Lambs, heifers, visitors, Pony Club and broken arms

We have had a busy week. 

This week saw the start of our pre-weaning lamb drenching regime, with the start of weaning and planned for 10 days time.  The focus last week was on our terminal lambs (Suffolk rams to our B flock ewes).

Some of the first pick lambs hopefully!

Set of terminal triplets

Set of terminal twins



We have sent away the first of our heifers to the works
 getting 227 kg CW/hd average.  In the last fortnight,
 the heifers had been doing 2kg+/hd/day.



Hereford Heifers



 



Some of the dairy heifers returning to their paddock after a B12
 injection with skies darkening in the background.

 

A different mob of dairy heifers.
 

Then we got some visitors ... 21 years ago I left Switzerland, just after friends Karin and Martin had their first child and I had my leg in plaster.  It was great then to meet Simon at the Auckland Airport, 21 years on!  We have been playing host to Simon and Urezza as they start their OE in NZ.


Urezza and Simon out and about just after shifted some cattle

Simon and Urezza in front of Te Herehere Falls

The digging/grading of our new boundary
fenceline in anticipation of our fencers
in a weeks time.

The team out and about - back: Mal, Simon and Urezza.
Front:  Jess, Sue, Frank and Tip

And then it was time for Pony Club.  One of our jobs yesterday, was to make sure that Cosmo looked his best.  So Alice, Urezza and Simon got to work on the cleaning.   After they finished it looked like it had been snowing!  But by the end the tail was sparkling and all the sheep shit had been removed. 

 

Urezza, Alice and Simon pampering Cosmo

Today was Pony Club, so it was up and get organised.  Alice had a bit of a late night last night as we had a belated Guy Fawkes/Bonfire community get together last night - lots of fireworks and toasted marshmallows.

 

We started off in the arena with the junior riders and lead rein.  Urezza helped out with the leading until Alice decided she wanted to go it alone.  She was mastering things quite well until she tried to make him trot and he pig-rooted.  Unfortunately Alice couldn't hold on.  Her first fall!  We then headed off to A&E in Hamilton for x-rays to discover she had fractured her wrist.  She has a slab cast on for about 10 days, waiting for the swelling to go down before getting a fibreglass one.  She has been pretty brave.  A big thanks to the Pony Club and extras who allowed us to get to town with some temporary financial support, and got Cosmo back home again.  Much appreciated.

 

 



Urezza leading Alice

Alice riding on her own

Alice showing off her arm in plaster and her
pony club t-shirt!

 

Whilst we were in A&E, Malcolm and Simon went hunting for our dinner and by the time we got home, there was a goat leg in the oven.  Tonight we have set the possum trap, see what we get in the morning.