News

There are lots of things going on at Fair Winds Farm this summer! Big news is Ridley has sired four foals this year, all to outside mares. There are 2 black colts belonging to Carolyn Sanders, Michigan and Ann Kitchel, Vermont and two fillies, a chestnut for Mary Barrett, Massachusetts and a bay for Kim Neuberger, Washington state. We're happy for safe deliveries and healthy mares and foals. Pictures soon!

And Ridley's breeding season for 2011 is going quite well too. We have bred two of our mares to Ridley, Cameo, AHS registered 14'3 Contendro I/Grusus filly, is confirmed in foal and our Welsh/Thoroughbred cross, Sugar Magnolia will be checked soon. There have been several outside breedings as well with a few more to go.

Ridley's half sister, EMC Daisy Buchanan, by the Hanoverian stallion, Dauphin, was just checked in foal to Escudo I. Should be quite the athlete! And Dharma FWF, De Laurentis/Eklatant was successfully bred to Rienzi. Cannot wait for 2011! These are all first foals for these mares so we are excited and just a little anxious.

Ridley's show schedule changed. We skipped the PVDA show at Morven Park for a clinic in Pennsylvania with Major Beale instead. The debut at PSG was two weeks later at VADA/NoVA in Leesburg. Ridley and Stacy both had their very first FEI competition together at this show. They finished in the middle of two large classes both days with decent scores, great comments and ideas about what to work on for Lexington in July. As usual, Ridley was charming and perfectly behaved. Ridley remains the horse I first saw 8 years ago on his birthday, a ladies man, a flirt, a friend and an all-around good guy who you can trust and rely on to try his hardest. He is everything I could ever want in the most handsome, perfectly sized package.

Fair Winds Farm just past the one year mark for clinics with Stacy Pattison. These continue to be well attended and our students, horses and instructors have learned a lot.

New to FWF, and we're excited... CHICKENS! I have wanted chickens and researched having them for about a year. Being the Craigslist devotee that I am I just could not pass up a listing for 7 hens and 2 roosters. I thought I'd like chickens. I had no idea I would love them but I do. They are happy, funny, entertaining creatures. FWF welcomes Lucy and Ethel, our Rhode Island Reds, Ringo and Phyllis, a Polish pair, Silvi, a beautiful Silkie, and Joseph, the flashy Bantam rooster with his harem, Dove, Patti and Nugget. Thank you Bonnie Naigle of Sandy Ridge Labradors for trusting me with your kids. They are well loved and producing terrific eggs.

Life is filled with hellos and goodbyes. Since the last News page we have suffered two terrible losses. EM Folie, my personal horse of a lifetime. I can't say anymore than that as it is still too difficult. And we lost one of our precious cats, Jack. My boy. I love you both more than I can say.

Brigid, who came to work for us for too short of a time returned to Wisconson with her husband, Kyle, days after he graduated from Regency Law School in Virginia Beach. FWF misses Brigid!!! A few days later we welcomed Jen, who will spend the summer here before returning to VA. Tech. By the time she leaves she will like cats.

And soon after these changes, Maybe came into our lives. Our neighbor, Genez, was walking her dogs early one morning and heard a very loud insistent meowing from a vacant lot on her path. She happened upon the sorriest yellow kitten I've ever seen. His eyes were sealed shut from infection, his coat was stuck to his body with what turned out to be blood and he was hungry. She brought him to me and we managed to get some milk replacer in him and clean him up but he needed an extra push so we went for a ride to the vet where he was given fluids and we were sent home with only a 'Maybe or Maybe Not.' We decided to go with the Maybe and he is now a beautiful long haired, blue eyed, bundle of joy.

Summer is here. Camps start in a couple of weeks. We have shows and inspections to work towards and we're still doing camps, trail rides, parties and dinners. Should be exciting! To see pictures from our 2010 Spring Break Camp please click HERE.

Sugar Magnolia

Clovercroft Polarized/San Souci Gold

Cameo V

Contendro/EM Garnette

Daisy Buchanan

Dauphin/EM Wiccan

Dharma FWF

De Laurentis/ EM Electra

Jen riding Big George.

Brigid riding Daisy.