Kidding Season Over - Looking Forward to 2013!

We have come to the end of the kidding season here at Firelight Ranch. I'm happy to announce that Apothecary Farm Banshee Wail kidded with quadruplets! She must have caught her second cycle with Odin as she waited until July 20th. Lucky for me this was a Sunday and I was able to be there through the entire delivery. Odin has really been a "buck" buck for me as Banshee's kids tallied three boys and one girl. Out of three does, that is six bucks and one doe from Odin. I'm glad I have one doe from the little stinker to retain, however, and Banshee freshened with a huge, stunning udder. Two of the buck kids will be for sale in tact. Mom has such a shockingly amazing udder as a FF that I feel confident these boys would make amazing herd sires.

-Firelight Ranch OD Huntsman-



-Firelight Ranch OD Hawkeye-

-"Tuvok" who went as a bottle baby to a friend of mine. He will be one spoiled pet wether.-

-And my keeper, Firelight Ranch OD Valkyrie-

And...because she is gorgeous and my favorite doe, momma and her udder only hours before kidding:

We picked up Densil and he immediately got to meet a couple of the ladies. Both Fae and Winry turned up open. Fae and Sherry went on a date with my new guy and are due in December. Neither have come back in heat so I'm hopeful they caught. Normally I wouldn't breed a doe so soon after weaning her kids (Sherry's kids were weaned in May), but I would like one more kidding out of her before she retires. She is fat and sassy and in great health, having no troubles with this year's twins. So I would like to see her have her last batch before she is actually ten and starting to get "elderly." I am VERY much hoping for a doe kid to keep from my old fuddy duddy. She has had girls the last two times, so I'm hoping that it doesn't mean she has exceeded her quota. 

I am working on a breeding lease for Goldenbrook Farm MR Fireworks, sire to Yuna. He would be used on Winry, Banshee, Klover and Angel in hopes for plenty of options for retainee daughters. Poit is up for sale simply due to the fact that I can't show her and would really like to get into the show pen next year. Also, because I am FINALLY going to use my breeding to Rhocky Rhoad on my half Arabian mare this spring! So the sales price on Poit will go towards a shipment of cooled semen. ;)

And just because I like eye candy, a photo of Chardonnay (my dam to be) followed by a picture of one of Rhocky's new 2012 foals:

-Hoping to have one of THESE in my pasture come 2014! So long to wait!-

And speaking of foals, Pandora (who we fondly call Panda around here) got some nice, gangly and awkward yearling photos the other day. Her mane is so ridiculous I have to keep it braided or it tangles into horrid witches knots. Its longer than her dam's at this point in comparison to her own neck/body. She is going to have some luscious locks as an adult!

Her FACE is growing really fast along-side her legs this month. Amazingly her body has almost caught up in the short couple of weeks since I took these pictures. Ah, the crazy giraffe like growth of a yearling. She looks stupendous one minute and like all the wrong parts were glued together two days later. Can't wait for my little Pandy to be three and under saddle and filling out with all the muscle she had as a foal.

MIA

I'm really not MIA, I swear. I just haven't bothered to update my blog because I've lost the ability to compose sentences that don't sound completely stupid lately. I will give the majority of the news in a brief re-cap simply because a lot has happened since March! 

Klover, one of my newer purchases this year, kidded quadruplets on Easter. The fourth kid was DOA and I was left with two bucklings and a doe. I retained one of the bucks because Klover's udder was simply amazing and I love his genetics (daddy is a Caesar's Villa boy.) He is a pretty little gold and white guy who is exceedingly dairy and angular with perfect legs, tons of rear angulation, a great extension of brisket and loads of uphill body length. Once I finally get the service memo he will be KK Snowd'n Mad Hatter. I call him Jefferson.

-Only a few days old-


I do not believe Fae is pregnant, but she could be fooling me. I've had a FF develop an udder out of nowhere the day she kidded and tummy size is never an indicator for me in a youngster...but her pooch does not look bred. We are moving at some point in the next six months, so I need to cut back and at this point the only doe I've forced myself to part with is Fae (and I mean forced.) She has a buyer once we reach her due date and we find out if babies happen. She is due the 10th of July so she doesn't have long to make some changes. I do think Winry is bred, but I'm doubtful Northfork's buck is the sire which is disappointing because I loved his dam. I'm thinking Odin is the proud poppa so she will be the latest to pop.


Speaking of Odin, I am bringing in a moon spotted buck from Diji farms, and I am on a strict two buck limit, so Odin has gone bye-bye. Banshee or Fae better have a doe as I plan to keep one from my little Odin and I'm sure I'll kick myself if they end up with amazing udders...but he was a little on the small size for my taste and I couldn't pass up Denzil. We are picking him up Saturday!




Diji Farms CG Denzil Washington


I will get some new pictures as soon as he gets home. I love chocolate goats to death, and the fact that he has moon spots is icing on the cake. His dam's udder is capacious with huge, forward pointing teats and tiny teats on Nigerians has become a pet peeve of mine (alongside the lack of rear angulation in a lot of show animals), so he has both points. He also has an LA score as a yearling of +V+83 so I'm excited!


Poit kidded the 20th with some darling buck kids. I really wanted a doe to retain from her, but had a buck reservation she filled for me, and couldn't have asked for more correct, robust and colorful little kids from her. What a good mother too, although I admit she is a fat cow, I expected quads as big as she was and all she had in there was twins.







I call them Loki and Buffalo Bill, but the new owners want to name the darker boy Thor...which really fits since his brother is Loki, so they will be papered as Firelight Ranch OD Loki and Firelight Ranch OD Thor. They are both very correct, uphill, the works. And Poit's udder is enormous this go round!


Banshee is next up to bat and I'm impatiently waiting. She is on day 149 and she better darn well go tomorrow because we are supposed to be going up to my mother-in-laws tomorrow night about 5:30 and staying the night, then picking Denzil up and driving home Saturday. 

Monster Milkers!

I know this blog was created with the intention of being a sort of diary for my little farm. There isn't much inter-activity to be had with readers (not that I think many people actually read these ramblings.) But today I pose a question. Have you ever had a "monster milker", and what was your response? How did you feel about her and what did you end up doing?

I ask because I now have a "monster milker." She is the most horrid beast! I have had milkers who stomp, kick and even attempt to lay down now and then, but I've been able to work through their issues with patience and training. This girl is a total freak! She screams bloody murder the entire time I'm milking. You would think I was out there stabbing her with a knife. She repeatedly lies down, even if I put an upside down bucket under her chest or poke her with my thumb. She kicks and bucks, and I mean like a rodeo horse, constantly. Grain doesn't appease her, gentle scratches and patience doesn't get me anywhere. I've resorted to tying one hind leg to the back corner of the milk stand and that only marginally helps thing. I think she has a screw loose! I couldn't begin to tell you how much she gives me since she spills most of the milk. This morning she tossed the entire bucket.

The good news is that she is learning to lead and stand for the show pen. The previous owner said she was hopeless as far as that went. I've just given her a swat or an ear tweak here or there when she starts throwing a giant tantrum, and I've insisted she allow me to handle her rear legs. She has gotten to the point where she will stand still and allow me to position her properly. Her leading can be iffy if she doesn't want to go where you are pointing her, but a swift and sharp swat on the behind has seemed to help a great deal. She has a beautiful udder although I'm having some troubles with it being a little lopsided due to her twins favoring one side. Milking her out to empty in the evenings and trying to milk the "less favored" side a little more every morning to encourage production. I would really like to try and show her!

I picked up "Cupcake" this last week. She is adorable and such a sweetie! And she has the coolest color. She looked white in her photos, but she is actually a very pale gold with white spotting. Almost pink looking! I'll have to get photos when the weather stops being horrid. I am going to call her Winry, after a character in a show I watch. Just don't like the name Cupcake. 

-Yuna, at 1 1/2 weeks old!-

Leap Day Kids!

 Tifa kidded around 3 p.m. on 2/29 with twin doelings! Both are buckskin, which was a little surprising to me considering the colors of the parents. But it makes sense genetically looking at grand-parents. Both have blue eyes! The one with the white belt also has a tiny moon spot on her right hip near her tail. They are being called Yuna and Rikku since I am keeping to a Final Fantasy theme with Tifa's kids.

-Yuna, 1 Day Old-

-Rikku, 1 Day Old-

I am retaining Yuna. I think I found another moon spot on her left side,  peeking out of the white band. I am very excited to have a doe kid from this buck. As always, I can't wait to see an eventual udder on this girl. I'm always impatient to see if my decision keeping/buying doe kids results in a good udder. I am content to have them stay adorable, cuddly kids for now. I love my "snuggle time" with the newborns. Rikku is reserved and her new owner will be picking her up in June. My friend Wendy is already attached and she will hate to see her go. They are two days old now and already leap into my lap every time I sit in the pen. It is amazing how quickly young kids discover that humans are awesome jungle gyms and beds. Tifa is a wonderful mother with a gorgeous udder. I just can't believe how much I lover her udder! I can't thank Traci enough for allowing me to purchase this awesome girl!


-Chewy making friends with Yuna.-

In other news, I am picking Klover up tomorrow. Expect another blog entry with more pictures. Until I can get a bander to begin the slow removal of her horn, she will be my unicorn goat. I plan to name her kids after mythical creatures because of this. I don't know how stressful it is on a goat to have a horn banded, and I know there is risk of infection...so she won't be banded until after she has given birth. No need to stress her out further or endanger her kiddos. I am very excited to bring her home!

Ginny (Sugar) came up lame today. She ran through a particularly deep patch of mud to escape me when I came out to halter her...so I'm hoping she just pulled something a little. She was only lame trotting a circle to the left. Lets cross fingers that she is fine Monday when I take her out again. A problem larger than that would mean vet bills and would kill my chances of selling her should it be something that isn't easily fixable. Grrr... I forgot to check for an abscess or sole bruise, so I will do that tomorrow. Annoying, but common and treatable. So I rode Chardonnay instead today. So much energy,  but such a fun horse!


-Charry's beautiful Quarter/Arab face!-

The Waiting Game

I will never get used to the waiting game with these pregnant does! My first doe is "up to bat," so to speak, on Wednesday. She isn't progressing as quickly as I would expect for this close to her due date. The only thing making a huge change right now is the rapidly increasing girth of her belly. I usually see this pattern in does in their last several weeks, not days. This makes me wonder about her actual due date. The breeder had told me, after the first ultrasound, that the vet felt she was pregnant but not far enough along to have taken on the breeding date he was given. The breeder didn't feel she went into heat after that, and when I picked Tifa up she was still indicating October 2nd as her breed date. Now I am thinking that she took one heat cycle later, and that may give her another three weeks until the big event.

-Tifa's udder 2/21-

She has a lot more filling to do to come close to the capacious udder she had last year. I don't mind waiting, but when I have to wait several weeks past the expected date it makes me anxious. I want to see those babies! I've been dreaming about what comes out! She does, however, look big enough for triplets. I need two girls and a boy please. Thanks for taking my order God. :)

If I have to wait a whole three weeks more for Tifa's babies, at least my impatience can be satiated by my new doe, Klover. I pick her up next Saturday! I'm so ecstatic about collecting my new girl. Plus, I get to go to Algedi to get her, a farm I've always admired. I've seen their goats at a couple of shows and they are spectacular. They are a ranch I would love to have a kid from someday, but doubt I could ever afford. It will be nice to see their set-up.

Cupcake was successfully covered by Dandy the 21st of February. She is staying there for a few more weeks to make sure she doesn't come back into season. I am to pick her up around the fourteenth of March. I'm not sure I ever posted a photo of Dandy, or his awesome dam, so here they are:

~Camanna LI Moonlight Dandy~

~CH Camanna CS Moonlight Sonata AND her gorgeous udder!~

Just hoping and praying Cupcake gives me a doe. Of course I pray all my girls have does, but Cupcake, Klover and Tifa are does I really am desperate for girls from since they are bred to great outside bucks I won't get a chance to use again. I would love a doe kid from Poit as well for me to keep, but I can always repeat the breeding.

...And It is Official!

..Well, ALMOST. I will be purchasing another bred doe who is due in April. I will be making the down payment tomorrow, which just so happens to be exactly half of the purchase price. My mother and father decided to chip in the rest as an early birthday present. My mother would also like a whether from her if she has any boys. Done!

Introducing KW Farms GM Kens 5LeafKlover

Her name is really a mouthful! I really like her breeding on the top, but am unsure of the bottom...nothing notable or able to be researched. That said, her top side is Little Tots Estate, a fantastic farm from Georgia. It would be so nice to have some top quality lines from outside of our area (Washington, Oregon and Northern California). I love Pholia Farms, Rosasharn, Piddlin Acres and Camanna, but I feel as if I need more varied blood from other proven farms. I know Piddlin Acres is in Texas, and Rosasharn is in MA, but they are very popular lines here on the West Coast.

She is bred to J-Nels SQ Donnie, who is from a an outstanding show farm in North Carolina and is Rosasharn on top, and Caesar's Villa on bottom. CV! I have loved their animals forever, and I believe the herd is no more. I am so fortunate to have kids coming from those lines, and am really crossing my fingers for at least one doe. Klover had triplet does her first freshening (this will be her second), so hopefully she will keep giving and not decide she already met her doe quota for two seasons! She had a gorgeous FF udder and that really attracted me to her. For me, general appearance and conformation, etc. is extremely important, but udders are where its at.

The breeder should be coming down to Algedi in a few weeks, and I will be able to pick up my girl! AND, she has blue eyes! She is long, long, long with a beautiful topline and very strong front end assembly. I love her extension of brisket and her stretchy neck. I think she'll be strong in the show ring for me. The only problem? She has a scur so bad on one side it looks like a full horn. The breeder promised to band it, but I'm not sure if I can take her in the show pen. We shall see....

I do exist!

I'm still around! I just haven't had the time to update my blog..well, at all! I am the one and only floral designer at our local Michael's Arts & Crafts store. Holidays are extremely hectic for everyone working there, and my quotas were nothing to laugh at. My hours have been cut back and it is more mellow in that regard, but my hands have been full training my project mare (that I did find) while attempting to market and sell a friend's horse. This week was Valentine's Day. Although I gave up my own floral business this year, I did work temporarily for a local shop. It has been chaos, but as of five this afternoon it was over! Ginny (my project horse) is at a stage where I am not having to kick her butt and work too hard with her. She is just about where I want her. And I found a buyer for my friend's horse. Now I can relax a little? Not likely. I have a little time to breathe, but hope to find a new job very soon. I'm just not getting the hours I need, or was promised.

But enough about all of that non-farm related news. The count down is on to the first kids of the year. Tifa is due February 29th. We are fifteen days away from the big event if she were to play by the numbers and go an exact one fifty. She has been steadily expanding, but has really plumped out this week alone. I know she is carrying at least twins, but I'm really crossing my fingers for triplets. If I could custom order her babies, I would want two does and one buck. One of the does and one of the bucks needs either blue eyes or moon spots! I will, of course, be happy with anything I get as long as they are healthy.Sherry is 100% bred and due the end of March. I fully expect multiples this time around, and would not be shocked with triplets or quadruplets. I can feel them tumbling around, she is getting massive, and she started an udder a week or so ago.

I'm REALLY crossing my fingers that Banshee is finally bred. Odin just was not getting the hang of covering the girls. He wasn't extending. He got ahead of himself in his excitement and would jump on, go to town without "prepping", and exhaust himself. It finally clicked for him the very end of January, which just happened to coincide with a growth spurt and a definite increase in bucky odor. I held Banshee for him and witnessed successful covers on two separate days with the characteristic hunching up of the doe. If she isn't bred, she'll come back in within the week. I went ahead and allowed him to breed Angel as well and he did a great job. I witnessed a couple of successful covers between him and Fae yesterday evening (she has been in with him.)

Poit aborted her kids by Final Stand awhile back. She has cycled twice since then and I put her in with Odin last time around. I doubt he caught her last month, so I'm waiting for her to come back in so I can put him on his breeding stand. She is just a very tall doe, barely under the height limit and he is still not done growing. So if Odin is not firing blanks and everyone is fertile, I should have six does bred for 2012 thus far. One in February, one in March, and four in July.

I am also picking this girl up soon:

Not the best photo I know, but I'm very excited about this girl. Her bloodlines are awesome, and she is selling bred to a great buckling from Camanna. Her name is Gladdie Acres BV Cupcake, who is Pholia Farms on one side and Piddlin Acres on the other. Her entire pedigree is crammed with milking stars and champions. The buck she is going to be bred to is Camanna LI Moonlight Dandy, who is by the same sire as my little Odin and out of one of my absolute favorite Camanna does. Her name is Camanna CS Moonlight Sonata. She is a finished champion who is just stunning. Would love her bloodlines in my herd. She is being bred now, whenever she decides to come into heat, and will be confirmed by a blood test before I pick her up.

I've got another doe I'm talking to a farm about, bred for April kids, but I don't know if I could afford her right now. I would love to buy her, but it will likely only work out if I can talk someone like my husband or family members into giving me some cash to put towards her as an early birthday present. I'll keep working on it. She has blue eyes and is bred to a buck with Caesar Villa lines I've always wanted to have.

And my new mare!

She is a grade pinto mare, probably 12-14 years old based on her teeth. I believe she is half Arabian. She is for sale if anyone is interested! Lol. She DOES have a tail, I just have it wrapped to keep it mud and tangle free and encourage it to be gorgeous and long. It is to her pasterns. She was underweight when I bought her and out of shape with a poor neck. We've worked on collection and flexing to the point her entire neck structure has changed. She is super quiet and a great trail horse. Jumped right in the river for me. She does a western pleasure jog, does haunch turns and forehand turns, side-passes, backs, etc, etc. She generally picks up the right leads. All I want to get done with her now before I start marketing her hard is a more collected lope with consistent leads and side-passing poles, backing obstacles, and other things for a trail course. Asking $1200 now, but will ask $1500 when all of that is going well.

Postponed Charry's breeding until next spring because we are hopefully moving to Idaho come summer!