What a wonderful feeling, seeing owners with their Redhearts.
Wendy came to visit Ru and we delivered Regent to Jane.
After a nice shower, our journey with Regent was very easy, he loads and travels very well and we all were delighted to see how chilled he was at his new home.
Video link to Redheart Regent checking out his new boundary and meeting his new neighbours with his new owner Jane Tull.
Happy horses and happy owners!
None of our horses are perfect and I respect their individual imperfections, they all have different personalities and I treat them accordingly but one thing they all always do is make me smile!
Sunday 19th three of our Redhearts competed at the British Appaloosa Society (BApS) National Show, such a fabulous day, the weather was kind, the competition was strong and the competitors were great fun and in abundance. Thank you to BApS, we know the effort and organisation required to create and produce such an event, true to form, faultless.
The morning proceeded with the in hand classes, DFR Patahas Redheart had a warm up in the Hunter Class taking a fourth from strong competition and later a second in the Licensed Stallion Class, qualifying for the Male Championships but we decided to take our yearling, which proved to be the right decision.
Redheart Catorrius had a warm up in the in hand four years and over gelding, before asking him to parade around in our BApS coloured attire for Concours d’Elegance.
Later, we competed in two ridden classes and although he is still showing signs of greenness we can’t complain because his performance is in progress and delighted to be in the ribbons.
Yet again the day was stolen by Redheart Reality. Our yearling gelding’s performance at sixteen months old is just outstanding. Being placed in a few classes put him forward for the Championships. Taking the Reserve Champion Youngstock, the Reserve Male Championship and wait for it…the Reserve Supreme Champion of the Show.
What an awesome result for his first season in the ring.
A flat-out week preparing three horses for the Appaloosa Horse Club UK National Show and then the weekend was no different as we helped celebrate their 18th anniversary at Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire.
We took three Redhearts, our Stallion Blu who excelled in his presence, standing quietly in the warm-up and ring even with the mares, such a sweet boy. Guilty as charged, he made an awful sound by grinding his teeth for his two first classes but this thankfully disappeared after he had a wee 
He competed in a variety of classes, always in the ribbons but his highlight was winning the UK Stallion Class and taking the Championship, awarded the Tiptoe Stud Shield, this was the only class I managed to stop him grabbing his chain in the trot up which was very frustrating!!
The only Redheart under saddle is Reus, the Western classes were Trails and we progressed nicely. Reus was scared of the bridge and the blue sparkly rope to the gate but we completed the course…eventually! We then changed to English and although we need to work on our “up and down” transitions he rode willingly in our Equitation classes, winning his first class and being placed second in the Open. I really could not have asked any more from this chap.
But, the day was stolen by Reus’s son Redheart Reality. For his second show and the first time in an indoor arena, he didn’t disappoint us. Winning the Most Colourful UK and the USA being awarded the Rhodes Appaloosa Trophy, then taking Reserve Champion. He then won his age group in UK and USA gelding, taking the Reserve Champion and finally completing his day with Reserve Champion Youngstock. He’s such an awesome yearling, a delight to be around and so easy to deal with.
All three Redhearts excelled themselves, I couldn’t be more pleased.
A very special thank you to my neighbour Abbie Lovegrove, who was an A* groom for me on Saturday, so very much appreciated.
The National shows take months even a year to organise and I write on behalf of the ApCH UK members, thank you to ALL the hard-working stewards, supporting volunteers, the ApHC UK directors and the Judges for organising such a wonderful event x
Returning from our family holiday, Reus and I endured an intensive week’s training after having 3 weeks off, no pain no gain…This put us on target for our first WES Area 6.
What an experience, we learned a lot, we sweated a lot, we achieved a lot and now I ache a lot!
Our first Western Equestrian Society (WES) Area 6 event held at Valley View Ranch and Equestrian Centre was a wonderful experience at the weekend.
Over the two days, Reus participated in a few Showmanship, Pleasure, Horsemanship and Trail events, he was never out of the ribbons.
We met some lovely people and made new friends, we made progress in our Western riding and to top off a fantastic weekend we gained an award for best non-Quarter Horse.
An excellent event run by a delightful WES committee in a perfect location with lovely WES members and hosts, what an awesome weekend we had.
Here is a link to Reus’s first Trail
What a superb discipline, to learn the Western way!
