Both Laragh Laoch (Loki – out of Annabell and by Crannagh Hero) and Saoirse (by Golden Wonder II) are being ridden by my daughter at the moment. Saoirse is now twenty years old but behaves like a three year old – full of energy and fairly bold! Loki on the other hand, only rising three, is as sweet and quiet as a twenty year old should be.
Here they are.
Loki
Saoirse
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Laragh Gale, one of our two year olds going on three, was out having her picture taken yesterday. She is going to be a large lady, heading for 16hh already. Her mum is still with us, Penny, and she is by Huntingfield Rebel and out of Silver Liss (Silver Skip and Corry Bess). Her Sire is Sir Stormy Breeze who is by Heather Breeze and out of Breezy, a King of Diamonds mare. Gale herself has a wonderful temperament. She has not been backed yet but we hope to do that this year.
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I recently bought two bitless bridles (handmade by Elaine Waters in Dingle) in the style of Dr. Cooks Bitless Bridles. We received them in the post yesterday from Elaine, beautiful handiwork, and decided to try them on Annabell and Loki in a lesson at Warringtons Equestrian Centre here in Kilkenny. Loki has only recently been backed and is still very green, Annabell spent many years hunting so she is anything but green.
The two of them, mother and son, rode beautifully and peacefully in the lesson. The only time Loki got a little upset was when he was asked to jump on his left rein, not his best side. However, after one refusal, jump he did. I was delighted with the results and will keep them going in the bitlless. I love seeing their mouths and heads relaxed and pain free.
For a look at Elaine’s lovely products visit her website here
I will post pictures of Annabell and Loki in their new headgear later, but here is a pic of one of Elaine’s bridles.
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Tagged bitless bridles, Elaine Waters, Irish Draught, Uisce Saddlery
I always love when we move the horses from one field to another and they greet one another by galloping around the field.
Yesterday we moved Mosy, Lilo, Winnie, Balthier and Saoirse into a field with Annabell and Lady as we were moving Annabell to Warringtons for Michelle and Kate to work with her and Loki and Penny in the sand arena.
This was them enjoying the move and getting reacquainted. In the midst of them all you can see Michelle. Standing quite peacefully as a small herd of huge horses clatter about her – she is entirely unfazed!
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We are very pleased to welcome Michelle Smith to Laragh Horses. She has come to spend two months with us before resuming her studies at Elsenberg Agricultural College in Malmesbury, South Africa.
Michelle has her own horses back in South Africa (mainly Appaloosas) and she runs Chelhan Stud there. Here she will be working with Loki and Lady, recently backed, as well as getting Annabell and Penny back into riding. In her spare time (!) she will start working with our four two year fillies – Raeltin, Gale, Epona and Colleen.
Here’s a picture of her with our own Rosie.
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We heard yesterday that Lilo’s first foal (by Fruits of Love) who we called Tutti Frutti has had a very successful year in Britain. He has now, as Soapey Sponge II, qualified in the Small Riding Horse section in the Horse of the Year Show which will take place between the 4th and 9th October in Brimingham. We will be holding thumbs for him and his owners the Kelbies and wish them all the very best!
Nothing better than hearing that horses you bred are happy and doing well.
His full sister Winnie is still with us, as is his half sister Raeltin.
Soapey Sponge II as a foal
His full sister Winnie with mum Lilo
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Brendan now gone to England, to Castle View Stud where I know he will be happy. He was beautifully turned out by Ollie Hutchinson for the sales and ridden by Kelly Hutchinson – a big thank you to both of them.
Chessie, her two year old Feather and Allison will also be leaving us this month having been bought by Andy. I am pleased they are going to the same home and I wish Andy everything of the best with all of them. Chessie remains one of my favourites and I never thought we would part with her, but she is going into good hands and hopefully I will see her again. Here is Andy’s beautiful Cob stallion to which all three will be introduced!
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Laragh Cloneen, (Brendan to us!) is going to the Goresbridge Performance Horse Sales this week on Wednesday. He is backed and riding now and Ollie Hutchinson is taking him to the sales. As with all of them I will be sad to see him go. I reckon there’s not much Brendan can’t jump as we learnt when he was just eight months old and jumped one of the farm gates clean! He gets that from both his Sire’s side (Cloneen Clover) as well as his Dam’s.
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Thor, out of Lilo our thoroughbred mare and by Cloneen Clover, went yesterday to MJ in Gowran where he will be broken and hunted for the season.
We wish MJ all the best with him and hope he enjoys his life with him.
Rosie, our two year old Clydesdale Filly (out of Allison and by Roes Hall Travis) is heading back to Scotland where she will be joining Stephen MacMillan’s herd of Clydesdales.
We know she will have a wonderful home with him.
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Laragh Horses 