This year has been a challenging one for those of us in Canterbury with earthquakes and snow.
Although it has been tough, we have also had some lovely highlights with the horses.
My first horse trial season with Hewston went well and we ended up winning the South Island One Day training trial. He is a lovely horse to have around and a pleasure event.
Stanhopes Magician (Marty) is coming along nicely under saddle, I love riding this boy. We have been taking things slowly and enjoying beach rides and the start of some jump schooling.
The biggest highlight has been the first crop of Stanhopes Magician foals on the ground. We have been rapt with all of them. All coloured so far, lovely leggy types with great bone and movement. There are photos of them all on our web site www.colouredwarmbloods.co.nz or if you are a facebook fan we have some on our 'Magic Coloured Warmbloods' page.
We had a lovely coloured filly out of the quality Brillant Invader mare who reminds me a lot of her dad. Cheleken Indy has had a very leggy pinto colt foal who is the biggest to date and has a gorgeous white face mask, so we have called him Magic Masquerade. There are several outside mare that have had stunning foals and there are more to come in the new year and we look forward to seeing them.
We are also excited that our beautiful 3yr Whats Colour (Tomtom) filly is confirmed infoal to Stanhopes Magician via frozen semen on the first try. So a guaranteed colour foal for her next year.
Also the lovely Brillant Invader mare is back in foal to Stanhopes Magician via frozen and will return to her owners after weaning, and I am sure will have another stunning Marty foal for them.
Unfortunately I was kicked by another horse (not one of mine!) while riding Stanhopes Magician and have broken my leg. (Marty was extremely good while trying to dismount with a badly broken leg and in a lot of pain). After 12 days in hospital and 3 surgerys I am now home but not able to walk for 3 months. So sadly all handling foals, riding and competing have all had to go on the back burner. It also means no horse trial season in the autumn for me either!! Not to mention our three kids on holiday for 8 weeks and I am not able to drive them anywhere! Challenges..!! I am so grateful to all family and my lovely friends who are helping out and making things work.
We wish everyone a great Christmas and some down time, and all the best for 2012.
