Heads Up…………

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

With the day length increasing as the season progresses I believe everyone must be feeling better as we enter the spring months of March, April and May. Welcoming the sun and a general warmer climate, seeing the buds appear and witness the regrowth of the grass gives us all a lift of enthusiasm. More importantly, Spring is the start of reproduction in many animals but there is an awe of excitement here at Redheart Appaloosas as we anticipate the safe arrival of our two 2015 Redheart foals.

Peyres Catori Cat

Peyres Catori Cat

 

Peyres Catori Cat and Princesse Pascale are in their 9th & 10th months of gestation respectively. They are both in foal to RDF Ti Kha Atta Rain. Both mares are extremely well in themselves, looking very healthy in their coats and very well-conditioned.

Princesse Pascale

Princesse Pascale

Assuming both foals are born healthy, correct and without  complications, these foals will be for sale with the following;

  • An Equine Genetics report. All our horses are free from PSSM & Grey gene.
  • An Equine Parentage Report.
  • A Veterinary Health Check Report.
  • An APHC Certificate of Registration.
  • An APHC pedigree certificate.
  • A passport with the ApHC UK
  • Desensitised at birth, micro chipped, vaccinated, wormed and feet trimmed as required.
  • Insured until agreed day of collection or delivery by prior agreement.
  • Registered with the Foundation Appaloosa Association.
  • Princesse Pascale’s foal will qualify and be registered with the Foundation Appaloosa Horse Registry.
  • Registered and enrolled in the APHC Foundation Pedigree Designation (FPD) programme.

Princesse Pascale’s foal will be enrolled at 100% FPD

Peyres Catori Cat’s foal will be enrolled at 97% FPD

Both foals will be half-siblings to many other proven Atta foals. Please have a look at his NEW website WD Appaloosas.

Both foals due are from two successful mares who have obtained many competitive titles. Please view  their details and achievements Peyres Catori Cat and Princesse Pascale.

Princesse Pascale’s foal will be half-sibling to the 2014 Female Yearling Champion at the BApS National 2014 and multi Reserve Champion yearling, Redheart Pascalius.

Peyres Catori Cat’s foal will be half-sibling to the multi Champion and International Top 5 for 2-year-old colts, Hevans EV Catorrius.

Redheart Pascalius

Redheart Pascalius

Hevans EV Cattorius

Hevans EV Cattorius

Redheart Cateaster

Redheart Cateaster

 

With the prefix Redheart there is an opportunity for a prospective purchaser to name the foal. Due to the time scale of registration with APHC and the legal obligation to obtain a passport before 6months old. It is recommended your interest be confirmed ASAP for you to secure a name.

I would appreciate Redheart foals will be sold to those who understand and accept the expenses involved and are confident to take on a long-term commitment, valuing the Appaloosa x Appaloosa breeding we have here at Redhearts.

It is my wish that a Redheart foal will be sold to a loving home with the intention and passion to enhance its future by either competing, breeding or both and continue to support the APHC.

A foal is an exceptional opportunity to personally train, starting with a blank canvas is priceless.

 It is the “right” person that develops the “right” horse to build the “right” partnership.

Please contact me and register your interest.

 At the present time we can only give you the “Heads Up” ……..

International Recognition……..…..

/0 Comments/in , /by

One thing we set our selves here at Redheart Appaloosas’ is goals. They are realistic and based upon each individuals horses performance. Whether we are the only one in the class or party to a class split because of high entries, their performance is noted from the time each horse has eaten it’s breakfast to the time its eaten its supper.

The result of a day’s showing is not just about the performance in the ring. We can only measure our success from the previous outings and strive to continuously improve.

We use the utility classes to gain a measure of the horse’s attitude, the ability to extend their gait on the surface and become familiar with the new surroundings and surprisingly “odd” features.

We learn so much from these classes which in turn puts us “right” for the following classes that really do matter by gaining points.

One point……….

Redheart Pascalius

Redheart Pascalius

 

Hevans EV Catorrius

Hevans EV Catorrius

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ApHC UK National show 2014

This proved to be a  successful day for Redheart Pascalius with Crystal Radford and myself with Hevans EV Catorrius.

 

What was not recognised at the time was the “one point” earned by winning the Stallion class. This  point was enough to put Hevans EV Catorrius on the International Top Five table. I have been notified recently about this International ranking and he continues to be present for the fourth month in a row.

APHC Journal December 2014

APHC Journal December 2014

APHC Journal January 2015

APHC Journal January 2015

APHC Journal February 2015

APHC Journal February 2015

APHC Journal March 2015

APHC Journal March 2015

 

This has been a surprise and we are very much delighted to learn of this International recognition.

Valentine’s Red Heart

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The name “Redheart” has another meaning when it comes to Valentine’s Day.

Although in the “normal” sense many people will exchange cards, gifts or flowers for their special “valentine”.

Here at Redheart Appaloosas we honour the memory of the importation of;

Peyres Catori Cat from France in 2008 and Princesse Pascale from Austria in 2009.

Peyres Catori Cat

Peyres Catori Cat

Princesse Pascale

Princesse Pascale

 

Imports of 14th February 

 Today, we remember these fillies at six months old.

What they have achieved to date…..

The wonderful foals they have produced……

I am honoured to have such wonderful mares.

 

Catori & PP February 2015 AM

Catori & PP February 2015

 

Princesse Pascale

Princesse Pascale (Foal due April 2015)

Peyres Catori Cat

Peyres Catori Cat (Foal due May 2015)

 

Redheart Pascalius

RedheartPascalius

Hevans EV Catorrius

Hevans EV Catorrius

Redheart Cateaster

Redheart Cateaster

 

Redheart Pascalius, Hevans EV Catorrius (with his love Katkin) & Redheart Cateaster

February 14th 2015

Happy Valentines……….

Figuring it out…………

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

 

 

I have no judgement upon breeders who cross their Appaloosas, it is my own personal goal to improve my horses blood line with increased Foundation blood. It is the history (many versions) that fascinates me and the only competition I have is with myself.

Breeding a horse involves following/studying other proven professionals, supporting the relevant associations, establishing a breeding plan and using stock supported by their competition titles. Understanding the genetics and the pedigrees that support the future off-spring. 

One of our goals at Redheart Appaloosas is to improve our Appaloosa x Appaloosa blood line. The percentages of Foundation Blood is not the only criteria considered, although in doing so we are creating a unique blood line and gene pool here in the UK.

Studying the young stock here at Redheart Appaloosas (as they develop), it is quite clear they all have a certain presence in statue. This is a great quality to have and so may it continue. We are fortunate to have imported two quality mares, not only have they proved themselves under the judge’s eye, their quality genes have been “stamped” on their off spring. This is very important as they continue to produce a future line of full/half-brother and sisters. Make no mistake, using the same Stallion has also contributed to the present stocks quality.

Planning and developing my breeding plan has been a priority for a few years…..looking for a quality homozygous Stud colt with high Foundation Blood,  a clear panel of genetic results and excellent confirmation etc. has not been an easy task.

In due course, we will be delighted to introduce you to our future potential REDHEART STALLION, when he has safely arrived here in the UK.

At this present time I can confidently say, we have found what we have looked for, I have “figured out” all the numbers and to my delight they add up…….

 

 

Keep an eye on us……..

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

2015 is here and Redheart Appaloosas wish you all the very best.

The past is the past and nothing can be changed but on reflection all the horses have exceeded themselves and can only progress further. We had an exciting year full of ups and downs just like everyone else but we are all looking up at the same stars.

The memberships are renewed and the 2015 diary is slowly being edited for the show circuit ahead. The promotional advertising is currently in the making and my Christmas show shirt for 2015 has arrived.

 

2015

 

Heavans EV Catorrius

Reus will compete in the three-year old colt section this season, having a fruitful 2014 he has nothing to prove and we look forward to the prospect of licensing him as a Stallion later this year.

REUS

HEVANS EV CATORRIUS

Redheart Pascallius

Evee, had a nice introduction to the showing world in 2014. We look forward to her development during her two-year old season ahead.

EVEE

REDHEART PASCALIUS

Redheart Cateaster

Easter, now a yearling and is a precocious compact filly. 2015 will be start of her showing campaign.

EASTER

REDHEART CATEASTER

Peyres Catori Cat

Catori proved to be an excellent broodmare yet again in 2014. We greatly look forward to the safe arrival of her foal in May 2015.

CATORI

PEYRES CATORI CAT

Princesse Pascale

PP is was confirmed pregnant in 2014. We are excited to view the safe arrival of Redheart’s first Foundation foal.

PP

Princesse Pascale

Follow the future of these Registered Appaloosas as we aim to enhance the Foundation Blood Lines and prove their quality under the judges eye.

Or just Keep an eye on us……..

 

 

Dawn to Dusk………….

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

 At Redhearts, we are no different to any another horse owner during these winter months, finding the long months a challenge. Irrespective if your horse/s live in and worked or live out or come in during the night, the work load is immense. The commitment to strive through the elements of the weather is the small price you pay for the satisfaction of being a horse owner. Taking on the frozen pipes, the extra manure due to the longer hours spent in the stable and ad lib hay. Not to mention the muddy fields……..I could go on!

None the less I look forward to the winter, “letting the horses down”, letting them get muddy, grow a winter coat and be “horses” is all part of their education, especially for the young stock, I believe this is one factor of many that is key to their future.

Although I find it a challenge, with work, the school runs and general family life, it is only what I know now. The race against the day light hours,I find preparation and organisation at the weekends without compromising the care of the horses makes life easier. Long gone are my days of changing rugs and warming the bit up…..

Today the sun shone and I had time to take some up to date images. It is amazing to see what a bit of sun can do, the young stock certainly had fun……

The broodmares grazed….

The Redheart fillies played……

Reus constantly annoyed the pony……..

      

Despite a thick  dirty coat, an over grown mane and  splashed with mud, he still looks a “handsome two-year old colt”…..

 

 

Who is the Appaloosa?

 

The cold dry days are far more enjoyable than the wet windy ones and the horses actions support this quite clearly.

The race against the clock from Dawn to Dusk has been captured beautifully by my very patient daughters.

 

Dawn, the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before the sunrise, time to get those horses out…..in aid of Easter because of her night blindness.

Dusk, during early stages of twilight, there is enough light in the sky under clear-sky conditions to get the horses in without the aid of a torch….

 

When twilight sets the scene, when the Sun itself is not directly visible because it is below the horizon, it’s the countdown to wash your boots and lock up……

Same horses, new names…..

/0 Comments/in , /by

A myth or not, I have always believed to change a horses “stable name” is bad luck. I cannot say I know anyone who has changed a “stable name” and experienced bad luck but then how do you decide what is bad luck? The life of the horse or your own personal life with that horse?

None the less, I know plenty of horses and owners that have re-named their horses registered name. I do not believe you obtain bad luck for changing the registered name and I can vouch for this in my own personal experience.

When Mr Jones bred his mares Helen and Mary, his late wife Doreen named them Mary So Gay and Helen So Gay.  They were re-named Helen Tudor and Mary Tudor after the farm “Mount Tudor”. We had great success with them and no bad luck during their days, Mary passed away of natural causes a few years ago in her late 20’s and Helen is still going strong nearly in her 30’s. Fantastic ages for Thoroughbreds.

So, I do not believe bad luck is upon me for having (out of my control) to re-name Hevans EV Pascalius and Hevans EV Cateaster.

With the prefix “Hevans” already taken in the UK under the Central Prefix Register, the rules are different in the USA where my horses are registered.  Although “Hevansev” was a prefix available to me here, it made little sense for future foals and was very difficult to pronounce.

Having collected my passports yesterday, I can officially introduce you to the same horses with their new names, REDHEART PASCALIUS and REDHEART CATEASTER.

HEVANS EV PASCALIUS

Evee, same horse new name….

REDHEART PASCALIUS

 

 

HEVANS EV CATEASTER

Easter, same horse new name…..

 

REDHEART CATEASTER

Wish us luck………..

Educating Easter……..

/0 Comments/in , , /by

With Catori settled away from home it has given me an opportunity to bond with Easter, frequently using short periods of quality time educating her without any other distractions. I like this weaning process, only once the first 24hrs have passed. Easter has accepted her mum has gone and not there to comfort her, she is calm and absolutely adorable.

Although Easter was imprinted at birth I believe it is very important to expose her gradually to the sights, sounds and procedures she will encounter next year and future life. I spent and completed the same tasks with Reus and Evee and they both have made the last two years showing an enjoyable and hassle free experience. (Reus’s hormones excluded from that statement).

In my experiences, handling/training light weight impressionable young stock is far less of a risk than the four-year old National Hunt store horses I have always been used to…..very challenging.

I really enjoy working with young stock, earning their trust and respect is very rewarding. Starting with a blank canvas is very precious and can easily go wrong if their reactions are misunderstood. The important thing is patience, a calm positive approach and plenty of time.

Learning from repetition, I do not move on to the next stage until the first stage can be repeated without question with any task. Their reward is only ever a good scratch on the neck with a kind tone of voice and never a titbit, that’s just a personal preference.

Here are the task’s Easter has encountered, overcome and completed with A* so far………

Will confidently enter and exit her own stable without question and will stand back from the stable door and wait for her head collar to be applied without moving.

 

Easter could tie up (next to mum) but now on her own, in and out of the stable.

Can be led at a confident walk from both sides, this was really from her early days with mum to and from

the field.

A tiny venture on the lane which was a fantastic effort to leave the yard, this was Easter’s curiosity taking me not me asking her….

 

She already was able to pick up her feet with ease and confidence but now whilst tied up on her own with great balance.

Can confidently enter deep water and play….

She has been desensitized all over her body with a towel but now we can use a soft brush, finding those itchy spots.

Asking for a step back, a light pressure to the shoulder has been applied and accepted.

Can confidently walk up the lorry ramp, stand, wait and walk slowly back down.

Here is the process of Easter loading the horse lorry for the first time.

  Content, confident and happy. Job done.

The ongoing tasks not yet experienced……

One of my favourites, “the clippers” especially around the head…..a long working process.

Throwing a sheet over her (even head) from both sides without flinching.

Walking on and over a polythene sheet, seeing blowing balloons, hearing loud music, playing with a variety of objects and the best one of all, the aerosol spray can……

To tie and stand on the lorry and later accept the ramp closed. Eventually go for a journey around the block. This is probably the best education that puts them just right before their first show.

Allowing traffic to pass, with the dark nights the lights on cars I believe is not a true reflection of what a car looks and sounds like. Easter has night blindness so I will be leaving the traffic experience until next year.

Only by teaching her these experiences will make the preparation for showing an effortless task next year but also a valuable education for the future. When leaving the yard at stupid ‘O’ Clock in the mornings, when time is so precious, do you realise how much your yearling has learnt and should never be taken for granted.

Catori is home now and was reunited with Easter over the stable door. It really is an unbelievable reaction as they act like strangers. Easter greeted her mum with the “mouthing” action demonstrating her submissive behaviour, “I am just a baby, please don’t hurt me”!

CD

They are all back out in the field and as you can see, all very confidently grazing away from each other, yet in their comfort zone.

G

 

 

When mum is out of sight and ear shot there is an exceptional window of opportunity to educate a weanling, they are like “sponges” and readily absorb any education offered to them.

 

Weeping at weaning time….………

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Over the last four years, I question myself why am I breeding when it comes to weaning. I feel so much pain for the mare and foal it’s pathetic but perhaps it has something to do with motherhood?

Easter is now six months old and I have observed her very closely over the last few weeks. During the day (out in the field) I have noticed the distance between her and Catori and Easter’s strong bond with Evee has developed considerably. Catori (although five months pregnant) has been content being with her best friend PP, a perfect match for scratching and grazing.

Being one of the most stressful experiences in a horse’s lifetime (never mind the owners)  my aim is to minimise the stress for mare and foal. I have ensured Easter has had a good start in life, she is up to date with her jabs, her feet have been regularly trimmed and she’s carrying enough weight to head into the winter months and cope with the weaning process. She is a greedy little filly and I have no doubt her digestive system is ready.

So I did it, yesterday Catori was loaded into the lorry as a vacancy arose at Will Hunt’s yard, taken away out of ear shot from Easter for a holiday to allow her milk to dry up.

Today is the first day Easter has been without her mum, although a constant neighing last night, the other horses constantly replied to her. I guess, reassuring her they were only next door or telling her to shut up?

Today, the appropriate company was Evee, PP was stabled as I believe three could be a crowd. Evee was so quiet and calm with Easter, no running around, no bossing about, just a quick meet and greet then graze. What a relief and wonderful to see.

Before it got dark, I took Easter for a walk around the yard and made a fuss of her……..

No neighing at this present time.

No more weeping at weaning time.