Lanton Hill Farm Holidays

The summer of 2007 was extremely busy for us here at Lanton Hill with the Cottage and Granary both available for holiday letting. Saturdays became a blur of ‘change over’ ! Very nice to welcome previous guests back and also to meet new clients. Our visitors from Yeovil were so pleased they created the delightful montage above.

Having a bit of work for the dogs with Edward, or just watching him at work with our own dogs, is extremely popular and shows no sign of abating. Edward was very content at having made the decision not to do the big public demonstrations during the summer, finding plenty of eager takers at home.

It was very difficult saying no to the various Game Fair committees’ etc. but Edward seriously felt that he had done several years successfully and was pretty sure it was time for a change before his own style and methods got stale, for the largely similar audiences at these shows. Stop while the going is good, is his maxim!

We managed a marvelous weeks holiday away on the Kyle of Lochalsh, with two of our grandsons and sister and brother-in law . The setting was ideal, on the opposite side of the loch from Eileen Donan Castle.

Picture of Figgy, with Steve and older Labradors.

Figgy goes to America. When the grouse season starts in August Edward has had a very busy time preparing his team of dogs for the often long days in the heather.

Picture of Training Labradors.

Edward was invited to join an American party of guns , down in Durham , including a valued client of ours , from New Hampshire , who already has three of our Labradors.

He duly set off with his team of Labradors and a couple of cockers.

Figgy made such a fuss of the client , on the edge of the butt etc. and he fell madly in love with her….and so began the tussle of hearts and minds over dear Figgy ! She had been such a favourite here from being a little pup…..just one of those who loved life and everyone in it . She never had a thought of doing anything wrong and wanted to please every moment of life. We had had two successful litters from her , though sadly not one to re-produce her own lovely blue roan.

After all the overtures and offers of hands in marriage and dowries etc. and much wringing of hands by Elizabeth , the decision was made that she could go across the pond. It was one of the most difficult trips to the airport , only mitigated by the fact that the client was so very well known to us and ultimately , kindness itself to all his dogs.

Having received these lovely pictures of her , enjoying herself in her new environment ,being so well loved , it seemed not such a terrible decision after all.

Les Amis d’Onno.

Major excitement in the autumn with the arrival at Lanton Hill , for the winter of our very own ‘French Connection’. Son William and daughter in law Sue , with the children Bethany twenty and Jacob eighteen . Will had work to do on the Cottage and on our drive-way here and the children wanted to re-established their childhood links in the area and hopefully to find work they enjoyed ,using the facilities here for their extensive friesian horse enterprise.

The family have been used to doing various demonstrations with their horses in France from Versielle in the north to Toulon in the south and were keen to get venues organised for similar shows up here. Sue drove the horse lorry and William followed behind with the discovery and trailer , with all his equipment on board.

Bethany and Jacob have set too with various tasks, while Bethany is still studying for her degree course and both wanted to get their driving licences underway..It has been great fun having them all around , along with their attendant relatives and friends etc.

The horses took to the grass at Lanton Hill in fine style and have kept well and content with the surroundings here. The family put on a couple of shows for the Riding for the Disabled Groups and have been grateful for the facility of the ménage for their rehearsals.

More work is coming their way via filming and other historical groups in the south of Scotland.

Picking up Picture with Edward and others.

Group of Labradors.

The autumn flew by with Edward out four and five times a week picking up on local estates , firstly on partridge and then pheasant, as the grouse season waned. Young Poacher was the only real youngster in training and he came on very well during the autumn ,with his first outings in the field and then to picking up, seeing a lot and only allowed to do very little .He was sold as a young trained dog , almost at the end of the season.

Picture of Emmy. Picture of yellow Ruler, with other Labradors.

The only other youngsters, were Emmy and Ruler ,bitch and dog by Claus , out of a very nice local bitch ,whom Edward saw regularly on the picking up field. Sealpin Claus is producing some really lovely offspring ,with a variety of bitches , we are very happy with those we have bred a t home. He is such a handsome dog ,with lovely temperament and can be seen, along with his pedigree , on the web-site. Ruler, who is yellow, will be staying here for the time being ,training along really well and very pleasing to Edward in his work. Emmy is being trained for the client in America and should be going out to him in June.