Welcome to the Dancing Green Lusitanos blog, a small Kent-based stud with a passion for Lusitano horses.

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Breeding equipment

So we are now qualified AI technicians, and the next stage is to get the lab set up and the dummy and stocks installed. We've set aside an area for it all, the ground has been prepared (levelled and stone laid) and acquired a site cabin for use as the lab. The area will be fenced off using X-Fence during the next few days, which we can use as a teasing wall if needed. Then the stocks and the dummy will be installed and we'll be ready to go! Well, once we have equipped the lab and got our AV we will. All very exciting :)

Meanwhile the boys have been out and about - T did his first competition with Dan a couple of weeks back, M75. We were really pleased with him; he warmed up really well if perhaps a tad long given that the tests were running about 20 mins behind. Some tension in the test itself made for a few mistakes, understandable for his first time out in ages, but very nice and we look forward to his next outings.

T and Dan strutting their stuff

Q and I have also been out and about for schooling sessions at other yards, and out for a hack with my new hacking chum, Kate. Next thing will be to affiliate him with BD and get out for some competitions. Mainly the issue for me is one of time and motion, being so busy at work at the moment. He will be at the TTT at the end of April with Mandy Lawrence for a dressage clinic, so we are all looking forward to that.

Another ongoing stud project is the acquisition of some 1000 willow whips to plant a long hedge along the boundary of the lower field as a screen and windbreak.

The younglings are doing well and seem to be developing a nice relationship with Q. They spend a lot of time hanging out together at the fence line. We're doing some trailer loading work with them and will also be teaching them to trot up as the next stage in their early handling work. They have been coming in and tying up really well, until a small setback a couple of weeks ago when little Nom pulled back and somehow managed to take out a piece of weatherboard, then galloped off in a panic with it trailing after him. Erk. Fortunately no harm done. I also note with some amusement that he has started to feel some manly stirrings, notwithstanding the fact that his plums have not yet dropped.

We've finished our stud logo and need to finalise the web site and get some promo matieral together. Never a dull minute!

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