FIRSEDGE DARTMOOR HOLMEDOWN HIGHLAND

Well the new filly has settled in well ... having had greys for years I now have two yellow duns. Only problem being that from a distance I can't tell which is which !! never had the problem with the "all white" ones !

My latest acquisition has arrived - a yellow dun two year old - Maronwells Ruadh from the Ormiston's. Met Gordon Hamilton late on Saturday night at the services to collect her and she loaded fine into my lorry. Left her in the stable overnight with H.Joliet for company then turned her out with the mares on Sunday morning.

Have heard from H.Sweet Laurel's owners that they took her to a foal show in Wales - she didn't bat an eyelid about being bathed - in fact she has been completely nonplussed about anything since she arrived. She did really well and won one class and 2nd in another and was reserve champion. I look forward to seeing her at shows in 2007.

Have weaned the last foal - H.New Jersey (Jayne of Meadowhead x Burnside Ben Nevis). He was very wary at first, but soon loved to be groomed and stood for ages whilst he was brushed all over, loves his head and neck being rubbed. He soon picked up on the idea of hard feed and tucks in readily.

Have today weaned H.California (H.Cobweb x Burnside Ben Nevis). She settled in the stable without too much hassle and mother is turned back out in the far field as she does tend to be rather vocal at weaning time.

Clare came down from Wales with the trailer to collect H.Sweet Laurel who just looked at the trailer and walked straight in, tied up and started munching her haynet. They phoned when they eventually got back home to say they didn't even know they had her on board and stopped and checked that she was all right a couple of times and she was completely unbothered by the travelling and didn't move at all!

Well Kincardine Caitlin has gone off to her new home in Scotland, and my new mare Maggie May of Moulzie has arrived. She is a yellow dun with an amazingly long mane and has sauntered off to find her new friends in the field quite unperturbed by her new surroundings - well I suppose once you have seen one field you have seen them all! Think she quite enjoyed having a nice roll though after her trek down from Scotland.

Pleased to say that H.Sweet Laurel has not been in the least bit worried about weaning - she is in a stable in the american barn by herself quite happily, not tried to jump out, will now have a rug on, pick feet up, be groomed and even graze in the small paddock whilst I muck out and then leads in once I am ready. Considering this is one of the least friendly foals (never been able to touch it in the field) it is quite amazing. She is now so friendly.

Have now weaned the second foal - H.Sweet Laurel (Kincardine Caitlin x Burnside Ben Nevis) as her new owners are going to collect her next weekend, and also her mother Kincardine Caitlin is going up to Scotland on Thursday.

The part-bred foal H.Snowdon today went off to his new home in Oxford. I was really sorry to see him go - he loaded with too much trouble and arrived safely and is still super friendly.

Decided I had better halter-break H.Snowdon (Firsedge Sabrina x Burnside Ben Nevis) as he is off to Oxford on Thursday. He has been very friendly since the day he was born and has always been quite a loner, preferring human company to that of his mother. No problems whatsoever, good as gold in the stable by himself as long as he has a feed bucket and hay, even put a rug on him and he wasn't bothered.

Well H.Snowdon (part-bred) is now weaned - basically due to the fact that I moved him and mum to a field near the stables and he jumped/climbed through the hedge to get back with his friends - so I left him there !

Had the vet out today to do the vaccination boosters for a few of the ponies, and also had Blair Bheg Cranluath PD'd as wasn't sure if she had taken. The good news is that she is safely in foal - so that is all the mares in foal to Glenmuir Buzzard for next year.

Well the couple drove down from Manchester with trailer and Drumpark Kara walked straight in, followed by her very friendly filly foal H.Kona who didn't even need a headcollar or any assistance! They called late on Sunday night to confirm all had arrived safe and sound.

Have now sold H.Sweet Laurel (Kincardine Caitlin x Burnside Ben Nevis) and she will be off to her new home in Wales mid-October

After a heart-wrenching decision, I have sold Drumpark Kara and her filly foal H.Kona (by Burnside Ben Nevis) to a very nice couple near Manchester. They came down and fell in love with the foal who is really friendly and loves being petted, then phoned during the week to see if they could buy mum as well. Thought about it for a few days and finally agreed.

Drumpark Kara has foaled at last ! A lovely filly, black with a tiny white star, but there are a few grey hairs round her eyes so she will end up steel grey. She is very pretty and very friendly.

Went to NPS Devon today. Intended to take the yearling (H.Joliet) out but after the storm that hit about 6am this morning, ponies had decided to roll and the only clean one was H.Cascade, so loaded her up and off we went. She won the Highland Fell Dales 4 year and over class and went on to be Res Ch.

Have now had the mares tested and they are all confirmed in foal to Glenmuir Buzzard, so looking forward to his first crop of foals next year.

Royal Cornwall today - and we took the championship again - this time with a 2 year old filly - H.Chicago who was a foal at foot when her mother took it in 2004 (picture on the home page).

Well just got back from our first show of the year - Bath & West and what a day. Entries were very good with 13 youngstock, 9 4 yrs and over and a huge 51 in the ridden !! Kate McArdle certainly had her work cut out after a long trip down from Aberdeen. H.Cascade won the mature class and then went on to be Highland Champion. (photo Horsepower-photography.com)

Just heard from Julie Barton that H.Christabella won the ridden at Surrey County. She was also 1st & Ch Junior Ridden, 1st & Res Open Ridden at the Ponies UK Winter Championships and also Ch at West Midlands Stallion Show in the Ridden as well as several NPS Shows. Also heard that the gelding, H.Fingal is doing well in-hand this year.

Had another foal today from H.Cobweb - she has a really nice filly foal by Ben Nevis which I think I will be keeping.

Yet another foal !! this time from Jayne of Meadowhead (the old lady) by Ben Nevis. A nice colt. I should now have a couple of week or so break before the last two mares - Drumpark Kara and H. Cobweb foal.

Well had another foal today - the first highland one of the year - out of Kincardine Caitlin (who is for sale) by Ben Nevis. Not sure what it is as I cannot get within 50 yards of it - but have a feeling it may be a filly - glad the camera has a zoom lens !

First foal of the year - a super part-bred colt from F.Sabrina by Burnside Ben Nevis - really big. He looks mouse dun but with a few white hairs round his eyes he will be very dark grey. I am calling him Holmedown Snowdon, and he will be for sale later in the year. From previous dartmoor x highlands I have bred he should make 13hh+ and look like a miniature highland.

The girls have all accepted Cascade back and it is like she has never been away, she has now been covered by Buzzard so fingers crossed. Both the dartmoor F.Sabrina and the highland Jayne of Meadowhead have really bagged up so will hopefully foal within the week.

The best news is that Holmedown Cascade has returned home after being shown in ridden classes by Karen. It is great to have her back and she will be put in foal this year. Well Glenmuir Buzzard has now been turned out with my in-foal mares and has settled in really well.

Well Glenmuir Buzzard has finally arrived - rather bewildered after a long journey considering he has never been loaded before in his life, after several overnight stable stops he loaded like a dream when I met the haulier to collect him. Burnside Ben Nevis has now left for his trip back up north, he will be missed here but I do have five mares due to him this year, so look forward to seeing the foals in the coming few weeks.

My new pony arrived today - Blar Bheag Crunluath - (Just William of Tormore x Rosehaugh Ceilidh) - I have been trying to get another daughter / grandaughter from Cock o'the North for ages, and am really pleased with her - she was born July 2003 and will hopefully make 13.2hh. She had a really long journey down from just south of John o' Groats and I met the haulier at Exeter Services this afternoon, where a little pony emerged from a huge great lorry and loaded straight up into mine for the last part of the journey to her new home. She settled into the stable with no problems - hay - water - what more does a highland need to feel at home!

Heard from Sally who bought H.Colorado last year - she has sent me some photos and he is looking really smart.

Heard from all the owners of the foals I sold last year - all are doing well and growing fast. They are behaving well and learning as they grow up in their new homes.

HOLMEDOWN HIGHLANDS	FOR SALE	FIRSEDGE DARTMOORS
INDEX	LINKS	PHOTOS

HOLMEDOWN HIGHLANDS	FOR SALE	FIRSEDGE DARTMOORS
INDEX	LINKS	PHOTOS