Waterford Estate

It's been a while since I have updated the blog so I will do it in a few posts. First, to sheep news.

Chris purchased a breeding flock of purebred Wiltshire sheep. These sheep are rather remarkable in that they shed their wool in summer so reducing/eliminating the need to be shorn, and typically have hardy feet making them perfect for lifestyle blocks.

As part of Chris new breeding policy, Rambo the existing ram had to be sold. Before he could go to his new home, he had to be shorn as he was not fully shed out (being a part-bred Wiltshire). It was going to bee too expensive to get a shearer out to do three sheep so Chris decided to buy some clippers off TradeMe and do them himself.

Chris also extended the turn-around bay where we previously had the haylage bales stored. The extra pad next to the shed is for Mum's campervan!

We also did some mulching around the pittosporum hedge that is around Chris' vegie patch/orchard-to-be. I was even allowed to drive the ride-on mower.

The paddocks where the topsoil was spread from the arena have come up really nice after being sown with low-endophyte (horse-safe) grass.

The cottage is looking as cute as ever, and the gardens are starting to fill out nicely.

I have been rather remiss lately with keeping the blog up to date.

Muffin the Wiltshire ewe was pregnant after all and produced a lovely ewe lamb which we have called Emily. Muffin is a great first-time mother, and is absolutely besotted with Emily. So much so that she wouldn't come to Chris for scratches for a week or so!

Very new

Yum yum!

Hello!

Very cute

Hanging out in the sheep hotel

It's hard work being this cute

Grazing with mum

Dorothy's ram lamb was sold to a guy from Rotorua who has a small flock of ewes. He picked him up a week or so ago. We had him advertised on TradeMe and had a few people ring wanting him for eating, but he was fairly pricey given his breeding so that saved him from the knife.

The spring winds have arrived late this year, but hav made up for it with a vengeance. It was blowing a gale for nearly two weeks straight, with the weekend of the 19th/20th November being particularly bad. Most of the arena surface blew down one end and out in the paddock. It was very disheartening as its down to the base level in some spots, rendering it unrideable. Apparently we aren't alone as I heard a few other arenas are a little worse for wear after the wind.

Sand where it's not supposed to be

Banked up agains the kick boards

Sand in the race

Sand

Lime chip base layer exposed in places

In order to combat the problem we have made the decision to put in a rubber chip and sand surface. Rubber chip is widely regarded as one of the nicest surfaces to ride on so we bit the bullet and ordered some. However Murphy has been at it again, and there is a bit of a queue so we won't get ours delivered until the new Year. In the meantime we will carry on researching the type of sand we will use in conduction with the rubber.

Each type of sand has different properties, which inevitably results in a compromise somewhere along the way. The sand we currently have is washed concrete sand which has uniform particles and isn't overly dusty, however it is not coarse enough (blows away) and is too white and glary. The other options are one of the various types of pit sand being sold as "equestrian sand". These sands are primarily unwashed pit sand of some description with a fancy label. They tend to contain a fair amount of clay or silt which gives it a bit of structure, but means it is very very dusty when dry. The search continues...

The horses are doing well. Odie has been here for two months and is looking much better than when he first arrived. He seems to be happy here which is great and he loves getting out and about for road rides. I got him a pair of Easy Boots so that he can be barefoot but still ride on the road. He is quite flat-footed and tender on the stones and the road so this helps him cope better without the need for shoes.

Odie

Gorgeous Odie

Odie's Easy Boots

Ready for a road ride

Off we go!

Ciara is growing like a mushroom. Chris and I measured her a month ago and she was 14.3hh as a yearling! This means her estimated height at maturity will be around 16.3hh. I will have to grow taller I think.