Crikey... time has flown by.. we've been so busy with breeding, jobs, committee and all things property related, that I clean forgot about updating the blog. So a catch up is required.... October: Both Duchess and Rebel suffered serious bite injuries from Greg whilst we trialed him living with Rebel for company - it was only a week and he was a nasty critter the whole time....so back to his own paddock he went.. leaving Duchess with a 20 stitch reminder of his visit where her skin needed to be re-connected to her neck and Rebel with a good chunk out of his muzzle needing to be cleaned out and packed....

Apologies to all that have languished without news from Deacons Gate Shires, it's been another hectic month and every week I have thought...... I must update the blog but with all best intentions something always gets in the way (some things could be classified as procrastination of course) ssshhh don't tell anyone! As with any report where one whinges about not getting rain... it rained (40ml) the day the blog posted last month so that freshened up the paddocks for a week - no rain since of course. The short lived green has now past and the horses spend their time nuzzling through the dried...

Hi from Down Under...... that's it, nothing more to see...... No not really ... I do lie, a few things have happened in the past week of course, it's me, nothing is ever straight forward or simple at the Deacon's house. Duchess is currently attending her first "personal space respect and education" class with Sahra (trainer) who has had to modify her yards and one or two methods to accommodate our big girl (17hh). Sahra, not deterred by Duchess's size, has got her moving and complying beautifully even in her first week we can see a vast improvement. Rebel (now 11 months old) will be delivered...

I've just realised a whole month has passed, how slack of me.  Nothing has changed I can asure you.  Life potters on, the horses continue to make us smile and the animals are just as silly and loveable.  Probably the only real difference since May is that Winter brings a crisp crunch to the 5am feeding schedule.  Being back at work full time is a dark afair with necessary routine morning and night so I don't get to see anyone in daylight till Saturday morning so weekends are very precious.  I am looking forward to Summer and having light to tend to my lovelies for just that little bit longer...

Sadly this year's Horse section of the Esk show (23rd May) was cancelled due to rain.  The deluge affected the entire SE and Northern regions of NSW with flooding, wash aways and devastation to families and businesses all over again.  Thankfully our house doesn't flood but our street does where it is crossed by the Laidley Creek, so we were locked in for the day until the waters receded.  Secretly we were relieved as preparing 3 Shires in rain and muddy conditions was daunting and we were working on precisely how we would achieve clean horses and keep them that way, when we got the news. ...

Rain, 18ml over night, hopefully enough to entice the dry brittle grass into life. Unfortunately the 2 newly installed 100,000 litre tanks have yet to fill and as they aren't plumbed into the system and we don't have a fire pump or hoses to transfer the water, we have had to organise a delivery of water to accommodate the washing requirements of 3 large horses during the show season. So this rain is most welcome and I don't care who's weekend leisure events are dashed because of it... bring it on! Esk show is next Saturday and we are planning to take all our Shires. Duchess's hock is still...

It's over, our first show and Pearl and Rebel have come away with ribbons and trophies despite being little monsters.  We can only guess the other horses, sounds, smells and confines at the show caused Pearl to re-instate her mother/foal bond.  She turned up the dial and performed (kicking stall walls, calling, pacing, refusing to lead) each time Rebel even looked like he might engage with other residing or passing horses.  We however had not prepared for this at all as Rebel had been weaned 6 weeks earlier.  We had to bring Rebel out to the arena for all of Pearl's other classes...

Easter Sunday was spent attending the Young Stock Show at Gatton with Rebel and Duchess in their very first show outing. Sadly Duchess's cut hock swelled just before her event so we had to scratch her which meant Rebel was on his own for the big walk. He was totally spooked to be leaving Duchess, the vista before him of puddles, mud, drizzle, cars and people had his little eyes bugging out of his head and there were moments where I thought I was going to lose control with his rearing, spinning about flicking his back hooves at sounds and things he didn't understand.... but once he caught sight...

We are excited but restrained at this important milestone. Pearl's official 45 day scan is due 2nd May so that is when we both get really excited. So much for the local vet advising Pearl wasn't cycling! We have learnt a heck of a lot along this particular journey, most of it not good. The reported dead semen first time around has yet to be explained and documented to the supplier and transporter's satisfaction, how hard is it to report the details... unless it's the details that are suspect of course. A lot of money was lost on their verbal announcement and until we receive documented evidence...

Like everyone else, behind our idyllic lifestyle of Shires, chooks, pets and mayhem the reality is that we both work full time to maintain it and it doesn't take much to end it all. For weeks we have been worried that the company I work for wasn't going to survive the effects of the financial crisis crunch. Despite skin tight tender submissions, cold canvassing, remote lead follow-ups... it just wasn't enough and yesterday I was told I didn't have work next week and technically I have been stood down with termination to follow. I'm scared, worried and disappointed, how will we survive? Will...