EMILY: Home for the holidays

 

Our dear little(ish) mare Emily is home.  

She wasn't really scheduled to come home. When we sent her down to Invercargill and the tender care of trainer, Kirstin Green, I remarked. 'I hope I see her again, because she won't come back to Gerolstein until she becomes a broodmare'. Nature makes fools of us all.

Emily has had a fantastic time in Southland. She has won no less than five races (bringing her total to eight) in just one season .. added to a multitude of 2nds and 3rds ...

57. 2024 (19 September) Winton EMILY

58. 2024 (4 October) Wyndham EMILY

59. 2024 (13 December) Winton EMILY

60.2025 (17 July) Winton EMILY

61.2025 (10 August) Invercargill EMILY

 

Then, a wee while back, just after she had carried off the Winter Championships, it went wrong. She galloped. She doesn't gallop. She galloped again. Call the Doctor. Thank goodness we did. She was diagnosed with a large bone chip in her fetlock. The X-Rays scurried to America for a second opinion. From my friend, Lyndall, horse vet exceptional. Yes. Bone chip. Fixable. Otherwise OK.

I put away the stallion catalogue, and called in VetSouth. It all happened so quickly, I didn't have time to fret too much. I just said 'do whatever needs to be done'. And they did. 

What next? Oh, a few weeks and she'll be fine. No, said Wendy. No, said Kurt. She is a feisty, darling 6-year-old. She can come home to Gerolstein, Wendy will mother her, lavish care and love on her ... and in the new year she can go back south and start over again ... Yes, I know all the maxims: 'don't let down an aged trotting mare ...'. Well, bugger the maxims. Emily comes first ..

I shall gloss over the poor girl's voyage from Invercargill to Gerolstein. Thank you for you kindness, Amber Lethaby. Majestic Horsefloats .. you've fallen apart at the seams. The worst service we've had from you in 20 years as clients. Smarten up. But she's here!

I, who can barely walk from here to the gate (walking frame arrives Monday) positively skipped down to her small paddock of deep grass to see her ...    I know, it's like children: you're not supposed to have favourites, but this wee lady is indubitably my number one in 25 years of owning horses ...

We have bought her a nice new Koolrug (30 degrees and flies here .. this is NOT Southland), a pretty red halter (they don't do my yellow any more, it seems), a new brush, new leads (they used to be $5 now they're $30) .. lots of healthy eats ... anyone know who sells diamond horseshoes in Rangiora!?

Even at the risk of roaring hayfever and a tumble on to the gravel, I shall be down to hug her every day!

Welcome home, li'l EMILY!