Winter Has Arrived

November 4th and it snowed all day, not that much accumulated but the temperature certainly makes it feel like winter. This morning dawned foggy and hoarfrost abounds on trees and fences, it really looks like a winter morning. I had to dig out all of my winter gear, work suit, boots etc.to go do chores! The horses were all eagerly awaiting their breakfast by the time of my arrival.

Jewel is away from home getting a months driving training, this is the first time in 12 years that we have been apart.It seems quite strange that she is not in her pen greeting me every morning. I can't wait until she can come back home!

York and Yeager, my 2011 colts, are now geldings, and with that task done I will finish off their registration papers and get them sent away.

There are some changes ahead for Diamond A, I will keep you posted! Enjoy the early days of winter.

Spruce Meadows Time

Wow, August just flew by, didn't it. Had a great time at a training Jumper show with Rose and Jewel, and Rose and I took part in her second 3 day eventing competition. Had a wonderful time, we need to improve our dressage, but she did awesome in her jumping, clear on both cross counrty and stadium.
Now it is is time for Spruce Meadows. Very busy cleaning tack and packing the horse trailer. Jewel is ready for her time at Spruce Meadows and we are proud take part in the Telus Battle of the Breeds, as part of the Canadian Horse Team. We leave tomorrow morning! Maybe we will see you there, cheer loudly for our Canadians!

Diamond A News

Wow, it has been a long time since I have updated you all. So much has happened here, its hard to know where to start. Big plans for the Annual CHARMD Show were well underway and the day before we were to leave, Duc came down with our first ever major bout of colic. It was a very scary event, but after a trip down to a very well renowed clinic by Calgary, he made a complete and full recovery. I was very happy to get him back home where he belongs.

Even though I was very low on sleep and high on stress, Chelsey and I were able to make it to the show after all. We enjoyed two wonderful days with our fellow Canadian Horse lovers and ended up doing extremely well with our mares Jewel and Rose. Rose earned Top Mare of the Show and also garnered the Over-All Show Champion Award. Very proud am I! Jewel also performed very well and she has been chosen once again to be a part of the Canadian Horse team for the Telus Battle of the Breeds in September at Spruce Meadows.

The next weekend after the Canadian show, Rose and I were entered into her first ever 3-day event. Our Dressage test was so-so, cross country was amazing, she never faltered once and did a very fine job. As for show jupming she went clear as well and for our efforts in competing in our first event we brought home an 8th place ribbon. How awesome is that!
The rest of July was spent at home riding in between rainstorms, taking care of the rest of the herd and enjoying my horses.
August is a busy competition month but I will save that for the next blog!
Make sure you check out the "for sale" page on the website in the coming days.New photos and the new foals will be showing up on there as well.
Happy Trails....

Saying Good-Bye

Diamond A Duc Winsome left last night to her new home in Saskatchewan. Winnie held a special place in my heart as she is Jewel's daughter, and Jewel is my special girl. Winnie is so much much like her Dam in so many ways, I think her new owner should be very pleased with her. She plans to use her for both riding and driving in the coming years. I look forward to seeing future photos of her when she matures. Winnie is going to be a very big impressive mare. Happy Trails Winnie.

Three Day Event Clinic

Wow, what a great time we had at the clinic and learned a bunch too. Rose is my star, she did super good. No hesitation at anything, we did water, ditches,coops and logs and she loved it all! We are ready for our first competition this summer.Can't wait! Will post a couple of photos here and put the rest on facebook!

New Foals!

After a busy week and not much sleep, Diamond A welcomed two gorgeous new additions to the farm. Yeager on the left,out of Mystique, and York on the right out of Jeanne. Both foals are by our stud Duc. They are wonderful examples of our breeding program and they are proudly offered for sale. Visitors are welcome to come by and do a meet and greet!

Pedicures for the herd!

Great day yesterday, my farrier, Gordie was here and put in time on the horses hooves. Jewel and Rose now have shoes, so no more worries about riding on the gravel roads. The rest of the herd all received a trim, being the stallion of the barn,Duc was first! Of course he was awesome. Gordie does a fantastic job and is so good with all of them. Shim who does not have the best front hooves, bad cracks right up the front, he thinks he can get them fixed up for her.
On the weekend the horses all had a turn getting their West Nile vaccine shots. We are now prepared for mosquito season and I fear it could be a bad one. There is a ton of water laying around, perfect breeding grounds for the little buggers. So far they haven't been too bad,due to the fact the wind has been blowing gale force lately!
Going riding today and use those new shoes!