Artificial Insemination & Semen Collection @ Redheart Appaloosa Stud

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Our ten-year plan is now well underway, we have imported new Appaloosa blood into the UK, we have shown in-hand all our “foundation” breeding stock and strongly believe our stock have earned their merits to breed, now we begin competing under saddle.

We have tested all the stock’s genes to clarify breeding forward with clear genetics. By definition, breeding negative mares to negative stallions can only result in negative foals. HERDA – Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia, GBED – Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency, HYPP – Equine Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis Disease and MH – Malignant Hyperthermia and of course the two most important here in the UK as Appaloosa registration default, the Grey gene, and PSSM1 – Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy.

For our own interest, we have tested the “foundation” stock for their colour and Appaloosa genetic makeup. It’s good to know what percentage of chance you have for specific color and coat patterns. One definite result we will never know is the gender, although saying that, our 2016 sex scans were correct.

The British Appaloosa Society (BApS) and the Appaloosa Horse Club UK (ApHC UK) have very strict guidelines for breeding registered purebred Appaloosas. We make sure our paperwork is fault free with DNA on file, genetic tests, stallion licensing and of course pedigree percentages. Redheart Appaloosa Stud pride themselves on not only ensuring completed registration certificates but the highest of the grades possible from each mating, being 100% Foundation Pedigree Designation (FPD), Generation Advancement Programme (GAP 5 or GAP 6) with Appaloosa Horse Club and GRADE A or STUD BOOK with the British Appaloosa Society. Our horses are overstamped with the Sports Horse Society and all foals are eligible.

We treat our mares like “princesses”, they are very important and are not breeding machines. We believe in quality, not quantity. The current supply of “Appaloosa’s” is high and the demand is low and if you’re looking for a spotty horse, then the market is plentiful, it is only through education will people understand the history of a Purebred Appaloosa, albeit BApS or ApHC UK registered.  The current market offers some wonderful spotty horses, but beware and ask the right questions, not every spotty horse is an Appaloosa. The realisation that the purebred Appaloosa is a rare breed in the UK with less than twelve 100% FPD horses, less than six GAP 5 horses, not one GAP 6 and there are less than ten British Appaloosa Society Stud Book registered horses. (These figures might have increased to date).

We treasure our stallion, DFR Patahas Redheart, his age is a huge advantage to the longevity of the stud and his colour test confirmed homozygous black with a cream gene and homozygous PATN1 with foundation lines traced back to the first 8 Stud Books of the ApHC at 92.9687%. We know we have something quite unique, a very rare find in the Appaloosa world and one of a kind here in the UK.

Many studs and stallion owners allow their stallion to run with mares, some cover in hand and it works perfectly fine. On the other hand, some owners have seen and experienced detrimental damage to their stallions and mares under these conditions. Trying to limit the damage of such accidents we have stored frozen semen from our stallion Reus before castrating him, allowing him to have a rich life among his relations. Planning ahead with our stallion Blu, we have established a small AI unit, consisting of stocks, a basic lab, and a dummy mare. Certified by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as a UK AI technician I have the certificate of competence in AI of equines.

We are delighted to announce Princess Pascale, Caricks Redheart and Peyres Catori Cat are scanned in foal, due early April 2019.

We await Redheart Pascalius to come into season, looks like we will be busy next year!.

 

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.

 

Welcome Redheart Rumours to the Stud…

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Friday 13th..

As expected, Redheart Regal’s (Blanc) udder and vulva proved correct in their progress. There is no way these are typical pictures of a mare that is close to foaling never mind 6 hours away! I guess you know your mare and the changes that occur and these developments were huge in comparison to the previous days. Notice that one tiny bead of wax on the right nipple!

 

Although Blanc didn’t have a “baby belly”, hiding the foal so well the inevitable happened!

At 2.45pm, watching her on the camera, linked to my mobile seeing her looking anxious, walking the box and lying down ‘belly watching’, it was time to get in the car!

From work, I drove home, I really do have the most understanding and supportive employers. Arriving at 3 pm the head and front feet were out and Blanc laid quietly resting, allowing the foal to receive a good blood supply via the umbilical cord, textbook delivery!

From here, I sat quietly, intensively watching as Blanc bonded with her foal, she is a maiden mare and was quite scared/confused by the event, although she did all the right things a mother does, there remained that bit of “not sure”. I read the situation and decided not to interfere until I knew Blanc was content for me to do so! Blanc had cleansed and the placenta was all intact. Within 45 minutes, the foaling had taken place, the mare had cleansed and the foal was up, trying to nurse.

You can view the bonding process and the foal eventually standing here.

It proved a big deal for Blanc to allow her foal to nurse, trying many different avenues myself and a vet failed to get the foal to latch on and not through lack of patience! Ensuring a good start, we collected the colostrum and stomach tubed the foal, the foal knew exactly what to do but Blanc was having none of it. Persevering, During Friday night and all day Saturday, I held Blanc every two hours to allow the foal to nurse and then as my alarm went off Sunday morning at 4 am I saw on the camera Blanc standing allowing the foal to nurse….such a relief, job done!

A stunning homozygous (LP/LP) buckskin FILLY! Redheart Rumours AKA Ru.

Redheart Regal x DFR Patahas Redheart 100% FPD

Redheart Yearlings – February 2018

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Its been a few months since our Redheart Yearlings were weaned and castrated, they are growing and looking very well. They have become independent and adapting to short education lessons without knowing.

The horses are still wintering in the barn and every day they’re turned out for short periods in an all-weather corral.

Today Redheart Regent and Redheart Reality our 11-month-old gelding’s were turned out within a spacious 10-acre paddock. They certainly needed each other, calling and running around looking for what they once knew – the herd.

The main advantage at this time is they want to come in, one call from me and they were waiting at the gate, a perfect opportunity to start educating the yearlings on a one to one basis.

Regent and Reality’s first turn out in 2018…

Best mates…

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. 

 

Redheart Foals Date with Castration…

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Regent and Reality have now been successfully castrated.

We worked night and day to complete two of our ten box’s, the date made and the deed complete.

It is never taken for granted the complications that can occur after castration, thankfully Regent and Reality recovered very well from the procedure and hopefully will grow slightly taller as their growth plates will now take longer to close. One reason for castrating these boys early!

Redheart Pascalius – 2016 IN HAND PERFORMANCE RESULTS….

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Every year we sign up to and compete in the Inhand Performance under The British Appaloosa Society, Appaloosa Horse Club UK, and the United Saddlebred Association.  

Our home-bred filly, Redheart Pascalius finished her in hand showing campaign last year. We are proud to add these awards to her Performance Record, a credit to her as a young filly and worthy of her joining our broodmares.

A Reserve Champion certificate from the Appaloosa Horse Club UK for their Open Appaloosa Horse Club Performance Awards.

Two beautiful rosettes from The British Appaloosa Society, the Highest Points for Youngstock and the Inhand Section.


From the United Saddlebred Association, she received a Champion certificate for their non-saddle bred Inhand and utility classes along with two gorgeous sashes.

We are aiming to cover her with DFR PATAHAS REDHEART early next year, the resulting foal will be black based (AA ee) with 6 generations of Appaloosa (GAP 6). 

Thank you to the Societies for sending such lovely memorabilia.

 

 

Another quality mare for our breeding programme!

A Non Characteristic Redheart Mare….

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When looking to buy an Appaloosa, there are many factors to consider.

To breed Appaloosas, they need to be registered. We like to triple register our horses with the British Appaloosa Society, the Appaloosa Horse Club, and Appaloosa Horse Club UK.

It takes time, the basic’s are quality ID photographs, DNA, specific clear genetics, and parental verification along with a Veterinary identification form.

Today we received these documents, confirming Caricks Redheart’s registration details and pedigree. The Performance Permit allows her to compete against colorful Appaloosa. As I previously worked out, her Foundation Pedigree Designation is 93%, always good to have it confirmed.

British Appaloosa Society Northern Show 2017

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I usually pride myself on organisation and presentation but this weekend I was quite cross with myself…..Arriving at the show late, without my 2017 “right hand” Amelie, taking two horses that are kept well apart from each other due to a two-year-old hormonal colt and a three-year-old filly who seems to spend every day in season….

Despite our best efforts, we missed our first two classes and literally ran DFR Patahas Redheart off the lorry into the ring for the Most Colourful class. Last, to enter the ring, we could see plenty of competitors and thought we have no chance! A well deserved first and gaining the Best Turned Out.

We ran Blu back to the box and ran Myka into the next class the Most Colourful Other. Absolutely delighted to take the first place and again winning the Best Turned Out. I then realised I had two horses qualified for the Championship. Thank you so much to Katey Anne Catcheside who very kindly ran Myka, fabulous job.

Next up, Myka in the 2 & 3 year Old Fillies Class. Not a foot out-of-place, she took a well deserved 2nd place to a very nice filly. After a little break, Blu entered the BApS Licensed Stallion Class, very unsettled he displayed a few “colty” moves, very disappointed in him, it was a small ring, constantly on the turn and I think he got annoyed with me, not letting him have his head? Lesson learnt, we must trot slower….

Myka, received a Reserve Champion in the Youngstock Championship but her performance had no sparkle, head down and slightly reluctant to trot, shame she wasn’t more relaxed to have a wee in the ring, waiting to go once loaded on the lorry?

The Championship Classes ran one into the other, despite my best attempt to swap horses, by the time I returned with Blu for the Male Championship, the class had started and that was that!

The best part of the day was seeing the eyes light up from the breeders of Myka, Carol & Michael Woods.  I felt very proud showing Myka and delighted with her performance. It was a wonderful friendly show,  full of beautiful Appaloosas.

 

 

 

Horse Owners & Pony Exhibitors – H.O.P.E 2017

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Back in the City of Worcestershire this weekend, at the Three Counties Show Ground for the Horse Owners & Pony Exhibitors – H.O.P.E 2017 Malvern Festival.

Under the British Appaloosa Society, we entered Carick Redheart (Myka) and DFR Patahas Redheart (Blu) in the Appaloosa Youngstock In Hand class. With only these two in the class the result, Blu first and Myka second then Blu Champion and Myka Reserve Champion. Despite the lack of support in this class, both horses were turned out to the highest possible standard and gave a deserving show. It’s not an accomplishment as such but you have to be in it to win it….

Thankfully the World Breeds In Hand Youngstock class had better support, open to over 37 different breeds we were delighted that the Appaloosa was amongst the most desired. Blu taking a first and Myka third. The Championship was open to all class winners and second places from World Breeds Youngstock, Owner Bred, Stallion, Mares and Gelding under and over 14.2 and Mountain & Moorland any height any age. Delighted to say Blu took a Reserve Champion to a gorgeous Fjord.

I never make excuses for poor performance, on the whole, we have great days on the showing circuit but on this occasion, it is only photographic evidence that enabled me to justify our disappointing show in the Supreme Championship. Unfortunately, I found myself disrupting Blu…..his concentration was elsewhere and his trot was very uncoordinated and disunited! That’s showing…