The weather outside was
gorgeous and the babies were more than ready to head out. Andrea double checked her list
while a handful of grooms waited to hear which mares went out together.
"All right. The
three colts can go out together, so take Magician, Hopes, and Lovin’ out and put them in the
big paddock near the foaling barn. I don’t like having the 4 fillies out together, but they
should be fine until some of the Feb babies are a little older. Remind me to move them
around then. So that’s Disaster, Lovie, Callie, and Mistress. I guess you’ll have to put
them out in the paddock near the yearling barn. So bring those yearlings down and put them
in the smaller paddock." Andrea paused, eyes narrowing as she tried to think of anything
she’d forgotten.
"Relax, Boss. We’ve been doing this for nearly eight years now. Jim
and I’ll make sure that the new boys get everything straight." Sean grinned. The breeding
end of the operation had grown so much that she’d hired three new grooms for the broodmares
and yearlings last year. Sean delighted in teasing them about being “newbies.”
"Since
you’re such a know-it-all, you can check on Spell Breaker and make sure that her cut is
healing ok. I’m going to go check on Miracle and then go check with Johnny to make sure all
the two year-old paperwork is straight for them to head to the track at the end of the week."
The two year old races were starting up at the beginning of next month and for these last
two weeks they would live at the track, learning the routine and getting a chance to deal
with the new footing.
“D’oh. Alright, boss-lady.” Sean grimaced and then left.
Breaker’d gotten a cut on her hip. Considering the bite she’d tried to take out of
Fortuna, the filly’d gotten off lightly. She was being a big whimp about getting it cleaned
though, and dealing with the tempermental filly was becoming a hated chore among the
grooms.
Grinning, Andrea flicked off her computer and stood up. A visit to the stable’s
newest arrival would be her treat before she had to deal with the hassle only 20 two year
olds preparing for their racing debut could generate.
I don’t know if I can