Friday 31 December 2010

2010 Round up!

Its been a funny old year hasn't it!!

The good... Another crop of healthy, happy foals. We only had four foals and were thrilled with the quality this year. Caramia has left for her new home, settled in well and should be a star in the show ring next year. We have nine mares of our own scanned in foal for 2011 and have some quality visiting mares in foal to the two stallions as well. We are also aware of what good friends, neighbours, customers and suppliers we have!

The bad... Well we tightened our belts, we didn't compete but we have got to the end of 2010 with our retired horses happily eating in the field (all apart from Cheeko, Marks old showjumper who colicked back in March) and the odd glass of wine still passing our impoverished lips!

The ugly... Well plenty of time to spend on the internet looking at websites and horses for sale gave a telling insight into so many other studs breeding practices and as times got harder some people clearly had the morals of sewer rats! Mind its good to see how people deal in the hard times so you can see who you want to do business with in the good times!!

The VAT increase and no doubt the diesel prices going up again will cause us to weep and moan in January but spring will be round the corner and in less than four months time we should be back in the barn foaling down the next crop. Roll on 2011!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wednesday 29 December 2010

Chamfron Caramia at (nearly) seven months old.

Caramia has settled in well at her new home in Northants and is now firmly part of the gang. Thanks to Jeanette for the photos!





THAW....

So some last pretty photos from the snow on Monday and a slightly flattering one of the field this morning, blog photos may well take a pull until everything looks a lot less grey and soggy!





Sunday 26 December 2010

Body double?

As I put on my Christmas hat, Mark suddenly thought I looked a little familiar...

Friday 24 December 2010

Merry Christmas.

From all at CHAMFRON STUD!




The decorations are up, the pressies are wrapped so now it is time to track Santa with NORAD and get the christmas music on... perhaps a rendition of LEROY THE REDNECK REINDEER? Hope everyone has a lovely day tomorrow.

And the shame continues...


Viscacha finds fame in the Gazette but best we don't read her out the comment!!

Thursday 23 December 2010

You can run...

... but you can't hide!!

Caramia proudly wearing her tinsel in Northants!

Foals and Stallions get festive...

The all important part of the foals education - exposure to tinsel!!












Next up for tinsel?

After the dog was parted from its snowflakes we trekked out to the field where everyone was in the festive spirit... Ho Ho Ho.














Its that time of year again...

First up was Cattle dog "Sheila" - looks thrilled doesn't she?! Less of the bah humbug muttley!


Tuesday 21 December 2010

Winter Solstice

Well thats the shortest day today and we can look forward now to lighter nights, spring and of course foals!! This sprinkling of snow has meant it has been very pleasant on the farm, not a normal damp, dreich west coast winter! Certainly the last few nights, with the full moon reflecting off the snow, it has been bright at midnight, horses clearly visable across the fields!


Another perk to the frozen ground is that we can whizz bales around the farm without getting the tractor out. Mark jokes he should be a "three bell mule" as he rides, drives and packs...

Saturday 18 December 2010

More snow...

Wee bit more snow today, horses all still happily getting to the grass though.