Let's Hear it for the Gurlz!

How 'bout that Rachel Alexandra rockin' the Preakness?
Girl Power — YEAH!

Mike and I are hosting two of Heather's 3-year old fillies for a short time. We need a bit of light mowing — waste not, want not. They need the weight and some spoiling. My horses need neither, so they remain at Heather's, where they are getting what they need: dry stall (Jaz), rationed hay, limited grazing, and constant handling (Poco). Heather and Nita both say Poco is being a very good boy. Jaz, of course, is always a good boy.

Amber (Cristal Lynx -- pedigree here) and
The Horse Formerly Known as Oops
(Rohrschach's Spots x Pelees Ashes)

Ash, a grey TB mare, was Heather's first horse. The Horse Formerly Known as Oops (THFKAO) will be the aging Ash's replacement as her riding horse. The shortest version of how the little girl got to be known as Oops: the breeding was planned, but Ash tested positive for a uterine infection. She was flushed and exposed to the stallion again, but the infection recurred, and the mare was flushed twice more. Months later she was exposed to Spot again, but showed no signs of being in heat. She was palpated and found to be in foal.

Ash and THFKAO
Gotta love watching Appy foals literally change their spots.

What they didn't know was that THFKAO was from the first breeding. THFKAO survived three flushes. She was born while Ash was still in the pen with Spot, who stood in a corner, a respectful distance from mother and baby.

I love her pouty mouth and mottled skin. Check out the eyeliner. She's much too lovely a young filly to be called Oops. THFKAO's registered name is Veneratio Memorium Vera (In Memory of Vera), Heather's grandmother. I issued a proclamation that since possession is 9/10ths of the law, and since I do, in fact, have her in my possession, from this day hence, she will be called Vera. Fortunately, I amuse my friends, and they are kind enough to humor me. But even if they continue to call her the name they gave her, I know in my heart that she's a Vera, not an Oops. Some things you just know.

Love the mottled girl parts.
She needs some weight, but leave it to Aunt Leah.

And they're still eating.

Amber's color reminds me of marshmallow circus peanuts.

I leave you with the above two shots taken this morning. As you can see, our rain is gone — for the moment — and today promises to be one of the nicest days we've seen in awhile. I'm headed to the barn to see the Boyz, leaving the Gurlz to graze another day or so. I'll start handling them a little this week. I have grain and Source for them. We'll fill them out in no time.