Leith's Horses

The new foal

Oh, by the way, Grenade's baby is a colt. As with Malakai, I couldn't tell for a couple of days. He doesn't have a name yet because I was hoping for a filly (who would have been called Malta). Any suggestions very welcome!

Malakai is getting big

This photo of Pip's foal was taken just before Xmas. Malakai is very sweet and friendly. I'm really glad I taught him to lead while he was small because he's growing faster than I expected. Yesterday someone mistook him for a yearling!

Another surprise . . .

Grenade was due to foal on about the 12th January 2006, so Simon was pretty surprised to see a very small horse on the 21st December. Ross and I rushed home from a party when we started getting urgent and cryptic messages on our cellphones. The little thing was very tiny and so narrow that only his crooked front legs kept him upright.

Singing horses

If you need a bit of light entertainment, type in the link below and click on each horse!

http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf

The language of horses

This is a page out of Monty Roberts's new book. Monty Roberts is an American guy who forms of the basis of the horse whisperer. I'm half way through his first book 'The man who listens to horses' (which is very good by the way, even if you're not really into horses). He studied the wild mustangs in America a bit, and has been a professional horse person since he was four years old. He believes that horses communicate using body position (mostly), and that humans should mimic the way horses naturally interact in order to train them, etc. His methods are totally non-violent, which is kinda cool :0)

We may have a new baby . . .

But we haven't forgotten Honey in all the excitement! Yesterday Brook and Ross and I all spent some time with our original baby horse. She seems happy enough to have a little sister.

Leith: . . . or brother! It's interesting, though, that Pip (the mum) chases Honey away whenever Malakai tries to go up and make friends with his big sister. Especially strange as Pip is still only on the most generally friendly terms with us, but will let me pat Malakai all over, even when he's feeding. Pip also charges at the other horses if she thinks Malakai is getting too close (he is curious and keen to make friends). . . although she might be doing less of this than she was. Brook and I moved the other horses in with Pip and Malakai a few days ago, and it has been fascinating watching the interactions between defensive Pip and the rest of the herd. (11/15/05)

Leith: Pip has virtually stopped chasing Honey and Grenade away now, unless Grenade gets between her and the baby. It's really sweet seeing Honey and Malakai together. Malakai spends all his time wandering around after his big sister, chewing on her tail. They are very affectionate, but if he's being annoying Honey will eventually turn around and bite him. (12/06/05)

Pip's foal (born 19th October 2005)

This is Pipistral and her new baby, about 9am on the day she (we think it's a she, although yesterday Brook thought it was a he . . . I guess it will become more obvious with time!) was born.

John I: Way cute! That's more my size horse. Can you keep them that big? Congratulations to the father too. Has he been informed/shown a photo? J (10/19/05)

Leith: Oh, by the way, it is definately a boy. The day after I posted these pictures I saw what you might call irrefutable evidence! (Brook told me that this just goes to show that you ought to trust your little sisters . . . which is undoubtedly true) (11/01/05)

My first foal!

At 7:30 am yesterday morning, I woke up to the bingeley boop of a txt arriving . . . it read:

"Get up! Your horse has a little suprise 4 u! Yippee! Hooray! Avon. tee hee"

I actually only read as far as the second exclamation mark before leaping out of bed. Ross and I rushed outside to greet the newest member of our family. The sideways bulge in Pip's tummy was gone . . . replaced by a little chestnut creature with a very white nose and ridiculously long legs.

ChrisP: That foal couldn't possibly have come out of that horse, it's far too big! That's just plain silly! Next you'll be telling me men evolved from apes! (10/20/05)

Lois: It really happened! He/she looks gorgeous in the flesh too, tho I didn't have a close look in case mother horses are as stroppy as mother cows can be sometimes (& it was pouring with rain) Well done Leith! Love Lois (10/26/05)

Mandy and Sophie and Silver

Silver is getting pretty old, but he was looking great that day. Ross and I had trimmed his feet not long before, and he was trotting about like a young thing.

Joe Blogs: Wow, nice blog! I especially like the lack of an image at the top, great decision ;-) (09/26/05)

Leith: Alas, our beautiful Silver is no more. We think he went off quietly to die by himself. I'm glad he spent his last days being loved by all of us :0) (03/20/06)

Mandy and Nigel's visit

This was taken last time Mandy and Nigel came to visit. Maia is leading Silver and Sophie is having a ride.

Sue and Ralph's house

Okay, this one doesn't actually have any horses in it, but it is in the valley. You can't quite see mum and dad's house from our place - there are some trees in the way - but it's less than half a kilometer walk upriver :0)

Another photo of Pip

This one was taken before I bought her. When I heard that the Chamove's were considering selling her I dragged Ross up to look at their herd of horses. Avon and I had always said she was our favourite, so I couldn't pass up the chance to own her! She is every bit as nice as she looks . . . quiet and sensible and very very smart.

Leith: Pip still hasn't had her baby. I can see her and Honey grazing out my window at the moment. Earlier I fed them some Breeder nuts and molasses, which they really liked. Pip needs the extra food and minerals to support the baby (and Honey just gets some because she's keeping her mum company). Pip's tummy is huge, and her udder is a little 'full' looking. The udder usually starts to fill up 2-6 weeks before foaling, but I'm not sure how small Pip's got after she weaned her baby about 4-5 months ago. I'm trying to watch it closely now . . . (09/27/05)

Leith: Pip still hasn't foaled. She is looking great and her tummy is growing. Ross and I are trying to spend some time with her and Honey each day, feeding her treats and things so that she'll let us near the baby when it's born (or let us help out if she needs help during the birth). She'll let us stroke her while she eats, and comes over to us in the paddock, but remains a little wary of people. (10/06/05)

The day our house arrived . . .

I hired a truck and crane company to more our house from Pete's sawmill in Pohangina (where it used to be the office) to our valley. They swung it on and off the truck using a crane . . . as you can see here!

Brook and Nugget

I really love this photo of Brook riding her pony. It was taken ages ago, but it shows her fabulous balance and the way she makes riding seem to easy and natural! She started riding when she was 3 years old, so imagine how good Rowan will be . . .
brook&nugget

Grenade

This is my beautiful Grenade. This was taken more than a year ago, right in front of our house.

Grenade in a western saddle

Here is Grenade in a western saddle I've borrowed from some friends and might buy. This was the last time I rode her - before her belly got too big! I don't think I'll be riding her again until she foals in mid January 2006. It's already pretty hard to pick up her feet 'cause her puku sticks out so far!

Leith: This one doesn't really show Grenade at her best! But I have great memories of the ride that followed, and the picture reminds me, and it's my blog . . . (10/06/05)

Honey with a saddle on

This is the first time I ever put a saddle on Honey. She just stood there quietly while I did up the girth. Then she walked around a bit, but didn't seem fussed at all!

Leith and Honey

Here I am, doing some training with Honey in the yards. Please note that she is wearing a halter . . . I'm pretty proud of that, because when she arrived you couldn't even stroke her. This photo was taken quite a while ago.

Diana Burns: Hi Leithy Great to see your lovely horse photos - have to admit I especially like the ones with you and the family in them! Well done. Maybe you could occasionally add some more non-horse info as well, such as how the PhD is going, your trip, other exciting things happening... I haven't seen you since you got back from the big trip, so ma dying to hear all about it. I'll be up for Labour weekend - are you around? Much love Diana xxxxxxxxx (09/26/05)

Lois: Hi there Leith -thanks for the email which encouraged me to find your blog and finally get your various horses all sorted out in my mind (until I forget again!) What a lot of fun! What's the protocol of blogs? Can I tell Diana I enjoyed her bit in North & South, (which had a fairly tenuous link to horses, must admit) or does one stick to the topic in hand? Guess what I have to do is start my own blog, rather than piggyback on yours. Great idea! (09/26/05)

Ria: Well, this seems the photo to comment with, though not about the actual photo = b Your blog does look cool Leithy... luv u, (09/27/05)

jude: Hi leith.. I have only heard about blogs to date so thanks for introducing me properly! Lovely to see the great Pugmire photo history tradition started by Susie carrying on..tell me about your trip and your PhD next time! We are coming to the Wellington festival at Labour weekend andt hen will be arranging or maybe Jock will drive the campervan up to leith and Simon Lots of love Jude (09/28/05)

Sue: Hey, what a lovely blog. I especially enjoyed the comments from other readers, and seeing the photos while here in Melbourne made me feel connected with 'home'. Thanks Leithie. xxSue (09/28/05)

John I: This is clearly the best blog I have ever visited because it is the only one, but it was fun, even though I am deeply suspicious about horses which have four forward gears but no obvious brakes. I am still young, so may even do it again one day. Always nice to see and read about life in the valley. Thanks Leith! XJ (10/06/05)

joanne: what do u mean keep it clean?!! i would never dream of being anything but a respectable young lady lol. Anyway i think u have a good site here and dont worry i too remember when u couldnt go near honey and im very proud of u for getting so far with her. (10/07/05)

Grace: Namaskar Leith, it is lovely to get to feel like I have visited you and seen yuo again through your blog. To learn more about you. I hope I get to see you in the flesh again some time soon. In love and divine light Grace (10/09/05)

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Pip and baby

This is Pip and her second daughter, who was born last year (20th October 2004).

Fox

This is 'Desert Alpine Fox', the little Welsh Mountain Pony who Grenade is in foal to. He is only about 11.2 hands high!

Leith: I just clicked that a 'hand' is both 4 inches, and 10 cms, so if you want to translate a horse's height back and forth it's very easy! For example, 11.2ha would be 112cm. Incidently, horses are measured from the ground to the whithers (which is the lump at the bottom of their neck . . . that is, the bottom of the top of their neck . . . or maybe the front of their back . . . gosh, you can see why we need terms like 'dorsal' to avoid all the confusion)! (11/01/05)

Pipistral

This photo of Pip was taken a few days ago (about 25th Sep, 2005). She is due to foal in the next couple of weeks we think. The father is a beautiful chestnut Quarter Horse stallion called Oaks Ojay.

Some of the horses by our house

Avon and Honey

This is our house in the Kahuterawa

This is our house in the Kahuterawa Valley.

hello

This is the first post to my horse club blog. I will put up some photos of my horses sometime :0)