The Life and Times of Massie Lodge...

Evan and I thought it important that we speak to our owners during this uncertain time of Equine Influenza.

We have adopted a lock-down on the property where no car, or no visitor can enter the property at this time until the EI virus has been eradicated in South East Queensland. All of our residents have been moved to paddocks that are not located on the boundary, so hopefully this will help as well.

While there has been no finger pointing at this time as to who started this epidemic or what protocols at Eastern Creek failed to capture such a virilent virus you do have to ask the question what went wrong. Why did our strict Quarantine laws let us down when we needed it the most?

Hopefully the powers that be will one day answer these questions that will cost the Thoroughbred Industry billions of dollars.

If you have any concerns, please dont hesitate to contact us.

Cheers, Helen & Evan.

Joie and Mads ... and green pick!

The mums to be...

Im sure its a filly... lol

Miss Gossips (Local News) looking very pregnant this morning enjoying the sunshine and the green pick

Maz - A Story in the Making

We have been lucky enough to get some publicity on Maz's first start at Lismore on Monday. This article courtesy of Racenet's (www.racenet.com.au) Clinton's Payne:-


Maz is finally ready to go

Clinton PayneThursday, 16 August 2007

Racing often throws a great story and next Monday at Lismore another wonderful racing fairytale will start.

The story of “Go Maz” is a remarkable one of community support from an internet forum – The New Horse Racing Community Forum who for the last six years have followed the trials and tribulations of a gelding that will make his debut in Monday’s Marina Quays Maiden Handicap over 1100m.

Go Maz was the result of an un-commercial mating between Gatsby and Belle Hareb and was originally owned and managed by a forum member known as Fasteddy.

Maz as he has been known to his internet family and friends, lost his mum just weeks after his birth and struggled through the first six months of his life on the edge before it things took a turn for the best when he moved to a Queensland property called Massie Lodge, run by fellow forum members Luskin and Smissy.

Once at Massie Lodge, Maz slowly put on weight and started to grow, and at 18 months he had matured into a healthy colt and went to the breakers in his first real step of a true racetrack dream.

After being broken-in, tragedy struck Maz again when on a stormy night he took fright from the thunder and lightning and charged into a paddock fence, causing severe injuries and bringing about an extended stay at the vet’s.

Maz’s then suffered an almost fatal dose of the scours, with serious consideration at one stage given to him being put down however, his devoted owner Fasteddy would have none of this and with his care and the horse’s will and determination, amazingly the brown colt survived, finally returning to his paddock.

Time marched on and with many attempts to get the horse to the races failing the heavy burden of vet, equine hospital and mounting agistment costs were starting to take their toll on Fasteddy, who reluctantly was forced by debtors to list Maz in a monthly tried horse sale on the Gold Coast.

With the knackery a solid favourite to be Maz’s fate, Fasteddy’s friends at The New Horse Racing Community Forum rallied behind the Maz cause, vowing to do everything to save the horse.

Former carers, Luskin and Smissy, purchased Maz at the sale and wave of forum support grew and they formed the “Maz syndicate” with a dream of getting him to the races.

Members from Australia, Japan and other parts of Asia banded together behind the “forum mascot”, generously donating funds to support an initial racing campaign.

He was sent to Ballina trainer Phil Quinnell to commence work and to everyone’s surprise on Sunday July 29, he won a 1000m barrier trial at Lismore.

On Monday, Go Maz will realize the dream of his best mate Fasteddy and his forum family and step out at the races for the first time.

The result won’t be important the fact that a horse has defied the odds and in doing so brought together so many people in the “sport of kings” is the real story.

Go Maz!

Bailey Settling In

Now which side would you like to take my photo...

... maybe a side on profile?

... or perhaps if I lift my neck this way... but please dont move the bone, ok?

Short Pants

It's nearly time for Massie Lodge long time resident, Shorts to leave and spread her wings and try her fortune on the racetrack. How exciting is it to see her grow up and be a 3yo filly! I remember the day she was born ... and the way that she came at a very reasonable hour in the morning (7am)!

Run fast and go with our love Short Pants.... you will always be little Short Pants to Evan and I.

Helen & Evan.

A big kiss from Evan
Thank you Meggsie for chewing off Short's tail... at least it looks even!

Pippy and Gossips

Time is marching on for our two ladies in waiting and as you can see, they are both looking terrific. Ok, I have to admit that I have started spending some time "tummy watching" this weekend and I was duly rewarded by both ladies for my efforts.

I must look a site as I stand there... staring.... but its the funniest thing out to see what looks like a nose or a hoof push through mum's side....much to Gossip's chagrin. Pip's (Epiphany pictured above this morning) tummy is not as active as Gossy's however, I was rewarded for my efforts this morning.

Both ladies are still being rugged at night, however, you can hear a sigh of relief when the jammy's come off of a morning.

Ok, should I start a book on who is having what? lol

All I know is that both ladies are having a Conatus baby... and if they are anything like the 2yos on the ground, they should be a cracker!

Since Gossy has come into her last trimester, we have upped their feeding regime and both girls are now getting stuck into feeding a growing bubs.

Come September it will be time for Monika to come and visit both girls, check them over, do their teeth, vaccinate (which will help a growing bubs) and worm in time for Gossy's delivery in October.

Don't talk to me about foal watching time. AAAArgh!

Helen.

The very beautiful Local News (Gossips). Photo taken this morning.

Go Maz!

Time for another Maz Update!

All going well, he has worked well since trial, and we are heading to Lismore (TAB Meeting) on Monday 20th, (maiden).

Phil Q.

(Go Maz!)

Being Miss Lucy (Part 1)

It was a sad day for both of us when our darling Isabell walked up like a pro onto the transport truck headed for Echuca.

How hard is it to let one of your babies go? Well, for the most part I thought that I was getting used to saying goodbye to the little ones that we have raised. I have to say that selling Isabell was one of the hardest decisions we have had to make because she was just a darling.

So, a few weeks before she was due to go I started the detachment process... (*sigh* I have tears welling just thinking about it).

But go she did and now she is a very happy little girl with her new standardbred mates (for the moment) in a large paddock.

It never gets any easier. It doesnt matter if you start detaching weeks, months ahead because all the memories are still there... the night she was born, the way she tried to kick Evan when she was only an hour or so old... all those big cuddles in the weaning barn...

Miss Lucy must be feeling the same... however, she seems to have adjusted very well without her little mate and has started coming along with her work with Evan every day as you will see by the short video.