Hanbury Countryside Show – 2017

I could not believe there’s a lovely show only 10 minutes down the road from us. I could not believe how big the show is and I could not believe DFR Patahas Redheart won a class from ” Alternative Coloureds”.

Absolutely thrilled to bits to have taken the first place over Spotted, Dun’s, Roan’s, Pinaloosa’s, Palomino’s etc

Just a quick hour out for Blu to try to take a bit “colty” behaviour out of him before a big show tomorrow!

 

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

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…

 

Royal Three Counties 2017

We adore the County shows, a super day out for the family. This year with DFR Patahas Redheart (Blu) and Caricks Redheart (Myka), both participated in the British Appaloosa Society’s affiliated Youngstock Class.

A very, very hot day where the MC constantly repeated for competitors and horses alike to refresh with water from any of the taps on site, we were also allowed to compete without jackets. Thankfully this show is only ten minutes from home and despite the class running an hour late, we were home within three.

Always a worry entering a ring with jumps in, a bit of a distraction but at least we always walk around the ring a few times first, allowing the horses to see the scary objects.

Amelie and Myka did a beautiful straight show as did DFR Patahas Redheart with myself. The result, Blu first and Myka second, Blu then took the Championship.

 

Appaloosa Horse Club UK – Spring Show 2017

After Amelie’s trial run last week with Caricks Redheart (Myka), today they put it into practice and represented the Redheart Appaloosa Stud proudly. They have created a lovely bond and today we were at the ApHC UK Spring Show held at Merrist Woods Equestrian Centre.

With Myka and DRF Patahas Redheart (Blu) on the lorry, we set off for Surrey at stupid O’clock as do most equine enthusiasts! Our early arrival enabled me to give Amelie and the horses a tour of the showground whilst allowing the horses to stretch their legs.

Our first class was the Most Colourful (open to ApHC UK A, B & NC) Myka took at 3rd place with Blu taking the first place, a great start to our morning.

Blu then won his Stallion class followed by the Championship. Next on the list was Myka and I, in the fillies class, being awarded a first place, followed by a Reserve Champion Female. This filly does not put a foot wrong, I am sure she will make a splendid broodmare here at the Stud.

Both young stock went forward for the Youngstock Championship, Blu went Champion and finished his English classes as Supreme Champion. Later he went forward for his USA classes, taking a first in the ApHC USA registered Colts, Stallions and Geldings any age.  Such a wonderful day, it couldn’t get any better then he won his class and went Male Champion USA.

Amelie and Myka continued their partnership in the Potential Sports Horse Youngstock and the Open Sports Horse Type, taking a 3rd and 4th retrospectively.

It was a humid day and very warm indoors, the atmosphere was delightful as always and the horses really fulfilled my dreams. One thing I will always remember this show for….the day when the Judge, Julia Ryde-Rodgers request we all complete our shows, off the cuff. I have never been presented with this situation and quickly reverted to a basic dressage test. Allowing the Judge to see the horse under control at walk, trot and halt on both reins, we added a few tight circles along with a few steps back, it went well. Such good humor and a twist to our day which made the class very, very enjoyable, thanks to a creative Judge.

Here are a few pictures but we have loaded more on the individual horse’s page.

 

 

 

A Trial Run…..

It’s easy to teach a person if they want to learn….meet Amelie, a young horse enthusiast who has helped us behind the scenes at the shows over the past year. She is a confident young lady and owns her own horse, so we are three-quarters of the way to in hand performance.

In the ring it’s a different world, you put on your show hat on and it becomes somewhat serious, competitive and nerve-racking and nine years later I still feel the same!

We have practiced our “ring craft” at home and Amelie has bonded very nicely with Myka. Today I took Amelie and Myka for a trial run in the ring. We had a lovely day at the South Staffs Open Show near Kidderminster.

Amelie showed Myka perfectly, I can not fault Myka, considering it’s her second show they complimented each other nicely.

We are now ready after our Trial Run…..

Redheart APPALOOSA @ The May Festival 2017……

Our second outing this year, Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, Rugby. The event was held by the United Saddlebred Association-UK and Foreign Breed Society, a European Championship Show with a programme packed with classes to suit ALL Foreign Breeds.

Todays Redheart was DFR Patahas Redheart aka Blu, our two-year-old licensed stallion. After a winter out and the Spring grass just recently, he is looking mighty fine.

The first class was Home Produced, open to pure or partbred Foreign Breeds. This class was indoors and very well supported. Blu was very settled and gave a great performance taking the second place to a beautiful Fjord.

Our second class, open Foreign Breed Youngstock, another well-supported class that resulted in a first place!

These placings qualified us for the Open Foreign Breed In Hand Championship.



Our next two classes were outside, a glorious sunny day and the testosterone certainly kicked in. With two rings running next to each other, Blu was quite interested in the goings on in the next ring? Quite a distraction for him but these things he must get used to and get over…

Our third class, Foreign Breeds with broken coats, what a mixture of beautiful horses, a fantastic second place, and our last class, Appaloosa with a free win as we were the only competitor. Disappointing but we made it our advantage, giving Blu an opportunity to have a proper good look at the ring next door!!!

These placings qualified us for the World Breeds In Hand Championships.

The Open Foreign Breed In Hand Championship & the World Breeds In Hand Championships.

These two Championships consisted of the first and second placed horses in over 16 classes.

Honored, with Reserve Champion in both classes!

Our Reserve Champion positions put us forward to the Supreme In Hand Championship.

We took the Reserve Supreme In Hand, absolutely overwhelmed!

A Redheart APPALOOSA @ The May Festival 2017……

 

 

Redheart 2017 Show Season Begins At Royal Windsor…

Our first outing in 2017, a British Appaloosa Society in hand affiliated class at Royal Windsor.

Caricks Redheart début outing was a huge ask! We would normally take our young stock to a smaller local show first time out but our attempt failed, due to life!

Nerves and or anxiety were witnessed, playing with her bit and her reluctance to trot “with me”. Two things she has not done in six months! Despite this, her trot was straight, she stood for the judge and patiently waited in the lineup, with many distractions around her. I can not fault this filly.

A massive thank you to Mr & Mrs. Wood (Myka’s breeders) who not only came to support BApS and Myka but who helped me at the show.

Myka won her young stock class with a straight entry into the Championship, where she became Reserve In-Hand Champion.

Redheart 2017 Show Season..….Has Begun!

The Apron Strings – Between Mare & Foal……

A mare and foal have a very strong bond. Princesse Pascale and Peyres Catori Cat have both displayed the normal reactions to their foals and kept them close.

BUT…..

It’s also very normal for the foals to venture away from their dams, not too far, generally running around them. Regent and Reality have passed close to each other a few times and today they met!

As each day passes, the foals start to socialize, it’s a beautiful sight. One minute Regent is playing the dominant foal and the next minute its Reality’s turn.

Here are a few pictures, when they met for the first time.

I’m not sure if it’s the mare or the foal who “release” The Apron String?