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.
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.
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