Having managed to persuade the hard working committee of the Denbighshire & Flintshire County Show to hold Foreign Breed classes again (they were dropped some years back due to lack of support) it was only right that we took some of ours.

So Rio (Mannog Zips Rio Grande 10 yrs) and Fred (Mannog Zips Candy Man 8 yrs) got duly spruced up and taken to the show. Fred was really the "plus one" as he has not been out for some years due to a problem with his near hind stifle joint (calcinosis circumscripta) which seems to have at last resolved itself .

The in hand only had three in (yep 2 of them were ours). 1st was Rio, 2nd was a lovely Falabella stallion, 3rd was Fred.  There were then six in the mare/gelding ridden (mainly Lusitano but one super Friesian) and two in the stallion ridden (both Lusitanos).  

The Foreign Breed Championship was then Rio, the Friesian, the second placed ridden and the first and second of the Lusitano stallions.  Champion was the Friesian (well deserved) and Reserve Foreign Breed Champion was RIO !!!!  The judge loved him remarking on his superb conformation, beautiful head and tremendous muscling.  I think this means that Rio has been unbeaten (in hand)  in Foreign Breed classes in the last couple of years.   It was also nice to get Fred out again but apparently I do not run fast enough. He has a great sweepy length of stride and needs a good runner to show it off - which is not me.

We recently "found" five tiny black (3) and black and white (2)  kittens hiding under the pallets on which we have stacked 90 bales of hay!  Impossible to catch so after a few weeks of enticing them out with food we eventually managed to trap them and place in a secure stable with loads of toys. However they spit at you even before you get close. They are completely ferral.  Their mum (a long black hair) is still here though we have managed to trap her and get her spayed!  She has been around some months now appearing on and off so no idea of any kitties being around!

We cannot keep these five kittens but will try to humanise them which is not going too well as evident by numerous scratches. Oh and they bite too with needle sharp teeth that puncture the skin!!. No idea of their sexes but if anyone wants some great barn cats we have them.  Must go as a fivesome!  Probably around 6 weeks old at present . ( 18 Aug 2018).

The picture shows four but the black bum sticking up in the far corner is in fact one of the black and white ones totally terrified so hiding his/her self !!

UPDATE 21 Sept:  they no longer spit or bite. Slight hissing but getting much better.  Will be cuddled but do not enjoy . No purring yet!  Believe the short  haired blacks are male and the long haired black and whites are female. Still looking for good homes.  

UPDATE 2 Oct: all gone to a lovely home similar to ours. Very rural. Acres to play in and lovely people AND they stay together.  Shame really as getting quite attached to some and one little female was getting really friendly.  One of the boys though could still be a spitting cobra at times!