TWO OF A KIND….

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Since our mares Peyres Catori Cat and Princesse Pascale were imported at 6 months of age they have been inseparable. Their connection / bond was quickly noted as a problem when they were at the same show. The lack of concentration in the ring whilst the other mare was calling was frustrating. None the less we dealt with it, keeping them well apart or taking them to different shows.

Since being brood mares their concentration has solely been focused on their foals and nothing else until weaning, only then do they reunite their bonds. After a year off from foaling, something they both deserved their “closeness” had brought about something quite rare…..synchronised seasons!

 


     

Whether this is nature working at its best, whether this is something mares (like human females) living together do or whether it’s just coincidence I don’t know….they have made my life easier this year and if I could show them my gratitude I would….

Both mare’s were admitted to Three Counties Equine Hospital on Friday 6th May for Artificial insemination, I had notification on Sunday 8th May to say both mares were coming along nicely and they would be looking to inseminate the next day. As it happens both mares ovulated between 9am and 1pm the next day and were artificially inseminated. RESUT!

Our breeding plan…. So both mares have great conformation, blood lines, and gaits backed up by their  show records but there is always room for improvement, no horse is 100% perfect…..

Being registered with Appaloosa Horse Club, Appaloosa Horse Club UK and British Appaloosa Society it is with complete intention we ensure the stallions used enable the foals to also be eligible for the same registrations.

Peyres Catori Cat  x  Kiss My Finest Heart

Catori is an intelligent, spirited and precocious well-built mare, we have used Heart’s semen again (imported from Spain) because the foals from this pairing (Hevans EV Catorrius and the late Redheart Cateaster) proved to be fine animals.

 

Princesse Pascale  x  Hevans EV Catorrius

PP is a very quiet reserved mare with an adorable personality, she is very well-built and stands over 16hh. Hevans EV Catorrius should complement the foal with a more compact build and pass on his outstanding intelligence, scope and bravery. Keeping the 100% FPD in mind and keeping the correct confirmation is a high priority.

 

 

On Monday 23rd May,  we saw the result of their 14 day scans, we can confirm that both mares have been successfully scanned and are both in foal.

Princesse Pascale X Hevans EV Catorrius

Princesse Pascale X Hevans EV Catorrius

Peyres Catori Cat X Kiss My Finest Heart

Peyres Catori Cat X Kiss My Finest Heart

 

 

 

14 DAYS

We are always striving for our desired goals,  to get there we would appreciate two more fillies, any colt’s will defiantly be for sale but the fillies we will keep for our future breeding plan using our imported future stallion DFR Patahas Redheart.

We all know breeding is a gamble and there are no guarantees but the end result is always a surprise with Appaloosas, let’s see what arrives in 2017?

They really are TWO OF A KIND……

Each to their own…..

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There is no doubt at the present moment we seem to be just “living”, ensuring the horses are properly cared for and that seems to be about it!

 

 

 

 

 

Every night there is a prime moment that makes me smile, as I drive in to the yard and see this!

 

Yes, I would like to think they are waiting for me….but in reality I know they are waiting for their dinner!

I do not get them in because they are waiting, in fact I don’t get them in until one or two of them “take a walk”……Personally I don’t like to give them routine, mainly because my life style doesn’t allow it. I believe a horse can be stress free with minimal anxiety when they can only expect the unexpected but there are some horses that thrive on routine! Each to their own……

 

 

Nature’s natural grooming session………

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Rolling in the mud has many benefits for horses, not only acting as a barrier against insects / bugs and the weather (warmth in winter and sun block in summer) it is also an ideal method of natural grooming, removing hair, dead skin and aids relief, from those out of reach itchy spots.

It’s been noted that Catori the “leader” is sometimes the first to start rolling, it’s very contagious! The fields recreational activity requires “order” that allows the other horses (not always) to wait for Catori to finish. They then roll nearby or in the same spot! I do witness the most amazing “herd” traits.

Watching them roll, I am sure its their personal “treatment plan”, a massage that helps stretch out their muscles and joints…..yet us humans can pay a fortune for it?

After yesterday’s rain the herd certainly made the most of it….

Well at least they are consistent with their camouflage!

It’s not just a social event but its “Nature’s natural grooming session”.

ONWARDS and UPWARDS…….

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Since the arrival of Blu we have been very busy, against the daylight hours of work and school runs we have now completed the weaning of Ben and Blanc, introduced Blu to the herd and put closure to the awful sad loss of our beloved Easter, lost due to colic on the 13th November 2015.

Moving forward it was essential to isolate Blu on his arrival, not only ensuring he didn’t develop any health issues but allowing him to recover from his journey and slowly introduce him to our routine, feed / forage and the herd.

Prior to his arrival Ben and Blanc were weaned…..

Taking the weanling’s to another field locally meant they were out of sight and ear shot depending on the direction of the wind. It was unbelievably uncomplicated and stress free….Two’s company as they say!

When the time was right, over a period of a week we put Blu in an adjacent field to the girls, not a lot happened but after a little showing off the novelty wore thin everyone was able to say hello over the fence.

 

                                      

 

Back in the weanling field we introduced Blu to Ben and Blanc. The three “B’s”,  Blu, Ben and Blanc quickly became “three peas in a pod”. They say “threes a crowd” and it was Blu who soon stamped his authority and became “top dog”. Although he is smaller, he is nearly sixteen weeks older than Ben and has the advantage of his developed social skills coming from a larger herd.

    

After they settled and the pecking order established, it was time to take a walk down the lane to the big field.

 Head collars on and off we went…….

Catori, PP and Evee were stabled and the three youngsters were let loose.

No running around as they were content grazing….

    

Until O’Deer!

This time it was Blanc that “sparked off”, let’s just say they all stretched their legs…… at least Blu realised where his boundary was? Obviously an essential element before being introduced to the rest of the herd.


 


      

     One lap of the field and they settled and they were all left wondering what was Blanc’s problem?

Until next time the deer appears……..

One thing I am certain about, we don’t introduce a youngster albeit a stranger ie. Blu to an established heard if at ALL possible, limiting the damage of any accidents we introduced one by one. Although long-winded it seems to be the safest way in my opinion. There is no doubt the introduction of a strange horse is an upset for all concerned, I always fear the worse and will ensure to the best of my ability safety comes first. None of the horses have shoes on but a kick in the wrong place can have devastating consequences. The ground is dangerous with surface water making it slippery, running around building up a sweat in the cold weather is not ideal either.

Being a weekend, I had plenty of time to “watch”, early on a wet Saturday morning we introduced Evee to the babies…. Evee is at the bottom of the pecking order amongst Catori and PP, allowing her to show her character with the babies was let’s say “different”. She just stood on her hind legs a few times screaming….No running about just standing tall, making it quite clear she was the boss and it worked. What she didn’t know was it was a temporary position.

                                           

When all settled it was PP’s turn to be introduced.

Blu certainly gave the wrong impression to PP,  I cannot even suggest what he was thinking but PP was very happy to meet him (maybe she thought it was Easter from a distance) but with one sniff of the new arrival she established her thoughts and chased him off….Blu knows were he stands with PP now!

    

Again, as the rest of the herd were now bored, they ignored all the goings on and grazed but constantly checked their surroundings. By the time Catori was introduced, the dominant mare that keeps all in order, nobody was bothered. True to form she came into the field showing her dominance, head down, ears back and spinning around but no body was interested, Blu was quick to work this out and one look from Catori established a distance between them.

The horses have redefined their hierarchy, they are well covered for the winter, have thick dirty coats but are safe, happy and relaxed. Our Foundation Appaloosa’s have freedom, they are “friends” and their physical and mental well-being catered for, now we can move “ONWARDS and UPWARDS”.

ONE mare, two progeny with International status……

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Peyres Catori Cat

There is no doubt Peyres Catori Cat has a special place at Redheart Appaloosa Stud, not only my very first Appaloosa but a correct mare with an outstanding amount of intelligence.

In 2012 her first born, Hevans Ev Catorrius or Redheart Catorrius aka Reus. He won his first Top 5 International status as a two-year old colt.

We are delighted to announce his full sister Redheart Cateaster aka Easter is on the score board in 3rd place for the Top 5  International Yearling Fillies……

The Appaloosa Journal, November 2015

What an accolade this is….

I must give a special THANK YOU to my Mother, Katie Lynch, Crystal Radford and Margaret Lawrence who also played their part in showing Easter in her début showing season of 2015.

      

Taking a first place at each venue of her four shows, our little Easter has an International status from One mare who has two international progeny at Redheart Appaloosas.

Every day they look the same …..

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Having a horse, you develop a routine, the way you work and handle a horse, the way you muck it out, feed it, groom it and everything in between is your personal preference that works for you and your horse.

Here at Redheart Appaloosas I am also set in my ways, there is no right or wrong way or order but a horse needs 365 days attention and commitment.

Seeing a horse every day you do not notice their development. It’s a time period that “one day” stops you in your tracks and you say “I can’t believe it”! I guess this is why I like photography so much, a picture cannot lie……

The developmental growth of the 2015 foals have snuck upon me, today these two photos show how big and strong they actually are when stood alongside their dams.

  

 

They have grown so much but Every day they look the same …..

O’Deer……

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  This is the deer that lives around here…..a wild beautiful creature that we see quite often. It’s never that close to the horses but if she see’s you she’s gone! My daughter captured this gorgeous photo a few weeks back and as you can see she fits in quite well with the Appaloosa’s, although she does have more spots than most of the Redheart Appaloosa’s!

 

 

 

 

 The horses are all settled BUT when the deer is hiding in the hedge, then it only takes one horse to convince the other horses there is a lion, tiger, or bear hiding…..

 

 

 

On this occasion it was Evee….

 

         


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Tail up, snorting and running around the other horses aimlessly until they agreed….run for your life !

    

It wasn’t long before they were just trotting around wondering what they were running away from?

 

PP and Ben stayed close…..

    

So did Catori and Blanc……

 

I adore seeing the 2015 foals move, it doesn’t happen very often but when it does it’s just lovely!

They show the extent of movement they have, hold them selves and look outstanding.

                                                                                        

                                                              

 

 

It’s not long before the adults take charge and set the example, back to grazing thank you Evee.

 

 

 

 

Easter the yearling was the only one that was either prepared to stay and fight or may be she saw the deer and was confused why Evee was so scared?

Either way, she is so laid back neither a deer or her half sister was going to disrupt her grazing.

              

Despite the horses seeing the deer most days, they usually don’t bother to even acknowledge it but some times, just sometimes it’s O’deer….

The Redhearts Meet & Greet……

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After weaning Evee and Easter were back with their dams with no problems, the pecking order was established and each horse respected the others place. Since the birth of Ben and Blanc earlier this year, Evee and Easter have been in an adjacent field.

Now the show season has come to an end, it’s time for Evee and Easter to re-join the herd, they will be turned away for the next six months to mature mentally and physically.

A mares bond with her foal is strong and I question the reaction of the mares when they are re-introduced to their previous foals? Although all the horses have talked over the fence the surprise to see them in the same field was extraordinary….Camera ready!

 

Catori, Blanc, Ben and PP watched the new arrivals enter their “territory”.

 Evee and Easter stayed together in their comfort zone…until Catori chased them, exercising her dominant trait, as head of the “herd”.   It was PP who was the first to say hello to Easter, Catori was having nothing to do with the new arrivals and was determined to keep her foal Blanc well away.

 

PP immediately greeted Evee, her 2013 foal and their affections for each other confused Ben her 2015 foal…

Then the fun began….the 2015 foals became excited and started to show off….

    

 

 It was no surprise, Ben would be the first to approach the girls, so submissive yet so brave…

 

 

It wasn’t long before they all settled, lovely to see the “herd” establishing and learning their social skills. Catori keeping her herd in order and having nothing to do with her previous foal? Everyone knows their status in the pecking order and they happily graze….

 

       

  

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Foundation Appaloosas “GET” in the UK…….

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I really notice the work load getting three ready for a show and Friday night was a very late finish. As the sun came up Saturday morning the day started to unfold with an awe of excitement as Katie and Crystal turned up and we headed off too the Appaloosa Horse Club UK annual National Breed Show at Moreton Morrel. A two-day show full of APPALOOSAS, run exceptionally well by the ApHC UK directors who exceed themselves organising the whole event including a social evening with line dancing and silent auction to raise funds for the Club and maintain their Grass Roots Database.

Outside, we started the day under the UK judge Theresa Simkins where the three young stock competed in the Non Characteristic and Most Colourful Other class’s. Later the three horses continued to excel in their UK classes relative to their sex and age.

Indoor, Reus started the day under the USA Judge Michelle Pfender in the ApHC USA three-year old colts, FPD Halter for colts and Stallions. Easter and Evee both stepped up to the mark in ApHC USA yearling and two-year old fillies respectively. Later in the FPD Halter mares/fillies a very good friend Margaret Lawrence took Easter with ease giving her a lovely lead as I competed with Evee to comply with the ApHC USA membership requirements.

 

 

 

Throughout the day Reus was very calm and relaxed, he certainly is learning to stand quiet and switch off but he still likes to take advantage of a moment to “show off”. There is no reason other than “look at me male syndrome”. There are times when he grows to 17hh, screams and shouts then when he has everybody’s attention he looks embarrassed!!!! Taking USA and UK Stallion Championships, Young Stock Champion and Reserve Supreme made the day.

      

The pictures below are of Reus being awarded the M&J Walsh Shield for the Young Stock Championship.

The two small children are Youth members Poppy Spivey and Daisy Williams, they were so very sweet and quiet and gave Reus a kiss. They held a teddy bear named Liberty (aka Bertie). He was on his travels representing a charity called Lighterlife, who are a leading national weight loss company helping individuals to change their lives.

 I think this picture shows clearly the sensitive nature of horses in general with regards to small children and hence why so many unfortunate children with disabilities gain so much happiness from horses. A wonderful moment captured by my mum and Simon Coates Photography.

Champion & Reserve Champion Young Stock.                                                               Margaret Lawrence with her two-year old gelding Teddy Crookberrow

HEVANS EV CATORRIUS’S DAY

 


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Evee in my opinion is still growing through the “gormless” two-year old stage just like her mum did but her neck is developing and she doesn’t look as bad as she did. Evee is very well in herself and coat but we are experiencing some two year old “tantrums” and “sulking”. One common factor I have experienced,  – BEING TWO YEARS OLD. Just like my children and when showing Peyres Catori Cat, Princesse Pascale, Reus and now Evee at two they just want to see how far they can push you before you lose the plot!!!! Pushing the boundary in the ring where I am 100% sure they know they cannot be reprimanded…… None the less by the end of the day she was tired and gave some beautiful shows, taking the UK Reserve Female Championship with Crystal.

REDHEART PASCALIUS’S DAY

   


 

 

 

 

 

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Evee & Easter with Margaret

Eaters’s first show with Evee at the ApHC UK Midlands show was very relaxed. They didn’t even know they were both at the same event. Easter took everything in her stride and relied on Crystal as her security. It’s a bit different now, poor Katie and Crystal had to stay either end of the show ground and whoever was in the ring had a task obtaining the fillies attention. Both horses have bonded too much and Easter’s insecurity shows by consistently shouting for Evee. They got better as the day progressed and Margaret and Easter took the USA Reserve Female Championship.

One lesson we have learnt about the girls, they now need separating from each other, especially before our next event.

REDHEART CATEASTER’S DAY

     

Two classes we have never been able to enter, “Get of Sire” and “Produce of Dam” but this year we qualified for both. Having all three young stock (the only three in the UK) by the Stallion Kiss My Finest Heart,  qualified us and brought home a first place.

Peyres Catori Cat the Dam Reus and Easter enabled them to compete in Produce of dam, again bringing home a first place.

For me this was the highlight of the day, competing against other superb breeding stock and to my delight on this day the Redheart young stock were clearly both Judges “type”. Their comments were flattering and very sympathetic towards the fillies performance because during their shows they were frightened from some rather distracting noise from dogs in the gallery but credit where credit is due, Crystal and Katie handled the situation well and there were no loose horses as they attempted a flight reaction…

A huge recognition for us, putting the Foundation Appaloosa Horse on the map in the UK and one moment of tense pressure that brought beaming smiles from ear to ear.

The three Redheart Young Stock taking the Get of Sire – Kiss My Finest Heart

Reus and Easter taking the Produce of Dam – Peyres Catori Cat

THE REDHEART YOUNG STOCK

A day when the ApHC USA & UK Judges gave the Redheart Young Stock the “GET” in the UK……

Life Event…….To Breed Your First

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       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.

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

February 14th 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

17TH August 2011 Catori finished her in hand career.

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

   13TH 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.

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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 15th 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….