I looked up on the internet an equine gestation calender service, and put in the date when Hailee was last bred. She was bred over Mother's Day Weekend, so her last day was Sunday, May 13th, 2007! Horses gestate for 340 to 370 days. So that means the following:
Kelso is so famous that it's hard to know where to begin. So, let's just jump in! He raced for 8 years! Whoo! That's because he was a naughty boy from an undistinguished family, so they gelded him at 2. Boy, didn't they feel bad once he turned out to be an amazing racer! He was foaled at Claiborne Farms, but belonged to Mrs. Allaire du Pont of Woodstock Farm in Maryland. When his career was over it stood at: 63: 39(31), 12(10), 2(1), and he had earned almost $2 million. He won everywhere, all the time, even carrying shocking weight disadvantages..jpg)
Here's a picture of Violet, taken by Barbie in September. I include it because she is related to the second Kentucky Derby in history, but I couldn't find an image of him to share.
Here's a painting by Frances Mabel Hollams, one of my favorite English painters. I don't know anything about this artist, this great person. I hope over the course of my remaining time on this earth that I learn about her. Here's one of her race horses. You can just see that she loves him. I am writing this blog on November 1st, All Saint's Day, La Touissaint. So, I send blessings to this artistic spirit and thank her for her great works.
Here's a picture of my sexy red girl taken by Vikki in September. Violet is all wet, so she looks like a rich brown, rather than her red chestnut, but she sure looks long and regal and relaxed in her beauty. She looks like what she is -- the daughter of champions and a champion at heart herself!.jpg)
On her mother's side, Hailee is related to the 1941 dunskin mare, Dolly D, who is part of the Waggoner family in Texas. She was a very productive broodmare. She ended up in the NCHA Hall of Fame because she mothered the NCHA Hall of Fame Poco Mona. She was the dam of 3 AQHA Champions: Poco Bay, Poco Doll, and Poco Mona. Poca Mona was also an AQHA Superior Cutting Horse and AQHA High Point Cutting Horse. Dolly D's kid, Poco Doll, was an AQHA Superior Halter winner.
So, my complete Partnership Level 1 Safety Kit arrived from Parelli and I've been busy reading the workbooks, the theory book, watching the DVD, and listening to the audios. I've been doing homework.
Here are my blessings in late October -- my little nieces, Emma and Clara, my dog, Zelia, my wonderful cats, Moibeal, Jackie, and Arcangelo. And, of course, my Hailee and Violet. Many reasons to give thanks!
And especially today, since Hailee came home from Paris. She's in her own stall next to her sister, Violet. I am blessed with wonderful friends, family, and creatures. Namaste!
Here is a photo of Rags to Riches and Lauren Robson, her exercise rider! Can you believe how beautiful Rags is? I hope she's doing okay on her stall rest recovery (I am writing this blog on Oct. 25th, the day before the Breeder's Cup she'll be missing). Anyway, Lauren is one of her friends that knew that something was off. She pulled her up on an exercise ride once this summer because she didn't feel right, and Rags was then sent to the same facility Barbaro went to for a full workup. They didn't find anything, so she was sent back to the track where a hairline fracture emerged.
Here is the statute memorializing Seattle Slew at Three Chimney Farms in Lexington. Now Seattle Slew and his son, Slew o' Gold, can rest. Seattle Slew worked for 17 years in the breeding shed at Three Chimneys, but when he became older and unable to serve, he was sent to the peace and quiet of Hill 'n Dale, so that he wouldn't feel left out and he could rest on his laurels. They didn't want him to get all furious during breeding season at Three Chimneys! What a stud! He is buried at Hill n' Dale..jpg)
Here we are. Barbie took this photo in September. We look like a happy team -- the much older horsewoman and the young sassy filly!.jpg)
My beautiful, beautiful girl is related to Tanya, the filly who won the Belmont Stakes in 1905. They share Hindoo among others! You can see Violet's loveliness in this photo!
I ordered the Level 1 Partnership Safety Kit as part of the Pat Parelli Natural Horsemanship package. It includes DVDs, audio cds, a lesson ladder, pocket training guides, a log, and a theory book, plus saavy string, carrotstick, 12' foot rope, and halter. I thought it would be a goofy thing to do, but I do like how it makes me think about what I'm trying to do with myself as a horse person and what my horses might think about me and what they want from me.
This information comes from Training your foal: Raising a foal from birth to backing by Renate Etl (2003). The pregnancy lasts 330 to 350 days, and can sometimes trail an extra 10 days beyond that! But on the big day, you will see that the mare becomes far away and withdrawn from you, turning inward to prepare for the big task.
My friend, Vikki, came to visit the stable in September. I had just given my girl a bath on this blazing hot day and let her out in the pasture.
Here is a photo from last May, on the day my Aunt Anita and I embarked from Ponferrada to walk the pilgrimage trail. We were confused about where the trail began when we met these horse officers right at the break between the city and the country. I was so excited at the blessing of horses on our first day!
Here's a photo of a beautiful hunter peeking around a window, getting ready to go on a country jaunt with friends. Look how regal and happy he is! Here is yet another lovely painting by Frances Mabel Hollams!
.jpg)
Okay, I am posting out of order because I have two other posts in queue about practicing Parelli Level 1 Natural Horsemanship with Violet. But I wanted to make this entry, so am going to post backwards.
10/9/07. Today on a beautiful sunny October afternoon, I went home and saw that my Dr. Cook's Bitless Bridle had arrived. So, I picked hot peppers and tomatoes, worked on a research paper, and then went for a ride!
Over the next few months, I am going to post information about reproduction, pregnancy, and foaling, to prepare myself for Hailee Jr. Okay, so, let's begin.
.jpg)
Here's a picture of my girl and me in August when I visited her in Kentucky. She is now even plumper than in this photo and working on becoming a lovely mother. Look at her beautiful ears and how she seems to be so content just to stand quietly with me. I adore my good girl.
The Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale is underway, beginning November 5th and running through the 19th. On the very first day, sales are up by 30% over last year, with intense international interest. 194 horses sold on the first day, for an average of $526,186, and a median of $272,500. 28 horses sold for $1 million or more. The first day brought $109,064,000. Can you imagine what the total sale will bring?! And this sale comes on the heels of the Fasig-Tipton Sale which ended Sunday. It too ended up 30% over last year's sales.
My dad came down for Labor Day with my mom this summer. He is retired now, but in a very busy sort of retirement. He goes fishing and hunting all the time, and visits his favorite outdoors spots. He is the man-about-town, engaging in photojournalism opportunities. And he even works as a census worker for the Department of Agriculture!
Here is another photo of the truly lovely Rags to Riches. All I can say is that you can see that she is a kindred sister and close relative of my own lovely Velvet Tenderness.
Violet is related to the mother-daughter team, Mumtaz Mahal and Mumtaz Begum, the granddam and dam of Nasrullah, respectively. MB won her maiden race and then another small race, but was put to stud as a 3-year-old. She was barren the first season, produced Sun Princess her second season, and Nasrullah her fourth season!
I am writing this Blog on October 5th, the morning after a 35 minute ride on my baby girl. I've come to a decision. I don't remember how long ago, but sometime ago, I looked in Violet's mouth and noticed that her bars are discolored. Now, for the life of me, I can't tell whether they are bruises or whether it's part of her mottling. But given my heavy, inconsistent hands, and her heavy head, I bet it's bruises. I might as well read the evidence and show love and leadership.
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. A Feast Day in the last days of harvest to celebrate a kindly Saint and one who appreciated that we measure our humanity by how we care for our beloved creatures. So, here's his prayer to mark the days of Hailee's gestation!
Yesterday, Dr. Zimmerman visited Violet and took a stool sample. His office called back and said that she tested positive for strongyles and that they would send along a 5-day treatment. Here's a photo of the treatment -- a huge giant ginormous tube of Panacour -- and she has to take the whole dose, 5 tubes, over 5 days.
Yesterday morning, Violet had her appointment with Dr. Zimmerman. She was a very good girl, but really wanted to smell him and sniff him. She politely put her nose by his face a few times and Dr. Zimmerman was kind enough to let her greet him. She stood very quietly for her shot and her Strangles vaccine. Dr. Z. says that her mouth is just fine and that she looks like she is in good weight and health.