Has Winter Arrived?

-3.4 degrees this morning and its still not winter. What does Mother Nature think she doing?

AAArgh!


This morning saw all water bowls frozen over. In Shortpants and Flossie’s case the hose was frozen in the waterbowl!

Winter hasn’t officially started yet… or has it?

New Arrival to Massie Lodge.

Today sees the arrival of “Shore” to Massie Lodge as a retiree who hurt himself in a track accident (hurt the nerve to his shoulder) on the eve of racing and is looking for his next career and someone to love him.

Shore had a very good career on the racetrack 39 starts for 4 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds, Shore last won a 1640m race at Doomben in July of last year. He will be perfect for that someone who wants a horse to ride and love.

A beautiful grey gelding by Victory Note who Iam told is quite the gentleman, Shore has become Eric’s paddock buddy. Im not quite sure how Eric will take to his new roomy after being an only child for so long…. It will be interesting to see how they get on together in the next few days.

Unfortunately he is a bit dirty at the moment after being in the paddock, so after he has a visit to the hairdresser and Adam works his magic on his feet, I will take some pictures then!

I have been told by Evan that Iam not allowed to get attached to him.

I understand that.

I do ….. I do!!



Helen.

Don’t Forget to Visit – Thorougbred Watch!

Do I have to get my photo taken? Cant you just leave me in peace??????? 

Tee Cee's leg... healing very well .. but not happy about the Honey! 

No! I wont stand correctly either !!! 

Maxwell (by Dantibes) ... NO! I will not yield to the left lol 

Iam So Thankful...

that I have Monday's off. Don't you just hate Mondays? Its the first day of the working week, everyone is walking around with a huge chip on their shoulder because they would rather be somewhere else, doing something different in a much warmer climate! I like not working Monday's because it gives me time to come to terms with having to deal with angry customers on Tuesday! I can just ease my way into the week and then finish on a Thursday and have Friday off to get ready to relax for the weekend!

I know of one resident here at Massie Lodge who was not happy today and that was Eric the Horse.

We moved Eric out of the No. 2 yard because Joey needed to have it while she still has her shoes on. So, Eric has moved behind the gate into the No.1 day yard ... but that isnt good enough as he is now behind the fence. And didnt he have a right temper tantrum today?

"No! Iam not going to come out of the paddock... you stuck me here, so here Iam staying here...."

"No! Iam not going to eat way up near Joey... I want my bowl down near the water bowl (as it should be)."

"No! Iam not going to stand still while you inflict pain on me and my foot. Get out of the way because I might strike you ".

"No! Iam not going to lift my foot ... who do you think Iam?"

Talk about having a bad case of Mondayitis! Bloody Hell!

So, we just left Eric to it today.

Today saw a few bits and pieces to attend to around the property and Evan giving the young boys some leading practice.

Max (the weanling) must of caught his Mondayitis from Eric.

"No! Iam not going to stand still while you put a halter on me!"

"No, Iam not going to yield to the left - buggar that!"

"No, I will not let you pick up my foot!"

"No, I will not let you give me leading practice!"

What do you do? You persist. And I have to say that Evan must have had the patience of Joab to get anything out of Maxwell today. After 45 mins, Maxwell decided that resistance was futile... and did what he was asked. (Big of him I thought?).

Next it was on to Tee Cee (pictured above) and to have a look at his leg, give it a wash and apply some honey to the scab.

"No! I dont want you touching my leg!"

"No, Dont even think about spraying me with water while it's this cold!"

"No! If you think Iam going to let you put honey on my leg, you have another thing coming!"

We were then going to check on Sunny's plaster cast and decided to quit while we were behind and come inside into the warmth!


LOL - some days you just cant win!


Helen.

P.S. Dont forget to visit - Thoroughbred Watch to catch up on all the thoroughbred news!

Today..

certainly has not been a day of rest here at Massie Lodge.

Evan qualified for an online poker tournament at 11am and had to come in the first 200 to be eligible for the final in June. Iam happy to say that he qualified and will be playing in that final!

It was left to me to look after the residents this morning, which I certainly dont mind doing, in fact it gives me great pleasure to be able to potter amongst the horses and give them cuddles and be outside away from the tv, the computers and the phones. In fact it gave me some time to be able to watch the little boys and the boys (Lenny and Jakey). I stood and watched Lenny build a sand castle with his hoof and then roll in it...I am starting to think that Lenny would have ADHD if he was a child!

Joey has come out of the small yard and is just about ready to go out in the paddock with SS (silly Sunny) after the cast comes off her hoof which should be soon.

After coming inside it dawned on me that its time for me to get serious with my writing and instead of submitting my articles to other people's sites... I would start one of my own.

And that is how THOROUGHBRED WATCH was born.

Thoroughbred Watch is a news service that will bring all the news from Australia and overseas to one spot. Not only will it contain news about thoroughbreds, it will contain news about the people creating the news within the industry. The good, the bad and the downright ugly!

Please feel free to go to THOROUGHBRED WATCH and tell me what you think!

I have to say that Iam a little bit excited about TW and I hope that it becomes a useful site to those seeking news about the thoroughbred industry and all the personalities in it.

Well, its time for me to go and put my feet up and make myself a cuppa... (dont forget to check out Thoroughbred Watch!)


Hooroo

Helen.

0 Degrees and falling.........

Wednesday -3 degrees

Thursday - 1 degrees

Friday 0 degrees

Has winter found its way to Massie Lodge already? I hope not with it only being in the middle of May! Although I have to say that Evan is still outside of a morning in his shorts (?) while Iam inside wrapped up in 5 layers. LOL.

Before I go on with tonight's post, it's my pleasure to tell you that our weekly Stallion Road Test is now updated for all to go and see. No one will guess who we are showcasing this week. I have to say that this boy is Grey, was a Group Winner at 2 and is still standing here in Queensland. I also have to tell you now that Iam undecided how I feel about this boy - he is a class act there is no doubt about it, but something just niggles at me and says he's not value for money when compared with other roadtested stallions. You make up your own mind!

It's a big welcome back to Massie Lodge to Joey (Joie de Victorie, pictured above) who has been retired from racing and will be heading to the breeding barn later this year.

I have a theory about 4 year old mares that I have been thinking about for quite a while now. Time and time again I seem to be seeing the same thing happening with them and have drawn some interesting conclusions that I wont share just yet. My theories are totally unproved and breeding guru's are sure to squash what Iam thinking, but because it seems to be happening quite regularly, there must be some credence to it. Hmmm. let me ponder my thoughts a bit more and I will share them with you soon.

Good news from former Massie Lodge residents Centenn (Bob) and Sir Weather Vain (Hamish). Centenn who is being trained by Kaye Tinsley is going very, very well and has certainly responded from his holiday with some very good work early in his preparation. Sir Weather Vain who is with Phil Quinnell is jumping out of his skin and will probably go straight to a race start without a trial.

One thing I have noticed with our spellers is that you really do notice when they have had enough of a holiday and are ready to get back into it. Hamish is a prime example who was becoming quite a pain in the butt in the paddock and really giving poor Bob a hard time - mostly because he was bored. Its funny because as time goes on in their stay, they seem to show the different sides of their personalities.

When they come straight off the racetrack they are loony tunes, full to the eyeballs with grain and prance up and down, cant stand still and wont eat. We usually put them into a smallish secure yard with a stable where they cant do any damage to themselves and feed them hay until all the grain is out of their system. This usually lasts for 4 days (although this time does vary with each horse). Then the shoes come off and we usually wait and see how silly they are at this time before deciding which yard they go into next.

Normally, next stop is the 5 acre yard behind the house (that is in full view). They tend to muck around for a little bit when they first get in there, but usually they settle down pretty quickly. Food at this stage is usually a maintenance diet of lucerne and oaten chaff, dry roasted barley and we introduce Pryde's Easi Response into their diet which adds condition but doesnt make them fizzy. Once they have settled into the paddock and have sorted out the pecking order life for our spellers becomes one of rest and relaxation.

In saying all of that no horse is that same. Telbon Lotto (Blotto) who stayed with us for a short time was just a quiet, quiet boy even though he was straight off the track - he was just a lovely boy who we were both sad to see go.

All in all we have been very lucky with the horses that have visited us... no real bad tempered ones or ones with really bad habits and each one has been responsive to both Evan and I.

Joey is currently in the small yard getting the grain out of her system from her last time with Paul. She is a bit funny when she first comes to us because she wont eat and is jittery and paces. As soon as Joey settles a bit we will get her shoes off and then introduce her to her new mare friends that will also be put into foal.

It's nearly that time again! Scary isnt it?

Time for me to go and get some beauty sleep. LOL

Helen.

So long and thanks for the fish...

I mean, um thanks for the rain - all 5mls of it! I guess we are always grateful for any rain that might per chance fall upon our home....and are never jealous of the fact that other areas on Queensland are getting rained out at this time of the year (AAAArgh!). Um, that's not really true... we would absolutely kill for constant rain for 2 weeks at this time of the year when a blade of green grass is a rare as hen's teeth.

On waking up this morning, it was foggy and the ground was just at that stage where it was muddy and clinging to your boots. Also this morning, another thing that we found was Shortpants had somehow climbed through her fence to get to her mate Flossie and both girls were very happy being together.

How she got through the fence railing, we have no idea. But there wasnt a mark on her or hair pulled off.... Iam sure that she just decided that she had had enough of the single life and wanted to move in with Flossie. And when a girl makes up her mind that she wants to do something, then she just DOES IT! (You Go Girl!).

Today has seen a visit to Massie Lodge of our dear friend Michael Kiss, who with his trusty saw has come to chop some decent wood for us (he keeps telling us that you cant light a decent fire with "those" sticks that we use!). In return we will feed him up and share some good company tonight over a good red or two... yummm.

Life is good isnt it? (Except for the rain situation - if you see any needing a good home can you send it our way?)


Helen.

Evan and TeeCee... I think it's love... 

Eric the horse, doing the edges under the shade of the verandah at the side of the house. 

Quick look over there.....  

OMG Here it comes..... what is it? 

Will It..... Or Won't It???

The clouds came over.... building up as the day went on.... will it rain... or will it not? YES, IT DID!!!! Yes siree, my good friends Iam pleased to say we have rain. You know what it is, wet, cold saturating rain.... and isnt it lovely! Its been two months since we have had any rain whatsoever and as you can see from my photos, its as dry as.... It might only be a few ml but at least it has happened.

Oh My God.... I just had a horrible thought. Will this wonderful rain put back the schedule of the road works out the front? Shame! And they were on such a tight schedule too.

Monday has greeted us with a bit of a mixed bag....

Billy (Canadian Silver / Splendid Feeling) would not eat his breakfast and for those of you who know master William know that he gets very very excited about all meal times. When I saw him lying down I immediately flashed back to his half sister Lily who passed away from a horrible tummy illness. We brought the young master out into the hospital paddock and he seemed to be ok.... hooked into the hay we gave him and was giving poor Eric a hard time through the fence. By mid morning he was pacing up and down and yelling to go back with his buddies... We surmised that he must of had a tummy spasm due to being too excited about his forthcoming breakfast.

Speaking about the young men (Billy, Max and Jimmy). One of them has decided to play "cups up" when they have finished all the Easyfeed 1 out of the bowl. Forget about the lucerne and oaten chaff. Dont even have a look at the Barley.... once the EF1 has gone, that's it and the bowl gets turned over. Then its on to the next bowl and so on and so on. So, this means that the lowest in the pack (Billy) never gets to have a full feed...

My bet is on Jimmy being the Cups Up Culprit!

Shortpants (aka Wartyface, aka Fatpants) decided to try out her galloping skills today after we moved the above 3 boys out of Rosie's Paddock and into the secure paddock behind the house (away from all the mares!). After moving the 3 boys down into their paddock, it was a case of "see no evil, hear no evil" ..... although I did peek a look and I have to say that if racing is not her forte, then perhaps campdrafting might be. She stops and turns on a 20c piece.... amazing. Iam pleased to say that her teenage warts are disappearing from her face (finally!).

Sunny, the stupid bitch has done it again (even with a half plaster cast on). I cant guarantee Sunny's future anymore as Evan is at the end of his tether with her. How do you solve a problem like Sunny? I wish I knew.

Evan spent some time with Tee Cee today and gave him a bit of lunge to see how his leg was... I think TeeCee was in shock because he hasnt done a speck of work for months! I'm happy to say all went well there with the gentle giant and his leg.

Well, Iam going to cut this post short and go and sit out on the front verandah and listen to the rain... this might even involve an alcoholic drink.....

Hooroo!

Helen.

"I am so pretty.... oh so pretty...." :-) 

Massie Lodge dogs all loaded up ready to go down the back to cut some wood.... 

"I am bored......" Who can I irritate.......? 

"Hey TeeCee.... lets rumble!!!" 

"Stop being so immature Lenny"... 

"I am gonna get you TeeCee....." 

"Lenny, enough is enough.....cut it out!" 

Let's call it quits mate...... you win! 

Bits and Pieces...

Please forgive me, its been a week since I last posted... and its been a hectic week to say the least... as you can see, Autumn has come to Massie Lodge.

First up .... Stallion Road Test.... Yes, a new roadtest is up for your consideration. This time I have picked a boy by my least favourite sire but with a dam line that is very rich in black type, winners and a nice colonial family to boot. This bloke has a very, very reasonable service fee, produces winners (stakes winners as well!) and is very unpopular with the market. He himself was not an outstanding racehorse, although he was trained by Freedman and won his maiden, but can he produce racehorses? Yes he can. Can he produce stock that can go through the sales? Yes he can. Can he produce nice types with plentiful bone and substance? Yes he can. This fella also seems to like mares by Sprightly Night/Anchor In/ Mister Kwila ... however he doesnt seem to get many mares to him at all. We went and had a look/see when he moved to Gowrie Mountain and we both liked what we saw. Interested yet?

Monday...

Was my birthday and what a lovely day it was.... After being taken out for a scrumptous lunch with lots of bubbles and a chocolate cake made by Evan.

Tuesday...

Work day.... talk about a food fest.... I was given a morning tea by the gang at work and then taken out to lunch by the girls - talk about spoilt.

Please note that Iam omitting all the rude and nasty customers that I came across during my work days... otherwise that would be all I would be writing about!

Wednesday...

Work day and yet another morning tea for one of the guys who was retiring... no wonder my clothes are feeling tighter. AAAArgh!

Thursday ...

Woken up by the dulcet tones of big road crunching machinery out the front at 6.30am. Not happy Jan. For some reason I am running late (lol) and I come to an abrupt halt at the entrance to Massie Lodge, mainly because I would need a large 4WD vehicle to get out of the driveway.

So, I take a deep breath and see if I can find a logical solution so that I can get on my way to work (the minutes are ticking away!). Hmmm. Unless I want to get new tires, axles etc. Iam not going to get out of the driveaway. The gentleman in the large piece of road flatening machinery drives pasts me and waves. I wave back and point to the huge ledge I have to jump to get onto the road. He ignores me and keep driving....

I take another deep breath and keep searching for a solution to my predicament.

It's now 10 minutes past 8 and Iam starting to get hugely agitated because I cant get out of my driveway!

I turn off the engine, take off my seat belt and go and talk to the man in the huge tractor thingy who is just sitting there staring at me.

"Be calm Helen..... be calm...... be civil (?) ....... be calm......"

I cant be calm.

In my nicest calmest voice that I can muster I ask the man how am I supposed to get out of my driveway.

"I dont know...."

"You dont know?"

"Ah, No..."

"Dont you think common sense would of prevailed when making this mess?" I said.

"Listen lady...." I lost it at "Listen lady....".

"Listen lady, this is for the betterment of Willowvale Road.... YOU are going to benefit from this work on the road - not me..."

"Yes I understand how wonderful and enriched my life will become once you have finished these roadworks. In the meantime, how the hell am I to get out of my driveway?"

"If you turn right and do a U-ey .... you should be fine....".

"Ok, we live just before the bend in the road.... If someone comes flying around the bend at 100kph on this gravel do you think that they will be able to see me, let alone stop in time?"

"Aw, I dont know....."

"Do you know anything? .... Friggin unreal...." I said and stormed off.

Finally I got out of my driveway and I looked at the clock in the car it was now 8.30am. Half way to Allora I was flagged down and told to stop for roadworks that were happeneing. This took 15mins.

I had to stop for petrol....

I finally got on my way again at 9am and am happily motoring along the New England Highway until East Greenmount. More Roadworks. This time its a 10 min stop at a red light with no oncoming traffic.

AAAArgh!!!!!!!!

Not to mention that I was caught in a line of traffic afterwards that topped a speed of 70kms all the rest of the way to Toowoomba.

I wont tell you what time I actually made it in to work. It was very late, even by my standards!

During the morning I thought that I would make someone elses day just as good as mine and rang Warwick Council and had a little word in the ear of the Works Supervisor for roadworks. Iam sure that I did not make his day with that phone call, but I can tell you I felt much better after doing it!

See I can be a reasonable person!

lol

Friday....

Joey and Gracie leave Massie Lodge to go back to Paul Nipperess at Toowoomba. It seems the issue of not being able to get track workers has finally driven Paul to sell his home and move back to Ballina. I guess the final straw would be standing around at Toowoomba with 2 horses in hand for 3 hours waiting for someone to ride them. I dont blame Paul at all. Iam sad that it came to this as he is very good with the horses. Jockeys/trackwork riders seem to be a breed of their own.... I can tell you that Iam not impressed either with the lack of support from the Toowoomba Turf Club and Queensland Racing with this problem. It's a real disgrace.

If you are in the clique then you are looked after. If you are a new trainer to the district or just a small guy, the amount of help they seem to offer is very little or none.

Since TeeCee has had his bandages removed and is jumping out of his skin in his new paddock, Evan and I have been considering our next move with him. Perhaps a trip to Ballina is on the cards for the big guy? Hmmm. Something to think about.

Well enough for today....

Helen.

Susie and Patch Puppy... enjoying a read of the paper and some bubbly! 

Lancelot getting his coat on before going out into the cold cold snow.... 

Not Happy Jan! Matilda in the dome - and the injured paw.... 

Matilda getting lots of hugs from the girls after suffering from wearing the "Dome" all day yesterday. 

Bessie Merle. 

Lance, fast asleep after a hectic morning down the back paddock. 

Lancey ... sitting and contemplating his navel.