Favouritism....?

Absolutely! They're my gals... Miss Pix and Pip

Nottie Has Her Baby ....

The night was dark and stormy. Evan was fast asleep and I was on the last hour of foal watch before Evan took over. We were enjoying a night of consistent rain and I was crossing my fingers that Nottie was not going to have her foal in the rain.

I was wrong. Around midnight Nottie started to have her baby and what fun both Evan and I had with young "Buck Rogers" as this was not a match made in heaven - not at all.

Mum was mortified by the sight of Buck. Buck was trying to get up to mum and start having a drink and any help from us would end up with him bucking!

Nottie went into shock with the birth and both Evan and I had to feed him mum's colostrum. She was in so much shock that her milk supply dried right up.

Not a very good start for the young man as we had to feed him every hour - and you know how happy just born foals are to be hand fed! Not! (Not to mention how happy the humans became trying to feed him!).

To cut a very long story (and a very exhausting time for us) short - Nottie and Buck are now a very happy unit. Our apologies for lack of communication during this time.

Many thanks to our friend, Susie Black for her help during this crisis.... what a Godsend.

One more left to foal - Southern - not long now we hope :)

What I have Watched...

STAR TREK - THE MOVIE

I have to say that I was a bit hesitant about seeing this movie after having been a fan of The Original, Next Gen, DS9, Voyager and to a lesser extent Enterprise - but the thought of curling up on the lounge watching a dvd appealed greatly to me ... and being Star Trek even more so.

And my thoughts? I loved the movie and cant wait to see if there is a next one...

Ok, Ill admit it, Im a trekkie - you happy?

LOL :)

What Im Reading Now......

Actually Im not reading this book - An Echo in the Bone (the seventh in the Outlander series) im re-reading the 6th Book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes to get back into the story - well it has been a few years since the last book was released.

I have to tell you that as soon as I picked up the book (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) I remembered all the characters and became lost in the world of Jamie and Claire Fraser.

These books are fantastic!

What I have Just Read........

Gotta say that this is one of the best Aussie books that I have read in a long time... if you get the chance, pick up a Rachel Treasurebook, she writes a very good yarn.

Gossy Girl

Gossy (aka Local News) has had a bit of a tough time with all the babies being born as she has been wondering when its going to be her turn? Gossy, a natural mum, has taken to be "Aunty Goss" to Molly when Dirty has had enough.

We were pleased for Gossy when she was pronounced 45 days positive to Publishing this week.

Miss Molly

While the limelight has been temporarily shining on Miss Pixie, little Molly continues to grow up quietly with her mum, Dirtiere. Molly is the quietest little girl and loves to get stuck into the hay with her mum.

Im just wild about Harry....

While everyone has been admiring the baby of the family, Harry (Pix's older full brother) has been quietly growing up in the paddock. The brother and sister are as different as chalk and cheese, however they both have one thing in common - they adore cuddles.

Pip is very proud of her 2 kids and is very protective of Pixie. I am not looking forward to the day when we have to wean her off her mum.

Pip and Pix... our darling girls

Now who is mummy's favourite?

To us, a filly is born...

This time last week both Evan and I knew that something was afoot with Pip (Epiphany). She was restless, didnt want to come out and pick, couldnt get comfortable with her huge belly and she was running 14 days late.

I did the 'watch' until 1am and she was pretty quiet and acting normally in her yard, however, when Evan took over (which coincided with the Liverpool game on the tv), he said that he could tell that something was happening with her - she was pacing, and generally quite aggrivated.

At 3am Evan comes into our bedroom and says... "Do you want to come and watch your mare have her foal?"

I knew that that was the end of sleep for that night.

To say that I was nervous and anxious was an undertstatement as I wasnt sure just what the past 11 months and her leg injury had done to her baby.

You have to admire the older girls who have done it a few times before, they know the drill and how to move the little one along to being born.

When I saw her filly I couldnt believe my eyes ... not only was she a filly but she had the longest legs we had ever seen and getting her up and negotiating them was quite a task.

Both Evan and I are proud to introduce to all our readers of our blog "Pixie".

What a gal! We are blessed.

Ok Nottie, you're up next kid!

Miss Pixie, Pip and Evan - photo taken today

A few hours old

Woo Hoo Jimbo

Wee Jimmy (Private Agenda / Sweet Air) continues to do us proud after running 3rd at Gordonvale over 1350m. Drawn in the barrier closest to the car park, Jimmy sat 3 wide the whole trip. The word from the stable is that Jimmy is continuing to understand and get what he is supposed to do on the racetrack.

Word is that he is master of what to do in his stable - eat and dont lift your head out of the bowl until its all licked clean!!!

Many thanks to our photographer on the day, Jane Koch!

Well done the boy.

:)

Diary of a Broodmare ... Cont.

Hoof Date: Saturday 12th September, 2009

Boy, you're going to carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you're going to carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time

I never give you my pillow
I only send you my invitation
And in the middle of the celebrations
I break down

Boy, you're going to carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time
Boy, you're going to carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time

(Lennon / McCartney)

Do I need to say anymore? The milk's coming in ... I got this stomach to manage. Can I have some hay? AAArgh..............

Good Golly Miss Molly!

Talk about a sweet child! Miss Molly and her mum, Dirty are doing great guns and we're very pleased with how Miss Molly is coming along. Mum wont let her out of her sight for very long at all - except when she is eating! LOL

Diary of a Broodmare

HOOF DATE: 5th September, 2009.


Finally I get to use the computer - buggar Twitter: I have more to say that 160 keystokes.

It rained last night - I rolled and rolled until I was covered in the most glorious mud pack - needless to say the missus wasnt very amused this morning when she came to spy on my leg and could hardly find my eyes for the mud. In fact she was so insensed that she got a bucket of water (should I mention that it was cold?) and a cloth and washed my face. Is nothing sacred? It took me hours to complete the mud-pack look?

Then we went through the motions of her wanting to wash my leg (for something completely different) - I didnt want to move and stood my ground (some people call me stubborn but I dont know what they're talking about!) because Dirty was going to be let out of the stable with that darling little foal (*sigh*) and I didnt want to miss a minute of that - so I stood still and after I had seen darling little Molly I gave in and I let her lead me over to the side and jet my leg.

With my belly as big as it is, whats the use of fighting wth her?

So we go through the motions as she hoses my leg, sings to me songs from the 70s and 80s (which if the truth be known, I dont really mind - but I wouldnt tell her I just act indifferent) and then I get fed some hay.

*Sigh* One of the positives of being pregnant is the abundancy of hay. Gossy says that one of us needs to keep being pregnant so this continues. I know that she went off the other day to Publishing ... she wont tell me what happened or if she's .... you know.

The missus says I will be back to see the handsome hunk Conatus this year if I go ok. She says "Its up to you Miss Pip, we'll see how you go".

*Sigh* I can feel bubs moving .. not long to go now. Isnt it time to be fed?

Welcome to the World!

GOOD GOLLY, IT'S MISS MOLLY!

Wednesday night - both Evan and I were walking zombies after commencing foal watch. Evan had gone to bed at 7pm and I was doing my normal "shift" until 1am.

Dirty girl (Dirtiere) had started waxing up the day before and there had been some milk present Wednesday am so we knew that she was close. I was checking her every half an hour and at around 10pm Dirty went into labour. I have to say that Dirty's foaling-down was text book and even though she was a maiden, she took to it like a professional and got down to the business of delivering her first foal.

One of the things that fascinates me about nature is watching a mare deliver a foal, especially a maiden, and the look of unexpected horror when they see this "thing" sitting there after delivery.

One of the things that absolutely gets me every time is the beauty of mother nature at work as maiden mum gets to know this "thing" that she has delivered.

I have to say that it took Dirty an hour or so to come to terms with Molly. Once Molly was up and suckling, the penny dropped and Dirty knew what her job was and ever since she has been the best mother - very protective and very loving towards her new charge.

Well done Dirty, you are doing a great job for a first time mum!

Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday Evan

May Your Day be Filled With Lots of Crownies

And Lots of Winners

Lots of Love from Helen and all the Massie Lodge Critters

(both Canine and Equine)

xxxxoooo

STOP THE PRESSES!!! WEE JIMMY BREAKS HIS MAIDEN.... STOP THE PRESSES...

Massie Lodge favourite son, Jimmy (aka Private James) finally won his maiden today (1400M)at Ingham on Ingham Cup Day! In a dead heat for first, wee Jimmy jumped with the group and came up on the inside of the leader and it was neck and neck all the way to the finish line.

Lots of congratulations to our other syndicate members - and to wee Jimmy - what a boy!!

Jimmy and Max (Circuit City) who lived most of their baby lives together are now out their doing a fantastic job.

You know, I think the secret ingredient to a successful horse is simple. Love.