Today marks exactly 8 years since my very first foal was born in Quarryfield. I can still remember the excitement, and good fortune, of being able to watch from the gate as Knightfield Mena give birth to healthy colt foal (pictured) by the previous year's World Cup winner, Flexible. I was 'as green as grass', had bought Mena with a loan that spring and did not have any existing customer base. That foal, 'Noah' (aka White Lies), was purchased privately by Jessie Drea later that year and was to be the start of a great friendship with someone I have learned so much from.
Last night I participated in my first podcast episode as a guest (on the Swedish Warmblood Association's 'SWB Avelspodden), rather than a host, and it was quite the experience. During the conversation I was trying to articulate how incredible our experiences as horse breeders can be (when things are going well, of course). I grew up being fascinated by animal breeding, but the breeding of horses takes the whole thing up a few levels on other animals we've had around the farm during my life time. If we do our part right as breeders, and they then get a suitable education and production, the possibilities for these home-bred horses are endless. They can travel to any part of the world and compete right up to the Olympic Games. When you stop to think about that, it's quite something!
Reflecting back on the past 8 years since little Noah was born, it's remarkably to think about all the trips that have been made, shows attended, contacts met and friends made - worldwide. The purchases and sales, new partnerships, knowledge received from those that have gone before us - all that has been created and shared with fellow breeders. And really, it's only just the beginning!
While horses can certainly test us emotionally, financially and physically, they bestow us with a common language and reasons to connect with people and places that we otherwise would never know. For that I am truly grateful and felt compelled to share this - so well done if you made it to the end..!
