The British Appaloosa Society National Show 2019

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The British Appaloosa Society National Show was the end to our 2019 showing campaign, an extremely enjoyable show that proved our horses progress.

A huge thank you to all that helped run this show at Hartpury.

Reus and I executed the given pattern in the Open Ridden Class to perfection, I listened well, starting with exactly eight strides of walk and ending with walk to halt at the flags (the banner on the arena wall). This was the first time I actually felt Reus not just under me but also feeling what I was thinking, all his transitions were smooth, he went on the right lead and I felt extremely happy with our performance, we came 5th of 10.

 

Our stallion Blu, yet again proved his total respect for me under saddle, working around so many horses in the warmup ring and then standing in a line up of 7 in the ring, not once did he show any stallion traits, a very promising future for us. His performance was totally novice but considering he’d only been ridden for three weeks we were not their to compete, merely mingle. He’s only done large circles at home and unfortunate for us, the area was less than one-quarter of the arena so we did what suited us, NOT following the given pattern, I did laugh a lot when I heard the Judge say “do not follow this”, thankfully the other competitors didn’t!

  

Regent, yet again didn’t put a foot wrong, he spent the morning in the in-hand classes being placed in each one, we have high hopes for this chap, albeit in quite a few years’ time. He’s surely got a long of growing to do and although we knew he was looking rather gangly we took him for experience, there was no way we could compete with stock far more precocious than us.

 

So, Reus will continue throughout the winter, Regent is back out in the field and Blu travels to Stallion AI to be collected from in the next month.

 

The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) UK Spring Show 2019 – A Father & Son’s Day Out

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1st June 2019, will not forget this day in a hurry…

Up at 4 am, bathed and plaited Reus and bathed and braided his son Reality who both had spent the night out.  On the road to Farnham in Surrey, we missed the exit off the M4 and then we got back on track we hit the diversions, annoyed but calm I drove very carefully as we negotiated roundabout after roundabout. I gave in to the fact we may have missed Reality’s in hand classes but we may just make it in time for the ridden with Reus.

Arriving at the showground the wonderful Matt Ayling, the top man for the ApHC UK First Aider very kindly opened the gate, how amazing does such a small gesture make you feel. From this moment the day unfolded remarkably well. Our first sight as I jumped from the lorry was our 2018 filly Ru, we sold Ru to Wendy Fitzgerald and Ru was having her first outing, she looked amazing and as I shouted her name across the car park in that stupid high pitch Ru Ru, her head shot up and a whinny called back to me, well my heart melted.

We quickly got changed, unloaded Reality and went straight into the ring, he had no time to look and never batted an eyelid at his new surroundings. Walk, trot and halt, perfect and so we continued in the soaring heat. He collected the first place in his age class in UK and USA, he went Male Champion, Young-Stock Champion, USA Champion and Supreme In Hand of the Show – What a superior horse he is without question.

Redheart Reality Male Champion

Redheart Reality Young-Stock Champion

Redheart Reality USA Champion

Redheart Reality Supreme Champion

We can not express in words how wonderful it was to see RU do so well, she also took the winning places in the female classes taking the Reserve In-Hand Champion.

Redheart Appaloosas

No sooner had the in hand finished, Reality went back on the lorry and Reus came off, tacked up, quick change and on with the ridden. We didn’t get chance to warm Reus up, I was not going to ask him to make a shape and look like a horse that was ready to compete for a show, we let him walk and trot around, using our first class to our advantage, make no mistake he certainly looked like a horse that had just come straight off the lorry! But, after our second show, I pulled him together, put my legs on and squeezed him up.  Well what a transformation, he carried me, he felt under me and so responsive, we actually did a half pass on both reins to get back to the rail, I felt a sense of happiness and fulfillment even if we hadn’t got placed I would have been satisfied that our transition from Western to English was coming together, albeit slowly.

Hevans EV Catorrius Ridden Champion

And there we go – Ridden Champion, could not believe it but I do believe the judge had seen a huge transformation and credited us with the potential Reus was showing and deserved.

We are not ones to hang around after competing, we have a lot to do at home and getting the horses back is always a top priority. We set off with an eta home of 5.30pm, brilliant I thought, I’ll do this that and the other…It wasn’t meant to be,  as that rumbling noise came we knew a tyre was about to blow, hazards on as we drove a few more miles at 20mph to junction 3 of the M3. With the rescue on its way, we parked on a lane under some trees for shade and gave the horses a haynet and offered them a drink whilst we waited for Mr. Tyre Man.

Reus and Reality without question are true soldiers, it was a few hours before we could set off again, our new eta was now 9.46pm. We arrived safely home, horses turned out, a large G&T for me and bed.

I never take for granted our horse’s success but sometimes it’s not what goes on in the ring but outside the ring that makes me so very proud of them.

 

 

Foreign Breeds Society (UK) Championship Show 2018

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Reus and Blu have finished the 2018 showing season, Blu competing In Hand in the morning, winning a few classes including the Final In Hand Appaloosa of the Year.

DFR Patahas Redheart

DFR Patahas Redheart

DFR Patahas Redheart

DFR Patahas Redheart

Reus competed in the Ridden section during the afternoon, placed in a few classes and won the Final Ridden Appaloosa of the Year.

Redheart / Hevans EV Catorrius

Redheart / Hevans EV Catorrius

Redheart / Hevans EV Catorrius

Redheart / Hevans EV Catorrius

The Ridden Amateur Owned, Trained and Shown class was the highlight of our day, Reus came 5/10 from strong competition.

Credit to the Foreign Breeds Society, thank you for a running such a wonderful event, it was lovely to see all the Rare and Foreign Breeds in one arena x

Redheart @ The Great Midlands Horse Show 2018

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Well, this is a new event for us and only found by chance whilst looking for details about another event at Only Equestrian Centre.

The schedule catered for showing (in-hand and under saddle), dressage and show jumping with a huge choice of classes. Much to my surprise, the event was not supported, maybe another event is held on the same weekend or lack of advertising? I’m not sure but it’s such a fantastic venue and the event was very well organised.

We took Reus to continue his education, entering the Ridden Foreign Breeds Class where we sat tight because Reus didn’t like the noise of the M45 behind the hedge, he’s not used to the noise of motorways or fast roads! With no competition, we qualified for the Evening performance under the Coloured Championships.

A few hours later, we entered the big indoor arena with the second and first place horses from the Ridden Coloured Plaited pony, the Ridden Coloured Native/Traditional pony, the Ridden Coloured Plaited Horse ant the Ridden Coloured Cob/Native Traditional Horses.

Absolutely delighted to be pulled in as Reserve Champion.

We didn’t stay for the Supreme due to commitments at home but I felt Reus made great progress, which is what it’s all about!

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 British Appaloosa Society National Show 2018

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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.

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!

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

Redheart Yearling Wins Royal Windsor 2018

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Let the show season begin…

Well not quite, our plans to spend the season with Redheart Regal certainly stopped a month ago when she gave birth to Ru. Our three-year-old stallion should be having his last year in-hand in the ring but is now otherwise occupied with the breeding season, more about that next week. So, although we will be concentrating on competing Reus under saddle, who will attend the next in-hand event? The first horse to the gate I guess!

For those that follow us, you will know we adore the County shows, a perfect opportunity for a family day out and this year our first event was Royal Windsor. The lucky horse chosen to come with us this year was our yearling Redheart Reality aka Tally.

Such a huge event for any horse never mind a yearling, Tally took the day in his stride, he gave an amazing performance in the ring taking the first place in the young stock class and then Reserve Champion to Megan Share and her gorgeous horse Desired Edition.

Redheart Reality

Redheart Reality

Redheart Reality

A fabulous day for us and an outstanding start to Tally’s future, whatever that might be?

He is for sale, please see his page HERE and contact us if he meets ALL of your requirements.