News 2005

Dec 29th 2005

Lochlands Military Flute was collected by Eric Gillies and made his journey south just before christmas. I am pleased to hear that he arrived safely and is settling into his new home.

We didn't get a white christmas, but today we were greeted with a very wintery landscape.

I hope all our readers have enjoyed a merry christmas, best wishes to everyone for a very Happy New Year.

December 4th

The month of November has flown by, both foals are now weaned, and today saw the end of the 2005 showing season.

Military Flute has been sold and will be heading for his new home in Derbyshire in a couple of weeks time. His weaning was a total non event,he was turned back out with Sylvie as temporary friend within twenty minutes of coming off his dam. They wandered off to graze and he adapted easily into his new routine,especially to the luxury of coming inside to a warm bed at night. I hope he travels well and settles happily into his new home.

'Queenie' our new foal is now well settled with us and we have enjoyed a successful first show outing with her. We took her to the Winter Fair at Perth on Nov 30th and she was foal champion and Reserve Overall.

Today we had another successful outing, this time to Tayside Foal Show where it was our 2yo filly, Silver Flute's turn to be Reserve Champion.

October, meet the new additions.

Last weekend saw the arrival of Wilma the new puppy. What a wee cutey she is, into everything and full of fun.

Wilma isn't the only addition to the gang, we have also purchased a new foal, a filly from George Baird. Whitefield Queen Nefertiti, by Nashend Buzzard and out of Whitefield Queen Henrietta Maria. Until I do a page of her own , I have added her photo to the foal page.

We have had Queenie for two weeks now and she has settled in well, she is turned out with Dolly our little sec A mare. Although slightly unsettled for the first few days, which is only to be expected, she is now eating well and used to her new routine.

Sept 24th 2005.

With the show season now behind us there is little in the way of news. The ponies have been moved onto their winter keep of stubble and the second growth on the hay field . They are presently very contented, enjoying their new grass and the continuing spell of dry weather....long may it continue.

Last weekend 18th Sept, the Borders and Central Scotland Highland Pony Club held a stud visit to Millfield and Achnacarry Studs. This was a most enjoyable day out, it is always a pleasure to see other peoples ponies. Willie, Jane and Jennifer ( Millfield ) and Jean and Tim ( Achnacarry ) were most welcoming and very hospitable to us all, and gave us a very full and informative tour of all their lovely ponies, many thanks for a super day.

Going on a stud visit is always slighty worrying, just in case you see something you cant resist ! Well despite seeing lots of nice ponies I was very good and didn't buy anything, well almost ! This day out has resulted in us buying a new puppy, another Jack Russell a friend for the one we already have. We haven't got her yet, but look forward to her arrival in two weeks time.

Strathallan 3rd Sept.

The Scottish Farmer Highland Pony Show at Strathallan, was a perfect day on which to end this years showing season. Strathallan is another lovely venue for a show and the weather could not have been nicer, warm September sunshine. Once again we took our yearling and 3yo filly and were very happy with Moonlight's 2nd in the yearling class and Magic won the open youngstock class. The show was very well supported, it was nice to see such well filled classes, the organisers must have been delighted to run such a successful event.

Blair Castle Highland Pony Show

We took our 3yo filly Magic Flute and yearling filly Moonlight Serenade to Blair Castle Show. Magic was 2nd and Moonlight won the yearling class, we were delighted with these results.

We had both an enjoyable and successful day at the show, and once again another event this year, was blessed with a lovely dry day.

Malvern Highland Pony Show

This year Willie and I made the trip down to Malvern to spectate at the highly successful tenth Malvern Highland Pony Show.

It was a most enjoyable day. The classes were all well supported and it made a change for us to see so many different ponies.The judge Willie Allan (Millfield Stud ) had a long day in the inhand ring, with lots of quality ponies in front of him. His champion was the yeld mare Trailtrow Rhuan and Reserve the 2yo filly Imogen of Carlung, both lovely ponies and very worthy winners.

We took much pleasure in catching up with some of our homebred ponies. Seeing ponies you have bred,looking well and being enjoyed by their new owners, makes it all worthwhile.

The Malvern Highland Pony Show committee do a tremendous job putting on this wonderful show. We wish them well for the future, and hope to be back again.

Lochlands Choirboy, Lochlands Cello (top right) and Lochlands Handel (bottom right), at Malvern.

Summer 2005

The summer seems to be rushing past and the ponies' coats are all beginning to break, giving the feel that Autumn is fast approaching.

We have been lucky and the season has been kind to us. Our two foals arrived safely,the ponies are presently all fit and well, and we have been out and about at some shows,all of which have been blessed with glorious weather.

The highlight of our showing season has been Lochlands Silver Flute winning the 2yo filly class at The Highland Show,and then going on to be Reserve Female Champion.This also brought with it a very unexpected surprise,as on the following day we were presented to the Princess Royal. Her vist to The Highland Show, included meeting a representative from the three Scottish native breeds, a clydesdale, a shetland pony and a highland pony. I was initially somewhat nervous about this meeting, but I need not have been. The Princess Royal was very pleasant and easy to talk to. She asked various questions about Sylvie, her age, breeding etc.

April 21st 2006