Foals due in 2011....

I have had a number of people asking what foals I have coming next Spring.

As you may know, I sold quite a few of my good broodmares this year, so only have a few mares due to foal.


Starting in mid February:
Heide Von Brandenburg (aka "Stars");Quaterback-Sandro Hit-Paradiesvogel; Pg.by Belissimo M;
-believed to be a filly.
Finale; Furst Heinrich out of Reina H by Rubinstein; Pg. by Hohenstein; believed to be a colt
Dream Rubina ; Dream of Glory out of Reina H by Rubinstein; Pg. by Jazz; believed to be a colt

Foals for sale:
Apollo (colt)by Ampere out of Dream Rubina. (Dream Rubina is dam of the licensed stallion Qredit by Quaterback who also was Grand Champion of the Devon Breed Show 2009.)
Brilliant Diamond (filly)by Diamond Hit out of Bella Argentina (Argentinus-Rubinstein-Inschallah)
Femme Fatale (filly) by Fuerst Romancier out of Donata (Donnerhall-Rubinstein-Grenadier)

News of one of my "children" from the past...

I am always so thrilled when an owner of one of my produce takes the time to contact me about their horse. Invariably, they love their horse, and thank me for making him/her. It is so bittersweet, especially when the horse happens to have been a particular favorite.
This was my "Tommy"! Born in 1997 by my homebred, licensed stallion "Harper" (By my stallion Mahon out of my foundation mare Helena ).
Tommy's dam was another homebred , "Halo" (by my stallion Falke out of Helen's Image by my stallion Beaute' - a linebreeding to the great dam Helena. I have a full sister to Tommy here)
Too much information???
Anyway, turns out that Tommy is still in Texas, ended up 17 hands and very gorgeous. But his name was changed and is now "Neopolitan". His owner is Kathy Thomas in Manor, Texas ... and she is very proud of her boy who is now 13 years young!

I recently purchased an Oldenburg gelding named Neopolitan. His sire was Harper and his dam was Halo. I am a first time horse owner late in life (finally fulfilling the childhood dream I guess). I believe you were Neo’s breeder and wondered if you by chance had any photos of him in his youth.
Neo has lots of personality and is a complete lover and pleaser. You make great colts!!

We won high point champion in Introduction Level and he is very proud when he is in the ring.

I get such a feeling of satisfaction when I know that my kids are still alive, well, and , above all loved and appreciated. Can't get any better than that.

A study in contrast........

Each one is a beautiful example of their breed type. The black is my super young mare, Finale (Furst Heinrich out of Reina H)
Her friend is my homebred Kiger mare, a 2 year old, by my stallion Cherokee Warrior and out of my original Kiger mare, Cherokee Spirit (who babysits the weanlings!)

New photos of my "specialty" breeding of the year - "PEACHES" !!

Excuse the "Farmer Judy" look (!), but I like to take time this part of the year to bring each foal up from the field individually for some one on one time. I am enjoying working with Peaches, my Lusitano - Andalusian - Kiger Mustang filly. Bright, athletic, a little complicated - but very fancy, don't you think?? Look how she can use those hind legs.

A nice note from Brandenburg ....

Dear Judy ,

We are so proud that you are so successful with the offsprings of Quaterback. The young mare "Heide von Brandenburg" from Quaterback out of Hedda is a very nice horse. Qredit is a good stallion and we are proud that he is licenced for breeding of the International Sporthorse Association. (Here is a photo of Qredit from Hilltop Farm at his inspection)

2010 is the year for Quaterbacks offsprings. On the German Foal Championships in Lienen were the best colt and filly progeny of Quaterback. On the Southern German Elite Sale in Nördlingen Quaterbacks offspring "Quattrcento" was the most expensive Dressage Foal which was sold for 20.000 € to Paul Schockemöhle. In Vehta on the Elite Foal Sale was the most expensive foal also an offspring of Quaterback: Quateron was sold for 55.000 € to a Spanish Dressage Stable.

Best regards

Stiftung Brandenburgisches Haupt- und Landgestüt

There is absolutely no doubt that Quaterback is proving to be a special "stamping stallion". His first crop are now coming under saddle, so far with excellent comments. We look forward to another breeding season with him.

After an afternoon run!

Well, the babies are weaned, and getting together in the herd under the guidance of my old Kiger mare , Spirit. Cookie snapped this trip to the watering trough after a big run.

Peaches N Cream !

This is our "specialty breeding" of the year. Peaches is by the Lusitano stallion, Veneno Imperial, and out of my Andalusian (Gaucho III ) x Kiger mare, Cherokee Diamond Isabel. I call it buttermilk dun (like Dale Evan's horse - for those of you who remember!) She is offered for sale, since "she" was supposed to be a "he" for me!

Wow - another GOV inspection is pleasant history!

Close to 60 people showed up to view our presentation of mares and foals, and enjoy a really tasty and well done luncheon.
We danced between rain showers to present the horses, but spectators were happy and dry under the white tent with bleachers. All in all it was a wonderful day.
Our mares and foals showed fine.... and as soon as Miss Cookie sends us photos I will post. We have hung our premium plaques on our wall and also have a "Mare of Distinction" ribbon for the glorious young mare "Heide von Brandenburg" (aka "Stars ") , my 3 year old Quaterback - Sandro Hit - Paradiesvogel. She was brilliant and showed a breathaking trot in hand with handler Andra Hayden, who stepped in this year to take over the running for me! (Andrea - we have it on video!!)
I cannot thank enough my "team" : Cookie Serletic, for her unflagging dedication working with the foals this year, braiding until the wee hours, then taking all the photos! To Antonio Lopez who has been my right hand for 28 years (!) , Eline Eckroth, rider and helper extraordinaire......... Andrea for pitching in and handling all the mares; Catherine Hoffman, Jessica Clinton and Chris Hutchings for seeing things to do and always lending a helping hand.
I will report more later.

The Queen is dead ..........

The day dawned like any other. I poured my coffee and thought of my list of "to dos". One of the first chores was to give my best mare, and long time friend, Reina H, her progesterone shot. She was about 55 days in foal for the first time in a long time. It had been a hard battle. The phone rang at 6:45 and it was Antonio............I braced because early morning calls from him usually harbor news of a new wound on a foal or other abnormality that occurred during the night. There was no way I could have been prepared for what I heard. In a quiet voice he asked "Puede venir por aca?" (Can you come here?).I said "Si, pero por que'?" In a very soft voice he hesitatingly said........"Reina esta' muerto." I was stunned - speechless. He had just told me that a piece of my heart had died. Those of you who knew Reina know that, when you met her, you had met a true Queen. She was gentle, kind, peaceful, and , above all else, loved all babies. She was currently sharing young filly raising duties with Spirit, my old Kiger mare, and her very best friend for many years.
Well, we will never know why she left us so early. She will be buried in the field with all her babies. She leaves behind one licensed breeding stallion, Sirringo, by Sir Donnerhall....and some wonderful daughters, two of whom I still have; Dream Rubina and Finale. They are precious anyway, but even more so now that there is no hope of ever having another Reina filly.
Reina was the last living animal who had made the trek from Texas to Florida with me back in 1998. The final link to my past .
Once again, goes to show us how fragile life is. You never know what the day will bring when you wake up......... up, down; good , bad; happy, sad. Today is definitely covered in sad.

We love wonderful news!

Hi Judy,

Just wanted to let your know that the judges loved Issira and she was awarded premium. Issandra did very well also with a score of 7.25. I will send you photos when I get them. They were both very good girls.

Thanks again for two wonderful horses. Can't wait for the Romanov baby!

Meg

Issandra and Issira were sold last month and shipped up to their new home. We are so pleased that they found such a great home.

New "COOKIE" photos!

From a little time spent in pasture with the babies yesterday. we have some fun images.
This is my big friend APOLLO ........

Brilliant Diamond : Diamond Hit -Argentinus - Rubinstein

Powerful, smart "Diamond" out of gentle Bella Argentina. Here shown at 2 1/2 months.
Update: August 1st

"Diamond" is now FOR SALE

And this is FINALE and her daughter "Bliss"

FINALE is Furst Heinrich out of Reina H by Rubinstein. Her filly is by Belissimo M. Lovely, sweet pair.

FERRANTE (Florestan - Jazz - Matador II - Rubinstein)

A kind, happy colt with a royal pedigree. His dam is my KWPN Keur, Sport Pred. mare, TAMARINDE.
FERRANTE is 6 weeks old and is very supple and free in his movement. Of definite high quality, he is for an aspiring competition rider!

APOLLO at 4 months

We have been so busy around here that taking photos or videoing the foals has taken back seat. Today we tried a little photo session in the front field..... already sweltering at 8 a.m.
I caught just a few moments of APOLLO in action. He is the wonderful AMPERE colt out of DREAM RUBINA (Dream of Glory - Rubinstein).

FELIS APOLLO : AMPERE - DREAM OF GLORY - RUBINSTEIN

People have been asking me what I think about my AMPERE colt! I honestly do not have all the words to describe this special colt. His exterior qualities match his interior qualities, giving me the perfect horse I think. The consistency of Ampere as a sire is evident, and I am strongly impressed.

Brilliant Diamond : Diamond Hit -Argentinus - Rubinstein

More good news! HOHENSTEIN and FINALE !!

They said it couldn't be done, but we have proven that HOHENSTEIN semen DOES work! We used one dose on FINALE 31 days after her Belissimo M filly was born. Today we saw a very nice embryo!

SHILOH - coming of age.... SOLD

This is a very beautiful and interesting yearling filly by Sandro Hit out of Isabel by Gaucho III (Andalusian). She is tall, leggy and unique! She joins the sales list for 2010. SOLD

No, it's NOT the Easter Bunny!!

This is one of my "specialties" ....... this buttermilk dun is hard to make, but this particular mare line is pretty strong to throw it. This is a really tall filly by the Lusitano stallion "Veneno" out of my "Gaucho III" (Andalusian) daughter, "Isabel". I was surprised at how tall the filly is.... as tall as my tallest warmbloods when born. And I particularly chose Veneno because he is only 15.3........... silly me.

In these photos she is 30 hours old and first time outside.

30 hours old, and first steps outside!!

This is a simply beautiful filly - a clone of her dam in red bay clothing. Finale is looking magnificent as a young Mother, and is taking her job very seriously! She comes from a long line of solid mares with strong maternal instincts and fertility. A mare line like this is a rare gift that every serious breeder strives for..... or prays for.