Chamfron Stud

Chamfron Chipita - 32 Months old.

2012-02-14T12:17:00.002-08:00

Chip has now been backed and is going well. Owned by and photos thanks to Lorna.

Hector 1989 (?) - 2012

2012-02-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

Decision made this morning that Hector was no longer coping. A good old fashioned irish jumping horse and a real gent.

Rebecca's Gang.

2012-02-12T11:32:00.001-08:00

From left to right, Chamfron By Dand, Molly and Chamfron Firefly.

Chamfron Colorado - 30 months old.

2012-02-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

Photos thanks to Nicola.

Caramia in the snow.

2012-02-11T04:13:00.001-08:00

Much nicer than the mud and ice we have here!

The reds and friends!

2012-02-08T09:57:00.000-08:00

Brrrr, parky down the woods today!!

Weaning Part 8!

2012-02-07T09:39:00.001-08:00

Angel Dust has been weaned, wormed and foot trimmed and is now in with the rest of the gang.

Chamfron Caramia at 20 Months old.

2012-01-29T15:52:00.001-08:00

Looking good!

Mimosa and Parador away.

2012-01-29T15:32:00.001-08:00

We delivered Mimosa and Parador to Northampton today. The journey down was utterly uneventful with both foals walking straight on to the trailer and travelling perfectly. Amazed (and frankly beyond jealous) to be able to drive onto the field and not even leave a track!

Journey back was more eventful, firstly we found out that petrol stations on the A1 are a bit few and far between and had to make the embarrassing "we've run out of fuel" call to the RAC! Then the A66 was a bit gnarly with snow and fog, you know its bad when the road is duel carriageway and everyone is still happy to sit behind a trailer. Phew, nice to be home!

Exbury Ghost Daughter

2012-01-24T13:42:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lucy Victoria Phillips for the photos of her Exbury Ghost mare (out of a QH/App dam). Always lovely to see photos of his older stock.

Angel Dust - seven months old.

2012-01-21T04:49:00.000-08:00

Job for today was to get some new photos of the mighty midget, I tried to sneak in and snap but it was no good, she was there... right there... on the end of the lens, hmmm no Mark to distract her, what now. OK, bring in the hugely scary space hopper and snap the foal as it looks shocked and startled... errr no, she dashed over to see what it was and carefully nosed it all round the pen until she was back, with the space hopper, there, right on the end of the lens... again...

So I kicked it... (The space hopper, not the foal!) and over the pen it sailed, followed without a moments hesitation by the mighty midget in medium trot. Ah now the space hopper was behind the bale so this required great hurtling around and pouncing on it when it wasn't watching (and yes had it gone bang I have no doubt that five other ponies and me would have shot through the roof and one small foal would of stood and looked at us).

A sense of humour bigger than herself!!

More of The Reds!

2012-01-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Quick walk in the woods today, probably about ten squirrels hurtling around the trees above our heads. I don't have the patience for wildlife photography but I do want to use these guys for some serious practice this year. Not today though, unsuitably dressed and the day was running away from us!

Bad day for Chamfron Westminster.

2012-01-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Vets visit this morning, the new girls have been swabbed and turned out and poor old Wills is now a gelding.

New Girls.

2012-01-09T13:21:00.001-08:00

Two new additions to the broodmare band! Both imported from Uruguay, the bay mare is Llamita (ex David Stirling polo pony) and the chestnut is Fatima (Criollo). Both will be covered by Arrayan in 2012.

Lapland Part 3!

2012-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

Our cabin was grand with a brilliant sauna in it and underfloor heating, the snowman was there to greet us and the ice sculptures were dotted around the grounds. The photos from the bridge are Mark casually strolling from Sweden to Finland across the "frozen" river, then Mark sashaying rather more intently back to Sweden after noticing his footprints were filling up with water!

The big question, did we see the Northern lights? Yes a weeny hint of, not yet scrubbed of the bucket list though!

We flew home from Kiruna, spotting a Moose on route! They were very efficiant getting our bags tagged and through security, the lady in charge was just reaching to open the gate to let us board the plane when a thought flashed through her head and she picked up the walkie talkie, well I'm sure I now know the Swedish for "you're shitting me" as she was informed there was no plane to board us on to! Wee delay later and we were heading back to sunny (ha ha) Manchester, on to Cheshire to pick up the latest additions to the broodmare band, then home.

Lapland Part 2!

2012-01-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

Slower mode of transport the next day with reindeer, now I'm a big fan of reindeers. Our reindeer was the pale lad with the superb antlers, the head honcho's reindeer was a lairy sort, didn't go an inch and just turned round and looked at him. When we were finished our reindeer was promoted to the lead and the other one was probably earmarked to be made into a very fine rug. Don't you think the reindeer with the blaze and the bell looks rather like Pitufa?

Lapland Part 1!

2012-01-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

On Thursday we flew out to Lapland (a fantastic Christmas present from Marks mum, dad and gran), landing at Enontekio on the last day before it closed for the winter, the hold door froze on the plane which added to the artic circle feeling though for them it was mild and wet for the time of year (spot a theme there then!!)

Quick transfer at we were in our log cabin at Davvi Lodge and out for a stroll around town. Compulsory photo of a foot in two countries (Sweden and Finland) and a visit to the most northerly church in Sweden. The next day we were of to drive huskies, no doubt they were the trekking ponies of the dog world but they were good fun and I'd like to drive a team again. Our huskies were keen and much speedier than the teams in front so unfortunately we were on the brakes a lot, must be disapointing for them. Later that night we took some snowmobiles on a hoon around the woods, seemed a lot faster when Mark was driving but fair dues Mark was a much better passenger on them than he was on the huskies!!

In between we did a lot of sledging, don't you think we look stylish?!

Oh look its raining...!

2011-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

Apparently its been the wettest year in Scotland since records began, we had guessed :-(

We were very spoilt with the snow and sunshine last winter, this year its snorkles at the ready and barely keeping wellies on feet, its all a bit dreich.

Still roll on 2012, I am expecting that there will be lots and lots of snow photos on the blog in just over a week...!!

Happy New Year!

Chamfron Wakizashi and Chamfron Cactus Jack

2011-12-27T08:44:00.001-08:00

Popped down to see Wanda (19 months old) and Cactus (17 months old) having an educational spin out at the Greenlands E.C. Christmas show, the judge commented on what wonderful movers they both were.

Chamfron By Dand and Chamfron Firefly get Festive!

2011-12-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

Brilliant photos thanks to Rebecca.

Panda's...

2011-12-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

Popped into the zoo on Sunday before doing a bit of Christmas shopping in Edinburgh. It was cold, I think you can guess that from the animals expressions! We weren't lucky with our panda viewing, in all honesty, she peered out, went "shit, its a bit parky round here" and headed back in. However I did capture an exclusive paparazzi snap of one of the panda's melting into the crowd at the penguin parade...

First field Haylage...

2011-12-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

The main herd went onto the back field and now have four bales of haylage to be munching on, looking forward to some good frosts or a nice covering of snow as its a little on the soft side out there!!

If you go down to the woods today...

2011-12-13T08:18:00.001-08:00

A grey sort of day but beasties a plenty down at the local Nature Reserve, more red squirrels than you could shake a stick at, a bank vole (which got harrased by the robins) and lots of birds at the feeders. Its a super spot to stroll with the camera.

Chamfron Malambo - 31 months old

2011-12-11T04:53:00.001-08:00

Stood with his bum slightly closer to the wall which isn't flattering but looking well for a youngster running out with no rug and no feeding.

Twitching like a rabbits nose!

2011-12-09T10:15:00.000-08:00

We sold Leyla the tractor last week on eBay and she was picked up to head of to Wigton tonight. Now her eBay listing listed her bad points, one of which was "When viewed from behind the tractor is sitting lower on its near side, it does feel a little unstable to drive. This would want checked out before use. (Possible wheel bearing?)"

So, as I'm sure you can imagine it was nothing other than Mark's macho pride that got her onto a low loader (and in true girly fashion I'd like to say - it didn't look that low to me!!) in the dark. Maybe she doesn't have a problem with her wheel bearing as she didn't try and throw herself of the skimpy ramps but it gave Mark the biggest adrenaline rush he's had this year!

I'm not quite sure how I thought they were going to pick up an unstable tractor but that wasn't what I had in mind!!

Red Kites

2011-12-06T09:37:00.001-08:00

It was a beautiful day here, good covering of snow and blue skies so I thought we would take a runout to the red kite feeding station near Laurieston and take a few snaps. Not so nice weather there (yip, excuses already given, photos are disapointing!!) but certainly worth a trip out just to see probably sixty red kites come in to feed. I kept following the wrong bird and the only pin sharp snap is of a red kites backside!!

Nico...

2011-12-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

"Window licker"!

It's lying!

2011-12-05T02:15:00.000-08:00

Looking a little more scenic.

Arrayan in the snow.

2011-12-05T02:10:00.000-08:00

First Snow!

2011-12-04T04:14:00.001-08:00

Unfortunately of the wet and slushy variety at the moment, have brought Quin, Erica and Malambo in so they can dry out, be wormed and have their feet trimmed. So far they want out and everything else is stood at the gate wanting in!!

My breakfast...

2011-12-02T01:54:00.000-08:00

... Eet is that way!

Arrayan December 2011

2011-12-01T09:03:00.000-08:00

On his winter holidays and having fun playing in the puddles (of course when I say puddles you know I'm talking about the whole field which is utterly waterlogged!!)

Fresh grass.

2011-12-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

Back into the house field for a few weeks, move went very smoothly with only one buttock clenching moment when I was properly stuck in the mud at the gateway, seventeen horses right behind me and one mule leading them on!

The end is in sight!

2011-11-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

(Hopefully!) The last "Mo" photo!

And finally...

2011-11-30T01:56:00.000-08:00

Out came the sun!

Enlightened Equitation by Heather Moffat

2011-11-24T11:38:00.000-08:00

An undercover secret squirrel was shopping at Your Horse Live a few weekends ago and sent me the following photo with the comment "your photos look good in Heathers new book" - I replied with something like "errrr" or it may even have been "WTF?"

So yes, my photos in another book, the ones of Spanish Walk and Piaffe were taken by me, if you buy the book you won't know that, they aren't credited...

I'm writing this in Barbados, sipping a cocktail, watching the sun go down with the proceeds... ah no, thats right, I'm not...

Published photos!

2011-11-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

Lots of photos published over the last few months. Articles have appeared in Horse and Rider, Your Horse and Horse over the summer using my photos of the coloured cob, Ketchup.

In Decembers issue of The Field there is an article on new packs of hounds after the hunting ban and it includes snaps of the Three Dales Mink Hounds and Barony Bassets.

Weaning Part 7

2011-11-18T07:33:00.001-08:00

Phew, last of the foals drawn for passports and microchipped and Tizona is safely weaned and in the pen with the rest of the gang.

Chamfron By Dand meets Chamfron Firefly!

2011-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sammy arrives in her new home and meets her full brother, photos thanks to Rebecca.

Long time no see!

2011-11-16T08:46:00.001-08:00

Its a long time since I've seen the stoat up close and personal, such brave and bold little creatures. Unfortunately he was eyeing up McFlurry when I took this snap, with McFlurry's "hairstyle" I suspect he was utterly unaware.

The Mouse has left the house...

2011-11-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Mouse headed of home this morning, hopefully she'll enjoy her new job as Raymond's hunter.

Arrayan, lord of all he surveys!

2011-11-15T06:38:00.000-08:00

Movember

2011-11-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

Mark is growing a Mo for Movember, his sponsorship page is http://mobro.co/markdouglas if anyone wants to encourage the growing of a small bedraggled creature on his top lip in aid of mens health. Its not my favorite look *shudder*!

Happiness is...

2011-11-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

A white horse and Dumfriesshire mud!

Latest Field Move.

2011-11-14T05:23:00.000-08:00

The main herd is on the side field, wet underfoot but a good bite out there for a few weeks.

Tales from the birdfeeder.

2011-11-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

Peter got me a new bird feeder and it seems to be a great hit, woody visiting us on the first morning, also lots of blue tits, chaffinches, blackbirds and robins.

Chamfron Firefly away.

2011-11-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Sammy headed of to Blairgowrie today to join her full brother Chamfron By Dand. Wishing Rebecca all the best with her.

Chamfron Wakazashi lightly backed!

2011-11-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

Dean sitting on Wanda, photo thanks to Tessa.

Chamfron Monte Carlo - 41 Months old.

2011-11-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Monte looking very well, photos thanks to Zoe.

Weaning Part 6

2011-11-07T09:51:00.001-08:00

Wills (Chamfron Wesminster) has a rasp round his feet then he also joins the girls in the pen!

Glorious day!

2011-11-06T11:38:00.001-08:00

We woke to the first hard frost of the year, had a nice new delivery and beautiful blue skies all day, then the mist rolled in around four.

Bonfire night.

2011-11-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

I do like a good firework! Few camera phone shots of the display at Carlisle tonight complete with atmospheric fog!

Dirty stop out!

2011-11-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this is a permanent sight, McFluffy has made the band of wee black bantams his harem and is now spending the night on top of the foals pen. Would be really pleased if he stuck with them as an outcross "stallion" as I suspect these girls are the result of father/daughter matings or as Mark would say "more inbred than the contents of an Austrians basement"

Weaning Part 5

2011-11-02T14:45:00.001-07:00

Paul, or Chamfron Parador to give him his posh name, is now weaned and in with the girls. He is just five months old which is younger than we normally wean but he was hating the inclement weather. Goose sauntered over with a jaunty "off the ear" catch rope. She is wearing it as she is getting jabbed with antibiotics for a puffy leg and now she is feeling better she's getting a little less friendly when we meet and greet with needles!

Caerlaverock WWF

2011-11-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

We had an afternoon out at Caerlaverock to see the Barnacle Geese arriving over the Solway Coast. Of course the very contented rats living under the bird feeders made us smile!

Halloween!

2011-10-31T12:16:00.001-07:00

My first pumpkin carve and a quick one at that. Next year I shall be more ambitious!!

Caramia does Halloween!

2011-10-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Photos thanks to Jeanette.

Weaning part 4

2011-10-29T07:32:00.001-07:00

The first batch of foals were microchipped and drawn for their passports yesterday so we are now cracking on weaning the next batch. Confetti and her ridiculously fluffy forelock joins the happy campers!

Chamfron Caramia at 16 months old

2011-10-29T04:01:00.001-07:00

Moving onto winter grazing now the cows are in, photos thanks to Jeanette.

Weaning part 3

2011-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Mimosa is now in the pen with Goosey and Sammy, Arrayan wanders past, muttering, "if the CSA calls she looks nothing like me, right?"

Weaning part 2

2011-10-23T07:50:00.001-07:00

Sammy joins Goosey in the pen and Mimosa is now weaned in the stable, all going very smoothly so far!

Weaning...

2011-10-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

That time of year again, Goosey has been weaned for three days and is now in the pen, she is proving to be very quiet to do anything with. Sammy was weaned today and is in a stable next to Nico, Mimosa is next!

Cactus babysitting

2011-10-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Cactus happily settled in his new home!

Winter is coming :-(

2011-10-18T10:27:00.001-07:00

Nothing new with this statement... its been a bit wet here!! Today, however was both wet and absolutely baltic so we loaded up the jeep and rugged up some of the herd in the back field. Not convinced about the new rugs if I'm perfectly honest, certainly not a patch on the older version of the same rug but we will see how they go. They have elasticated leg straps, not a lot you can say about that really, maybe, "which lunatic thought that was a good idea?"!

Stela had her first rug on in a fierce wind and stood like a rock, she says its lovely she also helped give everyone else a short back and sides for the winter, manes off and tails short. As the wind picked up the leg straps stretched and the rugs inflated so we dashed back to the house and added fillet strings to them all, in the time it took to do that the rain came on, rain with lumps in it, cold, painful lumps coming in sideways, disgusting.

Chamfron Snow Goose came in and has been weaned, she is stood next to her dad with not a care in the world.

Chamfron Cactus Jack away.

2011-10-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

A snap of a fluffy Cactus before he strolled onto the trailer and away to his new home with Dean Scott in Cumbria. He will soon be seeing the familiar face (or perhaps familiar knee caps due to the height difference) of Wanda (Chamfron Wakizashi), who is owned by Deans mum.

Nifty at Ninety

2011-10-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

Marks gran was ninety at the start of the month so last night we went to the Enchanted Forest for a birthday outing. We were lucky to get a dry still night for this light and sound show in Pitlochry, good night had by all!

Scottish Appaloosa Show 2011

2011-10-01T12:34:00.001-07:00

It was great to catch up with Chamfron By Dand at the Scottish Appaloosa show today held at Howes Country Centre in Fife. He won the three year old class, qualifying for Royal London, then won the male in hand championship. He was also second in the in handy pony and third in the novice ridden, he was clearly still very green and went in with no warm up at all. He is looking fantastic and is a real credit to Rebecca.

You Tube Videos.

2011-09-29T04:03:00.000-07:00

Too funny not to share!

"I want to buy a horse to go to the Worlds"

"Special Horse Owners"

I nearly cried at the "He's a lilac dun" "I think they call that bay" and "He only has one fuzzy grapefruit sized thingy dropped so far". Mind lets be honest, they are only funny because they are so true!

Chamfron Parador - 16 weeks old

2011-09-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Changing his coat furiously but enjoying the sunshine today.

BWBS Grading at Rachan Stud

2011-09-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

It feels like I've had a month of postponements followed by cancellations for my photography as September has been a little damp on the west coast! Finally got the camera out today at the BWBS Grading at Rachan Stud, we even had smidgeons of blue sky at times. All the photos are available to view here - BWBS Grading.

Chamfron Caramia at 15 months old

2011-09-22T00:33:00.000-07:00

Mimi looking very well grown and in super condition, photos thanks to Jeanette.

Foals September.

2011-09-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

Getting quite autumnal here and the foals are definitely fluffy!

Appaloosa Calendar 2012

2011-09-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

Just one photo in this years calendar, Chamfron Snow Goose wins the most unusual/amusing category and will be on full view in February.

Touched by Midas - 19 weeks old.

2011-09-09T14:27:00.001-07:00

Had a lovely day out today with Carol and Dec and met Midas who is by our appaloosa stallion Exbury Ghost. He was surprisingly perky considering he was gelded yesterday, though at the point he lept on Luca you could see him thinking it wasn't a cunning plan! Mark rode Carol's four year old to get him a little more forward thinking and he soon grasped the idea.

McFlurry

2011-09-08T07:45:00.001-07:00

General consensus is that McFlurry is a Poland Bantam Cockerel, his feathers are now fluffing up nicely on his head. We also have one more new arrival, an absolute tiddler!

Chamfron Colorado - 26 months old.

2011-09-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Some phone photos of the amazing colour changing Colin from Nicola tonight, looking very well and surprisingly ginger again!!

Chamfron Compostela - Day six

2011-09-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

A very wild and windy day today, Stela had bandages on and her tail put up, then had a stick swung of her and having accepted everything calmly went back out in the field until the Spring.

Chamfron Compostela - Day five

2011-09-05T05:20:00.001-07:00

Down to the bottom of the drive and back all on her own and then a quick jog round the paddock. Turning and brakes much improved today!

Chamfron Compostela - Ridden away...!

2011-09-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

Chamfron Compostela, days three and four of being worked (surprise, surprise rain has stopped play some days!!) Utterly straight forward and kind. She is 15.1 in front but still up behind, so I would expect her to finish up around 15.3?

The boys relaxing!

2011-08-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Supervised by Wifor and Sheila!

Chamfron Compostela - Backed

2011-08-31T11:08:00.001-07:00

Just a quick snap tonight of Stela being sat on for the first time.

Foals end of August.

2011-08-31T04:45:00.000-07:00

The foals are all growing well and are starting to lay down some serious winter coats already. Angel Dust (aka PCP) has had the indignity of being lightly coated in pig oil just to give her a bit of additional water proofing.

Chamfron Compostela - 39 Months

2011-08-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Stela came in at the weekend, had her feet trimmed and her mane hogged and today she has been tacked up, not an ounce of fuss or worry. Our plan will be to get her backed and then she will be turned back out for the winter as she is still bum high.

Chamfron Kukri at 27 months.

2011-08-29T05:12:00.000-07:00

Chamfron Kukri at Glendale show today, where he was fourth in the two year old hunters. Photos thanks to Gemma.

Field Move.

2011-08-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

The main herd has moved into the back field, one canter around, then heads down eating!

A few hours later...

2011-08-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

Storm meeting his new field mate, Maverick. Photos thanks to Stephen and Jayne Edge.

Crioch Kestrel Away!

2011-08-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

Storm has left this afternoon to start a new life as a western horse with Stephen Edge. Here he is checking out his very blingy trailer!! He really had turned into a super little horse who travelled perfectly to his new home and is turned out happily with some arab pals, we look forward to hearing how he gets on.

Kitty and Lucia by Arrayan.

2011-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Thoroughbred polo pony mare Jamaica with her yearling filly Lucia and her filly foal Kitty, owned by Will Ramsey at Border Reivers polo club. No doubting who dad is! Photos thanks to Morag.

Chamfron Wakizashi (Wanda) - 15 months.

2011-08-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Wanda happily settled in her new home and nearly 16.2 at 15 months old, photos thanks to Tessa.

Dumfriesshire Hunt Pony Club Open show

2011-08-19T03:35:00.000-07:00

Really lovely day at the pony club open show held at Guardsmill Farm in Gretna yesterday. Only one heavy shower of rain (unfortunately I was sat on the bonnet of my car then so looked like I'd wet myself!) Very well organised and a great turnout. Four albums of photos are available to view - before 11am - 11am to 1pm - 1pm - 3pm - 3pm onwards

Even more foal snaps!

2011-08-15T15:04:00.001-07:00

Chamfron Confetti - 14 weeks old

2011-08-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

Chamfron Westminster - 15 weeks old

2011-08-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Appaloosa x Welsh cob, huge character!

Chamfron Mimosa - 15 weeks old.

2011-08-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Chamfron Tizona - 10 weeks old

2011-08-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Tizona, a beautiful example of what Arrayan produces onto a big hunter/jumping mare. I may have mentioned once or twice already how pleased we are with her!

More pink ponies!

2011-08-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

Viscacha and Aguacero (Criollo x TB's) enjoying the sunshine in Newton Stewart! Photos thanks to Jo.

Chamfron Monte Carlo - 37 Months old.

2011-08-09T12:25:00.001-07:00

Monte is now owned by Zoe Cummings and has settled in well to his new home. He looks fantastic and has grown two inches in the last month!

Gilsland Agricultural Society Show Photos.

2011-08-08T04:46:00.000-07:00

Photographing yesterday at Triermain Farm for the Gilsland Agricultural Society Show, what a wet morning, though sheep entries looked good and there were plenty of cheery faces under the waterproofs, hardy souls!! The afternoon did brighten up and the dog show was well supported and then followed by some very competative terrier racing. More photos can be seen here:- Gilsland Ag show, Stock. Gilsland Dog Show, Album One and Album Two.

A few more foal snaps!

2011-08-06T09:38:00.001-07:00

Mirador

2011-08-05T06:25:00.001-07:00

Sad decision today to put Mirador down, we had been fighting to get his feet right as they were constantly abscessing and felt he no longer had enough quality of life. Obviously gutting as this is our first foal loss and and he was an incredibly sweet person, always the way.