I wish I could show her ...

This absolutely beautiful young man is to be Her Ladyship's next breeding partner. He is straight Egyptian Arabian. His name is Chaswyck Caliph. She was to see him this year but was delayed by the outbreak of Equine Influenza.

This young stallion is heavily bred to Asfour (Malik x Hanan) who was imported from Germany for Simeon Stud. Simeon Stud has bred some of the most beautiful horses in the World, including a World Champion Stallion. They mostly breed Egyptian Arabians.

But Chaswyck Caliph was bred at Chaswick Stud, another Egyptian breeder, by their stallion, Simeon Sochain. He is a beautiful Chestnut stallion, loved and admired all over the world.

I feel if she knew she was going to visit him next year she might cheer up a bit. Alas, our communications are not that good.

The foal could actually be chestnut, since Her Ladyship's dam was chestnut. I am not too fussed over the colour, I would be just as happy with a grey or bay, but I really think the foal will be something to behold in conformation with this breeding. The mare has very good legs and shoulder, as has this young man. He has a very powerful hindquarter, which I am delighted with, and I am sincerely hoping it will be passed on to the foal.

A colt will be gelded at two months. That is the law around here. Meanwhile there are lots of things to do: keeping her in good condition, getting her next EI vaccine, having the vet check she is actually ovulating and so on.

She has been rubbing her neck where the microchip was placed. We have been trying to prevent her from doing this, but she does it whenever we can. I guess all the theory in the world wont prevent her from dislodging it or damaging it if she is really determined to do it. She doesn't know what it is and if it is annoying her, why not rub the damn thing?

So enjoy the picture.

Her Ladyship, the ex-Racehorse ...

She's a sweet old thing, our mare. She is so lonely at the moment she has taken to following the old person around while he does his outside chores. He says it is like having a big, spooky dog.

When we came home from Christmas shopping last Saturday, the boys ran ahead of us with the trolley and parcels, and were calling her. She came galloping up to see what was wrong. She so cares about those boys.

Her hair is so fine, her face is drier than any Arabian horse's head. Her legs have dried out and are just slightly feathered at the back of the fetlock. Her hair is so fine on her body it is smooth and silky. She has blood vessels close to the surface to keep her body cooler - so if she passes that on to her Anglo-Arabian foal, endurance will definitely be on the cards. Right now she is an extremely beautiful animal.

We feed her good food, that we have experimented with over time. She is wormed on a regular basis, she is not supplimented at the moment, because she is getting loads of good grass as we have had some good rain. She is a little spoilt at the moment only because we are not sure of our status with EI and don't want to risk getting another horse here until it is all gone again. We have seen people out riding around here - we don't know if they are supposed to be or not. They don't talk to us: they don't know us.

One day it will be over and we will be able to get her a companion. Till then she only has us.

Something to amuse you ...

(From a thread on Straightegyptians.com)

Diane asked the following:

A list of titles added to a library...

The baby human
The anti-bias approach in early childhood
Family in transition
Curriculum controversies
The art of teaching primary science 12 to 18
Anger management
Assertiveness
Essentials of strategic project management
Children, families & communities
Computers, thinking and learning
Designing a thinking curriculum
Coat of many pockets
Formative assessment in the secondary classroom
Schooling for the knowledge era
Totally wicked!
Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa
Teaching mathematics to all children
How to talk to children about art
The psychology of B.F. Skinner
Just Stop and Think!
Not you again!
What else can I do with you?
Seven steps to ICT integration
The millennial adolescent
Learners with mild disabilities
The Differentiated Classroom
Right book right time
Teaching boys
The psychology of B.F. Skinner
Sociology of family life
Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology: quantitative modeling
Seeing red
Managing conflict with confidence
Storytelling in the classroom
Race, culture and schooling
Extraordinary performance from ordinary people
Learning to slow down and pay attention

Anyone like to suggest an alternative title to these with the Arabian Horse as the theme?
egThe baby horse
The anti-bias approach in Arabian Horse BreedingBreeding in transition
The art of teaching analytical Arabian Horse conformation
Foals, families & communities
Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa
A few could always remain - Anger managementAssertiveness etc

To which I replied:

The baby human - Imprint training
The anti-bias approach in early foalhood
The herd in transition
Curriculum controversies in Judging
The art of teaching mammalian science 12 to 18
Anger management (for humans)
Assertiveness (for Arabian horses)
Essentials of strategic project management of Breeding Programmes
Children, families, strains & communities of Arabian Horses
Computers, thinking and learning to outsmart your Egyptian Arabian
Designing a thinking curriculum for Egyptian Arabians
Coat of many pockets filled with carrots
Formative assessment in the secondary classroom at Pony Club
Dressage Schooling for the knowledge era
Totally wicked! Carrots recipes
Miss Lily's fabulous pink feather boa for reining horses
Teaching mathematics to all children, families, strains and communities of Arabian horses
How to talk to children about artistically braiding tails and manes
The psychology of B.F. Skinner for thinking riders
Just Stop and Think - does your horse really need that carrot?
Not you again! See these teeth?
What else can I do with you besides lawn ornamentation
Seven steps to ICT integration for Egyptian Arabians
The millennial adolescent two year old colt
Learners with mild disabilities - both human and other animals
The Differentiated Classroom - both human and other animals
Right book right time - duck.
Teaching boys not to play chicken with the stallions
Sociology of horse herd life
Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology: quantitative modeling after the rider has fallen off - again
Seeing red - before your horse shies.
Managing conflict with confidence - for Arabian horse owners
Storytelling in the classroom - how to learn truth from fiction
Race, culture and schooling in the dressage ring
Extraordinary performance from ordinary people - New horse ownership
Learning to slow down and pay attention before you get bitten.

I thought this might add a chuckle to your life.