This year is definitely one for being patient. Waiting for the sun and summer to arrive, and also waiting for foals. It is now very obvious that King did only manage to serve the one mare last year, result of which is Mowgli. The old boy has served his last mare, but can't grumble he has produced so many gorgeous foals over the years. Very sad but knew the time would come, he is really showing his age and we have him in on pretty much ad lib feed but struggling to put the weight on, a tough decision will be needed soon I think (very sad).

So anyway we are now awaiting the arrival of at least 8 foals but as Shoey wasn't turned with the mares until very late July then will have to wait a little longer, 2 mares looking very close and others shouldn't be far behind them. Keep watching our facebook page as it will be updated as soon as new babies arrive.

Of the 5 already born 4 have new homes to go to when weaned, just little Martha left which is quite surprising a she is very pretty and quite a character. Shoey has produced a lovely colt to a visiting mare from last year, so signs are good that his offspring will be pretty and well marked. Thomas has also become a Daddy to another filly just born in Devon to a mare that visited us last year. SO he has produced 5 out of 5 fillies, quite impressive and all gorgeously marked.

We are having to make big decisions this year over amount of mares we will be keeping, think our aim is to have more TB type mares as these when crossed with the traditionals produce a very nice type of riding horse. We may well be offering up some mares in foal at end of season, so if anyone interested please get in touch. 

Another choice we need to make is how many stallions to keep, picking between Thomas and Shoey will be the toughest, once Shoeys foals are born then we will need to decide. Of course we also have Prince who throws a big big foal, always making at least 16hh even to smaller mares. We know his foals are good as only have to look at Jiminy, Victor, Lilly, Rumer, Jessica etc to see this, but of course he is only heterozygous so not guaranteed a coloured but his solid foals always have good markings.

So lots to think about. Our retirement livery numbers are growing and we would like to have about 20 here. All that are here now seem to be happy, settled and enjoying being with friends and just being allowed to be horses. We have some buildings to put new roofs on and then can accommodate more, as well as using the yards for loose housing  as well.

I hope that many of you can make it to our Open Day on 14th July, it is being held in conjunction with our Wedding Reception Venue so will have marquee erected and caterer and other suppliers here on display. Please bring a picnic and hopefully the weather will be kind so everyone can enjoy sitting around the lake and also viewing the horses. Hopefully will have a few more foals here by then as well.

So to close and as I do the sun is beginning to come back out, how long for who knows, but at least all this rain is keeping the grass growing (have to look on the positive side of things).

Well over a month since last blog, what has happened? Well mainly rain I think. All those rain dances we did early on certainly worked, but how doe we turn the tap off and the heat up? Must admit the last few weeks have been harder work than all the winter put together, fields just laying with water, horses stodging ground in, what a miserable time its been. As I type this Richard is rolling the fields trying to get rid of the damage.

Better news during this time, which those that follow us on facebook will know, is that we had 3 more foals born. First came Mowgli on 17th April, a beautiful Colt by our lovely old boy King, then followed by Mermaid on 20th April, filly by Thomas, and lastly Martha on 26th April, the 4th filly by Thomas. We are very very pleased with the foals that Thomas has produced, we had been thinking about selling the young man but seeing what he produces has changed our minds. He is managing to serve our bigger mares so thats a bonus!!

              WORSENDEN MOWGLI                                                      WORSENDEN MARTHA

                                                         WORSENDEN MERMAID

Talking of King, he is out in field with 19 mares now, we finally managed to turn the last of these out this week, I'm really not sure if my initial thoughts that he had managed to get a few mares in foal last year will come to fruition. Am hoping maybe one or two may produce babies in next couple of weeks, but looking more certain that Shoey will be the Daddy of several now. But King is more sprightly this year than last so still keeping everything crossed that he will manage to do something, if not then Mowgli will be his last foal, very sad as his babies are all turning out so gorgeous. 

Have had a few more liveries come along , they are all settling in , getting to know who gets on well best with who takes a little while but now have some nice happy groups out there. We are hoping to be able to get our livery numbers up to around 20, will be sorting out more accommodation for them this Summer, so able to fit them all in over the winter if needed. 

Date for our open day will be arranged shortly. It will be difficult to choose a day that suita everyone I know, will need to be a weekend I imagine, so bound to coincide with horse shows etc, we will do our best to not clash with anything major.

So lets all hope for some nice warm, dry weather to cheer us all up again, and also because the new babies will be being born outside.