Bella, Swedish Warmblood Princess

Monday, 14 June 2010, while I was returning from working the booth at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, I got a 5am (Pacific time) call from Dr. Tom Newton, Little Hawk Farm, Crozier, VA. (I had sent Erika to him for foaling...to use a famous quote "I don' no nuthin' bout birthin' babies".) I was up and packing for an early flight when Tom called with the news that Erika, who was not due until 20 June, had presented us with a very strong baby girl and that mother and daughter were doing fine. I was delighted beyond belief...even tho I was hoping for a colt. Tom described described the newborn filly to me as having equal hind socks midway up the canon bones and shorter stocks on both fore feet, a big star tapering into a blaze and snip...lots of chrome! He wasn't joking!!!

By the time my flight had reached the Ft. Worth/Dallas airport, he had emailed photos to me. That's when I discovered that I had put my chargers in the checked bag and had no battery left in my laptop. I had a 3 hr layover, so I roamed the airport for one of their free internet stations. I finally found one that worked and found there were several photos in my email, but since the files were large, I could only look at one. That was enough to see the filly was beautiful!

I brought Erika and her baby home on Friday. After much consideration and name testing, the filly turned and looked at me when I called her Bella...it was clear she liked that from among the many names everyone had suggested.

Bella watching became the neighborhood entertainment until it got really hot in July. We put a table and chairs under the crepe myrtle trees, sipped cool drinks and enjoyed watching Bella cavort, run full out and explore her surroundings.

Watching Bella learn to kick, buck and finally trot was simply magnetic. We couldn't tear ourselves away until she would plop down for a nap. A good friend, Martha Alliegro, from Gloucester, is documenting Bella with her camera and has snapped many great photos. I have put many of them on my FaceBook page as has Martha. We noted that she watched her mother enjoy a shower bath and then have a good roll...so Bella tried it and loved it!

Practicing piaffe?

Here is Bella, 8 days old, at full gallop with Erika looking in amazement at her daughter.

Erika: Does Bella never stop running?