Bonne A.................

To be honest its been a bit dull over Christmas - apart from the icy weather keeping us in our boxes for three days, The Vickster has been off for Christmas, and I miss her. The Gaffer has taken over and its just not the same. He's more strict (and stronger) and doesn't let me get away with anything! We got out into our field eventually and had great fun chasing each other and having boxing matches on our hind legs and rolling in the mud - very good for my skin, not so good for the mane. Don't think it was appreciated much either as we had to be washed off a bit and thoroughly groomed - lovely.

We also had some of The Gaffer's relations over to the stables for a visit, I think after a fairly boozy lunch, and I enjoyed that as I'm quite a social animal really. The Gaffer's daughter took over gate duty for two days as well - she's completely hopeless, not a horsey person at all - but then I guess she was just doing gates!

The Vickster tried a more grown up head collar on me this evening, but its still too big for me which is a bit embarrassing as I was hoping to wear a more grown up version as I turn one on Friday. It will be good to be a yearling - it even sounds more grown up!

As Thelma and I turn one it will be the new year for you as well - so Bonne Anniversaire to Thelma (and to myself) and Bonne Annee to you all.

Frosty Days

Well, what a cold week its been - and the snow and sheet ice have provided a bit of a challenge for us as I must admit I'm not too good on skates! Our lovely yard and the walk down to the fields was turned into a skating rink by the icy weather, and there were three days when we couldn't go out to the field as it was too dangerous. Now I thought The Gaffer, The Mrs and The Vickster were just exagerating a bit when they kept saying how dangerous it was, but then I saw them walking across the yard with tiny little steps, and every now and then slipping, and I realised they were right. In fact one day they just led me out to stand outside my stable while they mucked out and as I turned to get to my hay I could feel my front foot slipping - so I just stood still and waited - no fooling about with ice underfoot.

At least Louise and I have our thick winter coats at the moment - thank goodness is what I say, as one night this week it was so cold that the water in the trough INSIDE our stables even froze - brrrrrrrrrrrr. I've noticed that since its been cold the yard robin has been coming in and out of our stables more than usual, and I often see him sitting up on the rafter in the roof - actually he's rather sweet and sings for us nicely and makes the place feel rather Christmassy.

But on the whole Christmas has been quite quiet in the yard - fewer people around - all rather dull really as we've been confined to quarters - but thank goodness its finally a bit warmer and we went out today - yipee! From now on we should be out a bit longer each day as I heard The Gaffer say that we are now past the shortest day - roll on summer and the sunshine.

While we wait for that - happy new year everyone and happy birthday to Louise and I who turn one on January 1st - we are graduating from being weanlings to yearlings - which sounds so much more grown up!

Chopper Hopper

I'm sure Thelma has already sneaked on me, but it was all rather embarrassing this week as I had a panic attack. Most unlike me as I usually think of Thelma as the one who is a bit of a wuss. But this army helicopter flew really low and loud straight over us as we were going to our field, and I reared up with suprise and came crashing down on The Vickster - I didn't mean to, it just happened. Anyway in the melee I knocked her over and, quite naturally, she let go of the rope and I galloped off - not very far. The Gaffer soon gathered me in and gave me time to regain my composure before turning us both out in the field.

That evening The Vickster's arm was in a sling and she was only on gate duty - I felt awful and have been trying to make up to her ever since - I really didn't mean to do it was just one of those things. Je m'excuse. Anyway, the really annoying thing about it was that the WUSS, Thelma; never raised an eyebrow and just stood there watching the whole thing! The Vickster's recovered now and is back to looking after me and all is forgiven.

I understand its the festive season, (don't know about you but this weather isn't making me feel very festive),so Happy Christmas or as I would say Bon Noel to all our readers and we'll be back next week with some more tales from the stable yard.

Flew, Flu ....... and Phew!

What a busy week its been around the yard. Lots of men turned up on Monday and started working in one of the big barns that we walk past every day - there were tractors and diggers and drills and even people outside the barns cutting down trees! Now I'm rather sensitive to noise and found it all a bit overwhelming - so a couple of days I rather raced past all the schemozzle to get into my stable. (I think I must have pulled a bit because The Gaffer and The Mrs were rather left behind and didn't seem best pleased). But then today I think I redeemed myself because as we were going out to our field this army helicopter flew down our valley and right overhead - it really was very,very low - and I didn't bat an eyelid whereas Louise......................!

We also had worming day this week - not very nice, but I must say that the Mrs is a dab hand with the old syringe in the mouth. I was all ready to make a fuss when I heard them talking about dosing us, because believe you me the stuff tastes HORRID, and before I knew it she'd given me my medicine and I'd swallowed it all! I think she was even quicker that the Vet when she came and thats saying something. I watched over the stable as she did Louise as well - it was just the same - I blinked and almost missed it - Louise never knew what had hit her and had swallowed the lot before she knew it. Actually, none of these things are as bad as you think they will be - the lovely vet came to give us our flu jabs and we were all ready to make a fuss but she was sooo good at it that in the end I didn't even realise I'd had my injection. Now our injections were for Equine Flu - none of this rather common Pig Flu thats going round - actually I'm finding it all rather confusing - if horses get Equine Flu why don't pigs get Swine Flu? Or maybe they do.................... I must ask Louise about this. Until next week. Oh, and have a Happy Christmas - Thelma.

Rain and Cricket?

C'est vrai - it has done nothing but bucket down for weeks - now I'm just as hardy as Thelma, but I must admit that I really don't like getting my beautifully manicured hooves too wet or muddy, and because there is a rather a muddy patch by the gate where we go in and out of the field its causing me a small problem. Whats a girl to do - me - I just have a little jump over the mud - the perfect solution, although The Vickster sometimes finds that I can jump further than her - well of course I can! By the way thats me with her on my way out - its a miracle its actually not raining!

This week there was lots of activity on the big field that we walk past on the way to our pasture. Some men unloaded these rather wierd looking contraptions made from something silver and shiny and put them together and left them out in the field - I think I heard someone say something about pitch covers? Now The Gaffer, The Mrs and The Mysterious Broom Man keep talking about the Cricket Pitch and some game called Cricket, and I think these things might be connected. Cricket ? - I certainly never heard this mentioned in Ireland and I'm sure its not something the French do - I think from what they have been saying that its some sort of game - do they expect us to play? Anyway, I have to say that Thelma and I were not at all happy with these 'covers' to start with, and took some persuading to walk past - we did eventually but then, we had just become used to them ,when they MOVED - zut alors! Its most disconcerting - how do they move? Do they move on their own? Thelma and I will have to discuss this and decide how we're going to handle this. We'll let you know what we decide............

Going Walkabout

Generally this has been a quiet week - although I must admit I have been getting fed up with the weather. Now coming from Ireland I know a thing or two about rain! I remember there was one day not long after I had been born that it rained so hard that all the mud from the field washed down the hill and into the stable yard. We were knee deep in mud for weeks. But the past few weeks here have een something else!! Now I'm made of strong stuff, but by last week I was getting seriously fed up. All that rain means that we come in soaking wet and have to be dried off, which just distracts me and delays me from getting to my hay. I must say though that our stables are very deluxe, and if it is really cold and wet The Gaffer puts on the overhead heater just to get us dry a bit quicker - what luxury! By the way - do you like the photo? - its me and The Gaffer on the way out from stables on the one nice morning we've had in weeks. The other one is of Lou heading out through the passage - I thought I should be nice and include one of her! You can see that it is really quite narrow and it did take a bit of getting used to, especially as it is right alongside the wood chip store from the boiler which can suddenly starts to creak and groan a bit as we walk through, which can be quite scarey if it is gloomy or dark.


I did have one small break from the usual routine this week - we were coming into the stables (and between you and me I don't think The Gaffer was concentrating) and he undid my lead rope before the Mysterious Broom Man, who was helping out, had closed the stable door. Well, I thought, I been dying to explore the yard and check it out properly ever since we arrived - so an open door was just too good a chance to miss and off I went. I must say it was rather nice to explore the corners rather that just walk in and out. Its really rather large - room for lots more horses. It has a lovely grass bit in the middle which was rather nice to walk on, and barns everywhere full of lovely hay from what I could see. Now I have to admit that The Gaffer was not best pleased with my little stroll and came to get me a bit quick for my liking. It would have been nice to go and have a chat with the horses on the other side of the yard as I haven't really got to know them yet as they are rather far away. But as it was, I was quickly put back in my stable and told I was naughty - I have to say I was a bit put out by that - if they think that was naughty ......................

Tales of the Hoof

Oh la la! An interesting week. Tuesday - Farrier Day. First of all The Gaffer and The Mrs arrived much earlier than usual and The Mrs squirted some sticky stuff in our mouths and left no breakfast, no hay, nothing! In fact, Thelma got quite stroppy and started kicking the stable door in protest. Anyway, half an hour later back they came with a man in a funny apron and carrying some sort of tools.

Thelma by this time was quite dozy, and I watched over the partition as the stranger went to work on Thelma's feet. She stood very patiently as he clipped what to me seemed like great chunks off her hooves, and then filed them into shape. It didn't look a very nice operation and it was my turn next! A perfect opportunity, if you ask me, to lash out and kick the stranger into the middle of next week!!!

Somehow it didn't quite work like that. He knew exactly what he was doing and I'd had a front foot pedicure before I realised he was at it. The back legs were a different cup of tea, and I managed three good kicks (sadly missing each time) before he told The Gaffer that my back feet didn't need doing! A battle won but can I win the war?

The Farrier called me some very rude names - its odd that they think that you can't understand - and told The Mrs he hoped things would be better in two months time - Dream on.

First Impressions

Well - our first couple of weeks in our new home now seems a bit of blur - there was so much to learn. It took me a while to get to grips with the new layout and daily routine but I managed in the end and I am now feeling very settled.

Its quite a long walk to our field and we have it all to ourselves which is a bit spoiling - thats us in the in the picture. Although, there are some nosy sheep next door and, just once in a while, one of them strays into our bit and has to be put back in its place by the Vickster and the Mrs. Its quite fun watching them trying to get them back through the fence - not easy by the looks of it!

On our walk out we go through yards, lots of gates, fields with the sheep, other horses and an Alpaca - and then there's the GOOSE! Roll on Christmas thats what I say. There we are walking along as good as gold and suddenly this bird appears out of nowhere, stands up, flaps its wings and honks (a very silly noise if you ask me). Well what would you do? I was startled and had a little gallop - the Gaffer was a bit cross with me and called me a wuss which I rather take exception to- a WUSS , I mean, I ask you - what would you have done if a silly bird stood up and honked at you? Exactly!



But something good did come out of this little 'contretemps' as Louise would say (this Frenchness is catching)- we now have two routes to the field - and the second one, through barns and round the veggie patch avoids that noisy bird altogether, and means that if all the sheep are in the yard we can keep out of their way as well!! A double whammy (now where did I pick that up from?) Its all so busy, busy, busy.

Morning and evening stables are hectic as well - we are groomed - it took me a little while to take to this as I found it all a bit tickly to start with, but now I find it all rather soothing and relaxing - especially as I nibble on my hay net at the same time - lovely. The most irritating thing though is the foot lifting and cleaning out. Why I have to stand on three legs and go through this every morning is beyond me. The Mrs says its to keep my feet clean and to stop me making a mess through in the yard on my way out. My view is that if they're 'doing stables' then they should clear that up as well, so to start with I wasn't too co-operative. But actually, just between ourselves, I quite like that too now as it makes my feet feel far more comfortable, and I can admire the nice pedicure that we had the other day.
Now there is a story!!!!!! I think Louise will tell you about that.

'Til next time. Thelma

Louise has her say

Before I pick up where Thelma left off - what do you think of my baby picture? I don't know what big T is complaining about, I think I look sweet myself. How Thelma could even think of having her photo taken with a bit of straw in her hair is beyond me!

But Thelma's right about one thing - the journey was awful and I lost a lot of weight fretting and worrying (and yes, a girl can be too thin!). So I too came off the other end not looking my best,( the Gaffer said we came off the lorry as wild as monkeys) all ribby and stary in my coat (but then there was no food). But the Gaffer soon put that right with lots of decent grub and forage but I must admit I wouldn't want to do that again in a hurry!

But I'm glad we come over because this place is really nice. There are other, older horses here (a couple of lads too) who I can parade in front of and flutter my eyelashes at flirtaciously. I'd quite like some of the nail varnish the Vickster uses, but a French Manicure would be more appropriate for me I'd say! I think I'd look really good with my toenails painted - maybe at Christmas. I understand that the farrier's coming next week so perhaps he'll do them for me.

Nothing much to report really. We've both slipped into a nice routine and I'm learning how to balance on three legs - take if from me its harder than it looks! The only other thing this week, which I hope won't happen too often, was worming, when the vet - who is sweet by the way - shoved a syringe in my mouth and squirted this vile tasting slime down my throat - YUK! Growing up is not all sweetness and light.

Love Louise

The Journey

Well I promised to tell you how we got here - and it was a bit of an adventure I can tell you! But first though, I hope you like the photo of me at about 10 weeks old - you wouldn't recognise me now and why they have to show off embarrassing baby photos is beyond me - but back to the story.

Ireland was pretty relaxed really as I was out most of the time. But towards the end of the summer I started coming in and out of the yard a bit more and meeting people. I think I was good - but not too good if you know what I mean. Anyway, one morning we had a very early wake up call - in fact it was so early it was still dark in the yard, but I was alert as there was so much going on. In fact a huge lorry arrived and new people with it. To my suprise they opened it up and it was full of other horses and I heard someone ask if the weanlings were ready - I had no idea they meant us!! It was a bit of a shock really, as some rather large men loaded me and Louise onto the lorry with all these strangers from other studs - quite unsettling. After a bit of a chat it was clear that we were all going to England whatever that meant. Well I'll tell you what it meant - 12 hours in a lorry, bumping along roads, up ramps onto the ferry (luckily it was a smooth crossing), off ramps the other side and then we had to change lorries at Chepstow - why they couldn't have paid for a direct line I don't know - before we finally arrived at our new home - not before time as there was no buffet service on board our lorry and I know I was hungry and feeling a bit dishevelled after such a long journey.

There was lots of noise as the lorry was opened up - by now we were the only ones left on board - and when the big doors opened it was dark again. Now Louise was quite nervous at this stage and was being quite the little mademoiselle and didn't want to step off the lorry - but some nice people came on board (who I now know as the Gaffer,the Mrs and the Vickster) and having looked them over, I decided that someone better take the lead and it better be me - so I led Louise down the ramp and into our stables. I must say that despite feeling rather tired and emotional I liked the look of the accommodation, and the meal they had laid on wasn't half bad either.

Thank goodness after all the goings on at last we were left alone - Lou and I had a bit of a chat over the divide between our stables and decided that we were ready for bed after what had been quite an exhausting day! Time enough to see our new surroundings in the morning. I must say having adventures are all very well but they are quite tiring for a girl, and its hard to keep looking ones best all the time!

Next time I'll tell you about my first impressions, but for now over to Louise.

Bonjour from Louise

Bonjour - my name is Louise and I'm sooooooooooooooo beauuuuuuuuuutiful. I'm a gorgeous chesnut with blond highlights, a white star and one white foot. I think I'm named after a character from the film Thelma referred to, played by another gorgeous redhead called Susan Sarandon.

I like to think I'm French because my mother is called Francophilia and my grandmother, who raced in France, was called Entente Cordiale. I also have a half brother who is racing at the moment, with great success, and his name is Quai D'Orsay - so I would be very at home at Longchamps with time for a bit of shopping in downtown Paris afterwards! My Mum's Dad, Lomitas had a great career in Germany so with all these continental connections I'm definitely pro-Europe.

I was born on 26th April (star sign Taurus) so I'm nearly six weeks younger than Thelma and, as you can see from my photo, at bit smaller. She bullies me and bites my backside but I don't mind - I'll soon catch up and turn the tables on her because I'm not only beautiful but I've also got character (according to the Gaffer). We share the same Dad so I think I'm just as well-bred as Thelma but I take after my mother who is another gorgeous chesnut - is there a theme here?

My groom is the Vickster, a pretty slip of a girl, with whom I am bonding very well. I like to nibble the peak of her hard hat while she's grooming me and I play a game with her out in the field of walking off just as she's going to grab my headcollar. Its great fun - but it seems to get her rather cross, so I only do it occasionally now just to show her who's boss. She picked my foot up the other day and I lost my balance and sort of capsized - the Gaffer said with balance like that I'd never get around Tattenham Corner, wherever that is.


I'm in the box next to Thelma and we can chat and gossip over the divider but I find her rather dull at night. She tends to eat for England and likes to go to bed early - borrrrrring! I, on the other hand, nibble for France and am quite active at night, staying up late and making a terrible mess of my bedding. The Vickster complains every morning, wondering what I've been up to. I might tell you if you log in next week.

Au revoir - Louise

The story so far

Welcome to our thoroughbred diaries. We hope you enjoy what you read and, if you do, will tell other people about us.

Who are we and why should you be interested in us?
We are two thoroughbred fillies who were born in Ireland earlier this year. Just over 6 weeks ago we were brought over to the UK to be taught how to be racehorses, and we thought that you might like to come on this journey with us and follow our progress onto the racecourse and, if we are any good, into the winners enclosure. It could be quite an adventure.

At the moment we don't have proper fancy racing names and so our owners have given us what they call stable names.

Mine is Thelma - I'm the tall brunette with the white star and I was born on 6th March 2009 (star sign Pisces, which is quite appropriate given Mum's name). I'm the boss in our stable as I'm older and wiser than Louise, and someone has to keep her and all her 'french' ideas in their place. She will no doubt introduce herself later on.

People tell me that I'm well bred and I have no reason to doubt them. My dad (those in the know call him my Sire) is Primary who is a bit of a star at his Stud in Ireland (actually he's jet setting in Chile at the moment), and my Mum (Dam to the smart set) is Seaborne and actually I think I rather look like both of them. Dad did rather well on the racecourse until he got injured and I think that's where he picked up his rather jet-set ideas as he raced in Italy and America. He also mixed it up with some fancy types - I’m going to name drop here - such as Papal Bull, Ivan Denisovitch, Horatio Nelson, George Washington, Sir Percy, Red Clubs and Pressing just to name a few, so I suppose he's entitled to have a few grand ideas. Mum led a quieter life but won some races for a well known Trainer so she's no slouch, so I guess I’ve got what people call ‘potential‘. My grandfathers were a bit smart too - on Dad’s side is Giants Causeway who really was a bit of a superstar, and Mum’s Dad was Slip Anchor who won The Derby as did his Dad (Shirley Heights) and Grandad (Mill Reef). But as I overheard someone in the stable say the other day ‘handsome is as handsome does’ and I guess I have quite a lot to live up to!



Going back to my stable name, apparently it’s the name of the lead in a well known film - I don’t know about that - but according to what I’ve heard there was a tall dark one (Thelma - like me) and a smaller redhead (Louise, of course). They seemed to be a bit wild from what I understand and had some quite hair-raising adventures. We could take take after them - not sure myself if that would be a good or bad thing?

So who needs to be introduced - well there are our owners of course. I call her the ‘Mrs’ and him ‘The Gaffer’- they seem to be in charge of us - or is it the other way around - and there is the Vickster as well. The Vickster helps out at stables every day and mostly looks after Louise (spoils her a bit if you ask me) but sometimes we swap over - particularly if Louise is being a bit uppity! The fourth member of the Team we call the 'Mysterious Broom Man' because he's always walking behind us with the yard brush in his hand.

Our stables and fields are very busy places. There are other horses, people, dogs, sheep, geese, helicopters, tractors and even an Alpaca. I’m used to it now but, after the quiet of Ireland, it was all a bit of a shock to the system. But now that I'm starting to settle in it's actually quite nice as there’s always something going on, and something different to look at so I don’t get bored.

Next time I thought I'd tell you a bit about the journey over and my first week in England. I won't pretend it wasn't tough packing up and leaving home for somewhere new, but I'm here and I've heard people saying that I'm doing well, so it could have been worse!

Bye for now - Thelma.