Due Date + 13! A Cord of Three Strands

Violet Brings Her Heart to the Task!

My Sweet Violet is all about the business of rising to a challenge! So, yesterday, she had to put up with her goofy mom. I set up one of the highest jumps for her yet, and then asked her to canter over ground poles and jump the jump, all the while I am just holding onto the lunge line without a whip, and am holding my little Ultra Flip video recorder.

Talk about a patient girl! She paid such close attention to what I wanted and just zipped around over the jump. We were all jerky and goosey, but I think we did great! I wasn't driving her along. She was just cantering on my voice and she was obedient given that I wasn't even looking at her, since I was peering at her through my video. Let's face it! Violet is all that and a bag of chips. She's a super beauty! And smart, smart, smart! She's my royal beauty!

Girls having Rolling Fits

Here they are! Annoyed by winter and taking the time for a big dirt roll! Nothing feels as good as a slick thin film of dirt right up against your lovely skin! Yay! Mom can just wash it off in the spring!

Due Date + 12! Steph Discovers Wax!

Yesterday, as usual, was another lovely day at the stable with my girls! I went after work and lunged Violet and visited with her and groomed her. She was in such a loving girly mood. And I visited with my sweet Hailee. Stephanie came out and we did our double check of H and Steph discovered what we can only describe as wax on one of her teats. It was this tiny golden waxy dot! And then this morning, Steph called me and told me that not only did she find a larger dot of golden wax, but that when she touched Hailee's teats, she felt stickiness, not just moisture. So, I went out for a drive this morning before work to see my girls, and sure enough, I can see that her teats have changed and they are moist! So, let's hope Nitro is hoping to make a big entrance now that finals are wrapping up!

Breaking News! War Emblem Faces Breeding Problems!

Here is a photo of War Emblem by Our Emblem out of Sweetest Lady by Lord at War. War Emblem earned the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, and Eclipse Award for Champion 3 year-old colt, and won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2002. He might have won the Belmont Stakes, but had a terrible stumble coming out of the gate. Out of 13 starts, he won 7 times!

He was sent to Shadai Stallion Station on the beautiful island of Hokkaido in Japan where he has been having trouble. In his first crop of 4 foals, he had 100% winners. And out of a recent crop of 26 kids who made it to the track, 6 have won stakes races and are doing so well that War Emblem is close to the top of the leading sire list in Japan.

But the trouble seems to be that he doesn't enjoy mating. As Dr. Nobuo Tsunoda, the director of the Shadai Stallion Station said, "We tried everything. War Emblem, everyone, were physically and mentally exhausted." They have tempted him with over 500 different mares, and showed him maidens, experienced mares, bays, blacks, greys, young and old. And he is so very reluctant to mate. He has only mated with 70 of them and has not produced a life foal since 2005. The last time he ejaculated with a mare was in 2006.

Shadai bought him for $17 million to replace their irreplaceable Sunday Silence. And they estimate that his unwillingness to breed has resulted in a loss of $55 million in stud fees.

I am sorry to hear this news about this gentleman. Remember that Japan is the country that sent another Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, to the meat factory when he lost his breeding purpose. Dr. Tsunoda and his staff say they do not want to be discouraged and say this nice thing about their reluctant stallion, "We think much of War Emblem. We always wish him to be happy. His progeny results are very good. We want him to improve, and that would make everyone happy, including him, too."

His very few kids have been doing well at the sales. They sold on average for $400,000 as weanlings and then as much as $514,000 as yearlings.

What they've been doing is trying to tease him with the mares he prefers. He has really specific, finicky tastes. And then, once he finally is turned on by a filly he likes, they switch her out and sneak in one he dislikes. How rude is that?! I am sure he is quite put off by the whole business. Now they are trying to just isolate him completely away from the other stallions and set him up in a herd like atmosphere with mares, so that he can develop a herd stallion leader mentality. In fact, Dr. Sue McDonnell, specialist in equine sexual behavior (of all things) at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania says that maybe War Emblem has bachelor stallion mentality where he feels submissive to other stallions and unworthy of his own girls.

His trainer, Bob Baffert, said that he was a tempermental race horse who didn't much like horses or people. He said that, "We used to joke that he may have had an unhappy childhood."

I hope for the best for him. I hope he has a long joyful life. Namaste and God Bless, darling War Emblem!

Cute Cat Rory!

Here's a photo of my sweet little orange kitten. She's so very serious about her morning breakfast. And she has been negotiating with me for weeks about having "brinner," ever since she saw that Scrubs episode. The girl loves her Fancy Feast!

Due Date + 11! Relaxing on a Sunday!

Yesterday was so pleasant. I worked hard on editing a paper then visited my girls. We had a good grooming session, Violet and I worked on lunging and ground poles, Hailee and I had a conversation about her really dirty ankles. It was lovely. Then I went home, worked in the garden, cleaned out some beds, had dinner and read the paper at BW3, and slept like a baby. Nitro is waiting for finals to be over! What a good baby!

My Morning Routine!

Here is one of my favorite times of the day, early morning with my little Zelia. She and I have logged a lot of miles together over the years. And she is still quite the little squirrel and bunny hunter, I must say! She's a lively beauty!

Due Date + 10! Got Milk?

Yesterday was a day spent grading, reading papers, organizing my gradesheets, and thinking about teaching and research. I also recycled, laundered, and worked around the house. And, of course, I visited my girls! Hailee fussed for about ten minutes in front of Stephanie and me, trying to find a comfortable way to lay down to roll. She finally managed to collapse, but then just laid there, with her top legs stretched straight out, not touching her bottom legs or the ground. She is so stiff and uncomfortable, poor thing!

Violet was sweet and cute, as usual. I am glad it is spring and for the opportunity to be with a foal, ride a thoroughbred, and care for my All-American Foundation mare!






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Spring Waltz and My Girls!

Here is a photo by Bob Coglianese of the lovely Spring Waltz, a 2003 filly just like my lovely Violet. She won the Grade 2 Rampart Stakes by 9 furlongs over the weekend of March 8, 2008. In the Daily Racing Form, her jockey, Javier Castellano, said "There was no question that I was concerned with getting stuck behind horses on the final turn. We had to squeeze through a little bit, but she's got a big heart. As soon as we made it through, she hit another gear and took off."

She'll be entered in the GII Louisville Breeder's Cup the same weekend that Sugar Swirl will be in the Humana Distaff. Both these horses are Frank Stronach Girls. Spring Waltz record so far is 9: 6-3-0, so she's quite the tough one! Her parents are Silver Charm out of Relaxing Rhythm by Easy Goer.

My girls, of course, share many relatives, including Hasty Road, War Admiral, Tom Fool, Princequillo, and Nasrullah!

Due Date + 9! The Last Day of Classes!

Yesterday was the last day of the semester right before finals week! I graded excellent exams written by my Population and Society graduate students. I enjoyed a lovely afternoon with my horses. And I had a wonderful meal with Christine and Jorge. And I slept like a baby! These photos were taken yesterday, on day 8 of being overdue, but we are posting them today, on Hailee's 9th day of being overdue! She's like a library book! The fines are increasing! ;)

Later today, I am going to visit my girls again and exercise sweet Violet and hang out with the Little Mama! But first, I need to grade research projects by my Methods students!





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Due Date + 8! Follow the Ways of Your Heart!

Here's a photo of my darling Hailee taken a few weeks ago as she rested by a breezy gate, enjoying the sun. She and I had a private chat and she rested her beautiful face in my lap. I just love my wild little girl.

I spoke with Dr. Zimmerman yesterday. He said that everything is fine. A week overdue is no big deal and that he's glad that clear liquid is coming from her teats. We're to leave her alone now and just occasionally feel her milk bag to see if it's filling. Time and Nature will do their work.

Namaste from our corner of the world, our world pregnant with promise!

Due Date + 7! No Rush Nitro Prolongs Holiday!

Hello. Yesterday the weather was beautiful and I just worked so hard. Saw my girls in the morning, worked on compost, walked and groomed Zelia, fed the pets, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed the whole house, cleaned the basement and upstairs, mowed the lawn, tilled the garden, weedwhacked the yard, cleaned and blew the patio, visited my girls and rode Violet, graded assignments for Soc 368, graded assignments for Soc 621, attended an Honors Reception, balanced my checkbook, purchased a plane ticket to my Aunt's retirement party, and slept at the stable to check on H through the night. So, you can bet, I am tired! I am tired! But as long as I know H is okay, I am happy. Because I know that Nitro is coming when classes are over and I can enjoy his wonderful company!

Violet's Background

Here's a rambly little story about my girl's famous relatives.

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Garden Preparations on Earth Day!

After visiting my two girls and expressing clear liquid from both teats, I went home to work in my rested winter garden a bit with Zelia and the cats before returning to the stable to sleep for the night. I have lots of work to do to get my yard and garden back into summer shape. But it will be a joy and privilege to have "Laura's Victory Garden" for Summer 2008!!

Due Date + 6! Waiting for Nitro!

Yesterday was Earth Day, so I was feeling very happy. I taught both my classes, worked hard on a final exam for my Methods course, and then visited Hailee and Violet at the end of the day. Stephanie and I conferred about Hailee and updated each other on her status. The world is bright and green and beautiful and preparing for the rebirth and renewal of a new growing season! I am looking forward to my Scottish/Spanish work in my garden, with my foal, and on my house this summer!

Anyway, here are photos of Hailee on the 5th day of her being overdue. She is making sure Nitro is perfect and finished before letting him into this world! Last night, I slept at the stable and when I got up at 4, she was laying down and groaning. So, I stayed with her for awhile and then checked on her a bit later and she was back up and fine. She was eating and jumping around her stall at 6am, like she hadn't had cramps a few hours earlier! I think maybe Nitro is picking up his little baby pace!

Happy Earth Day!

Many blessings to you and yours on this Earth Day! As you know, my home is filled with joy. Jackie and Zelia still rule the roost and my heart and are doing well though they are entering their wise years. Moibeal and Arcangelo are delightful and sweet. And we have the new wonderful little orange kitten, my Orangegina, my little Rory. Can hardly believe that it was a bitterly cold, snow-filled early morning in January when she first came into our lives.

My horse, Violet, is a beautiful healthy thoroughbred who is excited about learning how to jump, go over ground poles, and be lovely. And my Hailee is working on being a mother! She's carrying her foal and will deliver this spring. We are blessed and glad to say Namaste to you all!

Today I am going to rake and clear my garden, and till up the grass and weeds, and get some poop from both H and V for my composting, and plan my little gardening for this year! Much love, much love, looking forward to looking out at my garden from my back door, as I can, can, can my little gifts from our Mother Earth!

Due Day + 4! New Halter, New Camera!

dYesterday was a beautiful spring day! I worked from home and UPS delivered the new camera great-grandma gave as a gift to Nitro and the new halter grandma gave. So, I went to the stable, groomed my girls, and lunged Violet over ground poles. she was fabulous. She cantered and trotted so lightly and precisely and smoothly and freely over the ground poles and was just glorious to see. She was at her young thoroughbred best! I just adore her.

And my sweet Hailee was a good girl too. She is stocked up in her back legs, a bit uncomfortable, but she is spry and alert. She trotted off to show her vigor, and she was eager and nickery for dinner. I've come to think that Nitro is politely waiting for Finals to be over with before s/he arrives!
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Jack and Arcangelo

Here are my guys. My beautiful fabulous guys.

Due Day + 4! Conserving Energy

It's Monday, April 21st, 4 days past the delivery day. And Hailee managed to hold onto Nitro through a glorious weekend, Passover, and then a Full Moon. She must be making sure that Nitro is perfect before the big moment!

But you can bet my girl is uncomfortable. Here's a photo of her two days BEFORE the delivery date, and she's only gotten bigger, more stocked up in her hind legs, and generally more tired looking since this photo. But yesterday, she cantered and jumped and cavorted about in a snorting fashion, showing us that she's still got that Hailee fire!! Love that girl, and I know that I love that little bundle she's carrying!

Spring Crocuses on Earth Day!

Well, yesterday was lovely. I attended a brunch for the anniversary of the Women's Center and Women's Studies Program, and a Gospel Choir opened the event. Here is their opening song. And I attended a wonderful Passover Meal at the Jacoby's. This was my second year at their home for this festival, and it's one of the most fun dinners I have in a year. The guests are fun! The treats are great! Joe is quite the show man! Elayne is a great and sardonically funny hostess! The boys are really amazing. And Joe hosts a pretty feminist Passover! He makes room on the plate for lesbians and gays, and he has a goblet for Miriam, the prophetess who cared for Moses' charges during their 40 years of wandering!

Then I cared for Hailee last night and I was hopeful she might have her baby. But she didn't! So we are three days overdue! I decided not to post a photo of her today. She's looking pretty shabby! She's got urine marks in her hair, and her back legs, especially the right, are really stocked up with water. My poor girl is in the hard last days of her pregnancy!

But the Gospel Choir, Joe's Passover, the crocuses and daffodils in my yard! All tell me that we are in the season of renewal and blessed quickening of the earth. My beautiful Hailee will have a beautiful foal!

Breaking News! War Pass Injured!

Yesterday, the breaking news was that War Pass will be pulled from Derby contention because of a fracture in his front left sesamoid bone in his ankle. His trainer, Nick Zito, and dad, Robert LaPenta, are very disappointed.

War Pass was a big freight train of a colt who won all four of his starts as a 2 year-old and then earned the Eclipse 2 year-old Colt of the Year. But this year was a different story. He has only one 1 of 3 starts this spring. And in the Tampa Bay Derby in March, he placed dead last, losing by over 23 lengths. In that race, he was restless in the gate, got bumped hard and squeezed early, and had a fever. And then on April 5, at the Wood Memorial Stakes, he placed, right behind Tale of Ekati, after a terrific powerful grueling effort with unbelievably blazing times early in the race which left him depleted for the final push. You can see the photo from that race above.

His trainer thinks he was injured in that race. But Zito says that War Pass came off the track at Belmont that day, strong and powerful, and that was probably because of the heart he has -- a true champion heart. Since then, he's had good days, bad days. Zito said that he couldn't put his finger on it because there was no swelling or heat. But finally they did X-Rays yesterday and found the fracture.

They hope that he'll recover and return to racing, though just not in the Kentucky Derby. He's walking sound and has no swelling, so they are very hopeful. As a side note, his dad, Robert LaPenta, must have a thing for big black colts because now with War Pass recovering and out of the Derby, he still has a Derby contender in another black powerhouse, the famous Cool Coal Man.

Nashoba's Key and My Girls!

Here is a photo of Nashoba's Key ridden to victory by Garrett Gomez, March 9, 2008, in the Santa Margarita Handicap. It's an AP Photo by Benoit. In the other photo, she is resting in her stall at Del Mar. This mare was born on March 26, 2003, the same month as Violet, but she didn't begin her racing career until she was four years old because her owner and trainer thought she needed the time to grow into her big old self. They knew she would be special.

So, when she first raced in January 2007, she proved their wisdom. She won 7 of her first 7 starts. She won really important California graded stakes under a 17 year old jockey, Joseph Talamo. After terrific wins, she came in 4th in the Breeders Cup when she got trapped on the rail in 6-inch deep wet turf and then in January 2008, she came in second to Quite a Bride in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Since then, she was returned to Garrett Gomez to ride and that's when she just polished off the competition in the Santa Margarita Handicap earlier in March. She now has a record of 10: 8-1-0. Last year, she lost the Female Turf Eclipse Award to Lahudood, but she pulled a hat trick, by winning the California-Bred Champion Turf Horse, Older Female, and Horse of the Year! She's great on synthetic and turf tracks!

They've decided to give her a small vacation to give her a rest for her second chance at the Breeders Cup. Her trainer, Carla Gaines, says, "She hasn't had a day off the track since her first start on January 13, 2007. Any horse that's doing well, it's tempting to keep going and going, but I want to have a horse that has had some time off and is ready to strike at the Breeders' Cup. The NTRA notes of her that she has "determination to match talent."

And that determination must be a part of her larger personality. In an interview with Larry Stumes for the San Francisco Chronicle, Carla Gaines noted, "She's not really crazy about us. She could do without humans except at feed time. She's just a viper. She's reached out and grabbed a few people and tried to remove one of their appendages. I think a lot of really good filies have the same attitude. She's got a ton of class, loves what she does, and is very, very competitive."

Her parents are Silver Hawk out of Nashoba by Caerleon. Her dad is turning out to be a tremendous sire of turf ladies! And her mom only raced 5 times, but won 4 -- so mother and daughter are true champions at ending up out front! In her pedigree, she has Nijinsky, Nashua, Round Table, and Northern Dancer. My girls are most immediately related to her through Hail To Reason, so they share many relatives, including Nasrullah, Princequillo, and Nearctic.

You can read more about this resting, but getting ready girl at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashoba's_Key

Due Day + 2! Nitro Says Check Back Later!

Yesterday was a long day. I edited a research paper. I attended a very fun anniversary celebration for the Women's Studies Program and Women's Center, replete with wonderful people, yummy food, good music, and a great group of Middle Eastern Dancers from a freshman class.

Stephanie made it possible for me to accomplish those tasks, by keeping a close eye on Hailee yesterday. So, I knew she was in good hands and I got very good reports about H's progress. Then I slept over at the stable, but still Nitro decided not to arrive just yet! Last night, Violet and I shared snuffles again each time I came into the barn. Such a good girl!

And now it's Saturday morning and I'm getting coordinated for my day's events. I am really proud of myself this morning. I put in a screen in my back door. I did it quickly. Efficiently. Well. It's taut without being too taut. It doesn't have any wrinkles. And the cord is laid down tightly. Then I used a razor blade to shave off the edges, so it looks seamless and professional. I can hardly believe that I did it! Yay for me!

Due Day + 1! Nitro Plays a Joke!

So, I slept at the stable again last night, and when I saw Hailee at 10:30pm, she was standing straddle-legged and goofy. I thought perhaps that Nitro might arrive! But by the time I saw her at 2 and 4am, I knew that she was comfortably snoozing and snacking away at her bedding. Hailee had no intention of undertaking the responsibilities of Nitro under hoof last night!

This morning, her teats were substantially larger, but still dense and hard! And while I see moisture at their tips, I do not see evidence of sticky wax beads! We are in a quiet holding pattern! But, you know, we are in no rush. We're just enjoying the process. And I have to say that last night, as I would trundle back to the trailer to sleep, I'd stop off and see Violet and she would put her nose against the bars and whiffle, snuffle at me. It was so nice to kiss her nose. She's such a loving girl!

I'm a lucky lady!

Doing Things on Hailee Time!

Yesterday afternoon was so pleasant. It was sunny, warm, but with a cool crisp breeze, and me and my girls were feeling lazy. Stephanie and I were excited because Stephanie had been able to express a shot of clear liquid from one of Hailee's teats and we felt that things were progressing. So, I groomed both girls and just puttered about enjoying them. Hailee kept strolling about, lazing, and occasionally rubbing her rear against the wall or swishing her tail. There's no mistaking that she's moving toward delivery, but she's doing things on Hailee time. And who can blame her? She is making a perfect foal. No need to rush. We'll all still be waiting happily and patiently for sweet little Nitro. Violet too was quiet and sweet. She has been so thoughtful over the past few days. I think that she knows that something's up with our little family!

Today!

Last night, Stephanie and I felt that Hailee's tail had become even softer and looser. So, though the teats had not started forming colostrum, I stayed the night anyway. I justified this decision by deciding that it'd probably help H to get her reacquainted to having me with a flashlight or some dim light source again. After all, Nitro is coming!
Today is officially the expected delivery date, but this morning when Steph and I checked her teats, we felt as though she was bagging up more, but not necessarily looking any more "ready." No waxing. No dripping milk. When I squeezed them, not much of anything, not even the liquid with blood. I think that's good news. It means that her body is quietly pulling it together. I bet when I go there at the end of the day, we'll see some changes!

When I woke up this morning in the trailer, I checked my email service. Smartpak had shipped Zelia's order of supplements and Nitro's first halter. I will just be so excited when that baby foal halter arrives! That's all for now! Today's the day we've all been waiting for, but looks like Nitro's waiting for another!!

Rory and Zelia

Here they are, two ladies of leisure!

2 Days!

Yesterday, I visited my girls and so the middle photo is from putting Hailee into her straw-laden stall right before dinner. The top and bottom photos are from my before-work visit with her this morning! No baby yet! But her teats are changing somewhat, though they still have a small amount of blood in the light discharge from them. She is being such a good, patient girl with being so unwieldy and having Stephanie and me always feeling her teats and looking at them. She is just so patient. I know she's going to be a terrific mom. And I am looking forward to watching her love and care for her baby. Plus I am looking forward to shopping for a new camera since my Kodak one has definitely seen better days!!! I'll want lots of family photos of my first (maybe only) foal!!!!

Namaste from us! And Happy Day 2 of foal watch!!!