coat. I will take all of these in turn over the next weeks and explain them. Blessings!

Putting Together a Foaling Kit, part 2

Yesterday, I covered the aspect of getting yourself ready to help your mare foal, and let it be known that I am not good at formatting! Sorry about that...*sighs* I tinkered around with it some, and think I learned a few things....we'll see. I am also now more familiar with the cool little buttons at the top of this... =) If at first you don't succeed, try try again! Here goes!

The Foaling Kit Itself

• A sturdy box, easily carried. You don't want cardboard! I have used for years a plastic filing box from the home/office organization section of Wal-Mart, they can be bought almost anywhere though...Target, Office Depot, etc. A deep tool box is another very good option. What I personally have is one that is made for hanging file folders in, and it has on it's top a section similar to the ones on top of tool boxes, for 'small things'. Of course they are meaning paperclips and rubber bands, but many useful little things can fit! You want it tall enough that a spray bottle can stand up in it, at least, I did. 
• STERILE gloves. OB length, which go to your shoulder, and regular hand sized gloves. Be aware if you are sensitive to latex or not, both kinds are available.
• A vaginal lubricant, to apply to the gloves if you have to get up inside. 
• CLEAN towels, as free of scent as possible. Don't use laundry soaps that leave a 'nice smell'...your mare won't think it is, and her baby needs her smell on it, not Tide's. Unscented is best! 
• CLEAN rags, for wiping the foals eyes and nostrils if needed. A towel is too big to handle without dragging it on the stall floor for this, and you don't want to do that. 
• Iodine, betadine, novalsan, similar, to apply to the umbilical stump. You will use this on every foal. The umbilicus is THE prime gateway directly into the foals bloodstream for bacteria and other nasties...and you will most likely lose the foal if such happens. I prefer mine in a spray bottle. Some people dip it on.  Do not apply with a q-tip or cotton ball, you will leave fuzzies behind for things to cling to!
• Children's enema's. It is not uncommon for colts to need an enema before they can poo the first time. Fillies don't seem to have this issue, for whatever reason. I have not had to use this on more than 10% of colts, but when you do, you don't want to have to run to the store to get one. Some breeders use them routinely, some wait to see if the foal poops on it's own within a reasonable amount of time (a couple of hours). Be sure it is a child/infant enema! The tip of an adult enema will not fit in a mini foal's anus! I have also found it seems to run in years....I will go years without needing one, then one year, half the colts born will need it. Odd. 
• A bag for disposing of the placenta after you have examined it, or your vet has.
• vetrap, or equivalent product, for wrapping her tail. 
• A clean, sterilized sharp knife, or a sharp knife and rubbing alcohol to sterilize, in the rare instance the cord doesn't break after 30 mins have passed. Most break within 10 minutes or less.

These are bare essentials. I will look at mine and see what my 'extras' are...I'm blanking right now. More later!

Putting Together a Foaling Kit, part 1

EVERY breeder should have a foaling kit! This is step one of physical preparations for your new foals. One does not want to get to the big moment, and discover they do not have on hand what they need! I am entering my 18th year of raising select Miniatures, and long ago found out, if it can happen, it at some point will. Save yourself panic, and be prepared!

The most important thing, and unfortunately one you cannot stock up on, is a level head going into it. You can, however, begin working with yourself to get YOU ready. Foaling is an adrenaline rush, even when it goes right! Do you know how you respond in such situations? The majority of birthings do 'go right', or a species cannot continue, thank goodness. But it is essential that your mare knows you are calm and ready, as much as she is. She will pick up on your nerves, trust me. Ladies--did you want your Dr, nurse, husband unsure of what they were doing, stressed, worried, panicking? Neither do our mares *smile*

There are a great variety of ways to prepare yourself to be there, holding her hoof, so to speak!
1. Read!--There are many books out there that cover foaling. I have found indispensable over the years (and therefore thing every Mini owner who breeds more than once, ever, should add them to one's personal library) the following books:
     a. Blessed Are The Broodmares
     b. A veterinary guide book that you can read and understand-look thru the options, there are many, some
         are more technical than others, some more conversational...whatever appeals to you, so you will read!
     c. Miniature Horses, A Veterinary Guide
     d. if you can find it, Barbara Navieux's "Miniature Horses" (no, I'm not selling mine!)
2. Talk to your vet! He/she knows you, hopefully, and can give advice to you personally. I had a wonderful
     vet in IN that way. He is the main thing I miss, but I am working on building another long-term vet/client
     relationship now.
     a. Have his/her phone number IN YOUR CELL PHONE, and ON PAPER COVERED
     WITH TAPE COMPLETELY SO IT DOESN'T FADE, INSIDE YOUR FOALING KIT. Mailing or
     packing tape is great for this. If someone else is trying to call while you have your arm inside your mare
     (much easier than trying to do both at the same time, trust me...been there, done that) then you don't have
     to stop to give information. Time is of the essence if you need to call your vet, every second counts!
3. Watch! You may be a visual learner and don't like reading, and whether you are or not, everyone should
     watch at least a half dozen births before handling one on your own. And not just textbook births! For one
     thing, I have yet to find a mare who has read the textbook *laugh* Here are some resources:

•      www.smallhorsepress.com   You can order dvd's that will walk you through foalings, repeatedly!
•      www.marestare.com  Watch mares foal in real time, and do a service for their owners at the same time!

     This is great, as you can watch a variety of mares for a good length of time BEFORE they foal, which will
     help you learn the different ways mares will progress through the stages of delivery. You've watched 'mare
     2', say, for a month. You see her come in for dinner, and her routine as she eats and gets ready for bed,
     etc =) Then, one day, you see she's not sticking her nose in the food bowl quite so fast. She's stretching.
     You might find she foals that night. She might go another week. But it will give you a better eye for your
     OWN mare....and when she is thinking about foaling.

•      www.scottcreek.com I need to double check this one, but Scott Creek is a wonderful resource, either way. They used to have a foaling video up, I have not checked for some time. There are other Mini farms that offer the same--if you know of one, leave a comment, and I will gladly add it!

That's enough I think for today.

The Week Ahead

This week at Enyalien I am looking forward to a few things!

I have found a young man to dig my post holes, for shelters, and he will begin this coming
weekend on the first one. I am very much looking forward to having permanent shelters up,
rather than temporary ones. He is trying to earn money for karate lessons, and has not been able
to find work (he is 16, so that limits his options), and is fresh off a job helping a friend's father build
a deck. He does happen to be one of my sons, but hey...it is important to learn a good work ethic,
and farming will certainly teach it!

I am looking forward to a visit or two to Snippa and Delight, who are staying at a friend's house. He
has grass, and needed a lawn mower *smiles* It has been discovered that Snippa does NOT approve
of sheep! One of the girls down the street has one for her FFA and 4-H project, and young Arnold was
very excited at the prospect of meeting other 4 legged friends. Delight was also, but I am told Momma
stepped in and said 'NO!' very strongly, so Arnold is not coming over to play anymore, and is probably sporting 3-4 sets of mini hoof prints also. Thank goodness he is ok, if a bit shaken up.

For this week's blog posts, I am looking forward to covering topics on foaling and color genetics. I love studying genetics related to horses and will be going there often over time, on a variety of subjects.

Have a great day, and week!

It's Raining in Texas!

WooHoo! Rain! Wonderful, wet, grass producing, slow sinking in sort of rain, after a nice cloudburst to start in the middle of the night, complete with a Collie in my face suddenly =) Seagaze does not like thunder....

Thank You Jesus for rain!

It is hard to believe the first week of January is behind us. It has been a good week-my diet is going well, I have a buddy doing it this time and it makes SUCH a difference to have someone to hold you accountable (and you them) and to brag about the weight loss to (and cheer them for theirs). I don't have alot I want to lose anymore, but I am aiming for less weight on my knee joints, and thereby hopefully less pain. If you want to join us on southbeaching, let me know. We are one week into Phase 1...and I will be so glad for the addition of a slice or two of bread back into my diet next week! *laughs* Here I thought sweets were going to be the hard thing to give up!

I may have found a new, better hay source, will know this week. My first two bales from them, I am very pleased. Very good quality hay, which is SO important to the health of our horses! Always be sure you feed good, horse quality hay, clean, weed-free, without a trace of mold, no matter what kind you have in your area.

I am LOVING the new watering system I set up last week. It has made watering so much easier, and quicker! Whoever invented y connectors with shut-off valves, God bless you. 360' of hose later, a connector at the right junction, and all I have to do is turn it on at the house, and then the valve to whichever hose I am using....wonderful!

And I have a new cabinet for storage, that I love. If you need a reasonably priced cabinet, tall, that you can put a lock on, and is weatherproof, try the Sterilite tall cabinet with putty handles on Amazon. $80, and I'm wondering why I didn't do this sooner. It holds SO much. I have my first aid kit and grooming sprays/etc on one shelf, with room to spare, my supplements and wormers on another with room to spare, halters and leads organized by size in bins on another, clippers, show halters, and all things related on another, and tools, foaling monitors, batteries, rope, and all the misc stuff one needs around a farm on the bottom. Put a key or combination lock on the handles (they are designed for one) and you are good to go!

I hope your first week of 2012 has been a blessed one!

Picture Day continued!

In that same photo session, which I began showing yesterday, was Clover, aka Enyalien Falling in Love. This is Lillie's first filly-and what a filly! But, considering her pedigree, she should be. Her sire is a Reserve National Champion named Bar B Smiten, and Smiten apparently was with Lillie, and she with him, as they bred thru a fence =) Where's there's a will, there's a way.....

Smiten has a top A Nationals pedigree, being a grandson of both Little Kings Locomotion and Glenn's General Patton.

And then there is Lillie, who is a who's who of Miniature greatness.
Her sire is NC Scott Creek Monarch Silverado
granddaddy is Sierra Dawn Unos Monarch
grandma is an own daughter of L&D Scout
Scout is by Orion Light Van't Huttenest
that's Clover's grandsire lines thru her dam
Her granddam lines, is no less!
Grandma is an own daughter of the legendary driving sire, Dels Cowboy
Cowboy is by the legend, Sligo Little Stormy
he is out of the equally legendary, Ruth Haynes Moto
and Cowboy bred a Hidden Meadows mare, who is out of ...
Vanilla 3rd.
If you are scratching your head, going "why do I know that name..." Vanilla 3rd is the mother of Johnstons Vanilla, the dam of Boone's Little Buckeroo.

I am not overly eager to sell this filly. Behind Sierra Dawn Uno de Mayo is Bond blood-and I KNOW how well the Bond blood crosses with Jangles.
I will however entertain offers, as she looks to mature near her sire's height, which is 29.5", and I prefer my broodmares in the 32+ range. Don't think she will necessarily be expensive-I just want her to go to a home who appreciates what she is, and will show her. She is A registration pending-I need to DNA Lillie. That wasn't done, as her breeder had never exposed her to anyone, and as I said, '11 has been a crazy busy year. If she sells I will guarantee paperwork, in writing.

So, here is her loveliness!

Yes, that was a partial clip job....my blades quit cutting. She stood like a trooper for what was done, was not phased at all by the clippers.

yes, these pics were taken in ...July, I think it was. She is identical, only furry now, and a tad bit taller. She is currently 27.5" at 10 months. I am *hoping* she makes it to 30"!

Clover is slated to be shown, and to be used in the teaching program, as her personality is perfect, if she does not sell. She will, eventually then, join Jangles herd, or maybe Mr's, depending on how tall he gets. He's a good inch, inch and a half taller than her already, and is 2 months younger. And now I'm rambling =)

Picture Day!

Today, I think I will share some pictures taken this past year, as I'm still waiting on my excellent webmaster to get them on the website *grins in Seii's general direction* (don't worry, he's one of my best friends...he's used to being ribbed)

So, that pretty little filly in my A Worlds ad...is now all grown up and glorious. Jangles is her sire, and this is the kind of foal he is consistently putting on the ground. Mom is preggers with a 3rd full sibling now. Little brother is being loved on by some kids, but sold application in hand and I don't think they've sent it in yet. I am hoping for another full sister!

These pictures were straight out of the pasture, a quick bath, time to dry and get brushed, put a show halter on and hand her over to my little helpers, who were doing this for the first time. She is not being set up or anything. This is Princess in the raw...aka Enyalien Gentle Spirit.

Princess is 75% Winks bred, 25%  of that is Winks Showdeo Kid, and carries that pedigree in the AMHA-she didn't have to be hardshipped in and lose it on the papers! She has matured at 32.5", and was exposed for her first foal in '12. She is 18.75% Winks Jangles, and a granddaughter of Winks Revelation, Winks Tabitha 1, and Winks Spirit. Her remaining 25% is Boone's blood. 

I am more pleased with this mare AS a mare, and I was pleased when she was a filly! She was my first live foal out of Jangles (unfortunately I lost an older half sister silver dapple filly due to dystocia earlier that year), and the two of them gave me an inkling as to what he could do....which he has continued to live up to!

Stallions at Stud? This year, Yes! continued =)

Today, we will talk Jangles.

Oh how I love this boy. Jangles stands 31", is a rich silver bay tovero pinto. He possesses a TRULY Arab head--I have worked with Arabs, pure old line 14.2h-15h Arabs, so I know what they look like--a perfectly level topline, wonderful shoulder and neckset, and perfect legs and bite. He is evenly proportioned into perfect thirds, like a true Arab also. Short backed, well coupled. I was approached by two professionals to show him, but I cannot risk him going out, he is the only Mini left of his kind-100% Winks Miniature bred. He is 37.5% Winks Jangles, created by the 'golden mix' in horseman's terms...a son bred to a granddaughter. The 'son' was no less than a 3x NGC Open Pleasure Driving Stallion, Winks Revelation. The granddaughter was the gorgeous Winks Tabitha 1, out of the legendary Winks Talitha, who was by Winks Jangles and out of Winks Promise. Promise brings into the minis one of the only known (maybe THE only known) tie of Olney farms blood-Maryland Olney farms, famed for decades; and another tie to Winks Showdeo Kid-she was a granddaughter. Jangles has a total of 3 ties to Showdeo Kid, the winningest Shetland bloodline of the past 30yrs, and some of the only of that blood in the AMHA. He is 18.75% Showdeo Kid by blood.

I would have named him something else if I had had say...Masterpiece Revelation, Majestic Revelation were names I was kicking around. Awesome Revelation...yes, I have been smitten since his birth *smiles*

However, a breeder cannot tolerate barn blindness in themselves. If there was one thing I would change about him, it is that I would like to see more length of neck on him. Not alot, but definitely more. He does, however, throw it, and it is certainly behind him!

Because I refuse to let him out of my possession again (that lesson being ground in also by the fact that during the time I had no choice, as my 2 legged children had to come first, he lost an eye) he will have to prove himself through his get. With 3 limited foal crops on the ground, and not a bad foal in the bunch and some extremely good ones, I am ready to stand him out to approved mares, with preference to show contracting mare owners. Jangles is very much in his prime, turning 9 this year, and would love it if I said 'no limit to mares-come one, come all!' I don't have the energy for that, even if he does though, so I am going to call it 6-10...once his book hits 6, convince me why your mare should be covered by him, and ok.

His stud fee will be the same as Fredy's-$300 no LFG, $400 with LFG. I do require human attendance at the birth for LFG to apply. I will require a $100 deposit, which will be deducted from the fee, to show you are serious. This fee is nonrefundable, as I will then hold a breeding for you, that I cannot sell otherwise. If for some reason you cannot fulfill the breeding this year, the deposit can apply to next year, or towards a purchase. This will go for Fredy, also.

Proof of vaccinations, a clean culture, and for out of state mares, a negative coggins test and current health certificate apply. If you vaccinate your horses yourself, that's ok--I do too.

Jangles is A/R registered. If you want to breed for PtHA also on your foals, I am not opposed to registering him PtHA upon receipt of deposit from you. Once it's done, then it's done =)

I do accept paypal, and no I don't expect you to cover my fees for offering you the convenience. It is my choice, I pay for it! Credit cards thru paypal, also.

Ok, for the nitty gritty...
I will give you a $50 discount if you sign a contract stating that you will show the foal in breed shows (AMHA, AMHR) by the time it is 4 yrs old. I will AMHR Futurity nominate him. I might AMHA futurity nominate him-lets talk. That one is just considerably more expensive, so I need to know that I have a reason why.
I will give preference to well bred, well conformed, show contracting homes.
That does not mean I won't let your mare breed to him if you just want the blood for your program but do not show. I will judge your mare based on her conformation first, and then her bloodlines. (about to get off on a tangent, will save that for another day)
I KNOW he crosses extremely well with Blue Boy blood, and with Bond Showboy and Bond Sir Galahad blood. He produces well with Choco's Little Specks Red Boy, JJ's Little Macho...that line, although the hips of the mare have so far dominated, and I'm not overly fond of it. The rest of the cross is very very nice. The neck stays a bit shorter though, like his. I have crossed him twice on a 50% Boone's bred mare, and ooohlala, NICE fillies from that cross.  I know the Winks blood also crosses Extremely Well with the Gold Melody bloodline, I have seen those crosses and they are Nationals show worthy.
I believe he will do very very well crossed with Arenosa-enough so to put my money where my mouth is and buy him a Charro daughter. She is just 2 this year...I would welcome Arenosa bred mares, so I can get a preview of what I can expect when she is 5 (I like my mares to be 4 before breeding).
I have also bought him a Monarch/Dels Cowboy mare. He has driving in his blood, and I expect great things from that cross.

I am, of course, open to any mares inquiring. I am just sharing what I know works, and what I strongly believe will. If you have a Winks bred mare, that of course also goes! His sire, Revelation, had a full sister named Rhema-her produce would be too close to try, maybe, but if you want to, lets talk. For Winks bred mares, I am interested in bartering breedings for foals....ie, one for you, one for me. I lease her and pay for feed and worming, you pay for vet bills if there are any, and farrier.

And I'm rambling and dreaming here....please leave any questions in the comments section, or email me.

Stallions at Stud? This year, Yes!

If you read yesterday's entry, you will see my boys aren't doing alot this year. As Fredy is getting up
there in age, and Jangles needs more foals on the ground to show homes, I will be offering them in 2012.

Fredy will stand to THREE  *approved* mares only. He settled the one mare he got into a stall with in '11 on one cover--so don't worry about this guy. If you want to get this valuable bloodline into your herd for a very reasonable cost, or you have a specific mare you want to cross into the Gold Melody Boy lines, feel free to contact me. I am not out to make a living off of stud fees, and want to keep things accessible, so his fee for 2012 will be $300 w/out LFG, or $400 with. I require human attendance at the birth for LFG. I will also require proof of vaccinations and a clean culture. This protects both of us, and other clients, and saves you money. How? Well a mare who is not 'clean' is not going to get in foal, and you will be racking up boarding bills while I'm trying to figure out why she's not taking!

If you want to reserve a breeding to Fredy, please leave a comment, or email me with details on your mare. I will require a $100 deposit to hold the spot for you, however I will not ask for that until I have approved your mare. I will need to know her pedigree back 3 generations, and I will want to see pictures of her. Oh, and out of state is fine, but that will also, of course, require a neg coggins and a health certificate.

Fredy has Top Ten foals to his credit, as well as being an own son of the linebred GMB son, Wittmaacks Mickey Mouse. He has thrown some extremely typy foals, visit Utopia Minis' website to see some of his past foals, including a breathtaking bay colt born in '11. Fredy is a bay, with a partial blaze/snip and sabino hairs, which are common in this line. Sabino is actually a pinto gene, and in it's homozygous form makes those gorgeous pinto's that look like someone painted them with a feather, from the bottom up. In it's heterozygous form, it is often mistaken for 'roan' among Minis.
His bite is perfect, as are his legs. He stands 29" or so. He has the thickest mane and tail I've ever seen on a Mini apart from my old mare Lady. He possesses a beautiful head, wide with dish, and large soft eyes. He is necky, and well proportioned. And once he's not covered in winter wool, I'll get good pics of him! If you want fuzzy pics, let me know...and there are a few pics on my stallion page.
He also does not have the hot-crazy temperament that some of the GMB's have. I have owned more than a few. They are either the best horses in temperament, or they are among the worst. And I don't mean by 'worst' that they are the hot of a show horse. I mean ...crazy. Fredy falls into the 'best' division, or he wouldn't have stayed a week. My horses have to be able to be trusted with children, all of them. Fredy is all stallion, and will show you that if you ask, but he has the best manners while doing so and then goes back to a laid-back country gentleman attitude. I just love this horse...

And I've really gone on about my dear Fredy today, so I will save Jangles for tomorrow! Oh, Fredy is A/R registered.
Also...I can tell you now I will not stand him to any mare with Rowdy in her pedigree w/in 3 generations. I have done that cross twice myself with past GMB 50% stallions, and lost the foal once, and the mare and foal the other time, as the foals threw back in size to the size of a shetty foal. There is heavy Shetland behind both bloodlines, and I will not risk another horse that way, when those lines seem to pull the old size back out of each other, at least in my experience. The only way I'll make an exception is if you can show me your Rowdy mare has been bred to a 25% or greater GMB stallion before, without trouble, and a clause is included in the breeding contract that I am not liable should anything happen to mare and /or foal.

Breeding Plans for 2012

Breeding plans for this year. Hmmmm. 

I am not sure if I will breed everyone or not. Some may begin training, and I will need to see where the market goes. As intent as I am on preservation, it is just as important to keep in mind one has to keep their herd where one can properly care for all of them, including if the ones you want to sell, don't. A preservation breeder doesn't  run them to the auction to get rid of them-that defeats the purpose. 

Silk-will be bred to Jangles after she foals. 

Snippa-will be bred to Jangles

both of these mares will be 17 in '12, and both are outcrosses, so their foals will be very valuable to me if fillies, as they will be perfect for Mr when he and they are matured. 

Fancy-will be bred to Jangles. She is happiest being a broodmare, and nervous when she's not. 

Melody- if open will be bred to Jangles. If she foals in '12, she might then get the year off. She is still young, and there is plenty of time for breeding her later. 

Lillie- I might hold open and train to drive. She has the bloodlines for it, and the size and build. She would also make a very nice show mare for a few years, and she is rather young...just 5 this year. If I do breed her, though, she will be covered by Mickey. 

Princess-is actually a ditto of Lillie, only 4 yrs old. I would very much like to see her bred to Mickey though...so one of the two will be, for sure.

Sonata-if she foals to Revel (has not been US'd) she will get the year off. She is 5 this year. If she is open, she will go to Jangles, as I cannot wait to see that foal, esp after the leggy-necky-extreme colt Silk thru this year! Silk is 50% FWF Little Blue Boy, and Sonata is 31.25%. If the quality of that colt is repeated, you can be assured I will be pursuing more heavily Blue Boy mares! I deeply respect that line already, and the Shetland behind it, my gut tells me, will cross extremely well with the Shetland behind the Winks. What I saw this year....WOW. As proud as I am of my other foals, if I had one who fit 'extreme' in a show definition, he was it. 

There it is!

What's Cooking for 2012!

Today I thought I would share my foaling list for this year. It is that time of year, when I am sitting down and looking at the past breeding season, working on stallion reports, and looking ahead. So, who has 'buns in the oven' for 2012? Let's see. I didn't breed everyone this year.

Enyalien's mare band now consists of 7 breeding age females.
Silk, aka Movado FWF Silk Celebration
Snippa, aka Roys Toy Snippets Delight
Fancy, aka DBF Fancy Face
Melody, aka Silverwind Song of the Redeemed
Sonata, aka Silverwind Blue Sonata
Lillie, aka Frontier Silverado Lillie Lou
Princess, aka Enyalien Gentle Spirit

Butterscotch, Tinkerbelle, and Clover are coming yearlings and two yr olds.

They are bred as follows:
Silk is bred to Fredy, SON of Wittmaacks Mickey Mouse, and producer of top tens. I was going to wait until '12 to breed him to anyone, but they had other plans. She has never come back in from one cover, so I'm sure she is due to foal in late May/early June.

Snippa was not bred back for '12 due to late foaling (Nov. 1st)

Fancy is bred for the third time to Jangles. This cross is just proving too good not to keep doing. She is due in May.

Melody was exposed to Jangles, and I think is bred. I have not checked her though. If she is, she is due in April/May...she looks it!

Sonata is bred to Revel, who has been sold to Mexico. Due to that, I am praying for a filly!

Lillie was not bred back, as this was her maiden foal, and I don't like to breed them back that year.

Princess was covered by Jangles, and is due for a March foal.

That means there is one Fredy foal, 3 Jangles foals, and one Revel foal potentially for 2012. Some will be for sale. If there is a particular cross you are interested in, let me know, and we can talk.

What Does 2012 Hold For Us?

So, I said yesterday I would talk about hopes, dreams, aspirations for this new year ahead of us. I'll try to keep it just equine related =)

Each of those words has it's own meaning, so I will divide it up.

Hopes....my single biggest one: That the economy will actually improve for the people living real day to day lives, not just be told the recession ended. And we are to believe that ...why? Because someone wants us to? I know too many good people, hard working people-or they would be, if they could find work- who are struggling. Discretionary spending doesn't seem to exist for many....it's can I pay the mortgage/rent, utilities, keep my family fed, gas in my car. I hope the 'ordinary' man finds hope, this year. Not that any of us are ordinary. But trying to find the right word isnt' working well just now.
I include myself in that.

Right behind that.....R-A-I-N! That TX and other affected states will see the rainfall we need, the animals need, the land needs, and the doomsayers to be proven wrong. And rolling into that-HAY CROPS! Egads...*shakes head* I know way too many farmers who didn't bale a single bale this year. All other needed crops too, but hay affects the horseman/farmer/rancher specifically. =)

Dreams....oh wow. I am learning to dream again. I dream of more fenced fields at the new land, of a nice working barn, of this years foals and what breeding I will do. I dream of showing, even just a few times, and being able to get involved in the Alamo driving club and other TX clubs. I am dreaming about this new joint venture with a friend who is quickly becoming a heart-sister, and my dear minis (well, some of them) being able to work with kids to further their educations. I have a few picked out who are just perfect for this job! I dream of a daily harness, training tools needed, and time and energy LOL I dream of finally getting my ortho referral in hand rather than 'you are being referred' and never hearing anything, so I can hopefully become more mobile with less pain again. In order to do all of the above!

and..Aspirations.....I find aspirations a bit more specific than just dreams. The showing, for example. I dream of showing...but I aspire to show Tinkerbelle, Clover, and Mr. They will be my show string for 2012. I had to correct myself there, I was about to say 'would be'. But see, that would be a dream....so I say, No. They WILL be. And they are all worthy.
I also aspire to do more advertising, to refine my Worlds ad into something that doesn't look so much like a first time ever over ambitious ad-ad *laughs* I want to begin running ads in the Journal also.
I aspire to get actual real ad-worthy pics of my two stallions, Jangles and Mickey.
I aspire to get someone trained to drive. Probably Princess. She will also be one used in the teaching program, as her temperament couldn't be more suited, and such training will only make her more useful for that.

So, there is that!

Bad Blogger!

Oh my word....has it really been nearly 8 months since I wrote?!?!?
Following my blog has been way to easy....and boring.
So, New Years Resolution for 2012--Write on my farm blog! *grins*

Ok, so...it IS a new year. Wow. 2012. The world is supposed to end, by the way *winks* I loved the 'scientific' article I read lately, saying that scientists are saying they didn't mean the world was going to end...rather, that in Mayan 'time' a new age is beginning. So I'm not worried anymore...*laughs* Ask me if I ever was....(NO).

2012. In many ways I can't believe it is here already. 2011 was a huge year for me, my sons, and our Mini venture, not to mention, for this world. As 2011 related to Enyalien.....
I am no longer living at the riding stable, but have my own apartment for my children and I. I miss handling the big guys...lots of TB's, a few Warmbloods (including the gorgeous grey Danish who took half my toe off stepping on it, and henceforth his nickname became 'Crusher'), the Shire and draft/TB crosses....but I also have a new appreciation for my 'little ones'. I also have a new appreciation for proper training, something so many horses do not have. Ie, basic manners, both ground and working. My two years there was time well spent, both for my heart and soul, and for my education.
The horses also have a new home, and I have more experience to draw on in life.. One of these days I will write an article on the importance of contracts in lease situations....and that it is spelled out that no, the owners kids can't throw rocks at or chase your horses, and no they should not be able to do whatever they please on 'their own land' when said land is leased, including turning mares and not even a day old foals out because they think the horses 'will like being out better', or taking all of ones equipment and scattering it whereever, including dropping $100 blankets in mud puddles and just leaving them there, or playing with your trailer ties swinging on them til they break, or....ahem. I will stop now. That was a bittersweet situation. They really were a kind family, they just had no clue whatsoever about horses, handing, or self control.
I had a very promising crop of 5 foals...a palomino tovero TINY colt from Topaz; an A Nationals quality filly from Lillie; a very very nice tightly linebred colt from Melody who will be his sire, Kernel's, replacement; an A Nationals quality silver bay min. pinto colt from Silk, who unfortunately was lost at about 6 hrs old...that breeding will most definitely be repeated!; and finally, a drop dead GORGEOUS deep chestnut pinto filly out of Snippa! Her first filly foal in 15 yrs of owning her LOL! But oh boy was she worth the wait!
And one of the best surprises Jesus sprang on me was a sudden new friendship with a local teacher and pastor's wife, who has a dream of using these mini horses in a teaching program with GT students. We are now working in partnership towards that goal, and I am very excited to see where it goes!

Those were some of the highlights of 2011....tomorrow, I will write about my goals/dreams/aspirations for 2012. I promise! I then plan to begin on teaching type articles on a variety of subjects...if there is a subject you want covered, or a question you want answered, leave it in the comments and I will do my best. Blessings for 2012 to you!