Hell Coulee Toppers Not Quite Dun

[Chanda]

I just had a mini rodeo...  Trimmed Quigley, he's still not halter-trained; but he knows more now than he did an hour ago.  😉    Not perfect, but they are better than they were, and most of the restricting baby hooves are trimmed off.

They have both been wearing their halters during breakfast most every day.  Quigley is getting much better to catch and halter, but still have to corner Rain.
I'll try to get new pictures, but too windy today.

[dcwolcott]

Sounds like some babies may have learned who the herd leader is!!!  LOL

[Chanda]

It's official the kids got their papers back, today.
"Hell coulee Toppers Not Quite Dun".  Silver bay dun appaloosa with star and strip (missed the tiny snip on his nose, but it's hardly noticeable).   [While not spotted, he does have characteristics, so may color up with time.]

[dcwolcott]

Can't wait to see pics in the spring !!!  Congrats on getting papers back!

[Chanda]

Tried a little clipping today, not quite a success, but not a failure either.
I used my cordless clippers, which 8 years ago, clipped the first crop of yearlings one per day without too much issue; but now the batteries don't hold a great charge, so I got part of a neck done, before the batteries died.
Anyway, with a lot of starts, stops and tantrums; I got part of Quigley's neck done.  Will try for the rest of the neck and maybe the head tomorrow.   That is all I will clip, as despite unseasonably warm temps, I don't trust our weather to stay this nice, so he needs to keep his sweater for awhile long, but definitely needs to get rid of the turtle neck.   The tantrums caused some sweating, which made clipping that much more difficult.

[dcwolcott]

Such a handsome boy!!  Can't wait to see the full coat, but totally agree with the sweater decision you made.  The weather is nuts this year, and better to stay healthy than just gorgeous!!

[Chanda]

The beasty boy has discovered he IS a boy.   Evidently, Misty is in heat, cause he's eyeing her seriously and going nuts.   Like Father, like son; Misty is Topper's favorite mare too.     
I pulled Rain from the pen a month or so ago, but now it's time to move Quigley over to the gelding pen, if he's going to lose his marbles over a mare in heat, he needs to go live with the boys.   I'll set up a pen next to the gelding pen for introductions, and put them all together in a week or two.
I liked the convenience of having him at the mare barn for feeding and such, but he's gone coo-coo.

[dcwolcott]

Some boys are just like that.  But your introductions to the gelding herd should teach him how to behave.  I know I ran a herd I called a bachelor herd of about 12 full stallions during the winters here when no one was cycling, and they all got together just fine.  I started with a few I knew liked each other, then brought them in one by one on a long lead, and introduced them to the other boys.  My disappointment and instructions on what would NOT be allowed kept everyone in line after a little convincing.

His genetics at being Topper's son are valuable to your program, so I hope he learns his manners quickly.

[Chanda]

Since, I don't breed a lot, not sure if he'll stay a boy or not; but for now he can keep his jewels.   As his mom and Topper are taller end of size, he may get too tall, so will likely be gelded.   He seemed so little last summer; but he's far out grown his sister. so may be too tall to keep intact.  Time will tell.
[Still crossing fingers for a Baybe x Che` colt; but not holding my breath.  Like every spring, she looks a bit pregnant, then sheds and her belly is gone.]

[dcwolcott]

Still praying she'll give us a Che' baby   

[Silver City Heritage Farm]

He is maturing quite nicely.  I see clipping has revealed him as going grey.  It's always so interesting to see what's hiding under that long winter's coat.  It also looks as if he's stayed plump enough through the winter past.  He'll look quite nice, and feel comfortable, if the late spring cold and storms that are being forecast for your area come to pass.  Paula is up in Shelby for a couple of months (moving her daughter and family there) and has had a devil of a time trying to convince the to be prepared for those often unforeseen, yet nasty, late spring wintry surprises.

[Chanda]

No grey, just silver at play, when you clip a silver, you clip most of the color off, leaving just the silver undercoat.  He'll be "golden" again, when his summer coat comes in more.

[Chanda]

unhappy boy... Moved him over to the gelding paddock.  Temporary pen by the gelding paddock, so he can get to know them through the fence, and be away from the mares.  He's not liking it.   Running the fenceline when I left.  Hopefully, he settles quickly.    On the fence about gelding, but if he can't chill out, gelding it will be.

[Chanda]

Got a few new pictures today, he still has a tuft of hair on his belly, but otherwise is pretty well shed out and looking pretty sharp.   Just candid shots, so nothing special, but he looks pretty good.
He'll be a year old in about a week, I think he was born on the 17th, but I'd have to look.

[dcwolcott]

He is QUITE handsome, and that blaze is just perfect!!!