News 2009
October 17th 2009
This is the hardest update I have had to write and is written with the heaviest of heart and amid more tears.
It was with great sadness that we had to have our very special, once in a lifetime pony, Flute of Whitefield put to sleep, on the 8th of October.
2009 has been a long and difficult summer for Flute and although at one point we were becoming hopeful of a different outcome, sadly things were not to be. Flute had unfortunately on two other occasions just before foaling suffered from an attack of partruition laminitus, brought about by hormone changes pre foaling. However both times previously she recovered quickly and once foaled was soon back to normal. Last year she foaled without incident and we had hoped for the same this year. She wintered well, but not too well and was left on the winter paddock to avoid any risk of any problems from the grass. However in mid April a full month before foaling as opposed to a few days pre foaling she went down.
She put up a brave fight and had a filly foal on the 17th of May. We made progress and Flute and baby did finally get back outside and for a while things did seem to be improving. Sadly however in late August she developed a bad foot abcess and this was to be the trigger of a downhill slope that we could eventually not return from.
In the end with our vet, we had to make the inevitable decision that no amount of xrays,box rest, drugs or tlc, could give Flute back the quality of life that she deserved.
The 8th of October was a beautiful warm sunny day. Flute and I made our way up onto the fresh grass of the hay field, were she grazed for an hour and had the warmth of the sun on her back,it was very peaceful. The vet drove up the field and she was quietly put to sleep and is now at rest in the fields she has always grazed.
I could never have predicted the impact that one pony could have on our lives, she truly was a special pony. Flute was a seven year wait and well worth the wait. Her dam is the lovely Yvette of Whitefield, who I adored on first sight when I saw her as a yearling. Unsurprisingly Yvette was not for sale, so I would have to wait and hope that I could buy a filly foal from this lovely mare at some point in the future. After Yvette had three colt foals, the filly arrived, and I was so lucky to be able to buy her.
Flute had the biggest heart,was full of character and personality and very oppinionated and we loved her. She owes us nothing and gave us our two once in a lifetime moments, first in 2000 when she won the In Hand Championship at the Royal Highland Show and again in 2006 when her daughter Magic Flute won the In Hand Championship for us at the Breed Show.
I cannot believe that she is gone and miss her dreadfully, but she leaves us a wonderful legacy. She had three daughters, Magic and Silver Flute and this year Golden Flute all who are with us. Her first colt Principal Flute is a licensed stallion and with Debbie Spears, she had two lovely geldings Miltary Flute and Treble Flute both ponies have lovely homes with their owners Heather and Vanessa and Anne and Steve and are much loved and her last colt Royal Flute is still with us.
Sleep tight Flute. It is true that the good die young, if ever a pony deserved a long and happy retirement this one did. If I could have just one wish, it would be to have my once in a lifetime pony still with us.
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August 13th 2009
A few pictures to update.
Below Maddy's foal Mandora, she's a lovely person always pleased to see people.
Sylvie's foal is also friendly now, pictured below.
Two pictures below of yearling gelding Silver Drum.
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July 21st 2009
We were up early on Saturday morning, ponies loaded and just about to head off to Kirriemuir Show, when we got a text message to say that the Show had been cancelled. Although it had been wet the previous day and during the night, it was actually a dry morning, but unfortunately the field was too saturated for the show to go ahead. It is difficult for us to fit shows in around our weekend working commitments, so was disappointing to lose a local show on a weekend that we were off.
The ponies are all well, and the foals are growing up fast.
Pictured below, Sylvie's filly foal.
Below Maddy's filly foal:
Below Maddy:
Lochlands Marimba our 2yo filly has been sold and will be heading to her new home next weekend. Best wishes to new owner Lynne and her family, we hope that you will be very happy with Marie.
Pictured below 2yo Marimba with her young sister Mandora.
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July 5th 2009
Yesterday we enjoyed a lovely day at Fettercairn Show. This is a super wee show, lovely old fashioned agricultural show and when the weather is as glorious as it was this year, it is always a nice day out. The highland pony section was very well supported, it was great to see such a high turn out of ponies, especially when it falls so soon after the Highland Show..
We took our two yearlings, filly Maiden and gelding Silver Drum. Drummie hasn't been out since he was a foal, and we thought it time he had some handling and a bit of education. He took everything in his stride, was good to bath on Friday, loaded and travelled well and behaved very well at the show, so it was a good exercise.
Maiden won the the yearling class and Drum was third. I thought that was us finished for the day and was delighted when Maiden was called forward for the Reserve spot in the championship behind the brood mare.
Congratulations to Janet and Gordon Smith, who won the championship with their lovely mare Tess of Glendoll. It was a good day for the Arbroath exhibitors.
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July 3rd 2009
We had a thoroughly enjoyable Royal Highland Show this year, very sociable and good weather, which is always a huge bonus.
We took Madonna and Snow Maiden, these were the largest classes in the female section. Donna just missed a ticket in the yeld mare class,while Snow Maiden won the very strong yearling filly class. We were absolutely thrilled, it was lovely to win the trophy for the homebred yearling filly which Maiden's dam Magic also won as yearling back in 2003.
We were delighted for Mairi Page, with her filly Lochlands Silver Chime, Chime was 2nd in the 2yo filly class.
Many congratulations to Jim Hendrie & daughter Alvean who won the Overall Championship with their lovely 3yo filly Tower Gypsy Meg.
above and below, Maiden, Royal Highland Show Grand Parade.
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June 21st 2009
Had a lovely day out yesterday at Alyth Show. We took Madonna and Snow Maiden. Delighted when Donna won a very strong class of yeld mares and Maiden was second in the yearling class.
A great show, with a tremendous turn out of ponies. Congratulations to Irene Grant who won the highland pony championship with her lovely gelding Sheamus of Inverdarroch.
photo above yeld mare Lochlands Madonna
and below yearling filly Lochlands Snow Maiden
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June 12th 2009
A few more photos that I was going to post last time, until I ran out of space. Space issues now resolved so no excuse not to get out with the camera. Major problem is the ponies all want to help and investigate, so I end up with noses on the end of the camera and have to give up !
Our yearling gelding Silver Drum, is growing up. He is a lovely young lad and looks like he will be a big boy.
Pictured above.
Above Magic resting in the sun.
Below Maddy and foal.
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June 10th 2009
Flute has now foaled,a lovely yellow dun filly by 'Sass', she will be called Lochlands Golden Flute.
Maddy is now home again after being away at stud. Her foal is doing well and growing up fast.
Sylvie's foal, is also doing well, she is to be called Lochlands Silver Raven.
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May 24th 2009
Yesterday was our first show outing for 2009. It has been the first year for some time that we have been able to attend Fife Show. In recent years it has always fell on a weekend that we have been working, so it made a nice change this year that we were not working and able to enter.
We took our yearling filly Lochlands Snow Maiden ( Belivat Muldoanich x Lochlands Magic Flute ) and our 4yo mare Lochlands Madonna.
It was Maiden's first ever outing and she coped very well with her day out, travelled and behaved well.
pictured above Maiden waiting in the collecting ring.
The youngstock are shown before the adult ponies at Fife, so Maiden was in the ring first. We were delighted when she won the yearling class.
Maiden pictured above and below.
Donna was on next in the yeld mare class, her first time out amongst the adult ponies . Delighted with her 3rd place in a strong class of mares.
Lochlands Madonna, pictured above and below, photos kindly taken by Gillian Telfer.
Maiden also won the trophy for the best 1,2 or 3yo filly bred by exhibitor.
Lovely start to the show season, very enjoyable day out and lovely to catch up with people again after what seems like a winter in hibernation. The weather was very kind as well, let's hope the rest of the shows are also blessed with nice dry days !
I will try and get some photos of the other ponies over the next few days. I haven't been very well recently, and haven't found the energy to get out with the camera. Thankfully on the mend again now, so time to catch up and get some photos of the rest of the gang.
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May 18th 2009
Apologies for the delay in updating. Sylvie has now foaled and has had a lovely strong filly.
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April 12th 2009
Our first foal for 2009 has arrived:
Maddy has had a lovely dark coloured filly. Mare and foal both doing well.
As you can see she is a very friendly foal, quite delightful and a great time waster. It has been lovely today watching her enjoy the Easter sunshine.
On a sadder note, we were extremely disappointed when Magic delivered a dead foal. It was a full month early and born dead. Sadly just one of those things, something must have gone wrong. Thankfully Magic is fine, although obviously very disappointed that her baby wouldn't go, it is such a shame for them after the effort of carrying to nearly full term, we felt so sorry for her.
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February 15th 2009
It looked as though we were going to completely miss the snow that had been falling across much of the rest of the country, until Thursday morning when we had a fall of just over two inches. Just enough to be scenic, but not create too much mess when it thawed !
No news as such, the ponies are all wintering well and in robust good health, just the way we like it.
I will update with some wintery photos, most unusual for us to see the snow, so made a nice change to be able to take some photographs against a snowy background.
And to finish a few of Sass, I think he was quite surprised to find his paddock had turned white overnight, but he made the most of it and enjoyed a good roll and a kick of his heels.
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January 15th 2009
I was delighted to receive the following photographs of Lochlands Military Flute.
Flute is rising 4yo now, photos were taken at the Blue Chip Winter Festival of Champions, at Aintree Equestrian Centre in October 2008.
Lovely to see the recent pictures Lynda, thank you for sending them . Hard to believe that he is nearly 4yo now, how time flies.
The ponies are all doing well, and have enjoyed the recent spell of frosty weather.
above Lochlands Marimba catching some January sunshine.
above Lochlands Snow Maiden & Lochlands Marimba
trio above, Marimba, Medley & Moonlight.
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