The vet came this morning to vaccinate the youngsters we bought from Goffs (Ireland) in December 2008 and do the markings on the yearling filly as her owner hadn't sent on the passport and now it seems she has lost it. Thankfully she has been good enough to send some money to cover the expense of getting a new one.

It was the first time the three youngsters had been in our stables and they were a bit wild to begin with but once they had settled I was able to groom them, do their manes and calm them down a bit. They look surprisingly rather smart and have grown on well.

From top to bottom - Needlegun Filly, 2 years old, was fearfully ugly when we first bought as her head was HUGE and we hid her from visitors but as her dam, granddam and great grand dam had all won we took the risk. She really is the ugly duckling come good as she has grown into that massive head and looks really genuine and willing to please.

Middle - Yearling filly - looks sheer class but a little nervy - lovely pedigree being very closely related to Royal Auclair and other black type winners. If handled correctly could be very nice.

Bottom - Cloudings Filly - also 2 years old, a real monkey, growing into a nice looking horse, was very 'wormy' when we first got her and wary of people - she now pushes herself to the front for attention but can be a real madam and is either very very nice or quite horrid. She loved being groomed in the stable but as soon as I tried to pull her mane she had a temper tantrum. Too inteligent for her own good so we will just have to watch this space....

Doug is very excited as he has bought a new second hand topper. I had to make all the appropriate noises when it arrived and now he is topping our fields. He has even forgotten about lunch so it must be good.