It's Saturday...

and all's quiet.... um, except for the truck that has driven into next door and is loading wheat into Leo's silo. I really dont mind that happening except when its 10pm at night and whoever the wheat or barley belongs to, decides that it might rain and it really needs to get into the silo quick smart! Still if that is all there is to complain about, then we really aren't doing too badly.

Many thanks for the replies to my last post regarding non payers - they really are the scourge of this industry. You wonder why people wont pay their accounts, be it because they are short of cash, cant get their priorities right or if they keep forgetting (???). However, you have to ask yourself do owners become disconnected from their horses when they are away agisting, spelling, retired, rehabilitating or at the trainers getting ready to race? Is it the responsibility of the owners of the spelling property to keep owners connected to their horses (apart from at the wallet?).

Perhaps this is an area in the industry where some attention needs to be placed - i.e. before buying? Should there be more education to prospective owners before they take the plunge? As new owners soon find out, buying of the horse is the easy bit. Maybe more marketing should be directed at new owners regarding the education of owning a horse? Perhaps all major studs should engage Client Relationship Managers who's job it is to keep owners connected to their horses (and motivated to pay?).

Certainly lots of questions there and a real void to be filled in my opinion. I guess it all comes down to committment. People should ask themselves whether they are ready to be committed to a thoroughbred before taking the plunge. It certainly isnt all plain sailing (as we have experienced this year) and there are many highs and even more lows to contend with and it all costs!

Further to my last post, we now have 2 upset owners wondering what the hell has happened to them. Watch this space!

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We do have some good news to pass on to our friends today. A year or so ago we sold on our grey Riggoletto filly (Pearl) to become a Polo horse (pictured above on the left). We had news today that Pearly is doing sensationally and has certainly become a very good asset to the sport. So much so that her owner is going to take her overseas to compete on her! We are thrilled to bits to hear that she is doing so well and that she is being spoiled rotten! Well done Pearly!!!

All our 4 hooved charges are doing very well at the moment with lots of summer pickings to be had (in fact some of them are down right fat!). All our 4-pawed charges are comatosed on the tiles at the moment because its too hot for them (except for Matilda who is hiding in between the bathroom cabinet and the wall because she thinks there is a storm coming.)

Evan and I are planning to have the night off and share it with some friends at a BBQ nearby. Isnt it a scary thought that Christmas is only a week or so away? AAAAArgh!!! Why is it around Christmas time that people start going crazy at the shops and the parking areas become like battle zones where only the strong and the brave survive?

Hmmm. I think I like Easter better. (and its not just because of the chocolate!!!)

Helen.