DECEMBER 22nd
Well, what can I say, like you all just going from day to day, trying to act as nornally as we can, but only going off the farm to shop and John to take animals to market. Pouring with rain most of the time, so lovely mud, and four very bored, dirty, Dales ponies.
However, I would like to thank those of you who have been in touch regarding ponies you have bought from me. It is great to hear how they are getting on in their new homes and to see the photos of them. I have also heard that Akehurst ponies have done rather well in recent 'new concept' photo shows, so congratulations and thanks for keeping the Akehurst flag flying. With Christmas cards arriving, I also get news of ponies long sold, many in their twenties, some in retirement and and of course the sad news that some have passed away. But great to know they had long happy lives with their owners.
I have recently had reports and photos from Denmark about the two ponies that now live there, ( different homes,) brother and sister, three year old Austen ( Akehurst Roseman) and younger sister Megan ( Akehurst Royal Rose ) Austen has now been backed which he took to very well, and after a short break will contine his education.
AUSTEN
Well, what can I say, like you all just going from day to day, trying to act as nornally as we can, but only going off the farm to shop and John to take animals to market. Pouring with rain most of the time, so lovely mud, and four very bored, dirty, Dales ponies.
However, I would like to thank those of you who have been in touch regarding ponies you have bought from me. It is great to hear how they are getting on in their new homes and to see the photos of them. I have also heard that Akehurst ponies have done rather well in recent 'new concept' photo shows, so congratulations and thanks for keeping the Akehurst flag flying. With Christmas cards arriving, I also get news of ponies long sold, many in their twenties, some in retirement and and of course the sad news that some have passed away. But great to know they had long happy lives with their owners.
I have recently had reports and photos from Denmark about the two ponies that now live there, ( different homes,) brother and sister, three year old Austen ( Akehurst Roseman) and younger sister Megan ( Akehurst Royal Rose ) Austen has now been backed which he took to very well, and after a short break will contine his education.
AUSTEN
Megan is also learning lots of new things and is enjoying lots of fuss and attention, and exploring by the look of it!!.
Ruby, who moved to Scotland at the end of August is also getting on well in her new home. She has new four legged friends to keep her company and has just experienced her first snow, I don't think we had snow while she was here.
Stanley continues to keep us amused, most of the time he's a lovely chappie, but he does have his moments and sadly cannot be trusted not to go exploring off the farm, if we leave him free. However, he seems quite content on his long rope and does get the chance to explore and run free when he goes with John on the quad. I think he is hoping for lots of new toys for Christmas, though I don't think there is much room left in his toy box!
Back here with all this mud and rain, my four are getting rather bored and fed up. Laddie is back in for the Winter so he's happy, plenty of grub, cows to chat to, and the odd glimpse of an ex wife to shout at!
Rosie is still baby sitting Pearl, they get on well, though Pearl could do with a bit more handling, she's very good to lead and in her stable but being a stroppy teenager, likes to test the water to see what she can get away with, NOTHING, so far, I've finally stopped her tipping her drinking water all over the floor, which she thought hillarious until she had no water to drink! She also thinks scraping the floor and banging the door amusing, well mum does it!! Katy is still not allowed to join them in the field, I just can't risk it, in case she goes for Pearl, in the awful deep mud. She has also been banned from the fields because she likes to stand at the gate, pawing the ground and creating lagre areas of slimmy mud, John is not pleased! So she goes out in the old slurry pit for a paddle and splash, not happy but best I can do.
Katy wearing her muddy outfit! Cows are in for the Winter, the smallest calf decided it was a good idea to climb through the feed barrier, then you get all the silage to yourself!!
Stanley continues to keep us amused, most of the time he's a lovely chappie, but he does have his moments and sadly cannot be trusted not to go exploring off the farm, if we leave him free. However, he seems quite content on his long rope and does get the chance to explore and run free when he goes with John on the quad. I think he is hoping for lots of new toys for Christmas, though I don't think there is much room left in his toy box!
Back here with all this mud and rain, my four are getting rather bored and fed up. Laddie is back in for the Winter so he's happy, plenty of grub, cows to chat to, and the odd glimpse of an ex wife to shout at!
Rosie is still baby sitting Pearl, they get on well, though Pearl could do with a bit more handling, she's very good to lead and in her stable but being a stroppy teenager, likes to test the water to see what she can get away with, NOTHING, so far, I've finally stopped her tipping her drinking water all over the floor, which she thought hillarious until she had no water to drink! She also thinks scraping the floor and banging the door amusing, well mum does it!! Katy is still not allowed to join them in the field, I just can't risk it, in case she goes for Pearl, in the awful deep mud. She has also been banned from the fields because she likes to stand at the gate, pawing the ground and creating lagre areas of slimmy mud, John is not pleased! So she goes out in the old slurry pit for a paddle and splash, not happy but best I can do.
Katy wearing her muddy outfit! Cows are in for the Winter, the smallest calf decided it was a good idea to climb through the feed barrier, then you get all the silage to yourself!!
Well that's about all the news from here, I hope you all manage to have a happy Christmas, stay safe and lets hope that 2021 brings an answer to this awful virus and we can get back to a more normal way of life.
SEPTEMBER 23rd
Well that was a welcome few days of late Summer, I think the animals enjoyed the sunshine on their backs, even though the ponies are shedding their Summer coats in readiness for Winter. The cows are calving, so the warmth was nice for their new calves. But change is on the way, they say.
Megan has settled well into her new home in Denmark and Ruby made the trip to her new home in Scotland at the end of August. Her new owners came to pick her up with their trailer, so I said to leave plenty of time for loading, as she has never even seen a trailer before. When they arrived they parked up in my usual loading place, a gap between the buildings, less room for playing around! Kay said no rush, she'd allowed an hour for loading. I collected Ruby from her box, she looked at the ramp, placed her hoof on it and up she went!! We were all amazed, bless her!! I said, I should have asked a higher price!!! Apparently, she travelled well on the long journey, nearly eight hours, and arrived cool and calm. I have heard she has settled well and made friends with Sam, the horse next door.
Well that was a welcome few days of late Summer, I think the animals enjoyed the sunshine on their backs, even though the ponies are shedding their Summer coats in readiness for Winter. The cows are calving, so the warmth was nice for their new calves. But change is on the way, they say.
Megan has settled well into her new home in Denmark and Ruby made the trip to her new home in Scotland at the end of August. Her new owners came to pick her up with their trailer, so I said to leave plenty of time for loading, as she has never even seen a trailer before. When they arrived they parked up in my usual loading place, a gap between the buildings, less room for playing around! Kay said no rush, she'd allowed an hour for loading. I collected Ruby from her box, she looked at the ramp, placed her hoof on it and up she went!! We were all amazed, bless her!! I said, I should have asked a higher price!!! Apparently, she travelled well on the long journey, nearly eight hours, and arrived cool and calm. I have heard she has settled well and made friends with Sam, the horse next door.
That left my other yearling Pearl, who had now lost her field companion. Rosie has always been boss over her mother Katy, so Iwas worried that she might not take kindly to Pearl sharing the field but thought it best to introduce them to each other without Katy. All went well, Rosie was quite happy to accept Pearl and was very kind to her.
So after an hour or so I put Katy into the field. Well! EXPLOSION! Katy was furious at this little upstart sharing the field and set about chasing her round and round, poor Pearl, she didn't expect that from her mother and poor field, it was rather wet and got very churned up. I was terrified Pearl would get cornered, so I removed Katy and put her in with the cows, I told her if she wanted to behave like an old cow she could live with them!
I tried on several occassions to introduce Katy but she just chases Pearl. I picked 6 lbs of blackberries one afternoon, while watching Katy, but she wasn't going to settle, so at the moment, she goes out with the cows and Rosie and Pearl have become good friends. I think Pearl is going to be a big girl, she is nearly as tall as Rosie now. With all the rain and then sun, we have loads of grass, good for cows and sheep, but Rosie and Katy are rather plump, so they come in for several hours during the day.
I think the cows were rather taken aback at this strange star covered animal, but now they ignore her and do their own thing.
Calving started badly this year, the first to calve was a heifer, and she did have a bit of a struggle with quite a large calf, but all was well in the end, next an older cow got into difficulties with a very large calf, which sadly didn't make it. We had hired a Charorlaise bull and we just hoped it wasn't a sign of things to come, but no more problems, some really cracking calves and just one more to go.
We have also bought in a new calf for our Jersey house cow, Mo to foster and that has settled in well, living with Mo's previous two foster calves. So lots of baby Moos around at the moment.
We have also bought in a new calf for our Jersey house cow, Mo to foster and that has settled in well, living with Mo's previous two foster calves. So lots of baby Moos around at the moment.
Stanley continues to keep us amused. He's very into beds. He has created at least four different places he likes to sleep, he takes his bed making very seriously, carrrying blankets about, giving them a good shake before placing them down where he wants them, and adding all sorts of other bits of old rubbish ( well I think it's rubbish). He often tries to take a blanket with him on his morning walk, so if it's been raining, that has to go in the wash when he returns. .
Once you've made your bed you have to lie on it.
Talking of beds, it's getting rather late and I think it's time to head off for mine. Here's hoping for a little more good weather before Winter sets in and that people are sensible, obey the rules, however difficult it may seem, so that this virus starts to subside and then we can all get back to a more normal way of life.
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August 16th
We might have been in lock down for the past few months but it's been busy, busy, busy, here. Life goes on, haymaking and animal care, and two ponies sold. Not to mention trying to keep the garden clear of the weeds, that are loving the wet weather, and the house presentable!
I have been 'shielding' but here in Wales, that ends today, coinsiding with my birthday, Horrah ! I can celebrate and do my own shopping etc, though a huge thank you to Leanne, who has kept us supplied with groceries over the past few months. Apart from a couple of car trips out, I have not been anywhere. Can't say I've missed it really.
Megan the two year old filly has found herself a lovely home in Denmark, quite by coincidence, that is where Austen, her older brother is living. It's a big ordeal for a pony that has never been off the farm, but she took it all in her stride .
She prepared for her long trip, getting her feet comfy, a lot of resting and enjoying ( I think) the company of her younger sisters.
We might have been in lock down for the past few months but it's been busy, busy, busy, here. Life goes on, haymaking and animal care, and two ponies sold. Not to mention trying to keep the garden clear of the weeds, that are loving the wet weather, and the house presentable!
I have been 'shielding' but here in Wales, that ends today, coinsiding with my birthday, Horrah ! I can celebrate and do my own shopping etc, though a huge thank you to Leanne, who has kept us supplied with groceries over the past few months. Apart from a couple of car trips out, I have not been anywhere. Can't say I've missed it really.
Megan the two year old filly has found herself a lovely home in Denmark, quite by coincidence, that is where Austen, her older brother is living. It's a big ordeal for a pony that has never been off the farm, but she took it all in her stride .
She prepared for her long trip, getting her feet comfy, a lot of resting and enjoying ( I think) the company of her younger sisters.
Megan had never been in a horse box before her journey, but she took her time, had a good look, checked it out and decided to give it ago! Katy wished her good luck as she set off on the first leg of her journey to Denmark
Five days later Megan has arrived in Denmark
Megan looks very happy, helping with the poo picking, and making friends with her new Fell pony companion.
Tanja has been in touch with Austen's owner and maybe one day the siblings will meet up again.
Ruby is also moving to a new home at the end of this month, not quite so far, Scotland, where she will join another Dales pony, so hopefully she will also have a lovely home and enjoy learning lots of new things. That will leave me with only four Dales! When we moved here ten years ago I brought seventeen with me!!
It's been a strange summer, what with the virus and the weather, violent storms, too hot to work and pouring rain. The ponies don't like the flies much, but Oooooh!! that lovely grass that's growing like mad, can't get it down fast enough!!
Ruby is also moving to a new home at the end of this month, not quite so far, Scotland, where she will join another Dales pony, so hopefully she will also have a lovely home and enjoy learning lots of new things. That will leave me with only four Dales! When we moved here ten years ago I brought seventeen with me!!
It's been a strange summer, what with the virus and the weather, violent storms, too hot to work and pouring rain. The ponies don't like the flies much, but Oooooh!! that lovely grass that's growing like mad, can't get it down fast enough!!
When Ruby leaves, Pearl will be the only youngster left, if the right home comes along I might sell her, but I'm not too bothered. I wonder how she will get on living with the grown ups, don't suppose they will be so much fun, as ones her own age.
Stanley the dog is gradually calming down, he certainly keeps us amused, he gets over excited when visitors call and if another dog comes, the word is crazy, but as these are rare occurrences you can't really blame him for 'loosing it!'
His favourite game is stamping on his squeeky ball when passing it, he also likes stamping on my feet! John says it's because I 'squeek' with pain! He also loves chasing his tail and now he is trying to combine the two, chasing his tail and stamping on his ball as he goes, hillarious! Hasn't quite perfected the technique yet! Must try and get a photo of that.
His favourite game is stamping on his squeeky ball when passing it, he also likes stamping on my feet! John says it's because I 'squeek' with pain! He also loves chasing his tail and now he is trying to combine the two, chasing his tail and stamping on his ball as he goes, hillarious! Hasn't quite perfected the technique yet! Must try and get a photo of that.
Lets hope the next time I update this page, life is getting more normal and the weather too.
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June
Well these are strange times, I hope you are all well and safe, and abiding by the rules of lockdown etc. I realise that John and I are very lucky to live where we do. Apart from someone kindly fetching our shopping for us, not seeing family, just chatting on the phone, and with the added bonus of very little traffic on the road and a definate lack of noisy motorbikes at the weekends, life has been going on almost like normal. In fact we seem to have been extra busy with animals, farm work and of course new dog Stanley.
At long last the rain stopped, the mud dried up and turned to dust. The animals are out on the fields, and since the days became so hot, the ponies are out at night and come in during the day.
It's hard to believe that not that long ago I took the photo on the left and now there is hardly enough water in the stream for the animals to drink!!
Because the grass is not growing that quickly (lack of rain Ha Ha!!) We are getting a bit short of keep for cows and sheep, so John cut one of our fields a bit earlier than usual for silage, within a day it was hay, so that has been baled and although down on quantity, it means we have another field to graze.
Stanley is now a grown up dog, well most of the time! He still likes to bunk off when he can, but the stealing and chewing has died down. The other evening he slipped out of the back door and we went into panic mode expecting him to be off up the drive, however, when we called him, he came back!!! So he got a big treat. Later that evening, we were watching TV and he came into the room carrying one of his toys, which he carefully placed IN his toybox. Usually he spends the evening emptying his toys all round the room. We wondered what he was after?
He loves riding on the quad bike and if he hears you get the keys he's ready and waiting. He still gets a bit over friendly with Tilly the cat, but she gets her own back by pinching his bed for a bit of a snooze!.
He loves riding on the quad bike and if he hears you get the keys he's ready and waiting. He still gets a bit over friendly with Tilly the cat, but she gets her own back by pinching his bed for a bit of a snooze!.
Laddie is 25 this year, still fit and well and waiting to go out and spend the summer with the sheep in the steep field over looking the farm. He loves it out there, as he can stand at the top and watch everything that's going on. It has just been sprayed with weedkiller, so until it is safe for him to go out, I am cutting long grass for him. How come grass always grows best where it's not needed? He gets wildly excited when his 'meal on wheel '( wheelbarrow) turns up and it gets ungrazed areas around the farm, tidied up.
Megan, now a two year old is getting quite tall so should make up to full height. She's reasonably sensible, and is turned out with the two yearlings. She seems fairly easy going, enjoys having a fuss made of her.
Yearlings, Pearl ( Silver Lady) and Ruby ( Ramblin' Rose) are growing up fast
Pearl is starting to look quite grey now her summer coat is coming through, she seems quite like her mum Katy in temperament, ( likes to try it on a bit but soon gives in) She's not as brave as Ruby, and likes to check it's safe before proceeding! Ruby is much braver and happily takes the lead. Both are starting to have good manners in their boxes and don't mind being mucked out and the barrow going in and out.
Apart from being led to and from the field, being tied up to be groomed and having the farrier, ( they were very good) I have done little with them, which is rather a waste, I'm sure they would be up for doing a bit more, what's the 'in' word? Home schooling! but my back is no too good at the moment and I don't want to ask them to do anything that might cause an argument, which I might loose, so best not to ask too much of them right now.
Pearl is starting to look quite grey now her summer coat is coming through, she seems quite like her mum Katy in temperament, ( likes to try it on a bit but soon gives in) She's not as brave as Ruby, and likes to check it's safe before proceeding! Ruby is much braver and happily takes the lead. Both are starting to have good manners in their boxes and don't mind being mucked out and the barrow going in and out.
Apart from being led to and from the field, being tied up to be groomed and having the farrier, ( they were very good) I have done little with them, which is rather a waste, I'm sure they would be up for doing a bit more, what's the 'in' word? Home schooling! but my back is no too good at the moment and I don't want to ask them to do anything that might cause an argument, which I might loose, so best not to ask too much of them right now.
2020 seems to be turning into a very strange and troubling year. Everyone struggling to come to terms with 'lockdown' and the weird weather conditions, first floods, then hot drought, luckily we have a bit of respite, cooler and a bit damp right now, but what next ?
I wil not be putting Katy or Rosie in foal this year, unfortunately old age is creeping up on all of us, four legs and two! So I am relying on my three youngsters finding happy, new homes where they can do their bit to promote their breed. I will advertise them soon, once everything calms down a bit.
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SPRING 2020
Mud Mud thick and deep,
makes you want to cry and weep,
Feed and tack rooms soaking wet,
I don't believe it's finished yet.
Then we had the awful gales,
winding up my stabled Dales
ponies cross and in a mood,
Banging doors demanding food.
Rain and wind go away and DON'T come back another day!!
Yep ! That about sums it up.
This is the first chance I've had to get on here and update into 2020. Not that there is any news anyway, like everyone, just getting through the days as best I can.
When the first storm hit, there was water pouring in places never seen before, our drive was spectacular, and farm buildings awash, and the arena will never be the same again. At least we haven't had water in the house, and being on the side of a hill, the floods just pass through the buildings on their way down. It has been bad enough clearing up after what we did get, it must be dreadful to have your property deep in water.
Mud Mud thick and deep,
makes you want to cry and weep,
Feed and tack rooms soaking wet,
I don't believe it's finished yet.
Then we had the awful gales,
winding up my stabled Dales
ponies cross and in a mood,
Banging doors demanding food.
Rain and wind go away and DON'T come back another day!!
Yep ! That about sums it up.
This is the first chance I've had to get on here and update into 2020. Not that there is any news anyway, like everyone, just getting through the days as best I can.
When the first storm hit, there was water pouring in places never seen before, our drive was spectacular, and farm buildings awash, and the arena will never be the same again. At least we haven't had water in the house, and being on the side of a hill, the floods just pass through the buildings on their way down. It has been bad enough clearing up after what we did get, it must be dreadful to have your property deep in water.
Trying to keep the ponies amused is not easy, and when the youngsters get bored they play up, which is not what I want, as basicly they are starting to be quite well behaved.
Megan wallowing in the arena Katy and Rosie in the old slurry pit
Megan wallowing in the arena Katy and Rosie in the old slurry pit
Pearl and Ruby have an outing in the arena Megan has a paddle!
Lambing is in full swing, and Katy is back on lambing duty again this year, watching everything that goes on and offering her advice, not sure how John would manage without her!
So lots of little lambs to bring a bit of light relief, you have to laugh at their antics, especially when the mums get fed and they have unlimited space to all get together and ' Lampede' up and down. There seem to be three methods to achieve this, either straight forward gallop, gallop with added sideways kicks or best of all, lock all four legs and bounce, even better if you can finish on an upturned feed trough!!
Lambing is in full swing, and Katy is back on lambing duty again this year, watching everything that goes on and offering her advice, not sure how John would manage without her!
So lots of little lambs to bring a bit of light relief, you have to laugh at their antics, especially when the mums get fed and they have unlimited space to all get together and ' Lampede' up and down. There seem to be three methods to achieve this, either straight forward gallop, gallop with added sideways kicks or best of all, lock all four legs and bounce, even better if you can finish on an upturned feed trough!!
It's amazing where the lambs manage to get, they love to play 'King of the castle' and climb on top of their mums' hay bale.
Stanley has just had his first birthday, he is a big boy now and mostly well behaved. We did a course of evening dog training classes with him, it was good for him to meet other dogs in a controlled manner, because usually, the only other dogs he meets are his doggie neighbours, who come for a play, which involves going completely mad!! Soon after his course finished, the storms hit, and the hall was flooded, it is right next door to the Royal Welsh show ground which was also under water. He also enjoys going with John on the quad bike, and keeping an eye on us at work, sitting on his sofa that he inherited from his uncle Norman.
Stanley has just had his first birthday, he is a big boy now and mostly well behaved. We did a course of evening dog training classes with him, it was good for him to meet other dogs in a controlled manner, because usually, the only other dogs he meets are his doggie neighbours, who come for a play, which involves going completely mad!! Soon after his course finished, the storms hit, and the hall was flooded, it is right next door to the Royal Welsh show ground which was also under water. He also enjoys going with John on the quad bike, and keeping an eye on us at work, sitting on his sofa that he inherited from his uncle Norman.
Pearl and Ruby last years foals are growing on well, they lead nicely ( most of the time!!) and are good to groom and handle, but they need to be doing more than I can manage. I am not very fit these days and walk rather slowly, so this slows them down and gives them an excuse to play up, when I should be encouraging a nice onward going walk, I know I should be looking to find them new homes where they can enjoy life, learn new things and perhaps go out and about to do their bit to advertise their breed.
My excuse for not advertising them yet is, they are looking very scruffy, mostly covered in mud ( can't imagine where that comes from!) and definitely not looking their best!!
Ruby Pearl Megan
Ruby Pearl Megan
Unfortunately they all tested as carriers of FIS, which does not affect their health in any way but they have a 50% chance of passing it on. ( See DPS website for full details) So although ok to breed an odd foal, they are not best suited to become full time broodmares.
Laddie is the carrier and this is one of the reasons why I will not be breeding any more foals, so these youngsters will be the last Akehurst Dales. Sad, but I am not fit enough these days to cope with strong young Dales, and I pride myself in breeding well behaved Dales who can not only perform in the show ring to promote their breed but become much loved family members, giving much pleasure and not too much grief to their owners. So they need to learn to behave from a young age and not, that if they play up, they get away with it!
I purchased my first two Dales in 1973. A yearling colt Stoneriggs Bobby, and a weaned foal Stoneriggs C H S ( Winnie)
My first Sec A foal was Akehurst Robin in 1977 and in 1978 a full sister Akehurst Primrose. Robin is the sire of Heather's Lad and Primrose is Rosie's mum.
Bobby Winnie
Laddie is the carrier and this is one of the reasons why I will not be breeding any more foals, so these youngsters will be the last Akehurst Dales. Sad, but I am not fit enough these days to cope with strong young Dales, and I pride myself in breeding well behaved Dales who can not only perform in the show ring to promote their breed but become much loved family members, giving much pleasure and not too much grief to their owners. So they need to learn to behave from a young age and not, that if they play up, they get away with it!
I purchased my first two Dales in 1973. A yearling colt Stoneriggs Bobby, and a weaned foal Stoneriggs C H S ( Winnie)
My first Sec A foal was Akehurst Robin in 1977 and in 1978 a full sister Akehurst Primrose. Robin is the sire of Heather's Lad and Primrose is Rosie's mum.
Bobby Winnie
Robin with dad Bobby Winnie
Robin took after his dad, his wonderful temperament meant he was easy to show, could be handled and ridden by my young helpers, however when competing in ridden classes he did like to put in a 'happy buck' right in front of the judge when doing his individual show! One year I decided it was not good enough, so I schooled him severely, until I had an obedient very bored pony, who had lost his 'prescence' so I decided I prefered my old bucking, happy Robin.
Akehurst Robin
Akehurst Robin
Primrose was born in 1979. Not only did she have an excellent show career, she bred ten foals, she proved to be a wonderful companion we had many happy hours out hacking and she lived to 32 years old.
Primrose
Primrose
Pearl ( Akehurst Silver Lady) is my last and sixty second filly. There have also been fifty six colts, so a total of one hundred and eighteen Dales, I'm pleased with that. !