Summer 09
Taking a holiday
Samson, Forrester and Riley are holidaying in a field by the river at Leatherhead. They had various strains and sprains, so we decided to give them the summer off. There was a lot of grass, so they didn't come up for air the first week.
Samson managed to cut himself quite badly in the horsebox on the way there and had to have 13 staples in the wound. Anthea was having to catch him every day or so to treat it but it is better now and you can't see a scar.
Out to Stud
Mari has gone to stud to Drumhowan Cavalier, the grandson of Cavalier, one of Ireland's top jumping stallions (pictured below).
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She is a well bred Irish Sport Horse from jumping stock and at 14, is retiring for a while to hopefully have a foal. Wildwoods has bred over 35 foals over the years. Top Secret, Splash's foal who is now a three year old , is being "broken in" at the moment.
A sick note
Whizz had a year off due to injury, but when we started walking her out, she was still not quite sound, although a lot better. We hope that a bit more time will off will give her a chance to recover fully. She bruised the sole of her foot very badly and the vet thinks she must have damaged some soft tissue or tendons as well. Xrays didn't show anything to worry about and nerve blocks tell us the problem is definitely in the foot. She is one of our most popular ponies and definitely worth waiting for.
She has been sent to a feathered piebald stallion, who rides and drives and is pretty bomproof. We are hoping to breed something quiet for the school. It gives the staff experience in handling youngstockk - quite different from riding school horses and ponies! If Mari has a foal then they can graze together.
Scout is also off lame. Again the vet has diagnosed injury in the foot and he is having a rest for the summer. Looks pretty happy, doesn't he?
BHS training course
We have been busy with our BHS Courses. All our candidates passed the Stage 1 so far and a good percentage passed the Stage 3 including Dean Cooper and Sarah Brear. Philippa Stanley passed the riding (having just finished 'A' levels she is postponing the care) and Rhianna Graco passed the Stage 3 care and will soon take the Stage 2 riding along with Tess O'Brien. They are also working for the Preliminary Teaching Test in August ........