December photos/Equine Affaire: On Target Miniature 2012 foals

[Eagle]

Karina, have a great day

 

[targetsmom]

Hi all - As you may have noticed, we took Sox out of her stall so I could clean it, and put her in the backyard where she has been for several days. By the time I was done cleaning she was by the gate wanting to come in, so she is back in her stall until she gives us some other signal. Or better yet, until she foals!!! I think I need to borrow the rules that Heather used for Raven!!

Bunny and Clyde are out again but not together. Toffee clearly isn't ready yet for mixed turnout, but Mira was whinnying like she is ready to get back with her friend. And Bunny seems to want to be everyone's friend - equine or human. Again, we will let them tell us when they are ready. I expect at least another week. We are expecting heavy rain for the next few days so it certainly won't be then.

 

[sar09006]

Come on Sox you can do it. Lay down start pushing a little and Mary will help you. Then you all can have a nap till lots a little children come with their parents for 4-H meeting.

 

[targetsmom]

Maybe she is waiting for you Steph??? Stalls are all done - it's safe to come over LOL!

So glad I got that drive in with Princess yesterday!! (in my spare time). Sure wouldn't happen today or the next few days with all that rain predicted.

 

[sar09006]

maybe she wants to be like Mira and foal as I am arriving so you think I am the vet.

i have been watching her all morning as I am planting flowers around the house.

Sox please foal so I have a really really good reason to stop planting flowers!

 

[AnnaC]

Well she didn't foal last night as I thought she might. Perhaps she is waiting for the 4 H kiddies this afternoon? Or perhaps this evening when all is quiet again - hummmm that sounds like a good idea to me!

 

[targetsmom]

For the record, the 4-Hers will be here from 2:30-4 PM - that is, arriving in 1 1 /2 hours time.

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Clyde is just gorgeous!!!

Oh wow Clyde is on stilts.

i love his name Mary.

Clyde is just stunning and he does look like he is on stilts LOL

It's humorous to me that you ladies would say he looks like he's on stilts because Clyde has a half brother at my farm whose barn name is...wait for it... Stilts!!

Stilts was born in 2009. His sire is "Junior" aka Little Kings Little Bukeroo, a 29" Buckeroo son. The moment Toffee plopped that baby out I just stood there with my mouth open because I'd never seen such LEGS! I was in shock! So, of course I measure the poor thing before he's even stood for the first time. (Note to self: You can't measure foals before they've stood and walked around because their joints are all loosey goosey and will measure much longer than what they really are!) So, I measure and get 9.75" from knee to coronary band! I about had a CORONARY!!! I quickly do the math and I get a projected height of 40 INCHES!!! I about died! So instantly he became known as "Stilts."

Stilts still lives here and has turned into a most beautiful, refined (almost too refined, if that's possible) young stallion! He's a true red roan (almost white on his butt), GORGEOUS head with a blaze, tiny muzzle, beautiful eyes and totally sweet expression. He's almost feminine looking, if that even makes sense. He's 3 this year and he measures about 35.5". So, no where near the 40" I thought I was going to get, but still way taller than I have in my breeding program. He's just so beautiful and moves like such a dream, that I kind of like having him around!lol I've often thought about training him to drive, but then I look at how fine boned his legs are and wonder if he's just too refined for it. Who knows. But I thought I'd share my "Stilts" story since she's had another leggy foal.

Mary, how tall is taffy these days?

 

[bannerminis]

I just went and had a look at Stilts and he really does have some super long refined legs.

I think he would be a super driving horse and now he is 3 he could do the ground work but maybe not get hitched for another yr or so.

He is beautiful and would look very flashy under harness.

Amazing to see foals born with such long legs for their small size.

 

[Eagle]

oh so now we NEED to see a pic of Stilts

 

[targetsmom]

The 4-Hers just left so no foaling during the meeting. Both foals were of course a huge hit, and everyone got to pet Bunny, sometimes several at a time. She will be totally spoiled and she isn't even 2 weeks old yet.

Thanks for that information Parmela and the compliment on Clyde. Maybe he won't be as big as I think but we aren't really that concerned because I think he will make an awesome driving horse! Of course I remember Stilts because it was his foal photo that brought Toffee to my attention and then into our barn a year later. Taffy was 31" when we measured her this spring at 2. She is just great with the 4-Hers.

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

So Taffy is of normal height then?

Ok, you ladies talked me into it. No critiquing as I literally just walked outside and snapped some pics. No brushing, no posing, no nothing! Just minis in molting season!lol

Here are a couple of Stilts today:

 

[Eagle]

Wow those sure are long legs! He is gorgeous Parmela and he has such a sweet face

 

[bannerminis]

He has matured into a beautiful boy and still has the stilts I mean Legs LOL

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Thanks Ladies!

I can't update my website right now. Actually, haven't been able to in months...long story. But I actually don't have any horses for sale. I've kind of grown fond of the ones I'd listed for sale a long time ago and now they're not really for sale! There are days when I think "I can't take these boys another day!" But then there are days like today when they are so darn loving and just want scratches and cookies...I can't imagine selling them. I have three in particular that are WAY too tall for my breeding program, but I just LOVE looking at them! They are my eye candy.

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I don't know if Mary posted this pic on the thread or just on FB, but isn't it amazing how his legs are AS LONG AS TOFFEE's in this pic????

 

[targetsmom]

What strikes me about Clyde is that he seems (to me anyway) to be proportioned more like a big horse foal or at least a Shetland. And even if he grows taller than Toffee, which I think he will, he will still be a mini, just B size. I really don't see many mini foals proportioned like he is. Bunny also seems to have long legs for her size, if that makes any sense?? I think it is because in both cases their upper legs are very long. Buckshot also has long legs for his size, which is one of the things I love about him!

The head photo now my FB profile pic, was taken from this shot, and if you think about it, how often can you see a foal's head (at < one day old!!) next to his dam's?

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

What strikes me about Clyde is that he seems (to me anyway) to be proportioned more like a big horse foal or at least a Shetland.

I agree Mary, if you didn't know he was a mini foal, you'd think he was a hackney or riding sized horse foal. And that's a good thing!

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Ok, this is my last pic...done hijacking Mary's thread!

Mary, when Stilts was born a lot of people saw his pics and said he also looked shetland and not mini.

 

[AnnaC]

That is a really beautiful picture Mary! And I love Stilts Parmela - it seems as though long legs run in the family! And you are quite right Mary, I also thought that Clyde looked very much like a 'big' horse foal. It is quite nomal for big horse foals to be born with the same length of leg as their dams - nature demands it - but mini foals dont always seem to follow this rule, or is it that we just focus on their tiny bodies and actually never really compare the length of their legs to their dams?

But whatever length their legs are is not important in my mind - they are two gorgeous little babies and a delight to watch!