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December 2006
December has been a very exciting month for us. Our first two RanchBoss Cortez foals have been born.
Wilga Park Golden Ash
Red Bluff Paprika chose approximately 5.00pm on Wednesday 13 December to foal down. She waited until no one was looking and had her beautiful buckskin colt in the paddock. Eagleview Skybeau, who was due to foal down just days after Paprika, promptly stole her foal from her and when we discovered them at about 6.15pm, we thought for a few moments that Skybeau (Calypso to us) had surprised us all.
Paprika and Ash
It only took moments to realise that the buckskin boy belonged to Paprika and so we haltered Calypso and Marrella and walked them down to the stables to leave mother and son to bond. Paprika and her golden boy, Wilga Park Golden Ash, took all of 3 seconds to be bonded. We took them down to the big cosy stables (that had been so painstakingly prepared for the birth!) and administered all the post foaling care.
Paprika was a little wary for the first day or two if strangers came by to look at her foal. She was afraid he may have been stolen from her again. She is fine now and some days I think she wouldn't mind if someone came along and took the little energetic bundle away for a little while! Ash loves to gallop around the paddock and is the boldest, bravest boy. He wants to meet every human that comes near. He marches up to introduce himself and demand a scratch on the neck. He is put together very well. He has the stunning Morgan head, is closely coupled with a short back and fabulous hind end. He has inherited RanchBoss Cortez's fantastic movement as well. Huge bonus!
Wilga Park Golden Ash
Meeting Summer Beauty
When Ash was just 5 days old, he was sold to a wonderful family who live just 20kms away from us. Kerry Conley purchased Ash for her 13 year old son, Isaac from the foal photos I had sent. He will be weaned and gelded and then go to live with the Conley's and their other horses. Isaac will take Ash out to Pony Club and on lots of Trail Rides. I can see he will have a wonderful life and maybe Isaac and Ash will be out on the Camp drafting scene one day.
Meeting his new family!
Wilga Park Summer Beauty
Eagleview Skybeau (aka Calypso) went into labour on Sunday night and her stunning filly foal was born at 12.05am on Monday 18th. At 9.30pm when I was doing the final check on the mares, I noticed 'wax' on her teats, so I told Greg I would be making a cup of coffee and sitting in the stable for a few hours. I had been watching her like a hawk from Friday evening and had expected her to foal down any time over the weekend.
Wilga Park Summer Beauty
Calypso became progressively uncomfortable and by 11.30pm we knew birth was imminent. She lay down just a little too close to the stable wall for my liking so I was there to guide the foal out and around, so it didn't get squashed against the wall. When those long, long legs started coming, I knew this foal was going to be a big one. Wilga Park Summer Beauty is definitely a big girl, but elegant as well.
She has inherited Calypso's beautiful head and neck, a shoulder that slopes way back into her wither, which gives her the perfect Morgan head carriage. She is longer in the back than Ash, which is well in proportion to her longer neck and legs. Her personality is more gentle and feminine and she is not as bold as Ash. However she does love humans just as much, but rather than march up to demand a scratch, as Ash does, she saunters over, and invites you to touch her.
Eagleview Skybeau and Summer
Our next foal is due around 18 January. Mt Tawonga Marrella will have her buckskin or palomino colt? To Ragtime Oro Blanco (aka Casper). This will be Casper's first Australian foal. He has progeny in Sweden, Canada and the United States, so he truly is of International fame.
Mt. Tawonga Marrella
Ragtime Oro Blanco
MORE NEWS ITEMS IN OUR ARCHIVES:
October 2006
October sure was an exciting, if not hectic, month for us. The Sunshine Coast Dressage Championships, Queensland State Dressage Championships, South Queensland Dilute Championships and the Allora Championships, and maybe just one little trail ride! Read More
September 2006
Gold Coast Centerary Show. Huge three-day event...what a milestone for RanchBoss Cortez!
We were invited by one of the Assistant Ring Masters of the Gold Coast Show to take Cortez to the Centenary Show. The invitation came after she had judged him at a Dressage Competition. We decided to take up the invitation and were so very pleased that we did. Read More
August 2006
RanchBoss Cortez - Colour Genetics: EE Aa nCr
We felt it was important to have Cortez's colour genetics in certificate form, for those interested in colour. We sent hair samples to the States for testing for three factors - Red/Black, Agouti and Cream. Read More
Preparation for the Breeding Season
With the breeding season soon upon us, we decided we should have Cortez collected for testing in differing extenders for shipping chilled semen. The results were impressive. Read More
May 2006
Toowoomba Regional Championships and the Stallion Parade
We recently had the Regional Dressage Championships here in Toowoomba and...nah!!...no first ribbons or prizes, but what a great weekend we had. It was exhausting and exhilarating. We were running on adrenalin as we rushed from one deadline to the next. The highlights of the weekend for us were Mt Tawonga Natasha in her Novice Freestyle and RanchBoss Cortez's impact on the audience in the Stallion Parade. Read More
April 2006
RanchBoss Cortez and his start in Dressage
Since arriving in Australia and being released from Quarantine on 22 December 2005, RanchBoss Cortez has settled in well and has begun to make his mark in Dressage Circles. Read More