More chicken snaps!

First chicks for 2012

Black bantam one went broodie but as normal black bantam two has joined her to help with the chick raising.  Seven or eight chicks spotted so far, yellow, brown, black and one that looks almost lilac!

Chamfron Parador and Mimosa

A snap of Paul (thanks to Jeanette) showing him fairly colouring out.  Mimosa is on his near side (and probably about to liberate his neep) she was a year old yesterday and Caramia is lurking in the background.

Chamfron Rufina - 15 days old.

Starting fo fill out but still oh so feminine, this filly is smart, she misses nothing and is in to everything!

Chamfron Kukri Working.

Now backed and starting to ride away.

 

Tizona Snoozing!

A sleeping, dreaming, snoring Tizona!  Photo thanks to Christine.

Chamfron Paloma - 4 days old.

Helping mum regain her figure!!

Northern Lights!!

Great display of the Northern Lights over the stud tonight and I was able to dash into a muddy field and do a long awaited impression of Ponny the Penguin staring up into the sky.  As you will see from the drawing the likeness is remarkable and I was probably just about as cold, oh it would of been nice to have been in our Karesuando thermal suits!!  

Horsemart....

On the basis of its my blog and I'll whinge if I want too!!  Well in the past we used to advertise with Horsemart and had quite good results but I got fed up of the fact (that then at least) you couldn't upload photos from a Mac and there was no option for Criollo and when I asked their online support the answer I got was something along the lines of "we have bigger problems than that"!

However nice girl got Mark on the phone, probably before his second coffee and he agreed to advertise as part of their "unusual stallion feature."  The deal, as we understood it was, an email newsletter with editorial (the sales girl had ridden Criollo's in South America and liked them.)  We would be able to proof read this, of course, and we would get a follow up to say what hits this had generated.  In addition this editorial and the stallion ads would go on the horsemart website with a permanent link to our website.  This was paid for around the 19th of February.

So the reality, the email eventually goes out at the end of March, it wasn't proof read and although not truly awful it had mistakes.  The editorial was along the lines of "if you want a stallion with a nice temperament consider these guys..."!!  We weren't informed it had gone out or sent a copy and there was no follow up.  The stallions have never gone on the horsemart website.  I've sent two emails, one saying "did I misunderstand?" and the second saying "really not impressed" - they have both been ignored, if you call, you are through to Friday Ads and can't get hold of who you want.  Surreal to say the least, yip Horsemart you have big problems, not least your bloody awful customer service  :-(

2nd Foal - Chamfron Paloma

Midnite Harmony foaled down bang on her due date, a big chunky chestnut (roan) filly by Arrayan Numa.  We have named her "Chamfron Paloma" as all Harmony's foals to date have been named after birds, Paloma meaning dove.

PetNanny Van Out-Takes!

Bit of a challenge yesterday, all be it a very relaxed while eating pizza challenge.  Caroline aka "PetNanny" had asked me to photograph the dogs she walks for an idea she has for the decals for her van.  We photographed over fifty dogs and we never expected perfect studio shots but it was great to have a play with lens, camera settings and some fun dogs and I am very pleased with some of the photos.

Almost all the photo's can be seen here - PetNanny albums, One, Two and Three.  Caroline is keeping a few ideas up her sleeve!

 I think the pug on the right is saying "yip you got his best side!"

Chamfron Tizona and Ronnie!

Tizona looking very settled in her new home with pal Ronnie, photos thanks to Christine.

Chamfron Rufina - 4 days old.

Filling out a bit and keeping mum on her toes!

First foal of 2012 - Chamfron Rufina.

Lady Erica foaled down at a very respectable 11pm last night, a red roan filly by Arrayan Numa.  Erica had been massive and I was worried about either twins (she had been scanned with one) or a big foal but actually Rufina is quite petite and Erica didn't even sweat up!  The arrival of our second red roan filly by Arrayan means that we now know all our proven broodmares carry chestnut.