September 10, 2008 – Bribery

I resorted to bribery to get Rory to eat his pellets last night.  He took a mouthful and I curried his itches. Then I'd stop and he'd have to take another bite before I'd curry again. He didn't finish the small handful, but he did eat most of them. I finished grooming and picked out his feet - he's getting good at that. I didn't need to have anyone hold him or even halter him.

September 9, 2008 – A work in progress

No excitments in Rory's life in the past few days. He's out in the big field with the other mare and foal and being a typical bratty foal pestering the other one to play, and bouncing of his mum. He is getting better at letting me pick up his feet and pick them out. Still pulls a bit as he tests to see if I'll let go today.

I stayed home on Thursday night and on Friday was astonished to see just how black his bum was as his foal coat sheds.  He's getting more dark specks in all the little scuffs and nicks from playing too. Saturday was rainy here, and when I went out to feed lunch I discovered a half coronet white marking on the inside of his left hind foot. It looks like it goes round the heel on that side. The wet leg combined with the darker hair growth coming through made the white visible. I'd noticed the hoof had a white stripe in the new growth a few weeks ago so it wasn't a complete surprise. I tried to get some pics of his colour changes, but with the rain it wasn't a good weekend for photos. By next weekend he'll be even blacker.

He enjoys being groomed and comes to me for scritches when he sees me - naturally I oblige.  I think he's grown a bit again. I was looking at his halter fit last night and thinking it's about time to make the noseband a hole larger.

He'll now eat a small handful of Developer pellets if I catch him at feeding time. If the others aren't chowing down on their grain he's not as interested in eating pellets.

This week is the week before Championships so my focus is on the brat and the mare. I'll admit that I'm looking forward to the end of show season so I'll have a bit more time to play with Rory. I want to take him for more tours around and get the leading thing more refined - he's very good, but very good for a foal is not the same as very good for my adult horses. It's a work in progress, and I am greatly enjoying the progression again - just as I did with the brat.

September 2, 2008 – First injury, first treatment

Rory learned about tying this weekend. And wound cleaning...

The one came from the other. He banged a front fetlock on something and cut the front of the fetlock. It was a little swollen on Sunday which was how I noticed it. It had scabbed over by then, so I decided to hot compress to get the scab off and the blood circulating.

I didn't have anyone around to help, so I looped the lead over a fence board and had the wash mitt on my other hand to wrap around his fetlock. Rory was less than thrilled about the deal and he wiggled and went forwards and backwards to try and escape the compress. He sat back and pulled a couple of times, but gave it up as pointless very quickly each time (less than 30s) and tried going forwards instead. He found that didn't work either as he ran into the rope from fence to me.

Anyway, I got the scab off and could feel that the cut wasn't deep so I let him go. Monday it was oozing a bit, so I brought him and mum up to the wash rack to give it a proper cleaning. I got someone to hold him for me to I could use two hands and scrub it out properly with betadine scrub. He was very good. He tried to pull his foot away, tried to back up, and tried to jump forwards once. Nothing worked and he stood quietly while I finished. I got a good look at the injury, and it was a nice healthy pink after scrubbing, so I just put a bit of hibitane on.

His new coat is showing through the foal fuzz and it's making him look sooty dirty. His ears have completely shed their baby fuzz on the backs and are a lovely dark chocolate brown colour. It's kind of like unwrapping a present - wondering what's underneath?  He's really cute with the dark ears and eye rings on his bright chestnut head. Makes his eyes look huge.

He invited me to play when I was in his paddock on Sunday. Unfortunately he clipped my hip with a hoof when he did his trademark stop, half rear and fling front feet out forward. I had to reprimand him and send him away so he'd learn that people are not playmates. He was back shortly afterwards, respectfully stopping a couple of steps away and waiting for me to close the gap and give him lots of scritches.

August 28, 2008 – A near miss

Rory in the big field with mom

I really hesitated to post this for fear someone would get the idea that Rory is in a unsafe situation in any way. Remember I put him there, have done before and will do again without hesitation. It was just one of those fluke foal events.

Rory had a little scare the other night. We put the two mares and foals out in the new paddock again for a while on Tuesday evening.

Rory and the other foal were quiet at first, then they started coming together and playing for brief periods. Rory got running after one bout and went right through the fence (electric rope, but not under power yet thankfully). The rope stretched with him, and he got loose almost instantly without tangling or even scraping himself, but it was a bit of a shock to him plus he was now on the wrong side of the fence.

He trotted up and down for half a minute until I got close enough to grab him as he went by. I hooked up the lead rope, and put him back into the field after a quick inspection for damage - none. Also fortunate was that mum didn't notice he'd escaped, so there weren't any hysterics happening on either side of the fence. It's a good thing he's an independent little fellow.

A few minutes later he got running again, and was heading right for the fence in the same place but he managed to stop and turn away. He did that a couple more times too.  I was worried watching him, but he seems to have figured out the fence thing and has no inclination to challenge it again.

The other foal is getting bolder and is initiating play nearly as much as Rory is now. He's running more, and Rory is wrestling more. Rory's got the rearing thing down pat. When his buddy figures that out, his greater weight is going to give him an advantage, but for now Rory is holding his own. When they run, Rory can leave his buddy behind in a flash when he drops into high gear.  They are fun to watch.

I am told that Rory's mum did the same thing when she was a foal - got through the fence somehow. Upon arriving home from work the breeder found her outside the fence with her mum still inside.

Apparently Rory's mum liked to run like mad when she was his age too.

August 25, 2008 – Show time!

Saturday was the breeders show. Friday night I braided his mum. I had debated bathing them that evening, but in the end didn't. I was glad I hadn't as Rory was sleeping on a pee spot when I went in to braid mum. He got up and bothered me a bit for scratches and attention, but he didn't nibble on me, steal yarn, or anything like that. He did chew on mum's lead chain and try to bite the spray bottle of water a few times. I sprayed him. I hit his nose and he backed off and I thought "Maybe that wasn't a good idea" but later he came back and I sprayed his side, bum, back and belly and he didn't care one bit. Later on he was nibbling on the head and I sprayed water into his mouth - he came back for more.

In the morning I braided him. I started at his withers and worked my way up his neck. He was munching on the hay while I worked and was good. When I got about halfway I had to put his halter on and tie him (looped lead through stall bars) so I could finish. The hardest part was bumping the teeny tiny braids. He wiggled a bit of course, but was good.

Then it was bath time. I didn't have anyone to help, so I tied mum at the wash rack and bathed her one handed while I held Rory's lead in the other. Soaped, scrubbed and then rinsed. While I was spraying the soap off I sprayed Rory's feet, then back to mum, then his feet up to his knees, then mum. When I did his side he didn't mind, so I went all over his sides, back, bum and legs before working up his neck. He was really good. I scrubbed him with his new wash mitt and rinsed him off. It's hard to scrape the excess water off baby sized horses. I used my hand a good bit.

After the bath we went for a little walk while a stall was cleaned. Rory wanted to run and play and just get out. I put them in the stall while I got everything else ready. I had to drive the trailer myself. It was the other trailer - the step up - and he followed mum up just fine. His last foot slipped off the rubber bumper and he scrambled a bit, but it didn't bother him.

At the show we brushed the hay dust off them and did a little practice trot. Rory bounced a bit. The first class was the CSH Foal of 2008 with two entries. The other foal's pro handler beat us. I didn't get Rory stood up very well and he didn't want to stand still while the judge was looking at him. The trot wasn't bad, but not as good as he is at home. His breeder told him he was robbed, and I protested that we couldn't start that way and we should tell him that he needs to stand better and trot properly if he's going to win.

Because we were second in the Foal, we got invited back for Junior Champion. Before then Rory's breeder gave me some tips and I tried using the grass trick to keep Rory still and occupied. We didn't place in the Junior Champion, but I did get him stood up better and right after they announced the winners the judge took another look at Rory and made a note on her clipboard.

We went back to the trailer for a bit and I wandered around with Rory, jogging here and there (he cantered and bounced too). He slipped once and limped, and held his left hing leg up for a few steps. He was fine a minute later, and bounced again but with a bit more caution.

There were four foals in the Open Foal of 2008 class - including the foal that won the CSH class. Rory won. He stood nicely (kept me busy finding grass and getting his legs set and all) and trotted well. I was glad to see the judge had the confidence to change her previous placings and didn't feel she had to repeat the order. The conformation:movement percentages were slightly different between the two classes, so that may have helped too. The pro handler went to help get another foal to trot and when he came back he almost came to Rory. He was laughing about it and said "I'd take him. I'd take them both."

We got invited back for the Open Junior Champion, so we had to hang around and wait for the Yearling class to go. Rory was tired after all his effort and decided to lie down. He nibbled on the grass he could reach, rolled over and went to sleep. I had to wake him up for the Junior Champion class - which the yearlings won (1,2). He did a very nice trot in that class.

After that we headed for home. Rory hopped on the trailer without the slip this time. Once there I put them in their stall for a bit, hoping he'd lie down for the rest of his nap (and make it easy for me to take his braids out). He did, and I did get them out. I took mum's braids out too, and then put her and Rory out. I tacked the ribbons onto the front of his stall.

I really think he's going to go dark chestnut - maybe as dark as "brown" (think Ward Mclain's Sapphire). He's got quite the raccoon look just now, and his ears are quite dark too. Too cute! The dark hairs are showing through the foal coat in places and giving him a bit of a dirty look on his bum. I hope he stays dark - not that it matters one bit, but I think he'd be really striking with the dark contrast against his whites. Plus I could put red on him without commiting a fashion sin.

August 21, 2008 – Independence already

Rory and I went exploring last night. To set the stage, the barn is an L shape. Rory and his mum now have a stall in the short piece of the L. There are more stalls, the feed room, tack room and bathroom in the long part of the L.

We had our usual run across the parking area and back. Then we went into the long part of the L and paraded down the aisle and out the back door. Then we had to show off our in-hand trot and went running down by the arena and back. Mum was waiting outside the short part of the L. We lost sight of her when we went into the long part of the L and didn't see her again until we went into the barn and into his stall. Neither of them was screaming for the other, or fussing. Rory was really good. Mum half nickered at him when we did go into the barn where she was nose deep in her grain. I put him in the stall and he was all ready to follow me out again.

August 20, 2008 – A night of firsts!

Last night was a night for firsts for Rory! We went exploring a little bit on the way into the barn. We did our jog across the parking area, then came back and went down the hill. He put the brakes on briefly at the shadow on the ground, then trotted after me. We went into the barn and out the other door to look at the hay wagon (full of fresh hay), then came back into the barn to find mum happily eating without any concern for where he'd gone. Rory was a little unsure about the hay wagon, but he nosed the hay bale on the ground beside it.

I rasped his feet a tiny bit - he really didn't need much, all that running around he does is wearing them down nicely. He wiggled a little bit on a couple of feet when he felt the rasp, but wasn't bad at all.

I moved him into the next size of halter. It's on the tightest hole at the crown and the second tightest on the nose and is maybe a touch big around his cheek, but it's okay. This one is red and he looks just as cute in red as he did in the royal blue one. I did try my leather halter on again, but it's still too big for him so we will have to borrow a leather halter from his breeder for Saturday's show. I tried it on and it fits quite nicely. He looks good in black too.

He didn't mind the wormer at all. Good thing because he needed 15ccs and I only had a 12cc syringe. He stood and rolled his tongue around with great concentration and swallowed it all without dribbling a drop, and then accepted the second batch equally well. Good boy!

Of course he got lots of scritches.

August 18, 2008 – Planning his first show

The foals are finally starting to play with each other. Rory would prefer to play tag, while the other foal prefers wrestling. Rory is holding his own though. He's getting to be a better wrestler and even chested the other foal's hindquarters last night and sent him staggering a couple of steps. His smaller size doesn't seem to be a handicap. They typically wrestle for a bit, then Rory runs like a mad thing around the paddock for a minute before coming back near the other foal. Sometimes the other foal chases for the first dash across the paddock, but mostly he waits until Rory stops before going over and starting the wrestling phase again.

We did a little jog practice on Friday night - he's so cute. He was super good too. I put his entry in for next Saturday's breeders show. It will be fun. I expect he will be a handful to braid. He was a good boy while I was working on his mum's mane to get it to braiding fitness. He came and saw me, but didn't bite or be a real pest. I scratched him a bit when he came. It was early/midafternoon so their nap time anyway which probably helped.

His dark raccoon eyes are getting bigger and he has a distinct ring of the bright chestnut hair close to his eyes. The grey colour on the back of his ears may be mostly skin shining through sparse hairs, but the black hair on his hocks still has me puzzled.

August 15, 2008 – A new lesson

Rory wasn't interested in his pellets last night. He temp was fine and he was active enough, just didn't want to eat them.

I gave him a little grooming, picked up his feet, then went and got his halter and lead. I put it on him, then threaded the rope through a couple of bars in the stall grill and picked up his feet and picked them out properly. I wanted to get a better look at how long they were and how much trimming he needs (not much at this point). He was pretty good for that. He was more interested in nibbling on the lead rope. Afterwards I stood for a minute and he tried to walk away. He hit the end of the rope and came back right away. Then he tried it again with the same results. He wasn't at all concerned about not being able to go where he wanted, he just came back and nibbled on the rope again. Good boy!

August 13, 2008 – A growing boy

Rory was sleeping when I went into his stall last night. He had been sleeping, he was awake, but still lying down. I wanted him up to eat his cal-pi and let me check his bum and he was very uncooperative. I had to pull him flat several times before he finally got up. He ate all his pellets as well as licking up the powder.

I gave him a little grooming and picked up his feet. On the right front he backed up and dropped down to see if I'd let him go. I didn't, just followed him as he went down and scratched him when he finally came back up and stood quietly. He wiggled on the right hind too, but mum was scritching his back with her lip so it threw his balance off a bit. I put some more zinc on his bum.

I gave mum a bit of a scratch (a pretty good one actually) with a curry and she enjoyed that. She wanted to mutual groom, but I was out of reach (and don't let her groom me anyway) so she went for Rory. She's pretty rough when I get a good spot and he gave a little buck and ran round her bum to escape. He was good and didn't try to nibble me while I was occupied with his mum. I did keep an eye on him and give him the odd scritch with my free hand when he got close.

He struck me as very big last night when he finally got up. I'm not sure why. But taller and a little more substantial. Maybe it was just that he took up most of the stall when he was lying in the middle.

August 12, 2008 – A little time with my foal

Nothing exciting happened last night. The other foal is off to the vet with mum for a couple of days, so Rory was on his own (with his mum). I was helping a friend set up a sales video of her pony so I just stopped by the barn to scratch Rory on my way past.

It ended up being a little grooming session. I picked out three of four feet. The other hind he was unsure about so I didn't have the spare hand to wield the pick as I was using it to steady him as we practised picking it up and putting it down. Then I got some zinc ointment for his bum. He shifted away at first, then stopped (presumably when I hit the itchy spot.

Then I got a tiny handful of developer pellets damp and put a tsp of cal-pi (calcium phosphorus balancer) on them in a bucket. There was more powder than could stick to the pellets, but Rory doesn't mind. He licks up all the powder, eats about half the pellets and licks the powder off the other half of the pellets.

August 11, 2008 – Born to run!

Friday was pretty uneventful. I did night chores again and gave Rory a good scritching.

Saturday we put them out in the new field for half an hour, with the two pregnant broodmares. They were very interested in the foals and came over to see them. Both mums were protective and there was a good bit of milling around. They did some running around too (and I got some good shots of Rory and his mum).

The bay preggie mare attached herself to Rory and his mum and at one point Rory went to her, ignoring her "P*** off!" and mouthing. She took a swing at him with one hind leg (thank gods she missed). I don't know if he thought she was mum or what. He was pretty persistent and his mum wasn't upset. Anyway, I went and brought him away from that mare and back to his mum. Then just hung out with him for a bit, scratching him and scrubbing mosquitoes off him. He pooped while I was standing with him - it's still very runny, but the liquid jet is absent.

We took the two mares out a bit later and left the two foals (and mums) to see how they'd do. It was hilarious to watch.

Rory started bouncing. Rearing, bucking, leaping into the air - you name it, he did it. Then he started running in big circles, very fast. He went to try and get the other foal to play without any luck. The other foal hid behind his mum. So Rory tried running past them very fast to try and entice the other foal away. After a bit he took a break and nibbled a bit before bouncing again. The other foal got a little daring and cantered away from his mum. Rory spotted him and ZOOMed over at high speed, scaring the other foal back to his mum. Rory did the drive by gallops a couple more times. The other foal moved away from his mum again a bit later, towards Rory this time. Rory cantered slowly towards him and then started bouncing with each stride, flinging his forelegs up and forward as an invitation to play. The other foal's eyes popped and he ran back to mum yet again. We felt sorry for both of them. Rory wanted to play so badly, and the other foal was scared of his antics. We didn't leave them out for very long - the alfalfa is knee high.


Rory has discovered that he can whinny. He's been a very quiet foal, but on Sunday he was whinnying a fair bit. We put the two mares and foals out in the new field again on Sunday. There was a lot less activity this time. Rory did some bucking and playing and running very fast for the first ten minutes or so, without really trying to engage the other foal today. After the BO chased his mum away from the in-progress shelter, they had a lovely trot across the field to near the other mare and foal and the two foals were showing some interest in each other at about the time we had to bring them in. The other foal's mum is getting used to Rory and not objecting when he comes up close now. It's progress and I'm sure they'll be tearing around together in a week or so.

I gave him a bum wash again last night. He was good. He wasn't sure about the zinc, but once I started rubbing it on he liked it. I picked up all four feet without needing to have the halter on him. He's getting good at that. Good thing - he's going to have to get his feet done soon.

One more note. Rory has the typical baby scrapes/wear marks on his hocks and the hair is growing back in black (or extremely dark brown). His mane has the dark growth at the base, and on the backs of his ears the new hair is also a very dark greyish, blackish, maybe brown colour. The area around his eyes looks quite dark as well, though I can see chestnut hairs very close to his eyes. I can hardly wait to see what colour he turns out. Perhaps he will be a very dark chestnut - that would be (he could wear red!) or perhaps he will do what last year's (unrelated) foal did go darker after the foal coat, and then lighten up again in the spring or perhaps he has the sooty gene to darken his chestnut colour.

August 8, 2008 – Baby horse stuff

Last night I was doing night feed and I brought the other mare and foal in first because they were at the gate. The other foal was a handful, but not too bad - just not as good as Rory is. Rory was perfect (of course) when I brought him and his mum in.

My BO told me they were getting along okay, and several times were in the shelter at the same time. He said that Rory wanted to play, and while his mum was in the shelter and the other mare and foal were at the hay feeder Rory was running laps around the paddock trying to entice the other foal out to play. I can just picture it.

I gave him a little grooming and then, with a little help (holding) a bum wash last night. I picked out his hind feet while he was being held. I'd managed to do the fronts while he was loose. He was very good. After I'd scrubbed and rinsed and dried his bum I put some zinc ointment on to sooth and protect the skin. He's got a little touch of the scoots (was a bit dirtier last night), but again his temp was about the same. If he spent the day tearing around trying to get the other foal to play he can't be feeling too bad.

I draped the little towel over his neck, and hung it off his halter, and draped it over his back after finishing the bum care. He didn't mind it on his neck (after he got his ears free of it), wasn't keen on it hanging over his nose, and walked around when I put it on his back.

My BO is building a new paddock for the mares and foals - bigger. He hopes to have it done on the weekend. Rory will love the extra space.

I was looking at his hooves yesterday and noticing the dark growth coming on the non white legs. The hind one has a white stripe on the inside that's making me wonder if he has a touch of white on that coronet and I just can't see it through the pale baby hair.

Aug 7, 2008 – Meeting a new friend

We put the two mares and foals together last night. The other foal is a month older than Rory, and bigger (he's going to end up much bigger too). We hung onto the foals and let the mares check each other out first. They had been together in the same field all winter so they sniffed noses and then went their separate ways. We let the foals go and it was pretty quiet, but also funny.

One foal would look at the other hopefully (we could see they wanted to play) but as soon as the other foal looked back the first would turn away. They got close enough to sniff noses carefully, but their mums came along and they separated. Rory followed the other pair across the paddock, but got too close and the other mare warned him off. He was very quick to move away (doing the baby mouthing).


We put out two piles of hay and the mares started munching. The foals went around their dams , peeking out at each other. Rory was more interested in the other foal and went towards them several times. The other foal crossed the gap once, but retreated quickly when Rory ventured towards him.

We went in and Rory came to me and the other foal went to his owner. We moved closer, and the foals followed. They were very cautious and hesitant about each other. Rory's dam came to see what was up, decided the other foal was too close and warned him off. He just stood there, clueless, so she lunged at him with her teeth bared - THEN he retreated.

We left them alone for a bit, and they all ended up in the shelter at the same time without a scuffle. They went into adjoining stalls last night and Rory stood at the dividing wall looking into the other stall for a long time. He is fascinated with the other foal.

They should be out together today - that was the plan. Maybe they'll get over their shyness and start to play.

July 28, 2008 – It’s official!

I introduced him to the trailer on Saturday! Followed mum up twice, then went in and out three times while she stood outside. He's too cute! Wasn't sure about going down the ramp - he walked like he expected it to be level with the trailer floor.

I picked up a foot three times yesterday. The third time I held it for a second and he hopped, stopped and tried to paw when I went to put it down, so I held it and made him put it down gently. And he got whacked for thinking about rearing on me. He went to mum afterwards, but came back without concern a few minutes later.

I had to make the halter nose bigger, and move out the crown to the third hole already! I dug out the next halter on the weekend so it would be ready when needed. This one will last a while longer.

We agreed on price on Saturday after the show. I haven't handed over the $ yet, but the agreement is there.

July 25, 2008 – Do I really want another foal?

Bratboy's ten this year. I was actually planning to wait 3-4 years before looking at another baby. I was intending to be a one horse owner for a while too.

When the brat was 3 & 4 I was glad I'd done the raising from a foal thing. I'd really enjoyed it, but it was a long road and I decided I wouldn't do it again. But in the last couple of years I've swung back the other way to wanting to start with a foal again. Every time there's a new foal born at the barn I get the "I want one" feelings, but until now I haven't had the "I want THIS one" feelings.

It's practically a done deal... I just don't have the number yet...

July 24, 2008 – and the answer is...

Arrgh! I went and asked for the number last night and was told he doesn't have it yet. However we did discuss what all that number would encompass so... I'd say 90% chance at this point. Patience...

We need to decide which registry to put him in - CSH vs CWB. He's not breeding stock so it's not super important either way. There are more opportunities for CSH line shows here, but I don't know if I want to go that route (line shows I mean). Feel free to offer ideas.

I feel like a kid with a new toy - I'm hanging around at evening chore time so I can bring him in. The teenager doing chores laughs at me when I ask if I can bring him in. He's grown enough that I have to do the halter up on the second tightest hole (not the tightest) now. We go into the barn first with mum following, and all the other horses nicker at him as we parade past. It's cute.

July 23, 2008 – Here’s the question...

He's two weeks old today.Chestnut. White blaze, pink nose. RIGHT hind stocking this time, plus a socking on the front right. Yes, I said socking. It's barely fetlock high in front, but goes up his tendon all the way to the back of his knee. By Rotspon out of a CWB registered, CSH approved mare. Everyone's been razzing me for over a week about "my" foal. They're even starting to call him by the barn name I picked out (after I told them I couldn't possibly buy him if they gave him the wrong name - so much for that idea). Gods help me I asked what the number in front of the zeroes is last night.

Tell me I don't need another horse. Tell me his pink nose will burn, his socks are on the wrong side and too many, and I'll have to change my BB name...

Please?

Oh yeah. They didn't have a halter tiny enough (couldn't find it) so he's using the brat's foal halter... I'm feeling a little Titanic-like just now....

***Naturally all my online friends encouraged me to go for it, leaving me thinking even more...***

Enablers! You guys are a fat lot of help!

He doesn't have a name yet. I get to do the honours if ... um... when?

I have thought about it... Rory for a barn name (it means red king). Either Red King or Rotkonig (German for red king) for a registered name. He thinks he's king of all he surveys. When he's prancing around he'll stop and check to see if I'm still watching.

The origin of The Rory Chronicles

In July of 2008 a foal was born at the farm where I boarded my two horses. One of my horses was retired and I had begun to think about my next horse. I had started with a foal once before, enjoyed the journey and then decided I probably wouldn’t do it again. But faced with the loss of my QH I started to think that I would like to do the foal thing again after he was gone.

It was not to be. The little chestnut foal by Rotspon captivated me and I started a thread on my favourite horsey bulletin board and within a few days the Rory Chronicles were off and running. The bulletin board went down and I was concerned about losing all that history so I decided to start a proper blog and here we are. The transferred posts have the post date in the title – once I catch up to the present I’ll stop putting in the date.