Niji's Grand Girl 
Journal & Notes 2012
05-02-12
IT IS A COLT !!!
Niji had her 62 days in foal ultrasound today. We all watched with great anticipation as the vet examined Niji with the ultrasound. The vet's first inspection was "negative for filly." This was then followed by a "positive for colt" view which immediatley brought out high-fives and "Oh Yeahs!"
This little colt is already being pointed toward the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
Recall, the Stable's plan is to purchase and race fillies, and once they are retired from the track to broodmare status, to then breed to race colts. We can 100% guarantee the purchase of fillies, but the breeding of colts is in God's hands. So this will be the first colt to ever run in the Landaluce Educe Silks!
04-05-12
Friends
Visited with Niji today as she showed off her new paddock. It is almost an acre of grass, some shade, and plenty of room for fun. With the change in weather, she can now spend almost all her time outside which makes her happy. She has two paddock mates: Deceptive Glory and Sarah Melissa, and both of them are in foal to Uncle Mo. This is the first foal for all three horses. These three will be paddock mates for the rest of 2012 and maybe for years to come.
03-31-12
Relaxing
From Martha Jane: "Niji was checked 28 days in foal. She is gaining weight and settling in to her new life as a broodmare. The transition has been very easy for her. As I told you, some mares have a hard time relaxing after the intensity of the race track. Niji is a natural at relaxing!"
03-17-12
NIJI IS IN FOAL
Niji had her first exam since the mating and is officially in foal.
03-07-12
The Process
If you are unfamiliar with the broodmare process and curious about it, below is an update I received today from Martha Jane at Mullholand Springs.
"Just to update you on Niji. On February 29th, while Volcat was winning her race, Niji met our teasing stud. We tranquilize the maiden mares so they will be relaxed and let the teaser get up on their backs. This is called Jumping a Maiden. The teaser must of course wear a bib, so he cannot actually breed the mare. The Maiden Mare thusly experiences having a stallion on her back. This is done under some tranquilizing. When the mare actually goes to the breeding shed, the very valuable stallion will therefore be less likely to get kicked during the process and the mare will be less scared.
Every year several stallions experience some days where they cannot be bred due to minor injuries or scrapes during the breeding process. We feel it is important for the mares to not be scared when they go to the shed for their safety and for the stud’s. Niji was a complete lady at our farm when she was Jumped for the first time. The next day, March 1st, when she met Giants Causeway, she was relaxed and not scared at all. She had a very good cover, breeding, by the stallion, and left the shed in fine condition.
The next day We checked her for ovulation. We found her to have a very soft follicle. She was infused in her uterus with an antibiotic, Timentin. This should help rid her system of any infection or contamination that might have entered her during the breeding process. Sometimes a slight little germ enters the mare which can fester and grow over time, eventually causing the mare to abort the foal. We want to prevent any such event.
On March 3rd, less than 48 hours from the time she was bred, Niji was checked by ultrasound palpation and found to have ovulated a large size 40 follicle on her left ovary. This is good, as almost all stallions are fertile enough to impregnate a mare if she ovulates within the first 48 hours. Many stallions can last to 72 or more hours after breeding. So we are very hopeful that she will be pregnant when we check her on March 17th. So circle the day.
03-01-12
The Mating
Niji went to Ashford Stud in Lexington today for her pairing with Giant's Causeway. Everything went well and now all we can do is wait.
01-20-12
A New Home
Niji moved to her new home at Mulholland Springs Farm today. She will stay here during her years as a broodmare. She is scheduled to mate with Giant's Causeway in mid-February.
01-01-12
Niji Prepares for Motherhood
Having officially retired, Niji now starts the process of preparing to become pregnant. The stallion farms will open February 15, so she should go to Ashford her first cycle after the 15th.
NIJI'S JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2011
NIJI'S JOURNAL ARCHIVES 2010
