Lovelly Pets: August 2010

BTB: Devon preview: Swirly-coated beauty, Bellatesse

Devon preview: Swirly-coated beauty, Bellatesse

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 02:00 PM PDT

This photo by Erin McCardell from Hilltop Farm is about the most stunning inspection photo I've ever seen. This young filly is Bellatesse by Bugatti Hilltop, bred by Hilltop and purchased by Kris Schuler, a breeder here in PA. She bought her at 5 weeks. Bellatesse, now a yearling, will be at Devon, and I'll be front and center to see her in person.

click to see source of photo

The photo is posted on the Edgewood Meadows Web page along with more info on Bellatesse. She is by Bugatti Hilltop, as I mentioned, but her mom is pretty special. Comtesse is an award-winning mare by Cordoba. Congrats to Kris Schuler on selecting this lovely youngster.

Below is a recent photo of Bellatasse at a yearling, taken at the 2010 Fair Hill Breed show (again, courtesy of Erin McCardell). Note that Belatasse has an unusual swirly coat that makes her even more distinctive. The swirls are called watermarks and there is a discussion on an equestrian listserv about the presence of watermarks in G-line horses. Sara Andrew left a comment that I'll repeat it here: watermarks are common on Friesians as well.

Again with the brick-bat: It's about the mare!
This filly illustrates an important point of breeding that everyone seems to know but few seem to practice. I'm no breeding expert, yet I know this. How can so many breeders not know this?

The mare is the most important choice you make as a breeder.

It makes me dismayed and sad to hear breeders talk about getting broodmares on CANTER or from rescues. Many breeding programs consist of a dozen mediocre mares rather than one or two really exceptional mares. My hat goes off to the breeders who break the bank to get really terrific mares and build their breeding program on a solid foundation.

See ya at Devon, Bella!

Puppy on a Roomba

Baby Bunny Friend

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 06:25 PM PDT

I found a baby bunny friend in my garden. She stood up and said yip, yip, yipeeeee when I found her because she was so happy to see me.

Baby bunny friends make sounds just like squeaky toys! That is how you know that they want to play. So I played and played with baby bunny friend until Daddy came and scared baby bunny friend away. I thought that was a rather mean thing to do to a baby bunny.

Where did baby friend go? I hopes she will come back. Little dogs with no tails have corgi bunny butts, so we have lots in common!

Secretary Mommy editorial note: baby bunny was not harmed.

Daisy the Curly Cat

Coffeecake

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 01:00 AM PDT

Coffee, tea or me?

I am pretty sure you will choose me...

On account of coffee tastes blech!

Your Daily Cute: Your daily dose of cute!

Two Cats Tuesday: Lazy Day on the Couch

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 09:05 PM PDT

Happy Two Cats Tuesday, Cuteheads! Yaaaaawwwwnnn... Pimp and Moo sure have been lazy lately. I think maybe it's the heat.This was the scene on the couch the other day. Lazy bums!It's 100 degrees outside, Mom! What else are we supposed to do but lounge around and enjoy the A/C?!This is Pimp's sleep mat, but I stole, um... borrowed it.I let Moo borrow my bed... because then I get the whole rest of

BTB: "Hey, would you mind..." Part 2

"Hey, would you mind..." Part 2

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 01:14 PM PDT

So, you're hoping to find someone to do some special care for your horse, and the best option is to ask the barn manager or one of the workers. What's fair compensation? Geez. A flat hourly rate, say, $10/hour, may not apply to certain tasks. For example, handwalking a half-crazed thoroughbred on stall rest is not a $10/hour job. I'm going to throw out some possible pay rates for common horse care tasks. What do you think?