We are lucky enough to have a super Irish Sport Horse mare. She was homebred and is by 'Red Crescent' a TB stallion who competed very successfully up to Int. event & Adv. dressage by his owner Jeanette Rogers & Daniel Watson. Sadly, he died unexpectedly just after our mare was born in April 2000 so she's probably one of the last of his crop. Her dam 'Silver Breeze' is a purebred Irish Draught mare by the RID stallion 'Heather Breeze'. When I came to sell her dam, I was showing her off in a field when our 5 year old son fell out of a nearby tree and came crashing down through the branches yelling loudly. He was eventually caught upside down by his pants and just hung there next to where we were standing. Dear Breeze was so bombproof she didn't so much as twitch an ear at all the commotion and the lady was so impressed she virtually wrote me out a cheque on the spot! Fortunately our mare has inherited a similarly passive view of the world and is kind natured and tolerant of our children - just as a good Irish mare should be... We have a new addition to the clan too. Recently, after several months of looking we found a super Welsh Cob sec.D youngster to join the team. I have always been a huge fan of the Welsh D's & grew up riding them. I admire their robust manner and versatility. We've missed having a cob in the family since selling our last one, a gelding I'd owned from a foal. Our new boy is called 'Hepste Owen'and is by the stallion 'Newydd Lloyd'. He's very striking in looks and has taken his colour and markings from his sire but most importantly, he seems to have a kind & genuine nature. He's just starting his early ridden work and so far, has been bold and keen to learn. We're enjoying lots of early morning, springtime hacks round the forest. He doesn't seem to mind being on his own or in company and is getting on with learning his new job. We very much hope that in time, he'll become the family allrounder that we'd like him to be.
Summer 2009 Update: Owen is doing really well & my kids are now riding him as well as myself. We have also been pleased to welcome Danielle to the team, our very dedicated & competent sharer. She rides both horses beautifully & we're hoping to get out to some shows soon. The flies are atrocious this year, far worse than I remember in previous years but we're still having loads of fun with the horses & the summer holidays are nearly here!!!
