1981 Akehurst Robin and his dad Stoneriggs Bobby
Page updated September 22nd
There have been nine stallions standing at the stud over the past forty four years,
some homebred and some bought in.
It all started with the purchase of a yearling colt.
Stoneriggs Bobby.
1972-1983
By Stainton John ll Dam Bleachgreen Dawn
I couldn't have asked for a better pony to introduce me not only to the Dales breed but also owning a stallion. Bobby was a kind and gentle chap, he had his moments of course, he was an entire colt, but we muddled along together and he soon became one of the family.
He was shown all over the country, ridden and in-hand, and we had some good wins. My favourite was the N.P.S Summer Show held on the Malvern show ground, I can remember sitting on a bench waiting for the Championship with Bobby standing quietly beside me, not many stallions would do that. One evening I went to check him in his stable and found him looking over his door, staring into the distance, slowly moving his head from one side to the other, I wondered what was wrong with him and then realised he was watching the headlights of the cars as they drove up a road in the Malvern Hills, some distance away. Bobby was treated just like the other ponies, he was ridden out with mares and his son Robin, competed in all types of classes, even Gymkhana, he used to win the trotting races! he was just a fun pony, with the added bonus he could sire foals. Sadly, he didn't make it into old age, because a very severe bout of Equine flu led to liver damage and at the age of eleven I felt that he was no longer enjoying his life as 'King of the Akehursts' and he was put to sleep. He left behind the foundation of my stud and I still have his grandson Heather's Lad, age twenty two, to remind me of the start of it all.
Bobby covered 50 mares. I know he had at least 32 foals, 17 fillies and 15 colts. 16 pure bred Dales.
Bobby covered 50 mares. I know he had at least 32 foals, 17 fillies and 15 colts. 16 pure bred Dales.
Akehurst Robin
1977---2000
By Stoneriggs Bobby Dam Stoneriggs C-H-S
Robin was always a great show off he just loved attention
He was my first Akehurst Colt foal, born in 1977. So my first home bred stallion.
I still remember his arrival, as I was up early to take Bobby to the South of England show and discovered Winnie ( C-H-S) had foaled in the night, so once I had checked all was well, I rather had to leave her to it.
Robin was a lovely deep bay, he grew the most amazing mane almost down to his knees and was a great show off. He was shown in-hand and ridden and won me loads of rosettes. In-hand he was very eye catching, he had good knee action but did dish slightly. One judge, who usually gave him a first rosette told me '' his action isn't quite straight but when he enters the ring he almost shouts, look at me, I'm here”
I did every thing with him showing in-hand and ridden, he was also my everyday ride, hacking out with any of the other Dales including dad Bobby and sponsored rides. We just had fun.
I still remember his arrival, as I was up early to take Bobby to the South of England show and discovered Winnie ( C-H-S) had foaled in the night, so once I had checked all was well, I rather had to leave her to it.
Robin was a lovely deep bay, he grew the most amazing mane almost down to his knees and was a great show off. He was shown in-hand and ridden and won me loads of rosettes. In-hand he was very eye catching, he had good knee action but did dish slightly. One judge, who usually gave him a first rosette told me '' his action isn't quite straight but when he enters the ring he almost shouts, look at me, I'm here”
I did every thing with him showing in-hand and ridden, he was also my everyday ride, hacking out with any of the other Dales including dad Bobby and sponsored rides. We just had fun.
Under saddle, he would usually be called in first, but when he went out to do his individual show, he just loved to put in a little 'happy' buck, right in front of the judge, as he changed the rein and would get put down a place or so. One year I decided to school it out of him, and yes, he would do his show, no bucks, but very wooden and get the same placing as he did with the buck! So I decided I prefered my happy bucking show off Robin.
Robin was ridden out with any other horse and would often go hacking with his dad, we did many fun rides, but I drew the line at jumping him. He had a huge jump and would put in a kick back as he went over, not to my liking but some of my helpers loved it! So would compete in working hunter and jumping classes just for fun. At one show they held the championship up for him as he was getting his first place rosette for Working Pony in another ring. He then took Native Pony Championship. That was a good day!
Robin was ridden out with any other horse and would often go hacking with his dad, we did many fun rides, but I drew the line at jumping him. He had a huge jump and would put in a kick back as he went over, not to my liking but some of my helpers loved it! So would compete in working hunter and jumping classes just for fun. At one show they held the championship up for him as he was getting his first place rosette for Working Pony in another ring. He then took Native Pony Championship. That was a good day!
As he got older he became difficult to handle when covering mares, and if the mare said 'no thanks' at the last minute, I couldn't get him away and he got some very nasty kicks. Finally, one mare kicked out at him and he got away from me, and we had two ponies tearing round in a small paddock, my young and over enthusiastic helpers were in danger of getting hurt, and Robin got kicked very badly, so I decided that I wouldn't risk covering mares with him again and as at the age of twenty three, he had a few other age related problems, I would have him put to sleep before the next years stud season. Sadly, this was brought forward by a few months, when I had to have a hip replacement, and knowing I would not be out and about for sometime, decided I couldn't take the chance of Robin getting loose and risk my helpers getting hurt. It was a sad day when Robin left us but he had been such a fun pony, leaving me with many happy memories.
Robin sired 52 foals, 22 pure bred Dales. 33 fillies and 19 colts.
Raygill Jet
1981- 1985 ( sold)
By Grey Rupert Dam Raygill Emerald
I purchased Jet as a foal from Robert Wall. He was a chunky fellow with loads of feather and I felt he would be good on some of my home bred mares as I needed to introduce other bloodlines into my stud.
During the time he was with me he sired nine foals, six colts and three fillies. The Sunglow Stud sent a mare Sunglow Samantha, who had a filly Suzette, who I believe qualified for Olympia. One of the best foals I had from him was the filly Daisy-May, I showed Daisy very successfully both in the South and at the Northern breed shows. Daisy will feature on the Mare Page when I have the time to do it!
Jet sired 9 purebred foals 5 colts and 4 fillies
Jet was shown a little with some success, and was sold to the Rosebarr Stud in Kent in 1985.
1981- 1985 ( sold)
By Grey Rupert Dam Raygill Emerald
I purchased Jet as a foal from Robert Wall. He was a chunky fellow with loads of feather and I felt he would be good on some of my home bred mares as I needed to introduce other bloodlines into my stud.
During the time he was with me he sired nine foals, six colts and three fillies. The Sunglow Stud sent a mare Sunglow Samantha, who had a filly Suzette, who I believe qualified for Olympia. One of the best foals I had from him was the filly Daisy-May, I showed Daisy very successfully both in the South and at the Northern breed shows. Daisy will feature on the Mare Page when I have the time to do it!
Jet sired 9 purebred foals 5 colts and 4 fillies
Jet was shown a little with some success, and was sold to the Rosebarr Stud in Kent in 1985.
Burdon Hero Born 1977
1985-1990 ( Sold )
By Stoneriggs Alick Dam Burdon Mixture
Hero will always have a very special place in my heart, he was the kindest pony you could wish to own. He just gave of his best what ever you asked. I saw him advertised in Horse and Hound, I had always admired him, I had seen him at the breed shows, and he had always been well mannered, whereas some of the stallions looked to be real handfuls! So I felt I would be able to manage him and he had just won the Dales championship at the Royal show, which pointed to him being sound and in good health. It just so happened that John was visiting his parents in Newcastle, so he went to look at him for me. I just wanted John to see if Hero was as calm as I thought. Now, John was not into horses but I got a phone call back to say that he had driven through the village, and he was lovely.
So Hero came South. The transporter phoned and said he had been delayed and if he came all the way he would be out of hours, he could either put him up over night or could we meet him on Ashdown Forest. So there we were in darkness, horseboxes ramp to ramp swapping a stallion we didn't know, in the middle of nowhere! Hero was a true gentleman, looking a bit dazed after his many hours on the road from Durham, walked calmly down the ramp and up into our box.
Although he had been shown in hand, he had not done much ridden work, and had not been allowed to canter under saddle, as it was felt at the time this spoilt the Dales trot. A visit to Camber sands, and few lovely canters and gallops along the beach, soon had him cantering, and it was not too long before he was winning ridden classes as well as in-hand. It was almost embarrassing, the amount of Championships he collected for me. His reward was... Ginger Biscuits !! I discovered he loved them, when I went to check him in the horsebox and he snatched one from my hand, and ate it with great relish, in fact he loved anything spicey! After that we kept a tin of home made ginger biscuits in the horse box, just for him. The higher his placing the more he got, so he was very pleased if he got Supreme Champion!!
1985-1990 ( Sold )
By Stoneriggs Alick Dam Burdon Mixture
Hero will always have a very special place in my heart, he was the kindest pony you could wish to own. He just gave of his best what ever you asked. I saw him advertised in Horse and Hound, I had always admired him, I had seen him at the breed shows, and he had always been well mannered, whereas some of the stallions looked to be real handfuls! So I felt I would be able to manage him and he had just won the Dales championship at the Royal show, which pointed to him being sound and in good health. It just so happened that John was visiting his parents in Newcastle, so he went to look at him for me. I just wanted John to see if Hero was as calm as I thought. Now, John was not into horses but I got a phone call back to say that he had driven through the village, and he was lovely.
So Hero came South. The transporter phoned and said he had been delayed and if he came all the way he would be out of hours, he could either put him up over night or could we meet him on Ashdown Forest. So there we were in darkness, horseboxes ramp to ramp swapping a stallion we didn't know, in the middle of nowhere! Hero was a true gentleman, looking a bit dazed after his many hours on the road from Durham, walked calmly down the ramp and up into our box.
Although he had been shown in hand, he had not done much ridden work, and had not been allowed to canter under saddle, as it was felt at the time this spoilt the Dales trot. A visit to Camber sands, and few lovely canters and gallops along the beach, soon had him cantering, and it was not too long before he was winning ridden classes as well as in-hand. It was almost embarrassing, the amount of Championships he collected for me. His reward was... Ginger Biscuits !! I discovered he loved them, when I went to check him in the horsebox and he snatched one from my hand, and ate it with great relish, in fact he loved anything spicey! After that we kept a tin of home made ginger biscuits in the horse box, just for him. The higher his placing the more he got, so he was very pleased if he got Supreme Champion!!
He loved shows and always gave his best, yet remained calm, so was very easy to produce.
His biggest win for me, was when he won the Shalbourne Cup, for the champion Mountain and Moorland Stallion at the National Pony Society show Malvern 1988. He even got a write up in the Dales Pony Society 1988 Autumn Newsletter.
His biggest win for me, was when he won the Shalbourne Cup, for the champion Mountain and Moorland Stallion at the National Pony Society show Malvern 1988. He even got a write up in the Dales Pony Society 1988 Autumn Newsletter.
The National Pony Society Show
Mrs Weedon's 10 year old stallion, Burdon Hero, travelled to Malvern to win
the Dales pony championship. He was also responsible for giving the breed a terrific boost by winning
the Supreme Mountain and Moorland Stallion Championship, standing above the grey Welsh Sec A pony,
Coed Coch Rhian, to take the Shalbourne cup. This is the first time a Dales Stallion has won the Supreme
Championship at the National Pony Show. Burdon Hero was bred by Mr Harry Barron of Little Burdon Farm,
Haughton-le- Skerne, Darlington, and is by Stoneriggs Alick out of Burdon Mixture.
He also won the Supreme Mountain and Moorland Championship at Hickstead this year and was Champion
Dales at The Ascot Show, run by Mrs Jan Robertson, which had a good turnout of Dales.
Mrs Weedon's 10 year old stallion, Burdon Hero, travelled to Malvern to win
the Dales pony championship. He was also responsible for giving the breed a terrific boost by winning
the Supreme Mountain and Moorland Stallion Championship, standing above the grey Welsh Sec A pony,
Coed Coch Rhian, to take the Shalbourne cup. This is the first time a Dales Stallion has won the Supreme
Championship at the National Pony Show. Burdon Hero was bred by Mr Harry Barron of Little Burdon Farm,
Haughton-le- Skerne, Darlington, and is by Stoneriggs Alick out of Burdon Mixture.
He also won the Supreme Mountain and Moorland Championship at Hickstead this year and was Champion
Dales at The Ascot Show, run by Mrs Jan Robertson, which had a good turnout of Dales.
Hero was ridden by my young helpers, and just enjoyed taking part in anything, even advertising Dales Pony Society promotional kit. He also loved getting muddy when having time off!
Unfortunately, I did have one problem with him, he became very possessive of me. His stable overlooked the bridleway that ran through the farm, he was used to riders going through and although interested, remained sensible. However, if I rode through on any of the other ponies he went mad, and once hurled himself at the door removing the door and frame all at once, you can imagine the chaos that caused. I had never been able to hack him out with any of the other stallions, and he was always a bit fidgety when ridden out with the mares or geldings. All my other boys had been quite happy hacking out in any company.
Gradually I noticed his aggression towards my other Dales was worsening, especially the other stallions. He always remained good tempered with me but it was sad to see his wonderful temperament, slowly disappearing. Hero was now 12 years old and had a fantastic showing career and winning the Stallion Championship at Malvern had been the icing on the cake, so with great sadness, I looked for a home where he would be the only entire on the place. It was a sad day when Hero went back North, but he found a good home with Mr Sanderson at the Denbrook stud,and I feel it was a great honour to have had the chance to own such a fantastic pony.
I get quite emotional when I hear the Bonnie Tyler song 'Holding out for a Hero'. Silly me!! But it brings memories happy times.
Hero sired 20 foals 17 Pure bred 13 fillies 7 colts And many more after returning North.
Lummas Rambo
1988 - 1991
By Heather Boy ll Dam Lummas Star
Rambo came to me as a three year old, in 1988. Another reason why Hero became more bad tempered, I already had Robin, so that made three stallions.
Rambo was backed and shown in hand and ridden. He had some good wins in hand and ridden classes but could be a bit of a handful at times. Rambo gave me some lovely ponies, and I have to thank him for one of the best ponies I ever bred Akehurst Rainbow, out of my first Dales mare Stoneriggs C-h-S.
Rambo was sold to David Eccles of the Westwick Stud.
Rambo sired 14 foals 13 pure bred 9 fillies and 5colts.
Dales pony society Summer Show
In the snow having fun His lovely daughter Rainbow
Akehurst Dalesman
Born 1990 - Sold 2004
By Lummas Rambo Dam Stoneriggs Dana
Herman as he was known, got his name because he was a huge foal, hence Herman Munster the monster. However, as he matured it was obvious that he was not going to be as big or heavy boned as first thought.
Herman was backed and ridden out and was shown a little but at the time I was concentrating on showing his half sister Daisy-May.
Herman had a lovely temperament which he passed onto his off spring, and some made a good height. After 2001, I noticed that his mares weren't all getting in foal and after being checked by the vet it was found his fertility was poor. Some years earlier we had had a lightening strike, just behind his field and he had jumped the post and rail fence into the next field. He had a few marks round his back legs where he had obviously straddled the top rail but seemed fine, but I wonder if this was the cause of the problem.
I had him gelded and he adapted well and went on to live a useful life as a family gelding.
Herman covered 34 mares, ( not all mine ) and I had 15 foals from him. 9 fillies and 6 colts.
I had him gelded and he adapted well and went on to live a useful life as a family gelding.
Herman covered 34 mares, ( not all mine ) and I had 15 foals from him. 9 fillies and 6 colts.
Lowhouses Jet ( Born 1988)
1992 ( on loan) ---2005- 2015
Sire Ashwood Black Prince Dam Raygill Gemma
Now this gets confusing. Rambo, as Jet was called, first came on loan in 1992 to cover several mares and then returned to Arrowmist Stud in Kent.
In 2009 I heard that the stud was no longer breeding and that Rambo was just turned away doing nothing. I agreed to have him, cover a few mares, to make sure he was still fertile as he was now 11 years old, and it had been some years since he had covered any mares, and if all was well find a buyer for him.
Although Rambo's offspring all had lovely temperaments, he had never been the easiest chap to manage, and having been turned away for so long, he saw no reason to be nice to humans. We tried for a while 'being nice to Rambo' but it was not working, so out came the stick. None of my helpers were allowed in with him unless there were two people around. I used to go into his box with the stick and ask “ Nice or nasty?” if the reply was, ears back and legs threatening and “Nasty” He got a whack. Over time, I would often ask “ Nice or nasty?” and the reply would be a grumpy look and “Whatever” Once Rambo realised that being nice to humans was easier, life became better for him and he actually turned out to be no problem, except he liked to get a sneaky nip in if he could!
Unfortunately there were no buyers interested in an older stallion, so I ended up with him on permanent loan, which was not a problem and he sired some very good performance ponies.
I believed Rambo had been backed, but had never gone any further, so to give him another interest, we got him going under saddle again, nothing more than the odd hack up the lane but it gave him something to think about, other than mares!
I believed Rambo had been backed, but had never gone any further, so to give him another interest, we got him going under saddle again, nothing more than the odd hack up the lane but it gave him something to think about, other than mares!
Rambo came to Wales with us and in the Summer, he and Laddie would take it in turns of several weeks, to share the only field suitable for stallions. Unfortunately, where as Laddie is quite happy to watch the world go by from the top of the field, Rambo would run up and down the fence line and loose a lot of weight. So in the Summer, he would live in a big pen, being turned out in small areas around the farm and I would cut him grass from the verges. This worked really well, he kept his weight and the farm was nice and tidy.
At the age of 26 it was obvious there was something not right, as he was having a problem eating and dropping weight. The equine dentist checked his teeth and said there were very few left. As Winter approached he started to feel the cold and the time came to say goodbye.
January 2015 Autumn 2015
Rambo was still covering his mares and his last foal was born 2014 Akehurst Ambrose.
Four of Rambo's offspring.
Charlotte Springall's Akehurst Ladies Man Lynette Morrison's Akehurst Take a Chance
Four of Rambo's offspring.
Charlotte Springall's Akehurst Ladies Man Lynette Morrison's Akehurst Take a Chance
Akehurst Melrose 4yrs on loan to Lynette Morrison Lynette Morrison's Akehurst Ambrose 3yrs
Rambo covered 29 of my mares He had 22 foals 11 fillies 11 colts.
Akehurst Kilroy
2003- 2009 ( sold )
Sire Broscoe Joseph Dam Rosebarr Kizzie
In 2002, I purchased Kizzie from Mr Sanders of the Rosebarr stud, as a 12yr old in-foal mare. I already had Faradale Pride, also from Mr Sanders, Kizzie's half sister, they were both out of one of my mares, Akehurst Molly Mandy.
In 2003 Kizzie had a colt foal. I decided to leave him entire as his breeding would introduce new bloodlines, he was grey, so that would be different, and I only had two stallions, Heather's Lad and Herman at the time, and Herman's fertility was doubtful.
He was quite a handful as a colt, nothing nasty just full of it. Life was just one big barrel of fun, he had no respect of personal space and when he got into trouble over his behaviour, he thought the whole world was against him, he was just one big comedian, but what he thought was funny. I didn't. I had been struggling with hip problems for a number of years, but after a hip replacement in 2000, I was almost back to normal, riding again and going to shows. On hind sight I probably shouldn't have taken on a young colt at my age, but I had several very capable helpers to help me.
Roy was a stunning looker and show off, I think being grey helped too and he did very well at his shows though we didn't venture too far from home.
2003- 2009 ( sold )
Sire Broscoe Joseph Dam Rosebarr Kizzie
In 2002, I purchased Kizzie from Mr Sanders of the Rosebarr stud, as a 12yr old in-foal mare. I already had Faradale Pride, also from Mr Sanders, Kizzie's half sister, they were both out of one of my mares, Akehurst Molly Mandy.
In 2003 Kizzie had a colt foal. I decided to leave him entire as his breeding would introduce new bloodlines, he was grey, so that would be different, and I only had two stallions, Heather's Lad and Herman at the time, and Herman's fertility was doubtful.
He was quite a handful as a colt, nothing nasty just full of it. Life was just one big barrel of fun, he had no respect of personal space and when he got into trouble over his behaviour, he thought the whole world was against him, he was just one big comedian, but what he thought was funny. I didn't. I had been struggling with hip problems for a number of years, but after a hip replacement in 2000, I was almost back to normal, riding again and going to shows. On hind sight I probably shouldn't have taken on a young colt at my age, but I had several very capable helpers to help me.
Roy was a stunning looker and show off, I think being grey helped too and he did very well at his shows though we didn't venture too far from home.
He was backed at three and started ridden work, hacking round the lanes.
In May 2008 whilst having his hooves trimmed, he squashed me sideways against the wall and snapped my collar bone. It was just a freak accident, and had I been younger and more agile, I would probably have escaped unhurt but it was a bad break, which involved surgery and my being unable to do much round the ponies for some time.
After a lot of thought I decided that Roy would be better off in a home where he would be out and about doing his bit to promote the breed. I was approached by Bob Corner, who had bred Kizzy's sire Grey Bobbie, a very well thought of stallion, and was interested in Roy as it was his bloodline. Roy went north later that year. Bob broke him to drive, and I see from the stud book he sired a colt foal.
Whilst Roy was staying with Bob Corner, John and I went to visit him and see how he was doing.
After a lot of thought I decided that Roy would be better off in a home where he would be out and about doing his bit to promote the breed. I was approached by Bob Corner, who had bred Kizzy's sire Grey Bobbie, a very well thought of stallion, and was interested in Roy as it was his bloodline. Roy went north later that year. Bob broke him to drive, and I see from the stud book he sired a colt foal.
Whilst Roy was staying with Bob Corner, John and I went to visit him and see how he was doing.
2009 saw another change for Roy, when Charlotte Springall bought him and he came back south. Sadly he had lost a bit of condition but Charlotte soon got him fit and well and he was out on the show circuit again and also started competing in dressage and doing one of the things he likes best, showing off!
I have heard that Roy been gelded and has a new home
Three of Roy's offspring
2007 Silver Bells 2008 Alfie 2009 Rosetta
Roy sired 5 foals for me
2 fillies and 3 colts One of his off spring Akehurst Alfie is featured on my Then and now page.
2 fillies and 3 colts One of his off spring Akehurst Alfie is featured on my Then and now page.
Last but not least
Akehurst Heather's Lad 1995 -----
Sire Akehurst Robin Dam Highhouse Heather Bell
Laddie was a chunky foal, and quite laid back for a colt, he was very friendly with filly foal, Shasta Daisy and they were always together. This probably saved her life, when during a violent daytime thunderstorm her mother Daisy -May was killed by lightening. I decided to put Sasha, in with Lad and his mum Heather for company, and this worked well, and after a few days I noticed that when Lad was having a drink of mum's milk, Sasha would sneak round and help herself from the other side.
Akehurst Heather's Lad 1995 -----
Sire Akehurst Robin Dam Highhouse Heather Bell
Laddie was a chunky foal, and quite laid back for a colt, he was very friendly with filly foal, Shasta Daisy and they were always together. This probably saved her life, when during a violent daytime thunderstorm her mother Daisy -May was killed by lightening. I decided to put Sasha, in with Lad and his mum Heather for company, and this worked well, and after a few days I noticed that when Lad was having a drink of mum's milk, Sasha would sneak round and help herself from the other side.
I decided to keep him entire, he had loads of bone and feather and was well put together. He was a grandson of my first Dales, Bobby and as his sire Robin, was in his late teens, it meant I would still have a link to early bloodlines.
Lad was shown a little but he was growing up at the wrong time for me, as I was heading for a hip replacement, so had to rely on my helpers to handle him. He has a lovely kind temperament which meant my young helpers were quite capable of handling him.
Lad was shown a little but he was growing up at the wrong time for me, as I was heading for a hip replacement, so had to rely on my helpers to handle him. He has a lovely kind temperament which meant my young helpers were quite capable of handling him.
Laddie has a great sense of humour, and loved to play with toys. In the Winter when turned out in the barn for exercise his favourite pastime was to juggle a large feed tub, and if he could chuck it over the fence and score a goal in the very smelly ditch behind the muck heap, so much the better. One day one of my helpers stuck a pair of rubber gloves on his ears and he had us in fits of laughter, when he pricked his ears and the gloves flopped forwards, I then offered him a small brush, which he took, so he was already to do some box work!!
Laddie was backed and did a little ridden work.
In March 2006 we had a very cold spell of weather and one afternoon when I went to get him in for the night, instead of charging up to the gate as usual, he hung back and then slowly made his way to me. I thought he had aggravated an old stifle injury which he did sometimes, which usually put itself right quite quickly. The next morning I was shocked to find him shaking with cold, in the same place I had left him and not having eaten his hay. Usually a quick trot round on the lunge loosens him up, but this time he really didn't want to know so I took him back to his box and as I turned him round I heard a nasty crunching noise around the hip area! I rugged him, gave him a hot feed and phoned the vet.
When the vet heard the crunching, he thought he might have fractured his pelvis, so administered pain killers and poor Lad had to endure a trip to the Equine Centre in Kent. He was put into a stall and they scanned him, he just loved all the fuss and other vets kept coming in and taking an interest, he was in his element. The decision was that he had almost certainly had at least a crack in his pelvis, and the only way to be 100% was to do an ex-ray, but this meant giving him a radio active jab and keeping him in for several days. The outcome would be the same, box rest. So I decided not to go ahead with that and get him home.
Three months box rest, right through covering time, how would he cope with it all? The answer was, absolutely fine. His stable was right next to the feed shed, so he learnt to peer round the door and look pathetic, then “ Oh ! Poor Laddie “ and a tasty treat arrived! He did fret a bit when mares where in season and in the end we let him have a sniff, and he was quite happy. If they were in season Rambo and Roy took over out of sight! Laddie had a chart on his wall and watched the weeks as they were ticked off. Being a lazy pony by nature, to have grass cut for him and delivered to his box, was all he could wish for. Laddie made a full recovery and the hardest bit was getting him back out after three months in his stable but he was remarkably sensible and soon back to his usual routine.
Watching the weeks go by At last out in the field again
When the vet heard the crunching, he thought he might have fractured his pelvis, so administered pain killers and poor Lad had to endure a trip to the Equine Centre in Kent. He was put into a stall and they scanned him, he just loved all the fuss and other vets kept coming in and taking an interest, he was in his element. The decision was that he had almost certainly had at least a crack in his pelvis, and the only way to be 100% was to do an ex-ray, but this meant giving him a radio active jab and keeping him in for several days. The outcome would be the same, box rest. So I decided not to go ahead with that and get him home.
Three months box rest, right through covering time, how would he cope with it all? The answer was, absolutely fine. His stable was right next to the feed shed, so he learnt to peer round the door and look pathetic, then “ Oh ! Poor Laddie “ and a tasty treat arrived! He did fret a bit when mares where in season and in the end we let him have a sniff, and he was quite happy. If they were in season Rambo and Roy took over out of sight! Laddie had a chart on his wall and watched the weeks as they were ticked off. Being a lazy pony by nature, to have grass cut for him and delivered to his box, was all he could wish for. Laddie made a full recovery and the hardest bit was getting him back out after three months in his stable but he was remarkably sensible and soon back to his usual routine.
Watching the weeks go by At last out in the field again
Laddie has had quite an easy life really. The next big event in his life was his move to Wales in 2010. I was already here when he arrived and he was turned out in a steep hilly field, he immediately made his way to the very top where he stood and stared at the breath taking views. When I went to check him later he was still there, and the next morning too. I was slightly worried that he might be stiff after his long journey, but when he saw me he came down said hello, had a drink and went back to the top again. When my neighbour came to introduce herself, she asked if the horse was all right as he hadn't seemed to have moved!
In the winter Lad gets his exercise in a rather muddy walkway, where he can enjoy a lovely roll and trot about.
Or in the arena where he enjoys making hefty bucks and rears, jumping the jumps or just being cheeky and sticking his tongue out at me!
Aged 22, he is the only stallion I have now, he is still covering my mares.
Laddie has covered 35 mares. I know he has had at least 17 colts and 9 fillies, two more expected next year.
Three of lad's off spring
June Rose Royal Silk Rosewood
Laddie has covered 35 mares. I know he has had at least 17 colts and 9 fillies, two more expected next year.
Three of lad's off spring
June Rose Royal Silk Rosewood