16 Months With Redheart Reality

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April 2017 – Redheart Reality imprinted at birth 27/04/17

May 2017 – Redheart Reality and his dam join the heard

June 2017 – Redheart Reality happily enjoying his own feed bowl

July 2017 – Redheart Reality poses for his passport photos

August 2017 – Redheart Reality loses his foal coat and we witness the huge colour change

 

September 2017 – Redheart Reality developing very nicely

October 2017 – Redheart Reality is weaned

November 2017 – Redheart Reality is castrated

December 2017 – Redheart Reality content to be stabled during the bad weather

January 2018 – Redheart Reality accepts restricted turn out during the winter months

February 2018 – Redheart Reality winters well and re-joins the herd

March 2018 – Redheart Reality experiences the first snowfall

April 2018 – Redheart Reality becomes 1 year old and loses his winter coat

May 2018 – Redheart Reality wins the In Hand Reserve Champion award at Royal Windsor

June 2018 – Redheart Reality is trained from the field and enjoys his rest

July 2018 – Redheart Reality learning the ways within a herd

August 2018 – Redheart Reality attends the ApHC UK National Show, taking Reserve Champion Most Colourful, Reserve Champion Gelding and Reserve Champion Youngstock.

August 2018 – Redheart Reality attends the BApS National Show, taking Reserve Champion Youngstock, Reserve Male Champion and the Reserve Supreme Champion.

September 2018 – Redheart Reality ?

The Appaloosa Horse Club UK National Show 2018

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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

WES and The Western Way…

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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!

Always Welcome Constructive Feedback…

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Our second ridden competition at Merrist Wood, Surry under the Appaloosa Horse Club UK (ApHC UK)

We have supported the ApHC UK Spring shows for many years with all our in-hand young stock and this year we competed under saddle.

We arrived when the Western classes started at noon,  warming Reus up around many other horses was something new to us, Reus is not used to horses being ridden around him and we have a few hurdles to overcome but this is where we start.

We entered the ring for the Walk/Jog Pleasure class with a very positive attitude, Reus warmed up beautifully with his presence acknowledged, achieving an honorable 3rd out of seven.

Our second class Novice Rider, I allowed Reus to drop his head too much, this obviously was immediately picked up by the Judge who explained my placing. Here is a picture of Reus, not carrying himself.

Taking the constructive feedback, I put it to good use in our third class, the Judge praised our efforts, the improvement recognition rewarded with third place.

 

Although we had practiced our last two classes at home with patterns, I felt it was too much to ask Reus at his first Western event. It was very late and we had a long drive ahead so I decided to leave the day on a positive note. We have plenty of time ahead of us, we are still learning and developing a relationship in our new venture under saddle.

We really enjoyed our first Western event, such lovely competitors with highly trained horses, who were a pleasure to watch.

We always appreciate constructive feedback, whether it’s positive or negative we listen, learn and aim to improve.

Redheart Appaloosa Under Saddle…

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United Saddlebred Association’s May Festival 2018

European Championship Show for American Saddlebreds & Foreign Breeds Festival at Moreton Morrell College, Warwickshire.

Under the training of Bruce Lawrence at Valley View Ranch and Equestrian Centre Reus and I have really enjoyed our Saturday group lessons, we have progressed somewhat and in reality what we achieve in a lesson is the same as what’s expected in the ring. Although we haven’t been riding Western long, we can walk, jog, stand, back and we are working on side passes and lope.

Last week I submitted entries for the May Festival, I have felt quite anxious all week but also really excited to ride my first-born under saddle at his first competition.

The May Festival is always an excellent show, very well organised with very warm and friendly competitors. It offers a huge choice of classes, always something for everyone.

Reu’s first class was “Any breed Restricted Walk/Trot”, with three competitors it gave us plenty of room to settle in the ring, look in the mirrors and pass the banners. This class was for horses and riders competing for the first time under saddle, we can never enter this class again because he won!

His second class was “Any Breed Open Walk/Trot” awarded second place, very pleased with his performance and his “reverse” felt wonderful and balanced.

 Reserve Champion from these two classes.

Our third class was the “Foreign Breeds Open Walt/Trot”, a strong class with the beautiful Saddlebreds taking first and second and Reus third.

Our last class “Intermediate Canter Class”, we entered this because we thought it would be a huge advantage to ask Reus to lope under these conditions, I did not expect his transition to being so smooth, straight and relaxed. From strong competition, he won!

                                                          

Our first competition under saddle was truly an amazing experience….

Photos by Simon Coates Photography

Winter 2017/18 At Redheart Appaloosa Stud

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The Winter With The Redheart Appaloosas

At 6 am the stable lights go on and at 6 pm I’ll straighten the bed

Without a doubt, come rain or snow, out in the corral they must go

Stretching their legs and keeping their head, it’s never long before they’re fed

Our stallion likes to smell the air and our broodmares like to stand and stare

The yearlings love to buck and run, they really have so much fun

The rest are easily pleased as we wait for spring it seems

There’s always one that loves to roll, the one by the gate see’s the feed bowel

The night-blind horses can see in the day but in the dark, only the light shows the way

They follow me with never a doubt, they trust me when they go out

The days are stolen and I want them back, never time for cleaning tack

I used the camera and as you can see, the horses are posers, just like thee

Peyres Catori Cat

Redheart Catorrius / Hevans EV Catorrius
 

Redheart Regal

Redheart Regent

Princesse Pascale

Redheart Pascalius

Redheart Reality

DFR Patahas Redheart

Caricks Redheart

As You Would Expect To Buy A Horse….

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So, we have created a foal by choosing a sire and mare that compliment each other.

Reus & PP have created Reality.

He was born alive and healthy so we are off to a good start.

The Vet completed the passport ID form and the microchip implanted.

Following a recently published veterinary paper, we have started a new worming protocol for our foals.

The passport photos submitted and the registration form completed.

From birth, Reality has encountered the farrier several times, socialized within the herd and humans.

He accepts his head collar and will lead and recently been weaned and undergone castration.

The vaccination course has started and yet in my book he is still not ready to sell!!!

How about loading and traveling?

Well, our lorry is being utilized for storage and until I can teach Reality to load and travel he’s not going anywhere!

Reality is registered with the British Appaloosa Society within their Main Stud Book. He is registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club UK within their main “A” register. He has 30/30 Appaloosa’s in his 5 generation pedigree which makes him 100% Foundation Pedigree Designated within the Appaloosa Horse Club.

A stunning, correct gelding that should make 16hh. Both Dam and Sire can be seen here at the Stud and Reality would sure welcome a visit…

FOR SALE. 

 

Reus Meets The Girls……

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Princesse Pascale and Peyres Catori Cat are now in their own paddock, bonding with their newborns. This has left Caricks Redheart (Myka), Redheart Regal (Blanc) and Redheart Pascalius (Evee) alone. This has meant a new pecking order, of course, it would be Evee!

Since Reus’s castration, he has been in his own paddock next to Blu. We have left it a month ensuring any semen left in him, has died. It will be a while before he loses the stallion mentality but this weekend we have moved him parallel to the girls.

His fear of the electric fence is far greater than the real strength of the fence and sure enough, he greeted the girls with a few “screams” before they ignored him.

Reus meets Myka

Reus meets Evee

Reus meets Blanc

Reus meets the girls but prefers the grass…….