Puddledub Stud

Meacham Temptation (Leila) delivered a jet black filly foal at 6.30am on Thursday 7th May.  Another first foaler, she has taken to motherhood like a duck to water!  Mother and daughter are doing well and if we get a break in the weather will get out soon and pictures can be taken.

With only two mares due to foal this season we can now tidy away the camera and concentrate on covering duties.

Three mares were scanned by stud vet Matt Hanks tonight, and it was with great excitement that all three proved in foal.  Two to Terry and one to McLaren.  This is particularly special as 2 of the mares had been barren for the last one and two years, thus proving the fertility of our stallions and the efficacy of our stud practice.

All three mares will be scanned again in around 10 days time to confirm pregnancy and hopefully see a strong heartbeat.

Our German bred mare "Karla" has foaled at last, going 6 weeks over her due date.  She foaled very easily out in the field on a beautifully sunny morning.   Although successfully passing its meconium, it needed a bit of help to get its guts moving notmally, but is now as bright as a button and cantering around his box.

We are delighted with our newborn colt by Bollin Terry, who is already showing a lot of quality, and as is Terry's trademark his has wonderfully straight limbs.

Photos to follow

Entries for the Catalogue for the Puddledub Spring Show at Ingliston EC on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May have now closed and the entries are entered on the computer.

Total numbers are up, but with nearly 20 new classes, this was to be expected.  Individually some classes, as always, are better supported than others, but the RIHS qualifiers are looking good with competitors travelling down from Aberdeenshire and one from as far away as Wales.

Entries can, of course, still be made on the day, for those who had not totally made their mind up, or had forgotten to make their entries.

With all the improvements and building work at Ingliston just about completed, we are looking forward to an exciting and successful show.

For those not competing, we would welcome spectators, and of course volunteers for stewards are always grefully received.

Rose Macpherson's fabulous Highland Pony stallion arrived on Monday evening and has settled in really well.  He is an absolute delight and we are very excited to stand him here this season. 

We will post photos of him as soon as we have some.

He has already covered his first mare and has 2 Highland mares here that have yet to come in season.

He is equally suited to purebred Highland mares and to thoroughbreds, and we would be delighted to show him off to any visitors!

On Sunday we bought 20 hens to fill the hen run that has been empty now for 3 or 4 years.  Already we are getting 10 eggs a day, which considering the hens are currently in moult and will have been upset in the move is fabulous!  They are year old Hylines, and had been on a commercial free range unit which always changes their hens over between 12 and 18 months old.

We look forward to a plentiful supply for our own use, and to sell too!

... although I am rather frightened to say that as it will probably tempt fate and things will start to go pear-shaped!

We only have a few Blackface ewes here, and they are bred to be wild and therefore not totally suited for management without a sheepdog!  I am always so envious of those people who can call their sheep, or shake a feed bag and they come running rolleyes we set foot in the field and our high tail it at great speed in the opposite direction!  However, they are great mums and lovely hardly, characterful sheep, and are also somewhat tastey!!

So far we have 9 lambs, 2 singles (one of those had a twin but the fox took it at less than 24 hours old), 2 pairs of twins and a set of triplets that are doing very well, amazingly enough as most sheep ar atruggling to count to two, never mind three.:/  We are not 100% sure how many of the remaining 5 ewes in the flock are in lamb and still to produce, but we are pretty happy with our 190% lambing figure so far.  We shall keep fingers crossed that I have not jinxed the good fortune by talking about it!

Bollin Terry traveled to Scotland AI Services for the first time of the season today, to collect semen for posting to a mare in Wiltshire.  Interestingly this mare, who has a cracking Terry filly foal at foot, was also his first mare in 2008, conceiving on just one insemination.  We hope for equally good results again this time.

The delighful thoroughbred mare 'Good Job'. who visited Terry last year has returned for a week while her owners are away, so that we can continue their 'foal watch'.  She too is overdue her date of the 9th March, but as she already has a fabulous Terry 3 year old that foaled here, we know her pattern and that she tends to go 3 weeks or so over her date.  Her bag is just a bit more developed than Karla's so the race is on as to who will foal first!

When Good Job foaled here last we had an exceptionally busy night with a litter of puppies being born in the house and three (yes, three!!) mares foaling within an hour and a half!!  That is a 19th of May we will not forget in a hurry!

The schedules for the Puddledub Spring Show at Ingliston EC are now back from the printers (in a lovely shade of green this year!)and those who competed last year, but have no email facility will be posted theirs today.  All competitors who gave an email address on their entry form should have received a copy electronically.  Thet can of course, also be downloaded form he Dhow page on this website http://www.freewebs.com/puddledub/Puddledub%20Spring%20Show%20'09%20-%20Schedule%20&%20Entry%20Form.pdf 

Our lovely grey warmblood mare Karla 22 is now slightly overdue her foaling date of the 14th March, but is only slightly bagged up.

The camera is now set up and she is accustomed to sleeping with the light on, but still looks like she will be another week or so before she foals.  However regular udder watching is being undetaken as these maiden mares can 'spring' a bag so quickly.

A little bit late in reporting this, as Crufts was 2 weeks ago, but our wonderful German Shorthaired Pointer bitch "Puddledub Paramur" won Mid-Limit Bitch under Val Grant of Stairfoot GSPs.  This was a strong class, and we are understandably absolutely delighted.

David Alcorn's Weimaranar puppy "Greyfurs Hot Pink" also won her Bitch Puppy class and was 2nd against much older bitches in a good Junior class.  David also handled a Gordon Setter to a class win.

All in all and exceptionally worthwhile trip to Birmingham!

The last few days of beautiful sunshine has brought with it very springlike behaviour!  The daffodils are opening, the ground is drying, the grass is greening up, the lambs are appearing (5 so far), the mares are coming into season and the nights are getting longer!!

We scanned and swabbed our first mares of the season this week and all being well with them will start covering next week.

The first visiting mare has foaled.  This is an AI mare in Wiltshire and the delighted owner is planning to use Terry again as they are so pleased with their filly foal.

I love this time of year!!

Schedules for the Puddledub Spring Show are now ready via SAE or by email.  They will also be online on the show pages here in the next day or two.

Many new classes this year to compliment the existing RIHS qualifiers for Hacks, Cobs, Riding Horses and Hunters and the extensive BSPS and M&M classes will include Novice Hacks, Cobs, RHs (can compete on a Day Ticket) and also Ex-Racehorse, Ridden Pure, Anglo & Partbred Arabs, Ridden Clydesdale, CHAPS Coloureds and Veterans.

As usual we have taken great care in our selection of judges, and are delighted with our list for this year, our thanks go to them in advance.

The 4yo coloured colt 'Puddledub Phuket' will be available to to a limited number of mares for 2009.  See his own page for full details,

It is with great excitement that we can announce that Rose Macpherson's stunning Highland Pony Stallion Moss-side McLaren will stand at Puddledub from early March until late June in 2009.

This outstanding young stallion has the most superb temperament and incredible movement.  Add this to his pedigree and conformation, he is truly a pony to appeal to both purebred and partbred breeders.

He has several very high quality foals on the ground and his 2009 crop are also eagerly awaited.

Moss-side McLaren

14.2hh Dark yellow dun with black points, rising 6yo.

Sire - Ruaridh of Mendick

(Kincardine Ben Macdhui x Gemma of Mendick) sire of "Trowan Moulin" RHS Ridden Champion, Breed Show Supreme Champion, 6th & Best of Breed Olympia, 2007 and RHS Ridden Champion, Qualified HOYS & Olymoia 2008.

Dam - Moss-side Breagh

(Sergeant Major of Whitefield x Whitefield Lady Verona) Full sister of "Moss-side Campsie Glen" RHS In Hand Champion and Reserve Ridden Champion Olympia. Dam of "Moss-side Iain Mor" RHS In Hand Champion 2006.

Exceptionally free moving and athletic with quality and presence, has already bred outstanding foals. Impeccable bloodlines for showing and performance. Striking pony with lovely head and good bone. Mac has a fantastic kind temprament passed onto his foals.

He runs with mares or covers in hand and will also be available by AI. Mac will be available at Puyddledub Stud from March to late June for 2009 before embarking on his ridden career.

Enquiries to either Puddledub Stud or

Rose Macpherson: 01764 653001 or 07736 445110

Hamilton Tarmac have very generously offered Headline Sponsorship for the Puddledub Spring Show.

We are delighted to accept and to work with  company that offers a high quality service to both the Roads Department and private indivuals and businesses.  They have resurfaced and rebuild many driveways to equestrian propeties.

Further details of their business and contact details for quotes and enquiries will be added here soon.

It is only with such generosity that many shows can continue and we would like to take the opportunity to thank Hamilton Tarmac

Puddledub Spring Show

(in association with leading sponsor Hamilton Tarmac)

@

Ingliston Equestrian Centre, Bishopton

Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May 2009

As per usual, we will be running Royal International Horse Show qualifiers for Ladies, Small, Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight, Amateur & Working Hunters, Small & Large Hacks, Small & Large Riding Horses and Lightweight & Heavyweight Cobs.  It is also will great pleasure that we accepted the only Maxi Cob qualifier to be held in Scotland in the classes inaugural year at the International.

All the previously run BSPS Show Pony, Show Hunter Pony, Working Hunter Pony, Mountain & Moorland (Mini, Ridden & WHP) classes will again be scheduled, but in a new ring layout giving more space for everyone.

The Workers ring will now be moved into the newly created grass arena, and as this frees up the outdoor arena a few more classes will be introduced.  These are to be finally confirmed but will hopefully include Novice Cob, Hack & RH, Ridden Pure, PB & AA Arabs, Veterans, Coloureds, and we are also working to gain Blair qualifiers for Ex-Racehorses and Ridden Clydesdales

Final classes to be scheduled will be announced shortly.

A link to the finalised schedule will also be added for download on the Shows Page.

David Alcorn handled many dogs to success at the Caledonian Open Show at the Ingliston Showground near Edinburgh on Saturday 31st January.  He gained 7 class wins, 2 Best Puppy in Breed, 3 Best in Breeds and a Gundog Group 2 with a combination of Hungarian Vizsla, German Wirehaired Pointer, American Cocker Spaniel, Weimaraners and our German Shorthaired Pointer.

Puddledub Paramour won a very strong Open class on her way to another Best of Breed!  We were absolutely delighted with her, and as usual showed her socks off