Knabstrupper USA

One of the many things we have been doing this summer is making videos. April got a new Ipad and used it extensively to make videos.
We even got some of the one or two of the yearlings.

Here’s Bella aka CCS Lobelia; Bella is by Apollon out of Linda v. Nordstern. and she is gowing up into a very personable horse.

CCS Lobelia

CCS Lobelia

This is Legolas, Legs is by Don Principe (Hann) out of Peony v. Falkenhorst. He is a bright copper chestnut and very very handsome, with his blanket and socks.

CCS Legolas

CCS Legolas summer 2011

I seem to have forgotten to take any pics of CCS Raina Halifax’s filly out of Paula. She is growing into a very stout and powerful mare. She is also as pure bred as it gets being 15/16th Knab in the 4th generation. and she is developing into a ‘real’ Knabstrupper.
Pics will follow.

We have a few older ones as well.
Here is CCS Boromir, by Ravaldi out of Lolita who was by Libero Star. Boromir is a half warmblood half Knabstrupper, and is growing into a tall leggy handsome fellow look at him move as well. This one is going to be a super dressage horse. and since both parents were good jumpers he should jump as well.

CCS Boromir

CCS Boromir

This CCS Selinde, she is a 2 yr old by Apollon out of Linda v. Nordstern. Selinde is a good big mare with a real Knabstrupper character and type.

CCS Selinde

CCS Selinde

It’s been a long time since I blogged for which I apologize. Too much going on etc etc. SO where was I?……
TO start with here are our current crop of babies.
We had 3 super babies this year, Grosie had a colt foal by Ecuador, we call him Aragorn aka Strider, very dark bay possibly black with a small lacey blanket. He is just gorgeous, with a superb walk, and incredible charisma. The current plan is to keep him entire for now, (at least for as long as I can stand it) and see how he develops.

Here is a short video of him;
CCS Aragorn

Peony had filly sired by Don Principe, a very dark chestnut possibly liver, with a small blanket. She is beautiful and elegant and is going to be drop dead gorgeous. A super mover. We called her CCS Galadriel.

Here is a short video of her;
CCS Galadriel

Paula had a colt foal by Leofric the Dane. CCS Peregrin, aka Pippin, is a full leopard colt. He is as pure bred as it gets, being 15/16ths Knabstrupper in the 4th generation.

Here is a short video of him;
CCS Peregrin

We are in the process of weaning. Aragorn got weaned yesterday and Galadriel is due to be weaned tomorrow. and next week Pippin.

Grosie is back in foal this time to Halifax Middelsom. Paula and Peony are not in foal. Peony is going to go back under saddle and try her hand at being a dressage horse. Paula will be bred next year possibly to Lea Ann Hansen’s Schiffon.
Next blog I’ll show our yearlings!

Mr X man, aka Xavoy Middelsom, has an approved son.
For those of you who didn’t know, Xavoy was a stallion when I bought him. I didn’t want a stallion around, so I have him gelded before importing him.
But of his 2 foal crops in Denmark he has had one son approved.

http://www.knabstrupperforeningen.dk/sider_hingsteoplysn/xol.htm

and boy doesn’t Xol look like his daddy!

Way to go Xavoy.
I told him this am, but he was more interested in his banana!

MW

May 2011 be a good year for you and yours. And may you have lots of spots in your life. Happy spots!
MW

It has been quite a week for Knabstruppers here in the USA.

First of all, Congratulations to Colorado Skrødstrup and all of his ‘connections’ Kathy St Martin, Niels Fynbo (breeder) & Lisa Williams. Colorado has passed the 70 day test with flying colors, he scored an outstanding 109.75 making him 5th overall and with a dressage index of 113.54 placing him 3rd in Dressage. His jumping index was 102.59 placing him 5th in the jumping as well.  Because he was older than 5 at the testing, he received a 5% penalty.  If he had not received the penalty, he would have been 2nd overall. This is a very impressive result considering that he was up against some very very nice stallions.

The second thing that happened is that Halifax Middelsom, our 4 yr old few spot stallion (Harlequin- Celeste) went to the Region 1 Finals, he did his 1st level debut, and scored a 72% at 1st 4, and was Reserve Champion in the McDevitt Sothebys stakes class, winning $200. This was an open class against all kinds of horses including some very nice warmbloods including several other stallions.

Cita Normark and April Shultz, 2nd level Champions

Edited to add in:
I had totally forgotten to mention that two weeks ago and CBLM Championships Cita Normark and April were second level Champions, and at the same Championships, April and Halifax Middelsom were Reserve Champions at Training level with a score of 72%. He was tied for first but lost on the tie breaker.

Halifax Middelsom, Reserve Champion Training level.

Why is this so important, well it shows that Knabstruppers can hold their own against all other horses. Both of these stallions were competing against other horses in an open competition, and both horses showed that Knabstruppers can hold their own. This is very very good news, and is a confirmation and affirmation of the quality and effectiveness of the Danish system of breeding these horses. These horses are competitive in open competition against all other breeds, not just in a limited one breed only show. This kind of performance confirms the wisdom of the KNN and their breeding program rules.

Halifax wasn’t the only Knabstrupper at the Region 1 Finals, we also took Xavoy Middelsom to do Prix St Georges, and Xafaire Middelsom who had qualified for the 1st level Finals Adult Amateur division. I rode both of these horses, and while we didn’t get the stellar scores that April and Halifax got, they did well.

Xafaire was 9th over all, just out of the ribbons, but still a respectable place for a 5 yr old against all other breeds in a very competitive class. Due to having a lot of stuff to do this year, we have only done limited showing on Xafaire, but he has managed to qualify and even came to the show and did respectably.

Xavoy showed the dependability and reliability of a Knabstrupper as he performed the PSG test as best he could given that he was being ridden by someone who is NOT experienced at this level (me). We still have work to do to get him sitting more and being a bit more ‘on the bit’, but the best part of it all is that thanks to his good mind, I actually get to ride the PSG, so many other middle aged ladies of my generation are reduced to standing by the ring watching their trainers ride their big fancy warmbloods and are not riding them themselves, but I get to go in myself and do it.

Thanks Xavoy!

And I never have to worry about being bucked off or having too much horse to deal with. Those FEI tests are hard enough to ride without having to worry if your horse is going to spook out from under you or bolt at the end of the ring. or if you are going to be able to get those changes. On my Knabstrupper I don’t have to worry about any of that, I only have to concentrate on whether he is uphill enough or round enough or remembering to count the changes!

For someone of my age and lets face it, less than perfect build, it is so nice to have a horse that I can rely on to be a partner in the enterprise. We might not get stellar scores, but we will improve with practice, and I know I can always ride my horse and get in more practice, unlike some!

We drove home from Ohio, we had Tuesday to recover and then it was our Inspection.
There were 4 foals, 4 brood mares and a young stallion being presented for judging. It wasn’t a very long day thankfully.

CCS Tinuvel (Sugar) trots out for the judges in the broodmare class.

All the horses get looked at initially walking and trotting on the hard surface. Then they are looked at in the indoor on the soft surface at walk, trot and canter. Plus they have a conformation judgment.
The young stallion, Leofric the Dane is also looked at free jumping in a chute.

CCS Lobelia trots in the indoor.

I am glad to say that Leo got another years breeding license.
Of the 4 foals that were shown, CCS Legolas got the highest score and went forward to the finals.

CCS Legolas trots in the indoor

There were 4 broodmares forward for inspection, 3 of these were warmblood mares for crossbreeding, so the winner of the broodmare class was the only Knabstrupper in the class (the warmbloods were not in contention since they were not Knabbies), and that was CCS Tinuvel.

CCS Tinuvel (Sugar) winner of the broodmare class and ultimately Best In Show

But Sugar went to the finals where she was judged to be the Best in Show and won the coveted neck ribbon.

For those of you who would like to see more pics of the hroses go to
Pam Talley Stoneburners website and take a look
All the pics in this blog were taken by Pam.

You can go to www.pamtalleystoneburner.com and click on the link to view photos. Once there, go to the KNN 10-20-10 gallery and choose your horse!

MW