2014 - Page 3 of 4 - Red Heart Appaloosas

Shiny Silver…..

August 8, 2014/0 Comments/in Appaloosa Horse Club UK, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

We are all ready for the Appaloosa Club UK National Show tomorrow. Last years silver has been cleaned and engraved.

Looking at the 2013 winnings of Hevans EV Catorrius it was a pleasure to read the previous winners and wonderful to know Reus’s name is engraved along side some outstanding horses.

The Yearling Colt Trophy , The Male Champion, The Spotless Salver and The Yearling Colt Class winner. It seems so long ago, it feels like he’s been a big two year old forever.

The lorry has undergone a little improvement, the addition of an extended partition (full width and extended height, ceiling to floor). This has enabled a colt and a filly to travel together. I am confident (after a few trail runs) we can make the National Show in one trip.

I have great company tomorrow, Crystal is leading Heavans EV Pascalius, Frank is helping with Hevans EV Catorrius (I also heard he’s bringing a picnic – hope its not just the chocolate bar), my mother is meeting us there and will be supervising the children along side their father who is in charge of photography.

Lets see what the day brings us?

Central Prefix – Our Identity…

August 2, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion /by Paula Cooper

Absolutely delighted to recieve Redheart’s prefix certificate, from Central Prefix Register.

All future home bred Redheart Appaloosa horses can now be registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club UK & The British Appaloosa Society with this prefix.

CENTRAL PREFIX REGISTER CERTIFICATE

An opportunity for prospective buyers to create their own name after the Redheart prefix.

Back to Basics……..

July 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

We have achieved a great deal in Hevans EV Catorrius’s training to date. Reus has his own paddock, he can see the girls and is not isolated, he is settled and we do not work him in his own paddock. He is lunged, worked in hand and driven in a separate field, there is no confusion on “work” time! We also use a round pen or go for a walk in hand around the lanes. I never let him get bored and am always striving to find new challenges.

I am confident and firm with him, never letting him know he is physically stronger than me. Long reining has given him a great opportunity to see the world outside the farm gates and keeps him focused on going forwards.

A well behaved colt is a well-trained one, I am always on my guard for everything that is going on around us and I am constantly thinking ten steps ahead of him. It is tiring and frustrating to loose placing’s because of his hormones, in time I am sure he will switch off at the shows.

At present, Reus is turned out during the night and stabled during the day! This change has enabled him to have a longer duration of time out in his paddock, avoiding the flies and eating the grass instead of standing in his field shelter out of the sun.

I hope this change along with a structured training plan will enhance his concentration & performance?

He really has a kind nature when his hormones are not aroused……….

Education………

July 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Redheart Catorrius, Redheart Pascalius /by Paula Cooper

Before

Another change made at Redheart Appaloosa’s has involved the purchase of a few sheets of ply board, a few pots of paint and the help of my daughters.

We have had great fun at the start of the School Summer Holidays making a secure “round pen” to help build the relationship with the young stock!

During.

The decorated panels should enhance a bold approach to similar surroundings in the future for the young stock.

After

Hevans EV Pascalius was amazed!

Hevans EV Catorrius quietly walked around looking at each design!

The round pen certainly has brightened up the training / education sessions, as we head back to basics with Reus and prepare Evee for the Appaloosa Horse Club UK National Breed Show.

Testing & Pushing the Boundary………

July 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Redheart Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

Achieving the “mileage” on the showing circuit with Hevans EV Catorrius, today we attended the APHC UK Southern Show at Pachesham Equestrian Centre in Surry.

Gaining 2^nd place in the male under three years and Reserve Champion Young Stock.

Assessing Reus behaviour recently in the ring, it is my assumption he has realised during his “show”, there is an opportunity to play and show off without being reprimanded!

This behaviour is totally unacceptable especially so late in the season!

He has learnt to “switch off” outside the ring, he will walk around the ring with other horses and will stand for the judge.

Being aroused by the ladies and getting his penis out is nature, I only try to distract him, dealing with his behaviour and gaining his concentration is key and seems to be working.

Reus was imprinted at birth and has been educated to a high degree of manners and understanding. There is nothing I cannot do with him at home, he is a very sweet, calm and intelligent natured horse and a very quick learner. Nothing phases him and his inquisitive nature enables me to achieve more in his education than most two year olds I have dealt with. Perhaps this is one trait of the Appaloosa shining through?

It is the testosterone that switches Reus character at the events. The presence of this hormone gives him a thicker “cresty” neck and a more muscular physique. On occasions his presence makes him head strong and hard to handle and sometimes he is unpredictable with his actions.

I am always on my guard for a high leg or a swing from his head,

aware of the danger and consequence should he get loose in the ring.

It is not in Reus’s character to intentionally misbehave, It is my understand that he is pushing the boundaries and testing me?

Just like “the terrible two’s” of a child!

My aim is to persevere and change his attitude, going back to basics at home. We need to enhance our bond, I need to regain his trust and respect starting with a change of routine. A possible change to future showing maybe to compete English style, this will give us more control in a bridle and the bonus of being allowed to carry a showing cane will help reiterate who’s boss!

We have a few weeks before the Nationals, I hope to achieve a significant difference by this show!

Time will tell….

Hormones Oop’ North…….

July 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Redheart Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

An early start for Hevans EV Catorrius, a straight run on the M5 and M6 to the Appaloosa Horse Club UK Northern Show, held at the very impressive venue of Myerscough College. Preston. Lancashire.

We arrived an hour before the first class to allow Reus to stretch his legs, have a look around and warm up. He was an absolute dream but as the horses started to arrive and the first class got under way the hormones kicked in…….again!

Although he won the APHC USA main registered Appaloosa young stock, placed second in both the APHC UK colts under three and Open Colts / Stallions any age he was an absolute nightmare to handle!

There was no way he could possibly get a place in the Championships as he spent most of his time on his hind legs with his penis out! We don’t get this problem at home even though we have four females in his surroundings, therefore it is very difficult to reprimand him at the shows.

I am sure (hope) this is a phase he is going through and in his defence the indoor arena was very humid with the scent of either a “in season” filly or the scent of female urine held in the surface of the indoor arena?

This show was our first indoor venue for 2014 but an experience to remember for next time….…….

Another huge relief…..

June 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Kiss My Finest Heart, Peyres Catori Cat, Princesse Pascale, RDF Ti Kha Atta Rain, Redheart Cateaster, Redheart Pascalius /by Paula Cooper

Awaiting the following cycle after her foal heat, Peyres Catori Cat was booked in at Three Counties Equine Hospital LLP for an Artificial Insemination (AI) package with the semen from RDF Ti Kha Atta Rain.

Peyres Catori Cat had her 1^st pregnancy scan today,

which proved to be positive!

Princesse Pascale also had a scan to confirm a

heartbeat and healthy maintained pregnancy !

As I look out across the field I see the mares happy and content, pregnant for 2015 and my two Kiss My Finest Heart fillies growing and enjoying life……

What a relief, very excited about the new arrivals out of Peyres Catori Cat & Princesse Pascale by RDF Ti Kha Atta Rain.

Great Friends…………

June 21, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Peyres Catori Cat, Princesse Pascale, Redheart Catorrius, Redheart Pascalius /by Paula Cooper

Last night Hevans EV Pascalius was prepared for her first show, she is an amazingly quiet yearling, bathed, clipped, dressed over and braided with out a care in the world! Because Hevans EV Catorrius was entered, this meant two trips with the lorry so Evee was booked a stable the night before. She loaded and travelled beautifully and settled in the main barn at the ApHC UK Midland Show at Summer House Equestrian Centre, Gloucester.

Evee was entered in ApHC USA Reg – fillies/mares and Main Reg – Fillies 3 years and under. She won both classes and was awarded a special for the best yearling. This was a wonderful introduction to her showing career, Evee wasn’t naughty but scared. The judge was very obliging, I was allowed to encourage and relax the filly before leaving the ring on a “good note”. Very much appreciated, all the work at home vanished into thin air, there was so much for her to observe and I was relieved when her head started to lower!

Reus was entered in Best Condition & Turnout 3 years & under, ApHC USA Reg – colts / stallions / geldings and Main Reg – Colts 3 years and under. Again, taking first place qualified both horses into their own class Championships and Young Stock Championship.

Qualifying a colt and a filly in the Young Stock Championship meant an extra pair of hands!

My mother came to the rescue, as always!

Hevans EV Catorrius took the Championship with Hevans EV Pascalius as Reserve!

History repeating itself, it was only a few years ago, my Mother and I stood with Princesse Pascale and Peyres Catori Cat, the Dam’s of these young stock!

Such a wonderful experience again to be stood in the ring with my mother!

During the morning, to my delight two very good friends Frank and Crystal who I work with turned up at the show! These two people have years of experience with horses and are more than capable of dealing with any situation……..Evee & Reus were taken from me in turn as one went in the ring, one came out etc…….Frank walked Evee around showing her the sights of the showing world and Crystal ensured Reus was kept occupied out of the way of the fillies!

Phew…….so very much appreciated and so glad to have such GREAT FRIENDS! Thank you both x

Chalk & Cheese…..

June 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Redheart Cateaster, Redheart Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

Today I received and have loaded on her page, Easter’s Genetic Report.

One of the lovely things about these Appaloosa’s is their colour and coat pattern, very much what the breed is so well recognised for.

If you look at Reus, you could not say for sure “That’s an Appaloosa”. Look at Easter and it’s obvious she’s an Appaloosa, bearing in mind they are full siblings!

Easter has been confirmed LP/LP – Homozygous for the Leopard Print gene. I can confidently say she is affected by Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB), therefore her management will be dealt with appropriately.

All my horses are kept in a routine, out during the day and stabled at night. Easter will already be adapting to her condition since birth. Keeping her routine gives her a safe place to eat, drink and sleep during the night. I will adjust my transporting times during her future showing career ensuring I plan the travelling times to and from the events in the daylight, for her own safety and to protect all parties involved.

The advantage of her LP status is she will produce a characteristic foal 100% of the time!