Foreign and Rare……….

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Today we travelled to the Royal London Show held at Onley Equestrian Centre near Rugby.

Our first visit to this show ground was five years ago, each year structural improvements have been made but this year I can honestly say the development has increased the premises to a higher standard.

The schedule offers many classes to suit the “spotted” horse, we have successfully competed Peyres Catori Cat and Princesse Pascale in earlier years but Reus doesn’t fit the criteria – No Spots.

ROYAL LONDON Spotty

The “Spotted” Championship at Royal London Show 2014

 

Foreign and Rare Breeds in hand young stock.

   ROYAL LONDON 2014 (3) ROYAL LONDON 2014 (4) ROYAL LONDON 2014 (2) ROYAL LONDON 2014 (7) ROYAL LONDON 2014 (8) ROYAL LONDON 2014 (9)

ROYAL LONDON 2014 (5)

Delighted to say we won.

ROYAL LONDON 2014 (10)

Pre-Judging

 We were unsuccessful in the evening under spot lights with loud music but we had a very enjoyable day.

ROYAL LONDON 2014 (12)

The Evening Performance

ROYAL LONDON 2014 (1)

Representing “The Appaloosa” in the Rare & Foreign Breeds at Royal London Show 2014

 

The right day……….

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Arriving at Hartpury Equestrian Centre on the ‘right day’, was a good start.

Hevans EV Cattorrius & Hevans EV Pascalius were both warmed up, shown around and dressed over in time for our first class. The first thing I noticed was the amazing surface in the indoor arena, level and compact made running easier for the daisy cutter……

I will admit on this day both horses turned out exceptionally well, competing English style made a huge difference in their appearance.

BAPS NATIONAL.

British Appaloosa Society National Breed Show 2014

 Hevans EV Catorrius

As the day unfolded it was clear he was the Judges ‘type’, his manners better although he still insisted on proclaiming  “I am a two-year old colt”!  Words of wisdom from people with their own experiences,  keep telling me “don’t give up, he will grow out of it…..” I find very encouraging and I appreciate any advice given.

Reus excelled himself winning the Best Conditioned, Most Colourful Other and second in the 2 & 3-year-old Colt’s class’s. Qualifying for the Championships he won Champion Young stock and was awarded the Audrey Callis Memorial Trophy. Winning the Champion Male he was awarded the Oslo Plate and he gained Reserve Champion in Most Colourful and Champion of Champions.

Winning the Supreme In Hand Championship made the day being awarded the Linda McCartney Trophy was very special for obvious reasons.

Reus BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (4)Reus BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (6)Reus BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (19)

Reus BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (21)

Hevans EV Pascalius

Evee was placed down the line in her first class and an honourable 3rd in Most Colourful Other.

In her defence she has never experienced so many horses in one place, it took a while for my mother to settle her.

Evee BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (9)Evee BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (10)

Evee BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (3)

 

Thanks to my mother, by the time I entered the ring with Evee for the Yearling Filly Class she was settled and “with me”.

Evee tracked up and completed her show without putting a foot wrong.

Standing beautifully before the Judges, she was awarded a well deserved and appreciated 1st place.

Evee BAPS NATIONAL 2014 (1)

Another outstanding performance resulted in her first Champion award in the Female Championships.

 

Evee BAPS NATIONAL 2014

 

 

This was certainly the right day for Redheart Appaloosas.

The night before, the night before …………….

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Friday 15th August.

There is a lot of preparation the night before a show. Finishing work I collected my girls from their “Kids Club”, got the horses in from their fields, worked Reus, bathed and plaited him. Frank came and worked Evee, I then bathed and plaited her.  A few other jobs completed and all was good to go.

Saturday 16th August.

Fed horses at 5am, loaded and on road for 7am to Hartpury College / Equestrian Centre , it was only a short drive away which meant no pressure. Our arrival was like entering a ghost town.

Not sure how many people have done this but I can confirm I am now one person that has gone to a show a day early, better than a day late I guess.  Thankfully the short journey home was most entertaining as my children thought it was hilarious funny, as I explained it was “a trial run”

Surprised to be un-loaded at home, the horses enjoyed a relaxing walk around the lanes.

 

Hevans EV Pascalius

Hevans EV Pascalius

Hevans EV Cataorrius

Hevans EV Cataorrius

 “All dressed up and nowhere to go”

The worse thought;

I knew they would need bathing and plaiting the night before (again) the British Appaloosa Society National Breed Show ON Sunday 17th August 2014.

 

Progress at the Nationals……..

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Keen to leave at 5am, I then realise it was too dark to turn Hevans EV Cateaster out into the field because she has night blindness. As soon as it was light enough Easter, Catori and PP were turned out and we loaded Hevans EV Pascalius and Hevans EV Catorrius into the lorry.

A straight run up the M5 to Warwickshire College, Moreton Morrell for the ApHC UK National Breed Show.

APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (19)

Frank very kindly warmed Reus up, he always needs to exert some energy.

 

Crystal ensured Evee had stretching her legs, had a good look around and was settled.

APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fantastic day for Crystal and Evee, 2nd in the Yearling USA filly class, 4th in the FPD Halter female open and following in her mothers foot steps (PP) she won the UK Yearling filly class taking the APHC UK Nutland Carpet Salver. Crystal qualified for the ApHC UK young stock championship and was placed Reserve Champion. Absolutely delighted for Crystal and Evee, a promising second show and an exciting future for another potential brood mare at Redheart Appaloosa’s.

APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (8)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (1)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (3)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (7)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (2)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Evee (4)

I have worked Reus hard over the last three weeks to enhance his performance at the shows. I believe this effort had paid off, he won the ApHC USA two year old colt class and the USA FPD Halter open male. He then went USA Grand Champion Stallion winning the USA bronze trophy.

In the UK class for two year old colts he took first place which qualified him for the UK Grand Champion Stallion which he won and was awarded the Tiptoe Stud Shield.

We also won the Spotless Salver in the non characteristic class.

APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (13)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (11)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (6)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (12)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (9)APHC UK NATIONALS 2014 Reus (16)

 

However, he let him self down in the ApHC UK Supreme Championship, even though I believe we were in the running for Reserve (being asked for a repeat show), Reus clocked him self in the arena mirror and was very aroused by his reflection. I totally get that!

Reus APHC UK NATIONALS 2014ApHC UKEvee APHC UK NATIONAL 2014

ApHC UK National Breed Show 2014

A well deserved day for the horses and a very enjoyable day had by all, topped off with a super picnic supplied by Frank. Just Brilliant.

More pictures updated on the horses pages.

Shiny Silver…..

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We are all ready for the Appaloosa Club UK National Show tomorrow. Last years silver has been cleaned and engraved.

Looking at the 2013 winnings of Hevans EV Catorrius it was a pleasure to read the previous winners and wonderful to know Reus’s name is engraved along side some outstanding horses.

The Yearling Colt Trophy , The Male Champion, The Spotless Salver and The Yearling Colt Class winner. It seems so long ago, it feels like he’s been a big two year old forever.

　APHC National 2013

The lorry has undergone a little improvement, the addition of an extended partition (full width and extended height, ceiling to floor). This has enabled a colt and a filly to travel together. I am confident (after a few trail runs) we can make the National Show in one trip.

I have great company tomorrow, Crystal is leading Heavans EV Pascalius, Frank is helping with Hevans EV Catorrius (I also heard he’s bringing a picnic – hope its not just the chocolate bar), my mother is meeting us there and will be supervising the children along side their father who is in charge of photography.

Lets see what the day brings us?