Murder on Music Row

Murder has been committed on music row. There are many indictments, the trial should last at least six months. This blogger will personally blog the latest updates, every now and then. A bunch of country artists and radio guys have been charged with killing country music, are they guilty or innocent?

Who knows, first up on the witness stand is George Strait, the questions are going to be tough.
A big thanks to newsmax from country weekly for coming up with this idea.

Read More

TF Aine - FOR SALE

Aine is everything that you could want in a sport horse. Athletic, correct, eye-catching, uphill and sweet tempered and she'll change any preconceptions you may have about chestnut mares. I had not wanted to sell Aine (pronounced Ahh-nya) but with increasing cost of living plus the mammoth bill we are facing for Silas, I have no choice but to put her on the market. Hand on heart I believe this filly to have a huge future and I would love to see her go to a kind, experienced rider who will give her every opportunity to excel.

Aine's dam, Future (Maude), is a 16.2HH mare by the very influential RID stallion, Kingsway Diamond. Maude has been with us for 9 years and Aine is her fourth foal. Her previous foals are all in lovely homes where they are much loved by their owners and they are or will be embarking upon their ridden careers soon. Maude was a promising SJ/Saddle Hunter until an injury put her out of action and, she came to me. Maude will be re-bred to Reilly this season for her owner (who lives in the UK). This will probably be her last foal - she is 20 years old.

Aine's sire is our own lovely Mighty Heights son, Reilly. Reilly is a four year old 7/8 TB stallion out of a lovely mare by Light Spirits called What a Lark. Lark was full sister to Daylight who evented at advanced level in the UK. Reilly has proven to be a lovely even tempered stallion who happily carts me, his very novice rider, around the place. If you want to breed for temperament and type and be competitive on the circuit, I don't think you can go past the Irish.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Irish horses. Aine is basically 2/3 TB and 1/3 Irish Draught making her a superb cross for eventing and SJ but she will look very much at home in the dressage arena as well. She is a very tall filly and should mature well in excess of 16HH. Everyone who sees her remarks on her height so if you like them big, she's your gal!

Aine will be registered and branded with the NZ Irish Horse Soc. and available at weaning. She can be grazed here over the winter if required. Aine's sale price is $3000.

Please EMAIL or call (06 372 5922 or 027 246 1670) if you would like to arrange to meet Aine in the flesh. We can also show you her sire.

Video links:

Aine & Rory

Aine gets a new paddock

Random

Aine and Maude

Aine showing off

Read More

A week on ...

It is a week, to the hour, since we said good bye to our Angel Silas. I still cry when I think about him for more than a fleeting moment and have to steal myself and focus on something else. His loss affected us all deeply and we will never forget him or the love that he brought into our lives. His stall is very empty and his cover and halter are still lying, folded, in the corner, waiting for me to clear them away - I can't quite bring myself to do this yet.

I'm still not sure about what I want to do long-term with the horses and breeding but am happy to have secured good temporary homes for my breeding mares. Robbie may have found the perfect lease home but there are a few problems with distance and cost to get him there. Hopefully they can be resolved soon or I might just have to pop one of my girls with him - for now he is happy with his paddock and his view of the property and the horses. I don't think it is quite the same as having a mare & foal running with him but he seems to know that I can't provide him with that right now and he is very settled and calm in himself. He has a wise head on his broad young shoulders.

We're still receiving emails and phone calls from people who were touched by Silas' story. The help we have received both financially and emotionally is nothing less than astonishing and we look forward to the day when we can pay it forward and be there for others in difficult situations. If you are one of the wonderful people who has helped us please know that we are more thankful than it is possible to express in words and your help means the world to us.

Read More

My foalies

So it is a completely cr@p bit of video but I was bored this afternoon so made it. Might have to rope Nick into helping me actually get some reasonable footage at some point. Aine is for sale. It breaks my heart to put her on the market but needs must and we still have a large vet bill to pay. I am absolutely sure she has star potential and that is with my rose coloured specs removed. She's just spectacular to watch when she really gets going (none of that on video unfortunately) and, as for Rory, my little Rorror is everything I wanted and more - He may be small but he's got a great big personality to make up for his stature. I wonder, will he grow? His mum is not small (a good 16.1HH) and his dad is also a reasonable size (advertised as 16.1HH) but Rory seems so tiny. Perhaps it is just because his paddock companion is such a giant that he seems smaller than he really is? I just don't know but what I do know is that, I absolutely adore him!

Read More

The Legal Woes of Plaxico Burress

I have a new SI.com column on Plaxico Burress. I hope you have a chance to check it out.

Update 12/2: I have a new SI.com column up on Burress and I'll be interviewed on CNN tomorrow morning in a segment that will air several times between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., hope you have a chance to watch.

Read More

Flower Power

The daisies are out in force at the moment so, what better thing to do with daisies than make daisy chains?

Rory & Hooty

Aine & Maude
Rory takes flight
Daisy chained Rory

Daisy chained Aine

This season's outside mares have presented their challenges, mainly because they have all so far been maidens - It is tempting to refuse maiden mares because so often they really can be tricky customers and can present a lot of extra work but, for Hamish in particular, he is very popular with people wanting to breed first foals from maiden mares so it would be a tough call to take them away from him - I can however understand why some stud owners stipulate no maidens!

I finally gave up on Girl today and put her in with Hamish. She has been teased every day, at least once a day, since she arrived nearly three weeks ago and NOTHING, nada, zip! According to her owner she was due to come in late the week before last but, nothing. Her owner does not really want the extra expense of scans and PG shots yet so, knowing how good Hamish is at talking his girls around, I introduced them today. She is clearly not yet cycling but they are running together quite happily and I will keep a close eye on them.

Grace, Reilly's 'puritan' maiden is due back in later this week and I have hobbles coming so, finger's crossed, this time we have some success (unless of course he managed to cover her under the cover of darkness and she is in foal but I am not holding my breath on that!).

Bella will be ready to be scanned in a couple of weeks so, finger's crossed and Maude will be bred to Reilly on her next cycle. Busy times.

Read More

Jesse James

Nick is a member of the local folk club/group and they were recently asked to perform at the local Farmer's Market. They have been performing there every Saturday from about 9.30 until 12.30 & Nick seems to be the main act, bless him. Next week he gets a week off as they have a prior booking for the Market's 2 year birthday party but we will still be headed down to help with pony rides. His dad video'd one of his songs on Saturday so, here's a bit of music for y'all to tap your feet to.

and, here is Nick in his new birthday hat ...

Read More