blog

December 28, 2011

Cerefin update

To those that know, little Cerefin thanks you for all the kind thoughts and support in getting her home this week, for those that don’t a quick bio of the past 6 weeks.

15/11/11 - Cerefin born, difficulty getting up initially with loose pasterns and a leaky uracus that would not close

28/11/11 - Hospitalised with heat stress, leaky uracus, and infection

09/12/11 - Home but we nearly lost her when her system crashed ten minutes after we got her into ICU due to infection and temp over 41 degrees for way too long but she fought back and miraculously came home - but too soon

12/12/11 - Hospitalised again due to the late presentation of intestinal ulceration from when her organs were starved of oxygen on admittance to the hospital.  surgery was successful (50% chance given for surviving the surgery alone) and again a touch and go recovery for weeks but she continued to fight and again came home to our delight

26/12/11 - Home and this time we watched her like hawks for any sign of distress or temperature.. thankfully day 3 today and she is perfectly fine, playing like a foal should, nursing lustily and recovering with curiosity

It has been a horrible roller coaster ride and without the University of QLD Equine Hospital here at Gatton we’d have lost our Cerefin. The staff and specialists have been a tower of strength and guidance for us these past weeks and they too, we believe, were just as keen to see her home after such a monumental effort from this extraordinary foal.

Of course with this going on in our lives nothing else has been of a priority, even Christmas has come and gone. We do hope you’ve had a marvellous holiday season and that your lives haven’t been at the pace ours presented and managed to spend time with family and friends. Our fervent hope is that 2012 is less eventful and that we get to go back to being DIHM’s (Double Income Horse Mad). One thing we’ve decided that whilst we remain in QLD we won’t be having any further summer babies, the heat on top of other complications that might happen when foaling has nearly cost us the life of one of these gorgeous creatures and that is an event we never want to experience.

To all, a merry Christmas and a wishful New Year with nice stuff headed towards us all. At least there is no flooding on our horizon as it did in December 2010… 2012 can only be better

November 20, 2011

Introducing Cerefin

Deacons Gate Shires first filly - arriving unexpectedly 8 days early, Tuesday 15/11/11 5.36pm

As it happened I was actually at home struggling to get over a stinking migraine that was refusing to budge and as you do when not feeling the best, I was staging the chores for the evening feeds in order to get them all done and keep my head from exploding. So I had started with the big girls, Duchess and Pearl who eagerly cantered toward their bins awaiting their feeds… all good, Duchess despite twitching and stamping in an alarming manner, woofed down everything, licked the dish clean (nothing gets in the way of Duchess and her food) then promptly turned around and dropped to the ground streaming milk everywhere. I was a bit shocked and in the evening light it was hard to tell, but with a panic check, it looked like she’d already streamed the colostrum down her legs and it was then I’ve connected the twitching and stamping with labour and thought heck, she’s 8 days early, I’m on me own, she’s sitting in the middle of a poo pile (of course the sterile paddock, previously prepared for this birth, is on the other side of the property) and I need to call the vet.

So thinking there was loads of time I raced inside took two more panadol and collected the mobile and raced back outside…. I was speaking to the vet as I was walking who was saying sounded like Duchess was certainly going into labour and to keep an eye out for the classic signs…. well no need to keep an eye out as I was walking toward Duchess the waters broke fountaining out like a milky shower… vet says, if she’s not birthed the foal within the hour to call back…. I stayed long enough to check that there were two hooves and a little nose presenting so she was on track, all was going well….. back inside to collect the camera thinking, no worries…plenty of time - the vet said within the hour…. excitedly, as I raced inside I was thinking, finally we get to be there for the birth of one of our foals… got back outside 3 minutes later to find Duchess had already popped Cerefin out and she was sitting up inside the sac waggling her head about… damn it!

I was relieved the birth was quick and problem free but of course nothing ever goes to plan and here I was in the fading light without help, I couldn’t get hold of Dale at work and the neighbours seemed not to be home - the foal was certainly healthy and alive and Duchess was licking away the membrane as expected. So I started snapping off photos and kept ringing… anybody…

Thankfully it turns out the neighbours were home so after a shout they headed over to capture the moment and assist as Cerefin was not getting up as she should be… Dale’s work phone was still not being answered. More photos… Cerefin was now cleaned up and the placenta had been expelled, checked but it was evident Cerefin was definitely not able to get up herself. Her pasterns were so loose the poor thing couldn’t sort out the coordination of those long long legs. Between Jan and myself and Alex on camera duty, we struggled to lift and position her to feed - no success, it was dark by this time and bending over to lift her was making my head pound and the nausea was back…. Neighbours were terrific, loads of support not that any of us could do anything..

Hours later decided to call in the vet to advise and to check Cerefin over - on her arrival, decisions were made to drag Cerefin to the stall previously arranged… the cavalry also arrived at this moment with Dale finally getting home to man handle the foal to the appointed position - I felt much better knowing Dale was home and the vet had given Cerefin the all clear despite not being able to get up - this would pass she just needed to gather strength.

So with the neighbours tarp to the ready and Dale and the vet providing the brute force - Cerefin was transported, Duchess only stepped on her twice with the fracas passing the colt’s yard, but all was good, woke Cerefin up with a rude shock but she was still alive… we’ve got her up and organised for a feed with a fretting mum bursting at the seams. The vet left us to it and the neighbours retired leaving Dale & I to settle in for a long night of assisted hourly feeds.

Cerefin is a strong foal and her long legs have her at 10hh at birth (10.2hh when fully upright) and we reckon around 85/90 kilos so she isn’t easy to lift. But through the night she managed to stand long enough to feed hourly – she can stand fine it’s the getting up that proves difficult. Today she was walking about strongly and has better control of her front feet but she has only managed to get herself up once, so Dale is on night watch again tonight to ensure she keeps up with her feeds and Duchess doesn’t step on her – not the best mum is our Duchess but she is getting better. After our long sleepless night of course we were confronted with a very hot day… 35degrees making Cerefin and mum very hot so it’s been cold showers and wet towels all day. We decided to give her a plasma transfusion to compensate for the loss of colostrum to be on the safe side and her progress is improving steadily. She’ll be a cracker once she gets her legs sorted, she’s a very determined foal – Dale and I are hard pressed to stop her once she’s set on her heading despite her wobbles.

Today is day five and Cerefin has accommodated a stream of visitors into her world. Her movement has finally caught up despite the heat, she’s up and down at regular times for a feed and is spending more and more time running about exploring her world - well as far as mum will let her.  She has a few scrapes but these will heal in no time, she is very strong and a determined filly, once she’s set on her path it is very hard to physically change her direction and it already hurts if she steps on your toes…. look out - Cerefin is here!

We’ve managed to catch up on our lost sleep and it’s a relief knowing Duchess can take back the foal watch duties from here on in… Enjoy the photos

August 03, 2011

Deacons Gate Kytan - For Sale

Deacons Gate Kytan

Long legs, very strong and looking fabulous

at nine months old (DOB 19/10/2010).  Kytan is very inquisitive,

an independent thinker destined to command

attention anywhere he goes.

FOR SALE — POA to APPROVED HOME ONLY

Dale & Katrina Deacon 07 5465 4462

www.deaconsgateshires.com.au

email:  info@deaconsgateshires.com.au

June 12, 2011

Agony over - She’s not pregnant!

Well to put the Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Field Days attendance into a short paragraph our lot did us proud, they looked amazing and for the most part behaved well.  Pearl took out the Supreme Senior Shire and Rebel took out the Supreme Junior.  Sadly due to excitement and lack of training Salazar was retired from the event but if he’d been better prepared he would have won I am sure.  But next year we will have to see…. if there is a next year of course.

Still the BIG question was was Pearl pregnant, she looked so good and usually this is how she presents when pregnant and many asked when she was due.  We’d had the previous scan done and was negative but she did look pregnant, so shiny and sparkly akin to that pregnant glow.  Early on we decided not to worry about another scan and just see what happens….. but another 4 weeks of “is or isn’t” agony was too much to bear so we got the vet in and rescanned……. no foal… disappointment but we can at least claim her condition was all our doing during the lead up to the event with feed management and rugging rather than that expectant glow as we all assumed.

Since the event we’ve both been ill repeatedly with chest infections, colds, nausea, other end issues and the like.  We think because we were so consumed with the event planning for months and frazzled trying to find time to complete all the different tasks before the big weekend, we’d kept the bugs at bay and the moment our jobs were completed, the cloud of hovering icky disease invaded and is still taking its toll.

But let’s move onto more delightful matters, we’ve had some sale interest in Rebel and Zar since the event and negotiations are still backwards and forwards but we do hope for a new home for one at least if not two.  Kytan too is shooting up and filling out standing at 15hh at his 6 month measure.  Duchess is now 7 months pregnant and keeping food up to her is a task in itself with Kytan still suckling.  We’ll be stuck for room if we don’t have a sale as the front paddock is really only big enough for the two boys not the three.

No other striking news to announce this post, we are enjoying having so much time to ourselves and quite frankly feel quite smug staying home and lying low.  We plan to attend more shows and see more of the things we want to, but this weekend sadly, our planned drive to the Jondaryan Heavy Horse day didn’t happen as I’m currently fighting a hacking cough that causes a thousand needles to pepper the back of my eyes and the length of my throat.  The thought of driving with the associated headache and agonising cough just didn’t appeal, so Dale of course, without a specific task needing to be done, snuck off to his shed to speak with his brochures at the first opportunity.   For those of you that know Dale you will know what I mean….

Final letters inviting all interested parties along to the next few meetings of the Clydesdale & Heavy Horse Field Day have gone out to see if we can put together enough interested parties to form the 2012 committee.  To present this event and keep sanity there needs to be at least 8 active persons on board (including the executive positions) to ensure the delegation of tasks is manageable for all members rather than the experience this year where just 3 of us struggled on, leaving us exhausted beyond measure. 

Winter is providing a respite from the dreaded itch for Rebel & Pearl and looks like young Salazar too is a likely candidate this coming summer.  Thankfully Duchess and Kytan seem to have been spared the madness.  Rugging and a good wash to freshen the itchy areas seems to be keeping things at bay but these big horses do take their toll on rugs, an entire side can be ripped or rubbed out with the massive weight behind each thrust against a fence or tree.

Finally we have the insurance money through and scheduled to start the rebuild in a few weeks.  Materials have been delivered and the new lines all measured and pegged.  Of course Kytan has chewed the one in his paddock within minutes of us leaving the yard he had pink survey paint all over his muzzle for a few days.

 Hope all of you are well, until next time be well.

April 07, 2011

April already

Thanks for all your emails and encouragement over these past months.  It’s been a struggle after the flooding to get back into any normality.  We’ve both been working long hours and spend the majority of our weekend time contending with multiple temporary repairs whilst we wait on the insurance decision on our policy.  We’ve also been spiked by an electrical surge which fried both of our computers and various appliances a week after the floods, including all the email traffic creating a void not knowing what needed follow up or not.  The recovery of the lost data is apparently possible ($2200) but we simply can’t afford it at this time so if you haven’t heard from us it’s because we no longer have your email address - so send a message and say hello.

We won’t dwell on the past negatives….. Horse news, Pearl has now regained her lost condition after the horrid conditions and stressful transport that consumed us for the month after the floods but sadly she absorbed the follicle so not preggers this season.  Not really a surprise given the long list of scary stuff that went on testing her stamina and health.  She has taken a shine to Kytan though and allows him to eat her hay and her feeds much to our surprise - Duchess doesn’t like to share her feed only the hay.  Pearl seems to be mellowing with age and allows group mutual grooming but not quite with Duchess yet, only all the boys.  Duchess however can stand alongside Pearl now without getting a kick so she’s more in the group now than 10 paces back.

Duchess too absorbed the first insemination (Monty UK) but has managed to stay pregnant after the 2nd AI process with What’s Wanted (local QLD stallion) and is steadily growing and looking lovely.  She is still nursing Kytan (5months old now) and has managed to sustain a semblance of mother hood despite her disinterest in the entire process.  Kytan is a very independent foal and initially we had fears he wouldn’t get enough milk, but he’s thriving with the additional hard feed we’ve supplemented him with from about 3 weeks onward.  He does manage to nurse regularly from Duchess; it’s just a short affair when Duchess stands still long enough to latch on.  Pearl is a force feeder and calls the foals to her for nursing and the world stops whilst this goes on.  Duchess always looks very put out when Kytan insists on a feed and she has certainly never called Kytan to her for anything…. he’s always running about looking for her.

Rebel and Salazar have been sharing the stallion paddock for some time now and they are closely bonded.  Being mummy’s boys not sure if this is a good thing or bad - Pearl’s stamp is certainly all over them and they still look to her for direction despite their ages.  We’ve managed to keep a stay on the itch with constant rugging and creams and lotions so hopefully they (Pearl & Rebel) are presentable enough for Gatton in 3 weeks time. 

The dogs are both struggling with arthritis now and are slower getting about but with the same routines they are healthy enough and all we can do is manage their conditions now and keep them comfortable.  The cats too have settled in to a nice regular routine so less spits and jostling for position it seems.  Sadly the chooks are all old now and simply go to sleep in the evening and don’t wake up in the morning, so our active egg layers have ceased now and with a reluctance to get more chooks in we’ve had to resort to buying eggs…. I know shock horror… we just have so much to do to think about replacing them at this stage.  The ducks however have snuck in a few clutches and we have a new flock of girls soon to start laying so that will make up for the chook losses.

Currently we are of course consumed with the Field Day preparations which are proving to be more complex this year accommodating the flood event changes to facilities, attractions, competitors and the last minute changes.  However, as with every year we are involved, we discover the most amazing people and this makes the effort worthwhile.  Updates when we can.. take care and do send your hello’s through.

January 16, 2011

Jan 2011 Flooding

Jan 2011

Similar view 2008

soil just washing way

 fence line hanging

 lake building, this is our only access road to the property

 The signs are almost gone and did go under 3 hours later

Reb’s and Zar not happy being wet so long

January 16, 2011

And the new year commeth

Tragedy and devastation plagues most of QLD with NSW and VIC set to also contend with the flooding waters heading their way.  The raging inland Tsunami that erupted out of Toowoomba and laid waste to Grantham, transformed picturesque creeks and valleys into gouged raw ravines then headed east, quietly engulfing Ipswich and Brisbane to the rafters.  Whole properties destroyed, lives lost, livestock and beloved horses gone leaving behind a slick fetid slime and unmentionable debris covering everything.  The long task now ahead will take months, maybe years to clean and return to any normality or routine.  Our hearts go out to all at this traumatic time.

We have nothing to complain about.  Multiple fissures and ravines opened up after the swales were breached, fence post foundations washed out leaving lines teetering and the truck/trailer sank into the ground after the first 2 days of rain needing two days to dig it out, BUT no damage to the house/sheds, flood waters didn’t reach our place on the hill, all the animals and stock are safe and we had electricity throughout so not a lot to suffer as I said….. the eerie lake that manifested in the valley below. locking us in, had us transfixed in horror as tons of rubbish floated down and smashed the causeway leading into Forest Hill town.

On Tuesday they sent out messages to evacuate, we had the luxury of high ground so chose to stay and watched the black hawks ferry people out of Grantham, Forest Hill and Laidley time and time again.  We hope we never have to make that decision to leave all that we love behind.  Weirdly we were still on email, connected to the TV like glue and the phone rang off the hook with worried friends and family checking how we were doing.  By Wednesday a deathly pall enveloped the valley, the beautiful day belied the mess lurking beneath the rushing waters and thousands of toads were blissfully procreating.

We realised the distant highway was silent as were birds and local movements.  Shocked residents on the other side of the lake drove in and away throughout the day, the SES, army and TV crews hovered and assessed the damage, the horses went about their daily routines as if nothing had happened, as all animals do.  During the day we tried to patch the worst of the treacherous ravines, rationed the milk and communicated with our friends and family to see how they were faring with the now encroaching flood in their direction and continued to watch TV in that “gawking at the accident” fascination that grips us all.

On a more mundane front, Duchess is confirmed pregnant (Luscombe What’s Wanted) and Pearl was inseminated (Minshull Monty UK) last Tuesday 11/01/11 having delivered her to Southbrook on Thursday 6/1/11 through the first flash flooding that Toowoomba experienced (see “Our day”).  Rebel, Zar and Kytan are magic, it’s a delight to see them running about each day and it will be sad to see them leave when the time comes. We thank Terry and Sue for their continued efforts to ensure the QLD Shire owners are connected and accounted for with a budding communication between us all established.

Both Dale and I return to work Monday now that the roads are open, although the Forest Hill road is still closed as the entire asphalt surface lifted off and now lives beside the road rather than on it until further notice. We managed to get out and restock the essentials including horse feed for a number of hill side residents that couldn’t get cars out of their mushy driveways.  On Saturday we started to dig the truck and trailer out and after 4 attempts and having to fell a tree we were on the road to collect Pearl and with her return home I feel so much happier knowing everyone is safe and well.

To all we thank you for your thoughts and wishes and hope you will in turn be safe if the encroaching mess is headed your way.

January 16, 2011

“Our Day” Thursday 6/01/11

Pearl needed to be delivered to Southbrook for insemination as her last scan showed she was close in her cycle and it was engines on to get her there in time.  I thought to myself so many times during this trip that we should have never have left the driveway…. but in the end this horrid day saved us from an entirely different disaster so you never can tell ……..enjoy

Raining

Got to Helidon Tick sprayer facility at 8am sharp all was going well

Raining

Horse got a scare walked backwards out of the truck whilst loading after the spray – 800kg mare falls over the back tail gate, grazes shoulder, snaps halter in two, no spare

Raining

Bailing twine to the rescue – constructed a new side for the halter, serviceable at least, got it back on the horse and reloaded after 15 mins of convincing mare the scary monster was gone

Raining

On the road again pelting down, wash aways over the highway at Helidon, Withcott

Raining

Driver side wiper packed in and wiped itself off line…. passenger side working fine (of course) fogged windscreen and unknown rust spot in the roof of cab starts dripping onto me head

Raining

Ignoring the blurry windscreen, husband half naked trying to wipe glass with T shirt to alleviate now fogging glass, rising panic and dripping is now dribble

Raining – water dribble

Range looking very very scary and a few hill sides slowly oozing and surprised we got through (apparently closed just after we passed)

Raining – husband wipes windscreen, water dribbling, panic now moving into hyper status driving half blind

Flash flooding over a foot deep in various places along James St and Anzac Avenue, passed stranded vehicles, got around the woman that freaked out and just stopped her car in the intersection

Raining  - husband wipes windscreen, water dribbling, bile in the mouth panic

Truck brakes get saturated after idiot speeds through 1/2 m wash away in 4WD, start hyperventilating about jack knifing the truck and kill everyone, husband trying to keep me calm

Raining  - windscreen wipe, water dribble, bile in the mouth, trauma rising, brakes not working

Make it through the other side of Toowoomba wide eyed and alive!

Spitting – windscreen fogging eases, husband puts wet T shirt back on, water less dripping and panic subsiding

Pull into servo for fuel, electricity is out, no pumps, no toilets, decide to push on and get horse delivered and come back see if pumps working after

Misty – dripping has ceased on my head, windscreen clear, low fuel, brakes still jittery

Rest of drive on New England Hwy uneventful apart from brakes

Sunny on reaching the water drenched breeder facility, successfully navigated the truck through flash creeks and unloaded the horse

Horse left at the breeder, drive back to Gatton commenced

Raining (would you believe from the moment we start the truck)

New England wash aways now receding, need fuel, started to worry how brakes will perform down range

Raining – servo chockers with stranded truckies who advise no rush, range closed and traffic is backing up, still no toilets or pumps

Lunch – nothing else to do, call work will be late, hope brakes dry out

Raining

Eating

Raining

New bunch of truckies come in from Pittsworth side – down range open 1 lane, up still closed landslides, truckies say will be an hour before back load of traffic will clear

Spitting – toilets opened still no fuel pumps working

Wanting to sleep after earlier adrenalin expenditure – can’t, call work not going to make it

Misty and decide to move out and take chances with the traffic, risk of death by boredom, low fuel, brakes not dry

On the road again…. Toowoomba flash flooding gone

Raining – dripping on head starts again, fogging - off with the shirt, wipe windscreen, breaks make alarming grinding noise when used

Get to the top of the range, wave in Centrelink direction, road still one lane but landslide clearing just about completed reach the bottom SIGH of relief, low fuel, brakes now dry after prolonged use

Can’t get truck into Withcott servo – scary discussion on how far 1/8 tank will get need to make it to Gatton bypass

Spitting – dripping slows, shirt back on – Warrego Hwy fine except for MASSIVE potholes,  just make it to BP on empty for 5km, refuel and sun comes out

Decide to see if Gatton service mechanic can fix wiper now as an emergency – don’t be silly, need to take out the dash too busy next week earliest

Raining – foggy windscreen,  home is at least just 10 minutes away and the brakes work

Home

BOGGED TRUCK up to the axles in water drenched driveway, collected handbag, locked truck and went and had a shower….. Husband left to call for help

October 24, 2010

Introducing Deacons Gate Kytan - born 19th October 2010

3 Days early and a perfect birth - not that either of us saw anything.  We’d been checking her every half hour since midnight and I’d got up at 4am to see if there was any chance she might be inclined to birth this foal… apart from a slight agitation in temperament she was non plussed so by 7am I figured she would foal later in the night and left for work, she wasn’t even due yet so why panic.  Dale went back to bed (shift worker). 

I got the email at work to tell me to head home again as Dale had checked Duchess on getting up 8.30am and he was looking at this very mobile foal trying to work out how to suckle.  I got home and it was pretty much all over, Kytan had just worked out the milk bar thing and all that we were waiting on was for the placenta to pass, which it did and the vet (Louise Cosgrove) eagerly collected it for the university of Queensland to assess for their ongoing research into pathogens present for a normal local birth.  

For her very first foal Duchess has been such a great mum.  She is very calm and protective when she needs to be but let’s Kytan roam a lot further than Pearl let any of her two without a speedy appearance to ward off perceived trouble.  Kytan however is nothing like our other two foals he is very strong, very insistent and pushy and this was evident at hours old let alone on his 5th day today.  You can’t turn your back on him for fear he’ll gallop up and crash into you for a play.  He’s either grey or black, too hard to tell at this early stage and he has one black/grey leg and three white with big black streaks through each hoof and his blaze has a big bite out of it.

We’ve slowly introduced him to the rest of the gang.  Pearl is non plussed and even threatened to kick Kytan when he mistook her for mum.  Salazar however is super curious and as he is just too big (8 months now) he hasn’t been introduced without the safety of the fence in-between.  Duchess, whilst strongly bonded to Salazar prior to the birth has of course spurned him and he’s quite confused about who this little thing is that has her attention.. Rebel of course has been left out of all the proceedings as we don’t want any unplanned serves happening so he’s been running up and down the connecting boundary wishing he were a part of the situation.

So next up we’ll have the two mares scanned in a couple of weeks to see where their cycles are at and depending on that we’ll be trucking them to Southbrook for AI (Arclid Minshull Monty).  We now have the two colts up for sale and Kytan too once he’s old enough, hopefully the girls will produce a couple of fillies next year. 

With the beautiful green vista all around it’s a magic time at Deacons Gate Shires, wishing others well with their foaling season.

October 09, 2010

Spring 2010

We’ve managed to get a good stop on the itch that plagues Rebel and Pearl.  Rebel has only a few tiny spots on his ears and forehead and that’s it after months of trying product after product and potions and lotions he’s stopped scratching himself to bleeding on his shoulders and rump and his skin has returned to the lovely gloss he had before this affliction got a hold.  Pearl on the other hand is still scratching her rump but the lesions have reduced considerably except her ears, she just won’t let you near them without taking your life in your hands to get the lotions up there.  Still, compared to what we had a month ago it’s 80% better than the horrible bloody sections she’d scratch raw each day, rugged or not. Now we just have to wait for their manes and tails to grow back enough for a plait at their next showing.

I actually mowed the driveway today with all this rain, it’s been over a year since we’ve had to actually mow anything, I’m sure the novelty will wear off when it becomes a chore again.  And the pulling of woody weeds is a satisfying activity at the moment as the ground is soft the weeds give quickly, when it’s dry it’s impossible to get them out of the ground and the bloody horses of course don’t eat them.  The chooks will be into all the exposed ground tomorrow harvesting all the mealy bugs and beetles we’ve unearthed today.  Tomorrow it’s another wash for Pearl and Rebel and for Zar a first real wash with soap for a set of clean photos and all his hair. We washed Raine last weekend and the amount of white hair sloughed off was amazing.  It looked like we clipped him at the wash point but he’s looking lighter but not cleaner having rolled every 10 paces in every mud puddle as he took off to join the others after the deed.