Weekends......

Last weekend started off quite quietly but as it wore on it was apparent that it was going to be another of those times - Bank Holidays and or out of hours, when the vet would have to be called in to help.
About five years ago we were asked to take in three orphan white kids (as in goats),we called them Bill, Ted and Reg. They were in pretty good health and we bottle fed them for some weeks and they soon became very friendly and great characters. However, one called Reg, continued to be rather frail, he suffered from a skin ailment which gave him and us a level of concern. We couldn't quite get to the bottom of what exactly provoked the onset of his extremely irritating and itching coat, which would then result in the poor little chap rubbing and scratching until places became raw. We tried all sorts of things, changed the type of bedding, the food and treated him for the obvious skin complaints. Nothing really worked and the only way to keep on top of it was to administer steroids when he was particularly laid low, this although, not ideal, made him feel alot better and between bouts he gavorted around in as good health as any of the others.
In the last week, he had been quiet and generally off his food, we kept him warm and gave him as much attention as we could, Becky sat by him and tried to tempt him to eat, but sadly, on Sunday, the vet decided that we would have to say goodbye to him.
So dear old Reg passed away, in amongst his dear friends, Bill and Ted and of course everyone here. He was a great goat and will be sadly missed, and he had been very good with the children. I can only think that perhaps he didn't receive enough colostrum when he was born and consequently he didn't have sufficient anti-bodies to keep him going well into adulthood.
On Saturday, Michael and I were invited for lunch in The Royal Box at Newbury, it was a day that promised good company, and good racing, sadly all brought to a hasty conclusion by the tragic death of two horses before the first race resulting in the whole meeting being abandoned. It was horrible for both horses and people and sympathy has to be felt with the owners, trainers and lads and lasses who lost their horses on that day. A real tragedy.
On a brighter note though, Ravastree ran a good race at Exeter in pretty ghastly conditions, he kept up mid field but was slightly one paced and couldn't keep up with the two leaders....still 3rd second time out was good and we are hoping that he will run in The Novices Hurdle at Newbury on our raceday. March 5th!! don't forget we are offering cut price tickets!