Spanish Mare in Spain - Blog of Barquillera

A pure spanish mare in Spain is normally destined for the studs, to continue breeding in the PRE bloodlines of history.

We raise our fillies as we do our colts, to be handled, accustomed to tack, and at ease as they go out in the countryside.

Following on the Bambu saga, (now transposed to his own website), these are the extracts from my Spain Diary that relate to Barquillera.
From the file: Young spanish mare in spain, growing up in Andalucia.

Photos 2008       Video

March 2009

As with most horse people, my ears are subconsciously attuned to pick up any out-of-the-ordinary sounds from outside.

I hear distinct galloping. This is at a hot-hot time of day, when the three PRE fillies are usually either standing placidly or laid flat out.

Straight to the kitchen window that looks out on the paddocks - my first thought is count the spanish mares and see if anyone is missing.

They are in the rectangular turn out arena, which has now become L-shaped as we added a small square second paddock. This second paddock is linked at a corner by a wide gateway, and has 7 trees in it, making it a completely shaded area.

The fillies are indeed galloping.

I watch. There seems no reason for fright.

Then I realise - they are playing follow-the-leader.

Believe it or not, but this is just as I saw it.

All gallop madly around the rectangular arena, in line. One breaks away, into the square paddock, which is quite small. She circles three trees, which are close together and form a triangle, then shoots off back thru the gateway into the bigger arena. Gallops around.

The other two do exactly the same.

On her next circuit, the lead filly circles four trees, then back to the arena.

The other two circle the same four trees.

Next circuit, it's three trees again, then four. They don't hesitate, and they don't miss it. Whatever the leader does, they copy.

I just love my babies!

AUG 2008

She was a gangly baby, all legs and cheeky nose. When I look at her video at 18 months, it seems as though her legs are running too fast for her body.

She has a special place in my heart with her quirky inquisitive attitude, and no fear of anything. She always make me laugh - but even as a fond granny I couldn’t be comparing her to the oh-so-elegant equine Meryl.

Then yesterday Andres was spending the morning showering and hair-caring the ladies.

She is the one we are experimenting with, in leaving her mane untouched. It is thick and often untidy, but today, as Andres had tidied and conditioned it, it lay quiet (for once!). It was a beautiful sunny day, and she stood in a sunny spot to dry off.

She is rounded from food and work, her tail is turning from grey to white, and it will be thick too.

And I realised that the ugly duckling is doing a Hans Christian Andersen!

MARCH 2008

In Spain tradition and show protocol are clear as to how the manes and tail of foals and mares are to be cut.

Today was spring shaving session for Baturra and Queridita. Both stood as good as good could be while the manes were taken off, the top portion of the tail shaven, and the tail hair trimmed straight across at hock level.

Back in the paddock Baturra ambled long in her usual casual fashion, idly flicking the newly-styled tail against the first flies of the season.

Barquillera was fascinated. This white tipped fly-whisk was just waiting to be investigated.

But first, she had to catch it.

So we have Baturra in front, Barquillera following close behind, snatching at the elusive tuft of tail.

Finally her teeth managed to grip the tassle. Baturra stopped - she never kicks - and looked around, mildly questioning. Barq stood there, head on one side, holding with determination to the few hairs she had captured.

If this lady wasn’t, I would have to invent her.

Josephine in Spain - commiserating with FatBrat, who Andres decided also needed a haircut.

Dec 2007

It is crisp here at present - not cold as it was last week, just nippy enough to make that post-walk cup of coffee most welcome. I virtuously strode out my half an hour this morning, accompanied by the FatBrat - an irrepressible optimist in the shape of a small and hairy dog who has adopted us.

Once the chill is off, the B’s and Q’s come out for their morning stretch. They run for the first few minutes, then separate into their couples, and wander round, perhaps idly nibbling at grass, but preferring to stand at the fence and watch the world go by. (They have such a curiosity I wonder what goes through their minds.)

The B’s are Barquillera and Baturra, the Q’s Quijotita and Queridita - our 2006 fillies.

They are as distinct in character as ever. Quijotita is still Meryl Streep at her most Baroness von Blixen. You can almost see the trailing gown and languid gestures. She is markedly taller than the others, and growing into her inherited Pallares elegance.

Queridita - the little darling - has a special place in Andres’ affection. Something about her just grabs him - she is a little gazelle, so light in her movements. Her peculiarity is to stick her tail straight up in the air like a warthog and perform a perfectly suspended natural piaffe

And as for Barquillera - all she needs is a beret and a palette, and she would be an exemplary member of the 1890’s Paris artists colony. Unconventional, gauche, a touch of audacity.

Baturra: Well, I said last time she was the epitome of a broodmare: now she is into outright flirting. If there is a stallion within 100 metres, her ears go up, her head goes down, her nose reaches out - Fortunately for her (and us) she is destined for breeding.

Original images © Josephine Cánovas