Spring in Paris, my view out the window is lush green grass (that you can almost see growing).  It’s hard to describe just how green the pastures are. Local photographers often comment that people believe the colors in their photos are being manipulated to achieve this vivid green…..NOT TRUE. 

Then you have the flowering trees that seem to bloom overnight, shades of whites to pale pink to deep magenta…. it’s like MAGIC.  Then add mares and foals lazily grazing… or when the foals decide it’s race time and one will start to run. Usually Shane’s Girlfriend ’20 by Arrogate is the instigator, then Malibu Gem ’20 by Mendelssohn,  then First Shift ’20 by Flatter and so on until they’re all running.  Then they decide racing is done and they start harassing their mamas. It’s a good thing these mamas are used to home schooling, they do it every year. 

Now let me introduce you to our newest baby, Caradini ’20 by Classic Empire.  As usual, Caradini goes past her due date by 10 to 12 days.  She also likes to play the game of “Can I have my baby while your head is turned??” Darby’s Hope was our first mare to play this game. They try to catch us not not looking. I wonder if this goes back to their instincts of foaling in the wild by themselves. Over the years we’ve gotten pretty good at spying on these girls, as they don’t know we’re cheating by using cameras.  

Caradini’s filly by Classic Empire was born at 3:07 am. It was an easy delivery and this filly was up quickly (like most fillies) and decided her game was walking as close as possible along the stall walls. Sometimes it looked like she was even using the wall as support.

If you’ve been at the farm this time of year, you know it can be hectic. Not only are we foaling but we are also busy getting mares bred.   Cory, our reproductive veterinarian is here every morning, checking some mares to determine what day thay need to be booked to the stallion. Others are being checked to see if they are pregnant and then others are checked to make sure they are still pregnant.  Here is a photo of Shane’s Girlfriend ’20 waiting for his mom to come back from the breeding shed. 

Seeing this photo you would think he was patiently waiting in his stall but that would definitely not be the case.  I was lucky to have my camera ready the moment he was distracted by something outside his stall window.  When the mares go to the breeding shed they have to leave their foals for the first time and neither are very happy about it.

And let’s not forget all the well baby checks by Dr. Caitlyn and then there are the visits by the farriers for hoof trims and too many others to mention. Yes, it’s a busy time.

Just a quick note about Varlebena and Sassy Rose who shipped in this fall after returning from the track.  Varlebena is being bred this year.  We’re waiting another year before breeding Sassy.  We’re hoping her half-sister Rose of Paris does great things at the track.  She’s training great and will be ready for her first race sometime soon, we just hope there is a track open nearby for her to go to. 

2020 started out pretty normal and then WHAM…Pandemic! With travel restrictions the guesthouse has become much too quiet.

• The retired horses are missing their special attention including their mints.
• Keeneland cancelled – We are missing the excitement our guests always bring before they leave for the races and the stories they bring home after the races. 
• Land Rover Kentucky Three Day event cancelled – We are missing our guests trying to figure out just what  the weather is going to be… and if they brought enough rain gear.
• Kentucky Derby rescheduled until September – We are missing those fancy hats, dressed up guests and mint juleps. 

Do you see the pattern here? ….. We miss our guests, we are looking forward to this historic time coming to an end and cannot wait to have guests mill around the farm and enjoy all this natural Kentucky beauty. It’s not the same without you!

Wait a minute are those mares practicing social distancing?

This was shared with me and I thought it was too funny not to pass along. Have a laugh and a great day!!