the life and times of massie lodge: Where There is Life

... there is hope.

How true is that saying? Evan and I have been flat out for the last few weeks (have you wondered if we had taken off with your horses and forgotten about you?) and seem to be fitting in our web commitments around all the other things that have to be done ... feeding, watering, fencing, feet trimming, worming, vet appointments, it seems that its never ending, yet a labour of love.

People never seem to stop amazing me, especially in this industry. This week we have come across a man that sent 10 mares away to be served. 7 came back in foal. So, he has plans to send the 3 dry mares to the knacker. Its not that they are old and decrepit. Two 6 year olds and 1 11 year old that was once named Victorian Horse of the Year (so he says).

How can people treat such lovely creatures as a throw-away commodity? This is something that really gets my back up (can you tell?) and Iam currently trying to find new homes for these mares, so that they can go on and live a full life with a new career.

I dont think Iam an over-the-top bleeding heart, possibly just an incredible softie!

Massie Lodge has had an influx of brown snakes appearing very close to the back, side and front doors (obviously looking for water and something to eat) over the past few weeks. We have managed to kill 2 of them so far, with a third brownie (we suspect) making appearances while we are asleep.

Naturally, the dogs all get stirred up and start barking and this in turn wakes us up, etc etc etc.

We know that he is somewhere around near the house water tanks and will just bide our time to get him!

The Residents.

All Massie Lodge residents are doing really well. Adam is due out this week to continue on trimming the mares and Monika is due out at the end of the week/first thing next week to scan the Dirty Girl's tendon.

The Dirty Girl has a "thing" going on with Leonard next door (our Kinjite 2yo Gelding) and as you will see from the photos below, they are very demonstrative with each other! Lenny was talking about taking her out for Valentines Day Dinner, however, we might let them share some hay tomorrow instead!

The ladies up the back are all well, with them all supporting nice round bellies. Joie is "Queen of all She Surveys" and Trousers runs a very distant second in that group, followed by Vera and poor Maddie last but not least.

Shorts and Floss continue to blossom with Floss becoming a real pain with her water bowl. We have had to move the bowl out of her yard and around to the back of her shed so that she cant get her feet near it. What she is doing is pulling off her front shoes as she feels that the blue bowl is a toy and when not full, needs to be flung as far as possible - usually to the other end of her yard!

Shorts would never ever do such silly things. She just chases Matilda and Spikey-man out of her yard when she spots them.

The young fillies continue to grow with Isabell graduating to her own feed bowl at feet time. Lucy is still too attached to mum's apron strings, even though we can see Sweetie trying to move her on. If it's one thing that Sweetie will not condone is sharing her feed! LOL Our aim is to get Lucy and Isabell feeding out of the third bowl together.

Maxwell and Jimmy are being very cute at this point in time and even though they are aware of the mares, really havent become too coltish. When Adam comes to trim their feets this week, this will be the telling time, as Evan has been getting them used to all this good stuff.

Apart from that, all is good and Evan and I are planning to attend the Sales on Sunday in Brisbane.

Life is Good - but it would be better if it rained!

Helen.