News 2007

December 8th 2007

We have been stuck in a dreay, damp spell of weather this past few weeks and it now feels as though winter has arrived. Today has been pleasantly cold and bright, a welcome change and ideal for this morning's visit from the farrier, thankfully nice dry legs, as opposed to wet , muddy ones.

Magic's colt foal, was collected by his new owner last weekend, and I am pleased to report that he travelled well and is now settling into his new home in Sussex, we wish Vicki and her family well with him.

We also said goodbye to another of our ponies last week. Ocarina of Whitefield has now moved to her new home in Ayrshire. We hadn't planned on selling 'Spuddy', but with six foals due next year, we decided perhaps we should be sensible ! We are sad to see her go and had been looking forward to showing her next season, however she has a lovely new home with Shona and her family, and we look forward to seeing her out and about next year.

Little in the way of other news, the mares are all looking in foal now, the two recently weaned foals have settled into their routine and are both doing well. Unfortunately work commitments and lack of time, meant that we were unable to show at any of the foal shows this year, although we did manage to nip across to Forfar last weekend, and watch the judging at Tayside Foal Show. Congratulations to Willie and Jennifer Allan who took the championship with their 3yo filly, Millfield Morning Mist.

November 16th 2007

A much welcome week off work, has given us the chance to catch up with pony work. Flute and Maddy's foals have now been weaned and the ponies moved off of the grass paddocks and onto the stubble for the winter. They have a large area to roam over and seem very happy with their move. They had been watching over the fence for the few days previously while we fenced off the stubble for them, they all seemed to know exactly where they were headed to, once caught up and lead down the road.

Ponies in their winter quarters.

above Magic foreground.

below Whitefield Queen Nefertiti left, Madonna right.

above Madonna and Silver Flute behind.

below Ocarina of Whitefield.

October 2007

I didn't realise that it was so long since the last update !

Little in the way of news, the show season is behind us now, and at some point we are going to get a shock, when the glorious month that has been October, decides to suddenly make way for the onset of another winter.

Two of the foals are now weaned, and Silver Chime was collected last weekend and journeyed North to her new home in Morayshire. News is that she has settled in well, we wish Mairi and her family all the best with her, and look forward to continued news of her progress.

Magic's foal remains with us for another month. He has also settled well after being weaned and is turning out happily through the day with his new friend Dolly, our little section A, who is an excellent foal nanny.

We will have to think about weaning the other two foals within the next few weeks.

August 29th 2007

Since last writing we have been to two shows, Blair Castle and Duthie Park, and what an exciting week we have had, we are still floating somewhere up on cloud nine.

Lochlands Madonna, In Hand Champion, Blair Castle 2007

After the rain soaked Breed Show the previous weekend, Blair Castle could not have been blessed with better weather, glorious sunshine all day, it was lovely, if a little too hot at times.

We set off bright and early, with 2yo filly Madonna and brood mare Silver Flute. Sylvie was in the ring first and we were delighted when both her and foal Silver Chime were placed second in their respective classes. Sylvie was quickly loaded back into the trailer, ready to get Donna down to the ring for the next but one class. Willie usually shows Donna, but today I was leading her, she was on her toes and seemed to enjoy striding round Blair's big ring. I was thrilled to bits to win the class with her and went back to the trailer, with a huge grin and a very red face, as by this time I was definitely feeling the effects of the heat ! I was so happy to be in the championship and after being lined up in class order, I was looking up towards the top end of the line to see what pony judge, Kate Dykes was going to pull forward as her champion . I was taken completely by surprise when I heard the steward calling and I turned round to see us being called forwards.

Blair Castle is a very special show, I think everyone who shows at it, enjoys the special atmosphere provided by the magnificent venue, to come home with the In Hand Championship was just wonderful.

photo above of Lochlands Silver Flute and below Lochlands Silver Chime at Blair Castle.

Our next outing was to the NESHPES Duthie Park Highland Pony Show. Another firm favourite on the showing calendar, another lovely day dawned and we set off up the road to Aberdeen with Sylvie and Donna on board again.

Once again Sylvie was in the ring first, I was having a day off, Willie was handling the ponies today, with foal Chime being led by her new owner. Our good luck from Thursday still seemed to be with us when Sylvie won the brood mare class and continued with Donna also winning the 2yo class. We then had two ponies for the championship, so I didn't get a complete day off ! I opted to take Sylvie back into the ring, to say I was delighted to find myself in the championship spot again was a slight under statement. We arrived home late and tired, but very happy, a great end to a truly wonderful and memorable week.

Lochland Silver Flute, In Hand Champion Duthie Park 2007

pic below Lochlands Madonna, Duthie Park.

Many thanks to Chris MacKenzie, Jill Vasey, Colin Lawson and Nikki Saunderson who have all kindly sent me pictures from Blair and Duthie and allowed me to use them on our website, it is much appreciated.

August 19th 2007

Time for another long overdue update.

We had a great day out yesterday at the Highland Pony Society Breed Show. Once again held in the lovely setting at Strathallan Castle, everything was perfect apart from the weather,which really could not have been more unkind.


We took Sylvie and her filly foal on their first outing of the season, and we were absolutely delighted when Sylvie was third in a strong class of brood mares , she is only four and has her first foal at foot, so she has a lot of maturing to do yet.

photo below kindly taken before the class by Nikki Saunderson.

The filly foals were judged after the mares, and we were over the moon when Sylvie's foal was chosen as first prize filly foal, and then went on to be awarded the reserve champion foal, behind the winning colt foal of Messrs G M Baird, out of their mare Gaynor of Whitefield.

photo below, by Nikki Saunderson.

We also took our 2yo filly Lochlands Madonna and she gave us even more to smile about by winning the 2yo filly class. So despite the torrential rain, and the water running down our necks, we really did enjoy our day out at the Breed Show. Huge thanks to Susie Robertson and the HPS council for once again putting on such a tremendous show for us all. Congratulations to Messrs G M Baird who were in hand champion with the lovely brood mare Heather Honey of Whitefiled and to John and Kate Dykes who were reserve with their yearling colt Dougal of Mendick.

photo below kindly taken by Colin Lawson.

Since our last update we have also been to Perth Show.

How unlucky could Perth Show have been, with the announcement of the Surrey Foot and Mouth outbreak on the Friday night. The show went ahead for the heavy horse sections, the light horses had been shown the day before, but it seemed a strangely quiet show, without the cattle being there.

Thankfully the weather was perfect, and the show was blessed with a glorious day,just a pity we haven't seen a few more of those this year.

We took our brood mare Madasun and our 2yo filly Madonna. Maddy was fourth in the brood mare class, and Donna won the 2yo filly class, and went on to win the trophy for the best 1,2 or 3yo filly. So a happy day out at Perth for us. Well done to Martin and Weny Taylor who were champion with their lovely yeld mare Shona of Sunnyneuk.

June 2007

Apologies for not updating sooner,the past month has just flown by.

We had a successful outing to the Royal Highland Show, taking Madonna and Madasun. Madonna won the 2yo filly class, Maddy was 5th in the mare with foal at foot class, with her foal Marimba being 3rd. Louise Cushnie was 4th in the yearling filly class, with her filly Lochlands Fiery Angel.

Alyth Show : We woke to pouring rain and a very dismal looking day. I could quite easily have turned over and gone back to sleep. However, after braving the rain and loading up Maddy and Donna, the day thankfully improved and turned out a lot brighter than might have been expected.

It was a good day for us, Maddy was 2nd prize brood mare, her foal 3rd and Donna was 2nd in the 2yo class. We were delighted for Louise Cushnie who had her filly Lochlands Fiery Angel out for the first time, and she won the yearling class.


below some pics from Alyth Show :

The foals are all growing and doing well, I will post some pics below from earlier in the month. Hopefully if we ever get a dry day again, I will get some more taken soon !

May 22nd 2007

Some picture updates : below Flute's colt foal, by Belivat Muldoanich.

Lochlands Marimba, Madasun's filly foal,by Viscount of Whitefield.

below:

" Us oldies do still exist, you know !

And yes I can see," Melody.

May 20th 2007

Flute has now foaled, and had a lovely big colt, by Belivat Muldoanich. Mother and son both doing well. Unfortunately I've no pictures to put up of him yet, as Flute is extremely pleased with him and not overly keen on sharing him or allowing him to be viewed. Thankfully the novelty soon wears off, so I will hopefully get some photographs this afternoon or tomorrow.


The other three foals are all well. Magic and Sylvie have gone back to Whitefield to be covered again, so we will see a big difference in the two foals when they come home in five weeks or so.

pic below Magic's colt foal

pic below Sylvie's filly foal

playtime

May 10th 2007

Congratulations to Steve and Anne, on winning their class at the recent NCPA Notts & Lincs Spring Show, with Lochlands Choir Boy. It was lovely to get news of his recent successful outing, wishing him the best of luck for the rest of the season.


photograph of Lochlands Choir Boy below, courtesy of Pleasure Prints.

April 30th 2007

Maddy ( L Madasun ) has had a lovely filly foal by Viscount of Whitefield. She is a sweet foal and very friendly, hoping that she will be yellow dun.


photos below.

April 23rd 2007

Finally about three weeks later than expected I can at last update the news page, by introducing two new arrivals.

Sylvie was supposed to foal two weeks before Magic and Maddy, but she decided to hang on and wait for Magic. Both Sylvie and Magic foaled in the early hours of Saturday morning. Sylvie has a lovely strong filly by Rabbie Burns of Fourmerk and Magic a colt by Belivat Muldoanich, full brother to the filly foal she had last year.

photographs above L Silver Flute and her filly foal, below L Magic Flute and her colt foal.

I was delighted to hear the news that Lochlands Principal Flute, was champion of the highland,fells and dales section at the recent West Midlands Stallion Show. Principal Flute is the 3yo colt by Callum of Forglen out of Flute of Whitefield, this was his first ever show outing. Congratulations to his owners Debbie Spears and Frances McWilliam, well done.


photograph below :

Some photographs below, head shots of the two 2yo fillies, Lochlands Madonna and Whitefield Queen Nefertiti and two of Rignell Sassenach.

March 27th 2007

If you have got this far great you must be interested in highland ponies.

I along with some friends have started a new highland pony forum/message board,please come and join us.

It will be a place for all highland pony enthusiasts to talk and enthuse about their ponies and the breed.

Just click on the link below and join Highland Pony Talk.

Highland Pony Talk

March 8th 2007

Many thanks to Nina Hoad for sending news of Robbie ( Lochlands Handel ), and a lovely head shot photograph taken recently at Badgworth Arena. Robbie is fit and well and will hopefully be out competing in ridden classes this season. We look forward to more pictures and wish Nina and her team every success with Robbie, and all her other Kingsmoor ponies during the coming year.

We enjoyed an excellent day out on Saturday, March 3rd, at the National Stallion Show, in Perth. After what feels like a long winter in hibernation, it was good to get out and see people again, catch up with friends , and watch the ponies being shown and the stallions paraded. The showing classes were well supported, as again was the HPS parade of stallions. Congratulations to Tracey Cooper, who won the senior stallion class with her 7yo stallion Kestral of Glencree and went on to be Champion. Congratulations also to John and Kate Dykes who were Reserve Champion with their homebred 2yo filly Clover of Mendick.

Our ponies are fine, all are going to come out of winter looking well, some perhaps a little too well ! They will be coming off their winter stubble field within the next two weeks, so time to get them all wormed again, before the come back to their grass paddocks. Once they are moved, we will have to book the farrier, and get feet trimmed again. I am now hoping that we don't get too much more in the way of rain, that the grass will think about growing and all being well the yearlings will soon be out at nights.

Sylvie is due to foal in five weeks time, it is getting ever nearer, although looking at her I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't go late.

January 27th 2007

Apologies for not updating sooner, I hadn't realised so long had elapsed since last writing. There is little in the way of news at this time of year. The ponies are all healthy and so far wintering well. The weather has been fairly kind to us, compared to how bad it has been in some other parts of the country. Having said that, I feel lucky that most of our ponies winter out on stubble, it does save the worry of mud and poaching and keeps our grass paddocks fresh for the spring. Last week much of the surrounding areas had a covering of snow, it passed us by completely which was lucky, although the winter wonderland look, does give a nice opportunity for taking photographs.

It looks as though we should have four foals arriving this year. The three mares that were scanned Sylvie, Magic and Maddy. Flute wasn't scanned but I think I can now safely say that she is definitely in foal. That leaves Melody who we did presume in foal, but I have my doubts about that one, time will tell. Sylvie is due first in early April, it seems a long while ahead, but with January nearly through already, I guess April won't be that long in coming round.

Apart from the routine of winter chores, haying, watering and mucking out, there is not a lot time or daylight, for doing much else with ponies just now. The two filly foals, one of the yearlings and the stallion are all inside at nights, but get turned out during the day. I am pleased to report that since his arrival at the end of September, 'Sass' has settled in well. He is a good boy, and seems happy and contented with his living arrangements, going out during the day, but keen to get back in later. It is very cheering to see the days beginning to stretch a little now, it is light till nearly five o'clock, hopefully a sign that spring is just around the corner.