Bailey's Story - Part 1

If I think back to now to when I first got involved in breeding (a mere 9 years ago), it really hits me how much I have learned and how blindly I set off.

In 1996, when I was 16 years old, my parents bought me a lovely little jumping mare called Glayva (Mary). She was 7 years old, possibly by Chairlift and had done a fair bit of showjumping; the plan was for me to take her eventing. She was just beautiful; I instantly loved her so my wonderful parents invested beyond their means for me.

The road ahead was rough. Although she was talented and sweet, in all honesty, galloping and jumping at speed proved to be out of her comfort zone. We did some pony club jumping and eventing fairly successfully and then spent a little over 2 years pre-novicing with the BHTA as it was then. We never really got it together, and the dreams I once had were clearly not going to be achieved. Perhaps I just wasn’t good enough, perhaps she just wasn’t the right horse for me? She was clearly talented, just not bold and independent enough across the country; however much I loved her and wished for it, it just wasn’t meant to be.

By the time I reached the end of my first year studying law at Aberdeen University my priorities had to be a little different and we just couldn’t justify the money and continuous disappointment, so despite my stubbornness we called it a day and stopped eventing. It broke my heart. I felt I had let her down and not achieved what we could have or were supposed to…but little did I know the joy, excitement and experiences that lay ahead for me and my little Mary!

Above: Mary

I think it was my trainer’s idea initially……Mary was a smart little horse with the most amazing temperament so whilst I concentrated on being a ‘legal eagle’ why didn’t we have a foal from her? Well, all I can say is, it sounded like a good idea at the time……

Choosing a husband for her….well what was important?? I wanted something a little tougher, she is a light legged wee thing and was always a bit sensitive to knocks but other than that I hadn’t a clue! It was agreed that I would take her along to a riding club show where I could meet Frank Turnock who stood a number of Irish Draught stallions about an hour north of us. We had vaguely thought Paddy’s Pride might be a good match but probably only because that’s the one we had heard of! Anyway Frank was to have a look at dear Mary and see what he thought. As I recall, he had a look and thought that Shauna’s Diamond would be our best bet as he had better front legs. (I have to say, knowing what I do now, and being more aware of Mary’s weaknesses I would probably have been more concerned about using a stallion with a good hind limb but no worries now). I was quite happy with this and arrangements were made for the little lady to go and spend the summer learning about boys!

In the June we boxed her up there and left her to it. Reports came back that she was a little shy to begin with which resulted in a fair bit of squealing (this I can imagine) but once she’d worked it out she was… “a real goer”…how embarrassing!!

Eventually she returned home, looking a little worse for her summer away, but she had had a great time gossiping with a herd of mares and learning about babies and knitting.
Alas, it was not to be. Despite initially being scanned in foal, she lost or reabsorbed it sometime before 110 days.

Clearly my lady was a not impressed with the lack of commitment and wanted a second chance to be with her new found husband! So we decided just to go ahead the next spring and try again. This time she came home looking splendid, clearly delighted with herself. I decided not to continue riding her into her pregnancy and left her to cook the little bundle in peace. All was well, scanned in foal, tested at 110 days and the little blob was there to stay! I have to say, pregnancy and maternity really suited this wee mare, she blossomed throughout and was the picture of health!

As foaling time drew near, I have to say I was convinced she would be pregnant forever and the foal would never make an appearance. The briefing from the vet was roughly this:

“she might bag up and show wax but they are generally best left to it and I expect you’ll find a healthy foal in the stable one morning.”

Well, I did as I was told! On the evening of 28th June 2003 we saw the wax and it was quite significant at the usual 10 o’clock check, but mum reminded me what the vet had said and so I beetled off to bed thinking she would never foal! And what did we find in the morning….but this little bundle of joy, dry, contented, able to stand and drink… and one proud proud happy Mary-Moo!

I have since learned a lot and the two subsequent foals I have bred were welcomed into the world with me anxiously waiting over them with emergency action procedures ready to be implemented if needed! But this little chap made it into the world with just the help of his wonderful mother!

Above: Bails and Mary

Well the first day of the wee mite’s life involved a vet check, some arranging of fencing (poor defenceless little foal couldn’t be subjected to electric tape on his first day so we set up a little paddock using wooden posts and blue rope!) and we all had some time in the sunshine.

Well poor Mary…..she clearly adored her new acquisition but he was far too independent for her…she spent the day following him round the paddock whilst he explored his new world! He had clearly not found the foetus manual which says “thou shalt know thy place and stay close to thy mother” …this wee chap was determined to run her ragged right from the off!! He was round and round, through the fence…and back before we could ‘rescue’ him, then he would sleep and Mary would just stare at him making sure he was still there and still breathing!