Bazil now over 15 weeks old

These pictures of Bazil and Ruth were taken last night. I felt I hadn't talked about the foal for a while and he is growing taller every week. He is now 15 weeks old, 16 on Saturday. You can see the milky soft baby coat has nearly disappeared, leaving a very rory red colour underneath. He will be a bright bay Dartmoor soon.

Ruth is fat and happy. She still allows the foal to suckle, but I think it hurts now, as she does complain but does not deny him a feed.

Bazil has a ball in the field which he plays with - I think he could make a fabulous forward for the Scottish Rugby team, but as the picture shows, he is also most interested in the training cones I've put out in the paddock. Perhaps his future could be in construction?

Anyway, all the horses and ponies are well. I have to sign off now, got to do some work!

P.S. Ruth is the "Cover Girl" of the 2008 Dartmoor Pony Society Calendar which is available now from the Dartmoor Pony Society at £6.00 a copy plus P+P. They haven't printed many, so get your copy now!

Still Building the Kennels

What a lot of rain we had on Saturday, it was relentless. As you can see the hole where the foundations of the dog's kennels filled up with water which made digging very difficult and wet! Progress on the site is slowly taking shape, but I don't think the platform for the kennels will be ready at the end of this month.

On Saturday my car died a death. Luckily, I hadn't gone anywhere, I'd just started the car to go shopping when the engine cut out. I phoned the AA who sent a man out to fix the car and he told me that the timing belt had gone and I may have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage! That's the heating oil money gone... oh well, I guess I need the car more than the oil, I can just put another jumper or fleece on when it gets cold. After all, I survived last year after Christmas with no heating and I didn't have any in my last house. I'm just getting old and soft!

My brother in law just happened to phone Chris on Saturday night because I had canceled going to the Irvine Riding Club show on Sunday and he wanted to know what was wrong. Chris told him and the next thing I knew, he and J had arranged to try and repair the car. So on Sunday morning he came over with my sister and the girls and we had a breakfast party whilst my car was being stripped down. All good fun.

So this week I had planned to hire a small car. I got a lift into work from Dad, intending to hire a car this afternoon, but guess what? I'm such a pea brain, I forgot to bring my driving license with me!!

THE OFFICE COMPUTER DOWN

The office computer has been away since Monday 8th August being fixed because I added 1GB of memory and now it has issues with the system - or something like that - the blinking thing kept crashing.

The kennels are one tiny step closer to being built. I have 10 tons of type 1 stone sitting in my yard and 26 planks of wood, to to make the base. I did cut the wood to size yesterday - so that is the tiny step! Chris did try to help, but unfortunately his back gave out and that was the end of his contribution. The hole at the moment is like a large swimming pool, which was all too exciting for Imogen - paddle in the pond or in the footings ... decisions, decisions.

I rode Little Maud on Saturday. What would normally be a one hour hack on the horse took us two hours! My legs were very stiff and rather sore when I dismounted. I have to ride the pony with very short stirrup leathers because being 6 feet tall, my heels wouldn't make contact with her sides. On Sunday I did the same circuit on Bombay, but rode out with Jacqui and managed to catch up with all her chat.

The foal was 14 weeks old on Saturday. He is getting bigger and more independent. The battery for the electric fencing has gone flat and whilst it is being recharged, Bazil escapes into the big field and grazes quite happily with Corrie. Ruth seems quite cool with this set up and luckily stays in her fenced off paddock, if she didn't she would be the size of a house, and the foal pops backwards and forwards to visit his Mum for a drink and a cuddle!