Another beautiful day here in the "red zone" ... with our paddocks revitalised enough to put the 3 dry mares and Lucy (the yearling) down into the big back paddock where there is plenty of pick and water to keep them occupied. So occupied were our girls that they didnt notice Evan feeding them this afternoon!

Being out in the big paddock with the other ladies is just what the doctor ordered for Miss Lucy who hasnt experienced such heaven - and she is most happy to be with Sweetie and Sweetie with her.

I did myself a bit of a mischief today and twisted my ankle whilst racing across one of the paddocks - ouch! Im sure it's not serious even though it is sore - nothing that a few panadols wont help.

We have some good news with PASS (Professional Analytical Selection Service). It now has its own home on the net! Watch this space for more information.

Well, time to go and put my ankle up. As you can see, young Master Jack is doing great guns.

Helen :)

"No this is big horses food - yours is at the other end"

... Mum has to be useful for something other than milk ....

a "fly tail"

Gossips Has Her Boy!

Just when we both thought that there was 64 channels of crap on the tv with nothing worth watching, Gossips (Local News) decided that she would be the main point of focus at 8.30pm last night and have her baby Conatus foal - a colt who has been named Jackie Lee (or Jacko!).

Talk about watching an old pro at work - it was certainly a much easier birth than little Daisy last week. Jacko hit the ground running and as soon as he could get up on his legs, he was off!

We always like to put the ladies with their new foals into the stables for a few days, not only to help the youngsters with their legs, but also to encourage bonding time for mum and baby.

He certainly has his mum's markings, but he is his daddy's boy - which will prove for interesting times ahead.

It certainly is a miracle and Iam always amazed every time that I see a mare give birth.

Helen.

The Night Was Dark and Stormy...

Last night started out as a normal Sunday night.... get an early dinner, feed the canines and get ready for the 8.30pm movie on cable that now runs at 7.30pm thanks to Daylight Saving, that is until Local (aka Gossy) decided that it was time to start waxing.

After we noticed that Gossy had started waxing, we decided that we would go into Foal Watching mode - I would watch until midnight or thereabouts and Evan would get up and do the rest of the night (and watch the Liverpool game while he was doing it).

Gossy was a restless camper last night ...walking into the small yard off the paddock and then going off picking with Miss Pippy. She pretty much continued this behaviour for most of the night. I didnt think that she would have her bubs last night - and thank goodness she didnt.

At around 2am Pikey man started barking as he must of heard the storm. Then the thunder and the lightning started; continuous rumbling with the sky lighting up in the most magnificent light show that Mother Nature does best.

Then the rain started.

We had around 50 mls last night of torrential downpour which was just what the doc ordered to start to fill the contours and the dams. My thoughts turned to Gossy and we hoped and prayed that she didnt decide to drop her bundle in the middle of this storm, so I kept my eye on the two mares as best I could during the storm.

Obviously, she is a lady of discerning taste and experience and decided against having her baby in the storm (thank goodness)!

After the storm at around 3.30am, Evan braved the elements to go and check on all the mares and of course Madey and Miss Daisy.

Naturally, the power went off and didnt come back on until 6.30am this morning.

After feeding up, we took the canines down to investigate the dams and to see that there was water in our dams was definitely a sight for sore eyes.

What a miracle after so long!

Helen

A Flower..

It's very unusual to see green at Massie Lodge, however, we have had some nice rain which has provided us with some pick for the horses, and some water for the house tanks. We still havent had a downpour which would fill our dams, however, we are hopeful that things will return to normal very soon with the weather patterns different from last year.

I havent written on the blog for a while, it's been very difficult for me the past 40 days - up and down like the preverbial roller coaster that was thrown to us due to the EI virus. Mixed emotions about the industry, the people who you thought were good people, only to see that they are selfish and manipulative.

It's very difficult knowing that you cant go to work and that you are now branded an outcast and an "IP" (Infected Property), it certainly did not do much for a flailing self esteem.

However, with the support of my wonderful husband Evan, the Massie Lodge canines and equines, I feel that I have come to the other side. Not to forget all our wonderful friends from all over the country who stood by us during this very difficult time. It's amazing how people "just know" that you need a cheering telephone call, or a joke email to make you smile.

Seeing Madey's little filly born without Equine Influenza has given us hope that whatever passed through our property is long gone. Let's hope people can get on with life and forget who "has" and who "hasnt".

I think in the long term, Im glad that it happened, for many reasons, but mostly for the fact that it gave me the opportunity to really see people in their true colours. Not very attractive some of them.

Maz is still with Phil at Ballina and unfortunately did not react well the vaccination and developed a cough. Poor wee boy - I'm sure that he has a sign on his forehead that says "Hit me here"!

Short Pants, who has now been named "Irish Chick" is with Maz as is Oscar (Tannerang Baluk). Shorts is doing well and seemed not to have any worries with the vaccination.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but Iam sure whatever it is we will face it with renewed viguor and enthusiasm. Bring it on!

Helen.

Matilda, the queen of the Ute!

Unto Us

a very special filly was born at Massie Lodge on Friday morning at around 8am to our mare, Madely Miss who kept this a secret for nearly 10 months after scanning negative to Portland Player.

Madey had Friday all organised as Evan feed her her breakie at 6am, nearly jumped through the stable to get to her hay at 6.45am and then decided to leave the stable and find a nice big muddy patch after a storm on Thursday night that yielded 20mls, to have Miss Daisy.

After the human breakfast, it was my job to let girls out, put on fly veils etc etc and low and behold there was Madey sitting up after delivering Miss Daisy.

After getting Evan out of the house and down the back, we called Monika and then we decided that we needed to clean up baby and then move them back into Madey's stable by way of carrying her between us.

Daisy was premmy and was very weak and it took her sometime to get up on her feet. Evan milked Madey and then I fed bubs to make sure that she got "the elixer of life" for baby foals - colostrum.

After Monika visited and tended to Madey and then Daisy, as Daisy was still weak, it was back to milking mum and feeding bubs.

Daisy finally got up and teetered on her very long legs very unsurely, then we took her to task to get her onto mum's teats - Madey being the very experienced mum she is, never faultered and gave Daisy every opportunity to get the hang of it and finally the penny dropped.

Daisy has a long way to go but has turned the corner today.

Talk about a miracle!

Hello Mum!

Remember me? Yesterday I spent some time just watching the horses, who are fascinating with their groups and herd behaviours. What took my attention was the reuniting of Sweetie and her yearling daughter Lucy (by Pure Theatre), who has moved to the paddock behind the house with all the broodmare activities going on.

Sweetie who is a very dominating mare, was quite happy to spend some time with Lucy and there was no "Im the boss, you do what I say, when I say it", which is normally how Sweetie approaches other mares, it was "G'day love, what you been doing".

It showed me another side to Sweetie and I was quite impressed.

Am I or Arn't I?

The scans said "NO", but as you can see, my tummy is getting rounder and I have an udder to match.

Maybe it's just the lovely spring/summer pick thats coming through?

Or, perhaps its the leafy hay thats now available (at half the price that it was during winter)?

Maybe I just eat too much?

Maybe Im pregnant?

Maybe Im not?

It doesnt matter which way, cause I'm in heaven in this paddock.

Joie

The Boys ...

have been very quietly growing up in their 10 acre paddock, keeping out of mischief (hah!) and romancing their two neighbours, Notty (Why For Not) and Southern (Another Southern). I really like the way that they are coming together - with both boys needing to do a lot of filling out and growing up.

Kenny Kinjite with Evan.

The two boys with their neighbour, Notty - showing off.

"If Kenny gets a pat and some attention, then I certainly have to get some" - No show without Punch hey Jimmy?