Rio- one year old

Today is Rio's birthday, and I'm sure proud of him, he has grown into a beautiful boy. Grown is the right word, I measured him yesterday and he's exactly 14 hh, so I think he will for sure make the measurement I figured of about 15.2hh.

What I haven't told you is that there is a good chance he will be going to Texas with Chickory- yep, Ted said we could part with him, and this is a good opportunity for him. I'll fill you in later when I have everything sorted out.

He sure represents Beamer- and Belle- well, and I hope everything works out. I know Chickory will be happy to have him along for the trip- they are best buddies.

This little guy has big hooves to  fill, but having him makes it easier to part with Rio.

Easter in the sun

Mama Belle was pretty restless yesterday and wanted to be out of her pen. Since the adjacent pen is still too muddy for little foal legs- don't want to strain those new legs!- the choice was to halter and lead him along with mama to the pen I use for first foal turnout; it's actually Beamers summer paddock. So with a little judicious rearrangement of the other 3 horses because I didn't want to have them pestering us, it was time for baby's first haltering.

A little practice, and the addition of a butt rope so that we didn't have to pull on his head and neck too much, and off we went. He wasn't too sure about the mud, but with a little encouragement with the butt rope he came along nicely- and was even in the lead once he figured it out. Smart boy!
Then it was funny watching him figure out all that space, and that he was s'posed to follow mama- he kept wanting to visit with Ted and me.

After a few tries, and a bunch of stink-eye from Belle, off they went.

This is the best Belle has ever looked after foaling, she really maintained her weight and her coat is dappled and healthy.

First thing on Belle's agenda was a good roll, and then it was time to teach the little fella what those long legs are for.

He got lots of exercise!

He learned to follow mama.

Napping in the sun....

They stayed out until around 3, then Belle was looking to come back in. The leading session went well, and they will go back out this morning.

Sunday Stills

New beginnings- that's today's challenge; no problem here, as Belle's foal was born Friday night. Baby pics are my favorite, so sit back and enjoy.

The first photo- welcome to the world little fellow! Yes, she foaled him right in that corner.

There is another new beginning happening here, but I'll save it for Wordless Wednesday.

More....

baby photos.... don't say I didn't warn you!

Baby has managed to get a little swelling on the right side of his cheek, I checked his skin and inside his mouth, but nothing to be found, it might just be from foaling truama.

Checking out Tess, who retreated rather than risk another scolding.

Mama Belle doesn't mind me in the pen, but warns the other mares away with her glare- "MY baby!"

This is the first Beamer baby to have white on his bottom lip. Okay, that's it for today, I'm saving a bunch for Sunday Stills tomorrow!

Here he is

Aurora- please send me an email so I can tell you how to claim your prizes- yes- 2, because my sister is awarding a $10 Starbucks card, as well as the $25 gift certificate from Mrs. Moms Southern Wind Solutions.

Well I hope you don't get tired of foal photos! It looks like he is going to be either brown or black, he doesn't have the grey eye of a smokey black like Rio and Kai did.

He has the most white of any Beamer baby to date, and like all the rest, he has good straight legs and a pretty head. He was following me around the pen this morning. A lot of my photos didn't turn out, but I got a couple for Sunday Stills tomorrow.

Belle is such a good mama, she doesn't mind sharing him with me. But guess who is jealous?

Yep- Tess. She snapped at mama Belle and got TOLD. So no unsupervised yard time for her until she gets over it.

Hello world!

At last- we have a foal! It's a colt, born at 11:55 PM on Good Friday, April 6, so the official contest winner is Aurora- the color is yet to be determined, I'll have to see him in the morning light. Everything went well, this is a vigorous healthy baby and mama is doing fine. We had a few anxious moments as she was right against the wall , in fact he was born right in the corner as you can see; Ted slid him away from the wall as he came out. He was up on his feet within a half hour, and nursing shortly after- no trouble for him to figure that out! 3 white stockings, and that blaze- I don't know where all the white is coming from, Beamer and Belle don't have much.

I'm not sure on the color, when he dried off he looked really yellow, might be a sooty buckskin or a brown.
The coyotes were close tonight, so I'll be sleeping light- but back in the house! G'night all!

Stay tuned...

She's waxing- and the foaling contest is now closed.

A little light entertainment.

Since there's no foal yet, I thought I'd do a post on some horseplay. Rio and Chickory are best buds and often do a little rough-housing together.  One of them will chase the other,

Rio is looking for an opportunity to turn the tables,

Gotcha!

Oh yeah? Take that!

Okayyyyyy, we're even.... ( referee Reba calls it a draw)

Remember that Kenny Rogers song that goes, "I am the greatest, there is in all the land" - well I bet that is what Rio would sing if he could!

Waiting Wednesday

Well here it is April 4th and still no foal. This photo is taken in her foaling pen, which is 20X20, and that camperette in the background is where I have been bunking since March 22nd, which was 11 months from the first day she was bred. She isn't waxing yet, or leaking milk, so who knows how much longer she will go? She's at 347 days right now, with normal being 343 days. I don't think it will happen tonight, but I'll be sleeping light anyway- you just never know!

Wordless Wednesday

Rio update

In all the anticipation over the expected foal- who as I write is overdue- I thought I'd do a post on Rio, who turns 1 year old a week from today.

Little Mr. Handsome isn't so little any more; I'm guessing he is very close to 14 hands, and I'll try to get him measured in the next day or so. We had the farrier out on Saturday, and he was a good boy.

He has good feet and nice straight legs- please excuse the muddy socks! All that remains of his leg wound is the little scar that you can see on his left hind.

I put him in the round pen so I could get close enough to get some decent action photos.

The border collies had to get in on the action too. Imagine that!

I had a little too much zoom in the next photo, but Rio is hamming it up for the camera just like his daddy does. And no, that big boat in the background isn't ours! Someone rents storage space here.

I took a little video too, although I like the still shots better, at least you can see what lovely movement Rio has.

Can't wait to see the next foal, I hope it turns out to be as beautiful as big brother Rio.

Sunday Stills

Birdstalking.... well, around here it isn't so much about stalking birds as it is about the dangIwishIhadmycamera moment... like yesterday when swans flew low overhead, and when the flocks of cowbirds and starlings wheel by in huge numbers, or the Magpie taking off from a fencepost... all those lost moments that are only in the photo album of my mind....
It was such a grey wet week that my photos aren't very inspiring, but here is what I got:

A common redpoll at the feeder

Coming in for a landing

A goldfinch sporting his new spring plumage 

and a raven, annoyed that I disturbed him in his refuge from the rain.

And just for fun, one from my archives:

Ted looks a little owly, don't you think?