And some people wonder what I do!

Another awaited shipment has arrived and my little shippers are busy at work! Here are today's orders ready for Frenchie, our Fed X partner, to pick up.

BRETTON WOODS and CHARMEUR semen is here and ready to go.

Arrick Harper wins big again at Spy Coast show!

My 4 year old homebred son of Argentinus maintained his winning ways in the Spy Coast Young Horse Series yesterday. Rider Ilse Schwartz reported a brilliant score of 8.0 in the Suitability class, with the 2nd place horse coming in with a 7.25.
Arrick placed second in the Dressage test with a 69.5%.
So, we are well qualified for the finals of this series in December. And Ilse reports that I have won another tote bag!! Yay!!!
Again, all kudos to her for her solid training of this young talent,Arrick

Oh, HAPPY DAY !! Look what we have!!!

Day # 2 for Heartsong!








This is my new little heartsong........ by HOHENSTEIN out of FINALE by Furst Heinrich who was out of my dear REINA H by Rubinstein, who was out of my foundation Trakehner mare, HELENA "E" by Herbststurm. I thought it would be wonderful to get a filly, to come full circle back to my Trakehner roots. All year long we waited for a COLT to come, but when she started bagging up early, my hopes were renewed! I thought "Surely the SUPER MOON would bring a filly!" And so she did! At 1:49 a.m. out came this wonderful black all over filly.........
A breeder's dream .... well, for sure THIS breeder's dream! 34 years from beginning with HELENA to seeing her great grand daughter born, still so much in her image.

My "Peaches" makes her show debut!

Please notice the BLUE RIBBON in Gareth's hand!!




So it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning - watching Gareth Selwood handle one of my youngsters in the ring. Kudos to him for transforming Peaches from a pasture kid to a young lady.
PEACHES is by the Lusitano stallion VENENO IMPERIAL out of Isabel by the Andalusian stallion GAUCHO III. Isabel's dam was one of my very first KIGER mares, Mirage! So, Peaches is one of my "specialty" breedings, and she competed in the IALHA breed show. (She still wanted to come home with me!)

Arrick Harper and Ilse in their qualifying ride

Since Arrick Harper was a baby, I had dreams of him going to the Young Horse Championships ...... I don't know - just wanted him to BE someone and DO something. I felt he had such athleticism and talent.
So, now, he has his first qualifying score, and it is still so early in the year for a 4 year old. He also has done super in the first two Spy Coast Farm's Young Horse Shows, and is also qualified for those finals.
This ride was last week in Wellington.

Cherokee Twister

It has been a long time since I have shown you my #1 guy.... this is my buddy and riding partner, Twister.

Hard to believe that he was born here 11 years ago last month - my first Kiger foal from the wild. And my lifetime partner.

Look at this perfect beauty!!

Born yesterday, March 1st ........ a precious filly.

This is HONALEIGH by Belissimo M out of lovely "STARS" (Quaterback - Sandro Hit - Paradiesvogel)

Please welcome GATSBY !

So fancy with his white stockings, here is GATSBY. He is by JAZZ out of DREAM RUBINA (Dream of Glory - Rubinstein)

Rubina has become my cornerstone mare since her dam Reina H died last summer. Dream Rubina has already produced the licensed son QREDIT by Quaterback, and looks like she has another stallion coming along in Australia - W.ELLINGTON by Wynton. (see post below)
This Jazz colt is larger than I expected, but has his dam's wonderful legs and a delightful friendly personality that shines already. GATSBY is shown here at 2 1/2 days of age.

Does anyone recognize THIS horse??

This is my homebred 2 year old colt. W. ELLINGTON by WYNTON out of DREAM RUBINA (Dream of Glory - Rubinstein) in his home in Australia!

Hasn't he grown nicely?

His dam is also dam of the licensed stallion QREDIT by Quaterback.
?Maybe she will have another licensed son?

All things must pass.......

The grand old stallion FOR PLEASURE has passed away peacefully in his field this morning in Germany.
He was turned out as usual, was having a good roll, but never got up.
The world of show jumping will never forget this strong stallion who has left his mark , not only through his own accomplishments, but also through the success of his offspring.
Another great one passes over the Rainbow Bridge.

Visiting with ROYAL CLASSIC

He is just stunningly beautiful.










Even these photos do not do him the justice he deserves. In person, he is so full of kind personality, fluid movement, solid, gentle energy. I am a huge admirer of this young stallion as well as of his venerable pedigree:
His sire, Royal Highness is by Regazzoni out of a Dream of Glory - Weltmeyer dam
His dam, First Lady is Florestan - Landadel - Calypso II

Here is a link to his homepage, with good information and updated regularly with new foal photos!
http://www.hanoverian-breeding-windeler.de/impressions-videos-1.html

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.