Breeding Season at the Barn

Lots of activity at the barn these days. Mares to be bred, babies to be cared for, and stallions really, really interested in all that is going on!


Friday isn't pregnant yet, but she is going to be bred this week to Dusty's Best Effort. The vet checked her yesterday with palpation and ultrasound and she has several follicles ready to go. This means she will ovulate in the next few days. It also means we need to keep watching out for twins, so we can reduce the pregnancy to only one. We just can't go through the twin thing again! The vet says that sometimes when mares lose a baby it is so stressful that it is hard to get them pregnant again. We will give her a drug called ReguMate five days after her breeding until her next check which is sixteen days after her last breeding. If she doesn't get pregnant this summer, we will just ride her and enjoy her and see how it goes next year.


She looks fit and is prancing around these days. She has a huge paddock to herself and she is enjoying running around and kicking up her heels!



On the way to see the vet at the breeding shed.




Prancing. She still has the heart of a racehorse.




Waiting for the vet



We have had Smoky out although he is a bit stiff with the colder weather. He is so cute with the girls.



This quote always reminds me of Smoky...

Buffalo Bill's horse Soldier Boy speaking of a young adopted girl that lives at the post where the 7th Calvary are stationed.

"If I could have her it would be another matter, for I know all about children, and they adore me. Buffalo Bill will tell you so himself."

                                              Mark Twain, "A Horse's Tale"

Moving On

Well, after Wyatt died, I had a lot of trouble getting back to writing on the blog. We are slowly recovering from all of the trauma. It was very sad to loose all the foals, but at the end of the day, we have our mare Friday and Smoky, both of whom are doing fantastic.

Smoky has recovered from all of his cold weather stiffness and we are all enjoying riding him this spring. He lost a bit of weight during the winter, despite having supplemental grain, but otherwise appears unchanged. He continues to be his same old dignified and stubborn self, never too afraid to let you know how he thinks things should go. He is 29 years old this year.

Taking Smoky on a trail ride.

Friday is doing fantastic and the vet told us she was good to be bred back this spring. I hope to breed her to the same stud. Dusty's Best Effort is not only handsome, but has a wonderful temperament. I have been riding Friday and working out some of her previous career (horseracing) quirks. She is doing beautifully under saddle and is so eager to please and understand. I love working with her.