At last we have had some substantial rain! We had a great downpour the other night which gave us 97mm of much-needed soaking rain. The paddocks are lovely and green but we still need more growth to have some substance in the pastures. The ponies of course are very round, little fat bodies glistening and rippling, while they gallop around the mountain. It never fails to amaze me how they know when the feed truck is out and about, and they suddenly appear from out of nowhere to watch longingly through the electric fence for any wisps of lucerne which may blow their way. As if they could squeeze any in!

The EI has given us an extended holiday from showing or other horse activities. No doubt there will be lots of action once the movement bans have been lifted next year and we will be out and about once again. We will have a large show team next year – if there are any shows- and lots of harness days too.

The two Cleveland Bay sporthorse mares have had their foals, both of which are gorgeous ¾ CBs. Athena has an outstanding bay colt, by Impeccable Marksman, a purebred CB. His name is Bryntawel Remembrance Day, as he was born on Sept 11. He will be shown in 2008 as a foal and will go to Brisbane Royal. He is truly a stunning individual and will make a great breeding prospect. Aisling has a bay filly, no white at all, and very fine and feminine. Her paddock name is Milly. Unfortunately, she is now no longer with us due to a bout of pneumonia.

At the moment, I am handling the two Welsh pony youngsters from last year. They are lovely little Welsh Bs, a filly and a colt. The filly is coming along nicely while the colt is taking some convincing that humans are OK.