Weekend show report

My Facebook feed was filled with live show pictures yesterday. All the shows looked like fun, but none more so than Erin Corbett's Hillside Halter Hike Live Show in Portland, Oregon.

This all-mini, all-halter extravaganza was held in Erin's house.

The "ribbons" were jellybeans... 

and the champion "rosettes" were goats. 

The small red and blue goats went to sectional champions (Breed, Foal, and Color)...

and the big silver and gold goats were awarded to the Overall Champion and Reserve in each division.

The divisions were Original Finish Plastic,

 Original Finish and Custom Glaze China, 

Artist Resin... 

and Custom. 

It was a small...

but mighty show,

and even though I'm not a mini person...

I am a jelly bean...

and goat person...

so I would have loved to have been part of the fun!

Extra thanks to Leah Koerper for providing the pictures for this post!

Baby steps

Yesterday Mahaganaska and her colt moved to an outside pen.  

The foal, tentatively named Kenlyn Gold Standard, didn't know what to make of the snow...

but it wasn't long before he was kicking up his heels. 

Foalie smile. 

So handsome at just two days old. 

Today most of the snow had melted and the pen was filled with mud.  Mama and baby didn't want to come out of the shed...

so a baby walk was in order!

Cara went first. 

Then it was James' turn. 

Weeee! 

After the exciting start, Gold Standard settled down and walked around the outside of the ring like an old pro. 

He and James were perfectly in sync. 

We might have to promote James from foal whisperer... 

to foal trainer! 

So handsome at three days old. 

Have I mentioned how much I love foaling season? I do! I do!

Model harnesses

Between Barb DiAnnibella's excellent three part series on harness racing and Jackie Radwanski's gorgeous British In-hand Heavy Horse Harness class photos, there's been a lot of harness talk on the Braymere blog recently. Today, I thought it would be fun to share photos of model versions of these two very different types of harness.

First up: the racing harness!

This harness was made by Lindsay Diamond for her Kitty Cantrell Rocket resin, Bombs Away.  

It's still a work in progress.  Lindsay notes that she intends to add blinkers and a head number. 

However, it was finished enough to show at the recent Sleigh Rally show in Columbus, Wisconsin.  Bombs Away placed third in Other Performance with this racing entry...

and second in Working Harness (the lines were in the driver's hands during the judging!).  Congratulations, Lindsay, and thanks for sharing your pictures. 

Shifting gears, here's a model sized British In-hand Heavy Horse Harness made by Jackie Radwanski way back in the 1990's. 

This may be a vintage piece, but good tack is timeless. 

Here it is just last year winning first place at a show in Britain.   

Congratulations, Jackie, and thanks for once again allowing me to share your pictures!

Mahaganaska's foal

We are expecting no less than seven foals at Kenlyn this month.  The first was born last night.  James didn't have school today, so he accompanied me to meet the new arrival.

Mahaganaska's baby is a big, perfect, chestnut colt. 

He was a little bit shy when we entered his stall, 

but James is the foal whisperer...

so it didn't take long for them to become friends. 

"Gotcha!" 

"Come on, little man."

"Say cheese." 

After twenty minutes of visiting, the foal was all tuckered out. He lay down to take a nap. 

Sleepy baby. 

James let him get settled, and then he made his move. 

According to James...

foals make the best nap buddies!

Welcome to the world, little man.  We're so happy to meet you.

Oh, I just love foaling season!  I can't wait until the next six babies are here, too!