Breanna's first romance

Our 3 year old bay roan filly Breanna de Kingmaker had her first romance this Spring.  She was covered by our black stallion Wilf  - Thornville Pride - initially too successfully as an ultrasound scan at 14 days gestation showed that she had conceived twins! Our vet managed to squeeze one of the embryos and a subsequent scan confirmed that Breanna had maintained her pregnancy. Her foal is due in late May 2015. He/she will be the first grandchild for our bay roan stallion Coverdales Carnival King.

 

 

 

 

Splash !!!

We had torrential rain in mid-May following Emperor's birth, but we don't like to keep our new foals stabled, so at 3 days of age, Impy discovered puddles the hard way!

I was fortunate to have my point-and-shoot camera in my pocket and realised what was about to happen as Impy was turned-out and set off on his first mad dash of the morning. I just managed to drag the camera out and aim it roughly in the direction of the silver blur as Impy went careering through a deep puddle at the gallop....

SPLASH !!!!! Water everywhere. A thoroughly soaked and somewhat shocked little foal. A look from Inca as if to say "well that serves you right dear", and one of those classic foal memories that will stay in our minds for ever.



Introducing Emperor de Kingmaker

Inca (Wolsey Quebec) gave birth to her fourth foal at 1.05am on 19th May 2014, bang on her due date. The new baby is a classy black colt with a central star, who we have named Emperor de Kingmaker, as he has a very proud and imperious look. He is a lively and mischievous boy, so very quickly acquired the pet name of Impy. Given that Inca's previous foals have all been fillies, he is quite a shock to her system!

Emperor's father is our black stallion Thornville Pride who has almost 100% Wheatside bloodlines. We hope to find a new home for Emperor where he will remain entire and be licensed as a stallion to help preserve these important bloodlines in the Dales breed.

Impy at 1 day old :

 

Impy at 4 days old :

 

 

 

 

Impy at 12 days old :

 



Introducing Equinox de Kingmaker

Tetley (Twywell Rosie Leigh) gave birth to her second foal at 1am on 17th April 2014. The new baby is a beautiful rich bay colt, with no white markings, who we have named Equinox de Kingmaker.

Equinox's father is our bay roan stallion Coverdales Carnival King.

From the outset, it was apparent that Equinox had the most wonderful, gentle nature. I am writing this blog in August (so much for my pledge to keep up-to-date!!!) and it's fair to say that Equinox has never put a hoof wrong in the 3½ months that have passed since his birth. He is a fun, friendly, athletic foal who loves to run and play. He has a wonderful, high-stepping trot, and he's doing really well with his early lessons - the "Mr Perfect" of our 2014 foals.

The photos below are of Equinox from birth to 3½ months old : 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elianne - growing up fast

Elianne is growing up to be a truly delightful foal. She's a very friendly but respectful girl who loves human attention. She's full of confidence and has a really great outlook on life - it's all about FUN for Elianne! She's a pleasure to have around.

Elianne is aged 6-8 weeks in these photographs :

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing ENVOY de Kingmaker, aka ZIGGY STARDUST

Becky (Packsfield Ella Beck) gave birth to her third foal, a RARE bay roan colt with central star, at 10.30pm on 6th April 2014. We have named the new colt Envoy de Kingmaker.

Envoy quickly acquired the nickname Ziggy Stardust. He was born just over 1 week early and spent the first hour of his life zig-zagging determinedly across his foaling-box whilst he worked out how to co-ordinate wobbly legs with brain! He fell over a few times - hence the "foal who fell to Earth", plus he has a sprinkling of silver hairs on his hindquarters which adds to the "stardust" effect.

Ziggy is a loveable, chunky foal with a pretty head and a beautiful expression. He looks to have the conformation and temperament to be run on as a stallion prospect.  Ziggy's father Coverdales Carnival King is still the ONLY licensed bay roan Dales stallion in the World, and we believe that Ziggy is the only entire bay roan colt, so he may well grow up to have a future helping to ensure the continuation of the bay roan colour in the Dales breed. Time will tell.

Ziggy is a quiet, inquisitive foal, with an obvious cheeky streak that is just waiting to come to the fore. His dam Becky is a little over-protective of her new baby and rounds him up whenever he runs off to explore on his own. However, as time progresses, Ziggy is starting to rebel - he runs away faster! - and Becky is tiring of her disciplinarian role, so a lively, more confident Ziggy is now starting to appear.

Photos of Ziggy from birth - 3 weeks old

 

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Introducing ELIANNE de Kingmaker

Gem (Manorian Moonstone) gave birth to her sixth foal, a tall, whole black filly, at 3.20am on 18th March 2014. We have named the new filly Elianne, in memory of my Parisian great-auntie Elianne, plus it's names beginning with "E" for horses born in France this year!

Elianne is a delightful foal. She is extremely curious (probably better described as downright nosey!) and chock-full of confidence. She loves human attention, and is racing ahead with her early lessons. She loves to be groomed and by the age of just 4 weeks, was standing perfectly to have her mane and tail combed, and all four hooves picked-out. She takes all new experiences in her stride and seems to be fazed by nothing!

Photos of Elianne from birth - 3 weeks old