December 17 2002 Newsletter

		December 17, 2002 We’ve been fighting the cold, rain, and mud here for about a month. The horses don’t mind too much, but it is really holding up construction. We have the doors and windows, and a fair portion of the rock and log siding on the house. The electrical and plumbing is roughed in, but we still lack the heat and air. We’re ready for the drain field and septic tank, but the weather won’t give us a big enough break to get it in! Missie is a little over 6 months pregnant now, and she is just huge. She’s the only one who is really showing, and she’s showing – A LOT. She looks bigger now than she did right before she had her last one. This must be a really big baby. I’m getting pretty attached to this one. Not only is it huge, it’s also very active. I have been able to see it moving quite a bit when she eats for almost 2 months now. I’ve felt it kick twice, and once when she laid down she looked like a monster was inside her belly trying to get out. She must have made it mad by laying on it! I’m really looking forward to this foal. I hope it is a little early – for Missie’s sake, and because I can’t wait to see it! We’re very excited about this year’s crop of Friesian Sporthorse foals. Whisper is starting to fill out a little bit. She has been a lot of fun lately. She’s gotten in the habit of RUNNING to see me, and her ground manners are improving. She is such a pretty girl. She’s my little “faux-Andalusian”. They say the American Mustang has a lot of Andalusian/Lusitano blood stemming from the Spanish conquistadors. I can really see it in her. Buttons got shocked by the electric fence a couple weeks ago when I was feeding her. I felt really bad – I had just gotten her trained to come to the gate, I’d let her in, and she could eat in peace. I was a little slow getting the gate opened for her, and she touched it. She still hasn’t gotten over it. What a memory that girl has. It reminds me of a time she held a grudge against me for weeks because I tied her up while I rode Missie. She wouldn’t even accept carrots or grain from me for the longest time. What a personality! Sierra is nursing an abcess. What a brave girl. Even though we were hurting her, she knew we were trying to help. She really surprised me with her level-headedness. She didn’t make us fight with her at all. Somehow she knew we had to do what we were doing to make it feel better. Through her twice daily foot soaks and medicine routine, I’m getting to know her better. I’m continuing to be impressed by her obvious intelligence. I bet she’s a great Mom. Scooter is such a big girl, you have to remember she’s still young. You can tell she has a lot to learn, but she is a truly sweet mare. I don’t think she knows how big she is, and she doesn’t pay a lot of attention to where she’s walking and what she’s rubbing on. She’ll walk all over you for attention, and not realize she’s in your space. We’re working on that! She never fails to make an impression. She’s so correct in every way, and she has a great presence - you don’t even notice her leg. Visitors are always remark about her. We hope everyone is all ready for Christmas . . . and if you aren’t, why not choose a 2003 Friesian Sporthorse foal for that special person on your gift list! A gift that will be anxiously anticipated, and loved for years to come! Have a great holiday!

December 17, 2002

We’ve been fighting the cold, rain, and mud here for about a month. The horses don’t mind too much, but it is really holding up construction. We have the doors and windows, and a fair portion of the rock and log siding on the house. The electrical and plumbing is roughed in, but we still lack the heat and air. We’re ready for the drain field and septic tank, but the weather won’t give us a big enough break to get it in!

Missie is a little over 6 months pregnant now, and she is just huge. She’s the only one who is really showing, and she’s showing – A LOT. She looks bigger now than she did right before she had her last one. This must be a really big baby. I’m getting pretty attached to this one. Not only is it huge, it’s also very active. I have been able to see it moving quite a bit when she eats for almost 2 months now. I’ve felt it kick twice, and once when she laid down she looked like a monster was inside her belly trying to get out. She must have made it mad by laying on it! I’m really looking forward to this foal. I hope it is a little early – for Missie’s sake, and because I can’t wait to see it! We’re very excited about this year’s crop of Friesian Sporthorse foals.

Whisper is starting to fill out a little bit. She has been a lot of fun lately. She’s gotten in the habit of RUNNING to see me, and her ground manners are improving. She is such a pretty girl. She’s my little “faux-Andalusian”. They say the American Mustang has a lot of Andalusian/Lusitano blood stemming from the Spanish conquistadors. I can really see it in her.

Buttons got shocked by the electric fence a couple weeks ago when I was feeding her. I felt really bad – I had just gotten her trained to come to the gate, I’d let her in, and she could eat in peace. I was a little slow getting the gate opened for her, and she touched it. She still hasn’t gotten over it. What a memory that girl has. It reminds me of a time she held a grudge against me for weeks because I tied her up while I rode Missie. She wouldn’t even accept carrots or grain from me for the longest time. What a personality!

Sierra is nursing an abcess. What a brave girl. Even though we were hurting her, she knew we were trying to help. She really surprised me with her level-headedness. She didn’t make us fight with her at all. Somehow she knew we had to do what we were doing to make it feel better. Through her twice daily foot soaks and medicine routine, I’m getting to know her better. I’m continuing to be impressed by her obvious intelligence. I bet she’s a great Mom.

Scooter is such a big girl, you have to remember she’s still young. You can tell she has a lot to learn, but she is a truly sweet mare. I don’t think she knows how big she is, and she doesn’t pay a lot of attention to where she’s walking and what she’s rubbing on. She’ll walk all over you for attention, and not realize she’s in your space. We’re working on that! She never fails to make an impression. She’s so correct in every way, and she has a great presence - you don’t even notice her leg. Visitors are always remark about her.

We hope everyone is all ready for Christmas . . . and if you aren’t, why not choose a 2003 Friesian Sporthorse foal for that special person on your gift list! A gift that will be anxiously anticipated, and loved for years to come!

Have a great holiday!