Excited?.... not really, expectant?.... well maybe, accomplishedhappysatisfied covers the feeling but can't think of just one word that describes how Dale and I will meet 2017, maybe enlightened.... But before we go forward, let us go back a bit.... Deacons Gate Shires has a new web site, this site where you are reading now.. thanks to a chance meeting one December morning 2015, in a car dealership customer waiting lounge, (I will assume that everyone chats to others waiting.. it's not really weird.. is it?) anyway.. I was chatting to an interesting fellow that tells me he "creates web sites"...

We entered Salazar into Royal Brisbane for 2014 and the planning and preparations started months ago and boy did the lad do us proud. Handlers Bridgette Young and Louise Cooper were dedicated and powered on despite little sleep and excitement that threatened to consume the pair of them with all the show attractions and tasks needed to be completed. Thanks to Rod for getting the gooseneck into the showgrounds and back the following day to collect us all, it was a nightmare of tight lanes and wall to wall people to navigate through - I’d have not managed that task myself so hats off to Rod for agreeing...

Well the final scans were done and nope, Pearl continues to reject inseminations so we will leave her until next season and see what can be arranged and Duchess, despite a perfect cycle and excellent semen, she says no! Can only guess why.... the heat? new stallion? foal at foot? Duchess is a cow? In any case we'll cycle Duchess again in the new year and see what happens - so disappointing after so much effort. Christmas has come and gone, heat unfortunately stayed and our thoughts are with all those suffering in Victoria with extreme fire alert across the entire state. We caught up with friends...

Name:Deacons Gate Aurora Sire:Luscombe What’s Wanted SHS 46771 Dam:Arcadian Duchess SHS 148644 DoB:14/09/2013 Gender: Filly Stud Book No: SHS registration pending, Microchiped and colour DNA tested as a black based grey Contact Name:Katrina and Dale Deacon Telephone: 0754654462 Email:enquiries@deaconsgateshires.com.au Price: $15000 Description Aurora is an old soul, she’s softly curious; a very smart little filly that responds to training quickly and her temperament carries a confidence that will impress as a breeder and in the show ring. Aurora’s blood lines include some...

Well of course I jinxed things… having waxed lyrical that Cerefin was progressing well, no colic bla bla… from looking good to BAM… Colic L she was in pain groaning, rolling about and not looking at all well, which brought back all those awful memories that we thought we’d passed. So with the local vet away we enlisted the help of Jan our fabulous neighbour and Jess our equally wonderful trainer to help us get her mobile, loaded into a float and off to the Gatton UNI for an emergency admission. It felt odd to be arriving in distress with a sick horse again. The staff were amazing, caring...

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I thought about the blog.. funny how it’s time, then chores, then work, then circumstance until ultimately life gets in the way and updates are left and forgotten… but I’ve posted to face book.. wonder if that counts. So what news of Deacons Gate Shires? Read on, if you can spare the time to catch up on a year’s worth of horsey news and entertainment. Where to start, looking at my last post we had Cerefin up for sale… gosh that seems an age ago now, when our world was fairly mundane, before our delightful Cerefin entered a world of pain when...

Our soft, curious Cerefin is so ready to take up her next challenge; this girl is strong, confident, bomb proof and is just a delight to work with.  She's truly well handled, loves company, is cool with floating, farrier and lead basics and of course drenched regularly. Underneath her fluffy foal coat she's a black beauty like her dam, Arcadian Duchess.  Cerefin has a calm temperament and meets all SHS standards and interestingly this is Luscombe What's Wanted (Ted) first black filly, so she's already leading the way.  We expect Cerefin to mature around 17.2hh and currently stands 15hh at 10 1/2 months....

What a wonderful outcome! Zar behaved with a maturity far beyond his years remaining calm and manageable at his very first Royal. Saturday we started the final ride, lunge and the full show wash in preparation for the mega road trip. Sunday we started out at 3.30am and arrived at the Royal show gate dead on time. Was a bit of a hiccup in getting a stall key which delayed our preparations and caused a delay in getting into the ring for his led class at 8am. A big thank you to other competitors and the judge for allowing us to compete despite the delay.... Zar had decided he wasn't going to take...

Where on earth does the time go..... updating FB, updating web, updating blog, replying to emails, fitting horse stuff in, working full time, making time to ride, lunge, wash horses, repair rugs, maintain the fences, organise the chores and keep poultry, dogs and cats in line... on reflection all of this is pretty much a normal week for us here at Forest Hill, who has time or money to smoke, drink or party.... :) Still, as consuming as our busy lives are, we've happily extended our world to incorporate Jess, a local horse trainer, who is currently preparing Salazar for the ridden class at the upcoming...

Price: withdrawn   SHS colt registration C2436 Exceptional bay colt out of Arclid Minshull Monty (UK) and Southern Cross Celestial Pearl. This lad has amazing movement, a delight to watch. His sire was Champion stallion in Peterborough 2007, the bloodlines of this horse are crowded with champions going back generations and "Zar" will be an outstanding stallion adding to the list. Zar has just completed his training under saddle and come home with praise for his willing temperament, being a quick learner with terrific retention of all tasks asked of him. Zar is such a lovely horse,...