From the Horse's Mouth...

June 2010

In the last weekend of June the Druimghigha stud put out a good show at Alp D'Huez endurance riding competition. It was the most spactacular setting for a competitive ride, with a total rise over the course of over 1500m with the back drop of the glacial Pic blanc.

After an inauspicious start due to Shindi, Lilka and Shimoni escaping their paddock due to a fault with the electric fence the organisers were kind enough to let us start with th 56km ride the following day. It was a tough ride with high altitude and lots of mounts and descents throughout the course, but Shindi came in placed as 1st, Lilka 2nd and Shimoni 4th in their class. We were particulary pleased with shimoni as this was his longest competition to date.

Thanks to all those who contributed to the possible name pool for Shemal's new foal, it was a hard choice given some of the great ideas. We have settled on a favourite and from now on he will be known as 'Shattesh', a Hindu boys name meaning 'King of the Mountains'!

 

 

 

May 2010

Spring has arrived and to mark it Shemal had her foal on the 15th of May. A healthy boy with four whit socks like his mother. The only problem now is what do we call him? Here's a picture we took just half an hour after he came into the world. He was standing on his own four feet just an hour after this.

 

We've also started the competition season with Shindi, Lilka, Oberlix and Shimoni all having participated in various endurance events. All being well placed in their classes and winning various prizes including this fetching pink bucket Shindi was awarded for coming second in a 40km ride (after 1st placed Oberlix).

 

All the meadow flowers are in full affect now too and we've been searching out as many orchids as possible, photographing and recording where they are. We'll be making some posters for visitors to enjoy and creating an 'Orchid Walk' so that guests can hunt them out for themselves and maybe even win a prize if new species are found!

 

 

September 2009

With the help of Delphine, our present Swiss horse student, Lantana has taken her first steps pulling a two man buggy. After months of practice long reining, Delphine has accustomed Lantana to all kinds of novel objects and on her first outing she went like a dream pulling Marthe and Delphine.

Unfortunately due to not being quite fit enough, Shimoni had to be replaced by Shindi at a 20km endurance competition. Held at Chavanne in La Drome, Shindi and Lilka, ridden by Jake and Marthe respectively came first and second in their class!