Filed under: April 2022 | Tags: draft horses, foal, foals draft horse foals, Rainbow, Suffolk Horses
April 10, 2022
Magee ( I pronounce it Maggie) is a week old already. She is growing so fast it’s hard to believe. This was her first trip outside the barnyard. It was also her first day wearing a halter. She liked the freedom, yet stayed close to momma. The halter didn’t bother her in the least. She only wears it for special occasions and only under my supervision.
She is alert, smart, strong and growing well. Momma has lots of milk and Magee nurses often. Once the pastures dry up a bit more, Magee and mom Amee, will be moved outside to enjoy running, romping and grazing. In the meantime, I will keep my hands on her introducing her to all sorts of things. This makes for a great workhorse in the future.
Farm work is a bit stalled due to the April showers and soggy conditions. No worries, the work will all sort itself out. In the meantime we will enjoy farm babies, sunsets and rainbows!
Filed under: May 2021 | Tags: draft foal, Draft Horse Babies, foal, Pasture Breeding, Suffolk horse, Suffolk Horses, Suffolk Punch draft horse
May 3, 2021
Orchard Hill Red Blaze, the Suffolk stallion pictured above is the daddy of our newest addition Riceland Meadows Amazing Grace. He is a chunky boy with a great disposition and he helped make a beautiful filly. We leased him again for Amee.
Amee was delighted to see him again. It looks as if we should have another “Red” baby on the ground next year.
You can see from the photo, mom Amee, watching over the sleeping Grace while Red snoozes, as they all soak up the warm April sun.
The little family grazes in the pasture. Amazing Grace runs circles around both dad and mom. She gains strength and power daily thanks to mom’s milk. It is delightful to watch the baby girl run and play.
“Red”, is part of our breeding program because his foals are not related to our stallion Hank. As we build a solid breeding program for working Suffolk horses, it is imperative that we focus on DNA in this critically rare breed. We want to expand the gene pool, while breeding for the punchy, solid, powerhouse found in these horses. In other words, I want to breed true, following the like minded breeders of the last four centuries, not changing the breed, only enhancing it.
They are truly beautiful!
Filed under: May 2020 | Tags: draft horse driving, foal, Suffolk, Suffolk Horses, Suffolk Punch
May 11, 2020
My son’s horse, the right side in the photo, on her maiden voyage as a teammate. She did very well for her first time. My son has been training her for several months. She just turned two-years old. She walked off quite well and only fidgeted a couple times. She is well on her way to being a great workhorse.
Our Suffolk herd are all grazing together. After a couple of weeks making all the introductions over a farm gate, peace fills the pasture. The pecking order has been established. Abby has made it clear to the other horses just what the social distancing space should be between them and her baby. No fighting, no squealing, just subtle reminders with laid back ears.
We are counting the days of this crazy spring waiting patiently for warmer weather and planting season. We made some progress last week. we managed to get a large portion of the winter manure spread on ground that will be planted to ear corn for the animals. I even got those three acres plowed. I used the tractor due to maternity leave for Abby.
This past Mother’s Day, my wife pets and talks to the new foal. Bree’s momma watches over the scene. Isn’t that what momma’s do? Watch from afar, but ready to jump in when needed. I miss my mom, but I believe that she is still watching over us.
April 18, 2020
Our Suffolk Punch filly was born at 10:30 pm on April 17, 2020. In the photo above she was about a half hour old. She was just finding her feet and standing up. Both mother and daughter are doing well.
It is a nice distraction to watch the baby!
Today she was walking and bouncing all around the stall. She is full of energy. Momma has settled in to putting up with her antics and ever increasing appetite.
On a side note, our Percheron mare “Abby” has been sold. We found her a wonderful home. It has been a roller coaster ride, as we transition from Percheron horses to Suffolk horses, to power our farm, but it is exciting too. Knowing that all three of my old pals got great homes is just icing on the cake!
Now, we can really focus on our future with these wonderful, rare, calm horses.
Filed under: March 2020 | Tags: draft horses, foal, Suffolk Horses, Suffolk Punch, weather
March 28, 2020
Last night after chores, I took the mares for a walk through the woods. The mare on the left will foal in the coming weeks. I like to keep her exercised daily. These quiet walks are good for us all.
As we all face many changes due to the COVID-19 virus, quiet time, alone is good for us all. We are going through many changes here on the farm as well. My black Percheron horses are making their ways to new homes. It is a tough thing for me, but I see much opportunity in our change to the endangered Suffolk breed.
These horses continue to please me. I am excited to start the farm year with them. They will pick up where the blacks left off, after maternity leave of course!
Our Percheron mare Abby has gone off to “finishing school”. I have a friend in the nearby Amish community who also has a single black mare for sale. They look very nice together. We will get them all worked down and dolled up to show off all of their best traits, then put them in a draft horse sale in Topeka Indiana. The sale is scheduled for June. Abby will be headed there, unless I sell her private before then.
Today, the rain is sure making things wet. It started raining last night at dark and is still falling steady. It is supposed to continue all day. Perhaps it is just a preview of our normal April showers? Let’s pray we have a good planting season and normal growing season. We are due, but we know who is in control. We will plan, prepare and be ready to go once the time has come.
RicelandMeadows 