July 2015 - Red Heart Appaloosas

It’s My Pleasure…….

July 19, 2015/0 Comments/in Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Redheart Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

This morning we headed off to the American Pleasure London Counties Horse Show run by the United Saddlebred Association-UK – American Saddlebreds. A wonderful opportunity for us to compete with the Foreign Breeds.

Our two and a half hour journey was straight forward and the M25 was clear during the early morning……We only had Hevans EV Catorrius / Redheart Catorrius on the lorry as poor Redheart Pascalius was still recovering from her slip at the ApHC UK Southern Show, fingers crossed for the hair to regrow before the ApHC UK National Breed Show.

We had a wonderful day competing in a handful of classes against some stunning seasoned horses.

After a successful day unfortunately our journey home was spent sat on the M25

BUT

It’s my pleasure to be promoting the Foundation Appaloosa……..

Life Event…….To Breed Your First

July 18, 2015/in Foundation Appaloosa Mare, Foundation Appaloosa Stallion, Hevans EV Catorrius, Kiss My Finest Heart, Peyres Catori Cat, Redheart Catorrius /by Paula Cooper

To breed your first born is a special moment and will be treasured.

To be fortunate to breed and keep your first born is very rewarding.

This Blog is a little insight of Reus’s journey to date, from Catori’s 14 day scan to the arrival of two very important certificates.

9^th August 2008 Reu’s Dam was born, Peyres Catori Cat.

February 14^th 2009, we imported her and started her in-hand showing career.

Kiss My Finest Heart

Catori was inseminated 21st July 2011 with the imported semen from Kiss My Finest Heart.

Peyres Catori Cat

17^TH August 2011 Catori finished her in hand career.

Winning the British Appaloosa In Hand Championship at The Royal County Berkshire Show.

13^TH June 2012, we had the most unexpected surprise, with no signs of foaling!

A brown non-characteristic colt, Reus.

Over the next 12 months he was educated and his future planned…..

We started 2013 with a few in-hand shows as a nice introduction. Reus proved to have inherited his mother’s confident traits and it was obvious we had our hands full.

As a two year old, 2014 proved to be a very testing show season. The high level of testosterone alongside his two year old tantrums gave us more determination to prove him. We persevered and happy to say we overcame a few issues, exceeding my expectations towards the end of the season.

The start of 2015 has been pleasant so far but the one major event we anticipated was Reus’s third birthday…..

To comply with the British Appaloosa Society and the Appaloosa Horse Club UK stallion licensing requirements, it was agreed to complete the five stage vetting with the independent vet on the same day for both societies. Reus’s application for his stallion license was organised a while back and booked for Monday 15^th June.

After liaising with both societies, completing the necessary documents, tests and fees, I am now very proud to announce, Reus’s is officially recognised as Hevans EV Catorrius with the ApHC UK (Grade A) and Redheart Catorrius with BApS (Grade A) as a registered licensed Stallion.

We will continue his competition career in hand for the remainder of 2015

The plan is to “collect” from him and hope to have semen available for the 2016 breeding season.

What a memorable Life Event….

Not what you want……

July 13, 2015/0 Comments/in Hevans EV Catorrius, Redheart Catorrius, Redheart Pascalius /by Paula Cooper

Sometimes the force is against you…..sometimes there are little signs and your gut tells you not to go ahead with your plan! Sunday was one of those days…..

After an amazing day with Redheart Cateaster I came home to work Evee and Reus and prepare them for the next day. All done, all good to go for our journey just over two and a half hours away.

Unforeseen circumstance set us off late but we made good time to junction 10 of the M4, then….round about after roundabout after roundabout. Under no circumstance would I give the horses a bad ride but in turn this made us very late.

We took the horses off the lorry straight into the ring which is something I never do and didn’t really think about under the circumstances. Therefore to expect a two-year old and three-year old to stand still was a big ask when their nostrils were flared and tails up!

Needless to say neither I nor Katie did any good and to be honest neither horse deserved to be placed. We used our time wisely, I worked Reus in a corner out the way and unfortunately Evee was not playing the game. It then became obvious she was showing the same miserable signs as four weeks prior at the APHC UK Regional show, season time!!!!

Reus settled and stood to win his class, take the Young stock Championship and Reserve Supreme Champion. Evee continued to be very “mare-ish” and disobedient with Katie.

During a ten minute break between classes Katie squared Evee up and took her back into the arena. Sometimes things happen so quick you don’t know what happened but the result was Katie getting kicked and Evee running loose. Katie was a little shocked and was controlling her painful arm with great dishonesty, something we all do but we all know everyone knows you’re in pain but you keep repeating I’m fine…trying to convince yourself I guess?

Horses generally run back to their comfort zone and sure enough the route to the lorry was with a sharp 45 degree turn. With a lead from the halter dragging, it was a certainty something was going to give. Evee slipped on the concrete and suffered minor superficial grazes, slightly shocked and possibly a tad winded?

It is amazing how horsey people are so quick to react and to everyone that helped, I thank you!

Needless to say our day was cut short as we loaded up and had a quiet slow run home.

All is well, Katie is a little bruised, Evee is sound and will probably miss a few shows while she heals and I have learnt to except sometimes when a mare is in season its best they stay at home!

We have the same red dot on the calendar now…..but its not what you want!

J’ADORE my filly……

July 11, 2015/0 Comments/in Redheart Cateaster /by Paula Cooper

Easter’s second show was an Open Performance Gala held at Three Counties Show Ground.

Her first class was called “World Breeds”, open to horses and ponies with performance potential. Easter was foot perfect, tracked up straight, stood for the judge, stood in line and was an absolute delight to work with. She was placed an honourable third from some quality proven and seasoned competition.

Our second class was for yearlings, colt, filly or gelding, we were in our “class” and placed first, delighted to be pulled forward into the Championship in fourth place.

I can ask no more from this filly at the present moment in time.