Colts or Fillies – 60 Day Sex Scans…….
Knowing the gender of a foal before it is born will help us manage several different aspects of our breeding program. In particular, we would like two non-characteristic (NC negative for the LP (Leopard Complex gene)) fillies to continue our breeding programme.
NC fillies will be perfect for our recent imported Stallion DFR Patahas Redheart (Blu) who is homozygous (LP/LP) for the Leopard Complex gene. Thus giving us a characteristic foal (LP/lp) 100% of the time with the advantage of his pedigree and statue.
The mares had their 60 day scans…..
Peyres Catori Cat (Catori) has been inseminated with Kiss My Finest Heart’s (Heart) semen.
Catori and Heart are both LP/lp for the Leopard Complex gene, therefore we have 50% chance of a characteristic foal (LP/lp), 25% chance of few spot or snow cap foal (LP/LP) and 25% chance of a non-characteristic (lp/lp).
Princess Pascale (PP) has been inseminated with Hevans EV Catorrius’s (Reus) semen.
PP is LP/lp and Reus is lp/lp for the Leopard Complex gene, therefore we have 50% chance of a non-characteristic foal (lp/lp) and 50% chance of a characteristic foal (LP/lp).
We have purposely increased our chances of non-characteristic foals this year by not using an LP/LP stallion but we have no control over the gender, it will always be 50 / 50!
The 60-day ultrasound identified both mares are carrying single live fetus which is obviously fantastic news. Eventually, the genital tubercle was located (both mares fetus were quite lively and it took a while to find the view required) didn’t help that both mare’s bladders were full either. The genital tubercle (which eventually will become the penis in a colt and the clitoris in a filly) develops on the midline of the fetus, between the hind legs. At around 55 days, the structure moves toward the umbilicus in a colt and toward the anus in a filly.
So, our wonderful Vet John Campbell (JC) gave us the news we didn’t want to hear….COLT’S!
On a serious note, we are grateful both mares are in foal, we are very grateful both fetus are “single” and “alive” and we only pray the gestation and births follow suit!
The advantage of knowing we might have colts (nothing is 100% guaranteed) is we can prepare to advertise and sell our Stallion (Reus) full brother and his first 100% FPD progeny out of PP. We also are able to either make plans for our NC filly foals in 2018 with the same mating’s or use Blu to create a GAP 6 with 100% success for characteristic foals to sell? Mmmmmm…..
Both mares were inseminated on the 6th May 2016 (“normal” gestation is 335 – 360 days, 342 days average) due date being April 16th 2017.
Let’s hope our news is wrong and those fetus were too quick for JC to accurately identify?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Reus, may our journey through life continue together……
13th June 2012 Reus was born, the shock of a non characteristic foal took a while to sink in!
As a late weanling he proved to have an enormous amount of intelligence and was very bold and independent.
As a yearling he proved that confirmation over ruled “colour” as he won his first Appaloosa Horse Club UK Supreme Championship.
As a two-year old, he not only won his first British Appaloosa Society Supreme Championship but gained a 5th place on the Appaloosa Club International points table.
As a three-year old he proved to be healthy, fit, correct and fertile, passing a five stage vetting and obtaining his stallion licences and then successfully storing frozen semen for the UK & Europe.
If he was a human we would be celebrating 20 years but today he is four and I wish him HAPPY BIRTHDAY and thank him for the happiness he has brought us at Redheart Appaloosas!
May our journey through life continue together and continue to exceed all our expectations……
Our Redheart Stallion is still only three years old by birth……
As a three-year old colt Reus obtained his two stallion licenses and this year has frozen semen for sale within the UK and Europe. From the 1st January this year “in the horse world” , he is a four year old and is called a Stallion! In reality “by birth” he is still only three years old…..
After an early start this year, long reining and getting him “started” he has now been turned away to have another break. This horse is so very special in so many ways and one thing we will not do is rush him! We also require the time to concentrate on Redheart Pascalius who is coming along nicely in the show ring and time to educate our three yearlings, Ben, Blanc and Blu!
Some recent pictures of Reus…..
Our Redheart Stallion is still only three years old by birth……
TWO OF A KIND….
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
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……
The Foundation Appaloosa Stallion with NO SPOTS….
In the Appaloosa world everyone is quite familiar with the term “sold” or “non-characteristic” Appaloosa. It’s the blood line of Appaloosa x Appaloosa that makes an Appaloosa not the SPOTS and I use the term “spots” quite loosely referring to the Appaloosa characteristics viewed by many!
In our venture to promote the Appaloosa being a “breed OF colour” and Reus being a solid/non-characteristic Appaloosa, we booked his second Stallion Parade with Elite Equestrian Events held at Thompson House Equestrian Centre.
Reus has been back in very light work for ten days to-date, therefore we decided to make the most of our 15 minute slot in the arena. So back to basics, we thought we would complete our show with a light bit of lunging and long reining.
Here’s a few photos of our day……
If you want to see Reus’s in action and his obsession with himself in the mirror when the audience requested to see him loose in the area (something we have never done before) my daughter did a great job of capturing the display, take a look at his Face Book page.
Our promotional efforts to educate: The Appaloosa with NO spots…..
Hevans EV Catorrius’s Semen is Available…..
We have worked hard trying to design a Stud Card….this is IT!
Semen is NOW for sale within the UK, we are currently awaiting further tests to comply with the EU regulations.
Please feel free to contact us:
The Appaloosa Is A Breed Of Colour…..
During the quiet time and dark days of the winter months Reus has enjoyed being a horse, out in the muddy fields.
We had no plans with him until late Spring or even late Summer, even then we only planned to “ride him around”, we are in no hurry with this horse!
After receiving an email requesting Reus’s attendance at the Northern Stallion Showcase to represent the Appaloosa we thought….not only did he look “rough” but had done nothing for months! So we declined BUT then we bathed him and WOW he looked amazing, so we contacted the organisers and as it happened one Stallion was unable to make it, as a late entry the Appaloosa breed was represented after all!
Reus behaved so well, we didn’t do a lot other than a few trots in the ring but the event was very enjoyable and well organised.
It was not the type of Stallion Parade to expect bookings but we made sure the spectators knew the Appaloosa is a Breed Of Colour……
It’s all negative but so very positive…..
An Appaloosa Stallion at Stallion AI
After gaining his pre-entry health requirement certificates Hevans EV Catorrius is now a resident at the Twemlows Stud in their Stallion AI Services department.
Our journey timed to perfection, met at the gates by Tullis and greeted by two members of the team. On arrival, all papers and passport were approved and then Reus him self had a thorough health check. First impressions are the lasting one’s…..impressed !
Certified NEGATIVE for :
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA)
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
Streptococcus Equi (Strangles)
***********************
Malignant Hyperthermia (MH)
Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM1)
Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis Disease (HYPP)
Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency (GBED)
Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA)
Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB)
Gray Coat Color / Melanoma (GREY)
Hopefully it will be semen worth freezing for the UK & Europe?
Yes, it all sounds so negative but it’s all so positive……
Each to their own…..
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……