Rain effect

All it takes is the feel of rain on the back after weeks of heat; Great relief after yesterday's stultifying 41 degrees as we waited for the weather to break.

All the horses went for a burn and had a great roll in the dust!!

Stallion Prospect

Laddie is a superb stallion prospect, given his breeding, paces and temperament.
He's advertised in the December issue of "Horse Deals" magazine.
Scroll down to earlier posts to find more information on his breeding...and see him at earlier stages in his development.

Click on photos to enlarge for clarity of view.

Please comment if you want more information or other views.

Galahad; Paces

Laddie is generally very composed in the paddock, but when he moves!!!
He has so much power off his hocks that he floats; a lovely airy trot, can be very passagey.
He's been practising canter changes of lead since he was about a week old; no swerving in and out of trees, just a change of canter stride.
He can jump! throws in the odd "airs above ground" when he's having a burn around the paddock!
So many paces he's blessed with. It will be fascinating to see what a good rider can develop!

Bloomsbury's Sir Galahad

D.O.B. 19/12/2008
Head shot at 10 months; Standing calm at 3 1/2 months, literally just weaned and released from 5 days in stable. Super cool!!
Sire: Brae Galaxy by Argentille Gullit (Ulft/Le Mexico)
out of Apptrak Bellona (Biathlon/Wesuw)
Dam: Bloomsbury's Maybellene by Richmeed Medallion (May Sherif x Catherston
Desert Gold)
out of Canyonleigh Memphis Belle (Pep Valley Commander/
Personality Guy)
Amazing Genetic make-up!! Gullit was imported from Holland at 3 y.o., trained by Matthew Dowsley to top FEI dressage and then sold to Carl Hester's British client and brought back to Australia to compete in the Sydney Olympics. His Sire Ulft is a Keur Sire (with many performance stallion progeny in Germany); his sire, Le Mexico was a famed Selle Francais jumping champion.
Bellona is by Biathlon of the famed B line (Bolero, Brentina) out of a mare by Wesuw, the first Trakehner imported to Australia.
Medallion (dec.) performed at FEI level with Anne-Marie Lourey and has many offspring competing FEI dressage (e.g. Byalee Magic with Heath Ryan) and 4*eventing (Mystery Whisper with Heath Ryan). His dam Catherston Dutch Gold was Englishwoman Jennie Loriston Clarke's eventing mare.
Medallion's sire, May Sherif, has the distinction of having two of his sons win the World Cup in Dressage, including the Kur; Matador, with Kyra Kyrkland, and Andiamo with Sven Rothenberger.

Maybellene, herself, at 4 years old, has made a very promising entree to her dressage career.
Her Saddlebred Dam's sire and grandsire have proved to be the two most prepotent ASB stallions in Australia to date, siring versatile performance horses, with jumping and endurance credits.
Laddie will have more size than his dam; probably mature around 16:3/17hh. He'll be about 15hh at 12 months!

Buffer Zone

Much relief! Local fencing guys arrived today to construct a buffer fence. I can now safely keep Laddie as a colt for a little longer without having to worry about his proximity to Cloud and his Mum. The girls stayed in the yard, out of their paddock, whilst the job proceeded; they tolerated the air compresser post rammer very well after a bit of initial reassurance from mum.
The mob earned themselves some new fans with their looks and equanimity!!

More photos

Liz Joyes came to visit the boys today and brought her camera. A great day for photos as Jeremy brought Cloud and Maybellene home yesterday; Cloud has made a positive start under saddle and Maybellene is due for a spell after 6 months in work. Maybellene is certainly enjoying having company after being cossetted in her own paddock since weaning Laddie. Laddie immediately remembered he was supposed to be chatting up Cloud, but fortunately she let him know, in no uncertain terms, that she's not interested...at the moment.

Photoshoot

Chestnut = Canyonleigh Paeon (rising 4y.o.); Black/bay+ Bloomsbury's Sir Galahad (9 months old)
Tried to get some action photos of the boys this afternoon, with Stevie's help .Typical!! They're more intrigued, than spooked. But I'll practice more over the next few days.