A long over due news letter…
So far we have had a great start to the year and not felt the pinch of the global recession.
Glenda (Bridget’s sister) started work on the farm in March. Glenda has taken over the training of the young horses and sorting out any problem horses. Glenda is proving to be an absolute asset; her day is not done at 5pm as when we have guests she always helps out. It looks as though Bridget might be coming back to join us. I feel sorry for Mike three women in the house, hopefully we might be able to keep him under control!
Over Easter Rick and Lizette gave a fantastic Easter church service – probably the first on the Ranch, we had Holy Communion, candles home made crucifixes, it was absolutely amazing. On Sunday evening we had a cultural evening with all the children presenting something they where good at, it was amazing to see all the hidden talents, by the way if you need a body guard Nielsie is your man!
Kai and Jennifer arrived for a short two day visit, Kai last visited the farm 6 years ago; They ended up staying for a week. They live in Germany and now want to immigrate to South Africa. We had such a good time with them and I think everyone fell in love with both of them. Hurry up and come back we miss you…
We are waiting for our first frost, this year we have had 7 horses die of horse sickness, as usual one of the best a 2 year old who I had picked out to train, he was taken in April, plus one of the foals which we took to the show last year.
We had a wedding in February, Eric and Karla Higgs, and Tom-Tom did the honors of pulling the cart (with no mishaps). We had a marquee erected in the garden, also an archway where Eric and Karla said their vows. It turned out to be the most fantastic weekend. We wish Eric and Karla all the best for their future.
Jenna the Genet cat is doing very well she has the freedom of the farm, yet she chooses to sleep in the cupboard during the day. At night she goes out and hunts with frequent little visits back to the bed to hassle us, always managing to wake us and in her play fighting drawing blood so our arms look like we have been wrestling a thorn bush.
Jim Crow is getting more and more character as the days go by, sorting the dogs out ….. Flying on to the veranda for food and eating out of your hand, apparently Glenda saw him bring a mate home, next thing he will want to go to the Pavilion!
Congratulations are due to Shelly and Dino –most first time guests as they are leaving say, “ we will be back, soon” Mike and I think maybe 1 year later we will see them again, Not Shelly and Dino 6 weeks later they where back!!
Sammy the Great Dane is pregnant; we hope the father is Chakka the new male, she is due early May. Tully looked as though she was pregnant but it must have been a phantom pregnancy.
Goppy the whippet, my darling baby, Mikes “spoilt brat”, was placed Reserve Champion in the CC category at a showing show, so I was very chuffed.
HORSES FOR SALE
Musuku 13.3h Appaloosa xPaint
Hero 14.3h Appaloosa x Thb
Dumi-Zulu 15h Appaloosax Thb
DATES TO REMEMBER..
The Bull Auction; Thursday 2nd July Book your accommodation now, Come and join us for a GREAT weekend.
There are some pictures with this week’s news letter on the website.
Love to everyone and remember WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FARM STAYS ON THE FARM… Dino are you reading this?
A letter from one of Our Guests
I got married at Rolling M ranch in February this year. The reason I chose the Ranch for my wedding venue is pretty simple, it took my breath away!
Last year me and my fiance were invited to spend a weekend at the ranch with a bunch of friends. We arrived rather late on Friday night so we immediately were ushered into the quaint little pub for a drink. I felt at home instantly with the hosts Mike, Jojo and Rick. We had an awesome party that night and were treated to a lovely breakfast and a very exciting and interesting cattle herding experience. It was only then that I really felt the beauty and serenity of this place and wondered about having my wedding here.
And so it came about......
After a lot of hard work and planning with Jojo my special day - or should I say my special weekend - finally arrived. I could not have wished for anything better, it was like the Gods were on my side. The fun started on Friday afternoon when the guest arrived. We explored our exquisite surroundings, visited all the farm animals, were treated to a lovely evening meal on the veranda under the peaceful and clear African sky. We finished the evening with yet an other fun party - to be quite honest in the end I had to send everybody to bed, otherwise we would have partied deep into the night and we would not have been too strong for the wedding the following day!
In the morning we all set out on a ride in the beautiful mountains of the Ranch. We crossed the river which was quite full, navigated down and up some steep and tricky paths and needless to say we went for some breathtaking gallops. The horses - Appaloosas -are very well trained and acquainted with the terrain, so even the novice rider is very safe. When we came back the preparations started to take place. It was a busy afternoon and everybody helped to make the place look even more stunning. The wedding was supposed to start at 6 o'clock in the evening and it really did! We all know in Africa nothing ever starts on time, so even I was nearly late for my own wedding.
The evening was beautiful, the sun was low the skies were clear and it was pleasantly warm. I had the pleasure of entering with horse and carriage. Tom Tom - the pony that pulled the carriage- was the cutest thing you have ever seen. He is tiny and pitch black and he was magnificently turned out with flowers in his mane and a white 'crown' around his neck. He was well behaved and dutifully delivered me to where my husband-to-be was waiting for me. The ceremony went smoothly and we were joined obviously by all our friends but also the big Danes and some guiny fowl decided to join in the fun. After the ceremony we had a lovely buffet in the tent that was erected for the occasion and decorated with style. The party that followed went on deep into the night. To finish what already was the best experience in my life was to go tubing down the river the next morning. I must tell you after a long night there is nothing better than plonking yourself in a big tube and let the river carry you away through the stunning African mountains of Rolling M Ranch!
As a reminder of our special weekend Rick put together a CD with a slide show for you to take home so you can enjoy your special weekend forever. I would like to thank again Mike, Jojo and Rick for the most special weekend of my life......
