Rachel & Caby at the Spring Inaugural

Seven year old Quailhurst-bred gelding Caby (Caletino x Tjinja) and his owner/rider Rachel Van Allen stepped up to the 3’6″ division in style at the Spring Inaugural Horse Show in Monroe, Washington, on April 4-8. Of this first outing at a a more formidable fence height, Rachel writes:

“On Friday, I rode Caby in the Junior Working Hunters, US Hunt Seat Medal, and the SNI Equitation Challenge. I was a little nervous since this was our first time showing at 3’6″ but Caby helped calm my nerves when I saw that he thought it was no big deal.”  

Caby (now showing as “Basilio”) has always shown a desire for jumping, as well as the versatility to compete in all three rings. In addition to placing in all their Junior Hunter classes, Caby and Rachel had a stellar outing in the Equitation division, winning the Washington International Hunter Equitation Phase and placing 2nd in the Washington International Jumper Phase to finish 1st overall. They also placed 2nd in the ASPCA Horsemanship class, the Spring Inaugural Equitation Challenge, and their Equitation Over Fences class.

“Overall, this was such an amazing show! I couldn’t have asked for Caby to be any better…he was literally perfect! He seemed so happy at the show, loving all the activity and attention. He wanted to say hi to everyone that passed by his stall,” said Rachel.

We are so proud of these two in their continued learning, partnership, and success. Best of luck on the rest of your show season together, Rachel and Caby!

Conrad, Deborah, Verona, and the entire Quailhurst staff

During his U.S. teaching tour, world renowned Dressage Trainer Conrad Schumacher made a stop to Quailhurst Stable. Considered one of the few “Masters” of the sport, it was more than an honor to have him work privately with our horses.

Deborah has been a regular student of Conrad’s for the past six years, traveling from locations throughout the state of Washington with multiple horses. It has been a dream to work with him on an extended basis, not just for a 3 day clinic, so when he offered to come the dream was fulfilled. The original intention was to work with Tjinja, Deborah’s top competition horse, but due to her passing the rides were filled by her offspring and Deborah’s former young horse returning to work following her foaling.

“It was bitter sweet,” Deborah said. “The reason he offered was to be sure I understood correctly what he was conveying all these years and wanted to see TJ’s improvements. We lost the mare but we gained an even greater respect for this man.”

Following the few training days at Quailhurst, Conrad and Deborah headed north to Starr Valley Farm in Longbranch, WA, then on to Pupmpkin Farm in Snohomish, WA, where Conrad is a regular.  After three locations and three horses and a total of 21 rides, they have returned home with an experience of a lifetime.

“Conrad is quite simply one of the nicest people I have encountered. He loves the horses, loves to teach, and genuinely is there to make the sport better. This was proof that not only at Disneyland, but here in the Northwest, dreams do come true.”

Zorro's Portrait with artist Eve Holloran

Last week Quailhurst received a special delivery when artist Eve Holloran visited the farm to deliver her completed portrait of Deborah’s beloved partner “Ferrogamo” (aka Zorro).  Commissioned after his passing last year, Eve worked from a headshot of Zorro to create this stunning likeness.

All who had the opportunity to know this exceptional horse remember his exquisite head and eye and unmatched, larger-than-life persona  - both of which come to life on this canvas so much so that you almost expect him to nicker hello. Thank you to Eve for putting so much love into this very special portrait.

More on Eve’s work can be found at Verybestportraits.com. 

Roderik receives his dental care from Tony Basile

Every winter, all of the Quailhurst horses receive a visit from equine dentist Tony Basile, EQDT, who travels from his home base in Northern California to perform their routine dental examinations and maintenance.

Basile, a practitioner of over 30 years, is a pioneer in equine dentistry and is renowned for developing innovative approaches to addressing and treating equine dental disorders. His fascinating research has shaped the modern field of equine dental care.

Because our horses are on a consistent schedule of care, they rarely need anything beyond a routine dental float (the equestrian term for filing a horse’s teeth into the appropriate alignment) and bit seats (an adjustment to the premolars that provides comfort when wearing a bit). At each visit, Tony also provides an evaluation of each horse’s palate shape which further informs the bit selection aspect of the training process.

Quailhurst has worked with Basile for over 10 years, and we are fortunate to have him as both our friend and part of the vital team that supports the care of the Quailhurst horses.

Electronic dental records are maintained for each horse

Olivia and Aris

We would like to congratulate Olivia Spencer of Lake Oswego, Oregon for her purchase of “Aris,” a 7 year old gelding bred by Quailhurst (Caletino X Helena).

Aris was more than special from the day that he was born. “When I saw the size of the first hoof that appeared during foaling, I remember saying ‘This isn’t a foal, it’s a horse!’ He was enormous for a new born and became the cause of the loss of his mother, Helena, one week later,” said Deborah. (Read Deborah’s story about Helena here.)

Aris now stands at 18.3 hands high and fortunately is sweet, smart, and very sensible. He has been a pleasure to have at the farm. So much so, in fact, that he was not a horse that was for sale. Quailhurst intended to keep him here forever, but he chose Olivia when she came here to try a different horse that was for sale.

We haven’t looked back and when you breed a horse and you see so much love between the horse and owner, it becomes much easier to let go.

Olivia and Aris will remain at Quailhurst for a while to broaden their flat work education and then they will move on to Pumpkin Ridge Equestrian Center to live and train with Darci Bayney of Zona Farms. There are currently five Quailhurst “alumni horses” at PREC, so Aris will have familiar family when he arrives. As for now we have the pleasure of continuing to see his sweet face everyday.

Aris' mother Helena, by Condino

Helena’s Story by Deborah Hausman

Abamba & Sydney

It was a very Merry Christmas for one young girl this year when she was presented with a halter bearing the name of the horse her mother purchased for her!

Becky Denham surprised her daughter Sydney with her new 6 year old mare Abamba Hit (Samba Hit X Goodtimes) known in the stable as “Top Model.”

Sydney had come to try Abamba and completely fell in love with her and Abamba fell in love with Sydney. It was a perfect match!

I had such a good time working with this rider because she is so much like the horse. She too looks like a Top Model, rides with confidence, and takes instruction quickly. I am pretty sure that Sydney is the only person other than myself that has felt the beauty of this horse’s natural, relaxed gaits. It was an honor to watch it happen. Sydney is one of the most talented young riders I have seen in a very long time and has natural feel. This is a pair that can have a spectacular future.

Darci Bayney of Zona Farms is her trainer and will continue the education of this combination at Pumpkin Ridge Equestrian Center in North Plains, Oregon.

Congratulations Sydney and Merry Christmas!

What are Quailhurst-bred alumni horses doing when they’re not out competing and winning championships? Modeling, of course.

This fall, six year olds Athena and Caby, both sired by our stallion Caletino, spent the day modeling for the upcoming Spring ’12 catalog for Irideon Riding Wear.  Irideon is designed and manufactured here in Oregon and is known for exceptional fit and function in the saddle.

Photographed on the grounds of the Pumpkin Ridge Equestrian Center, Athena and owner Savannah Budzinski and Caby and owner Rachel Van Allen had a fun day while showing off the latest Irideon apparel in beautiful style. Looking good, girls!

Special thanks to Irideon Riding Wear for these photos and sneak preview of their Spring 2012 collection.

Shakira

Congratulations to Darci Bayney, owner and trainer at Zona Farms, on the purchase of Shakira.

Shakira is an eight year old mare that was imported from Holland by Quailhurst. She is the dam to the striking three year old chestnut filly “Deluca,” by our stallion Nassau. Deluca is also owned by Darci and we are very excited for her to have the opportunity to work with this mother/daughter pair. Both are in training for the hunter/jumper rings.

View Shakira’s other beautiful filly Ferggie, who is also for sale, here.

Shakira and Deluca, 2008

Caletino
Caretino x N. Anuberth x Caletto I
1998 KPWN /16.1 Hand Bay
Superb Temperament, Spectacular Jumper, 8′s and 9′s on gaits
View Caletino’s pedigree and read more about his offspring.
Fresh and frozen semen

Caletino - Known to his friends as "Seeker"

Sired by Caretino, a stallion of superb jumping ability, Caletino’s pedigree reads like the Who’s Who of the Holsteiner breed. Both his grandsires,  Caletto II and Caletto I, established significant dynasties in breeding and competition sports. He is registered with the KWPN and the NA/WPN.

Caletino himself is the perfect personification of his breed. “Noble, expressive, correct conformation for sport, enormous gaits and superb jumping ability.”

Caletino, known in the stable as “Seeker,” came to the US as a three year old in the winter of 2001. Caletino began his show career in 2003 and, in his first year of competing, he became the USDF Horse of the Year Materiale. In addition, he was the NWSHB Champion Stallion, Best of Breed and the USDF Cosequin Champion Stallion.

In 2004, he qualified and competed as a finalist in the US Young Horse National Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. Just one month later, he won the DG Bar Cup, an event for Dutch young horses. His score placed him as the Reserve Champion in the US.

In 2009, Caletino went into training with Oregon-based US showjumping team rider Rich Fellers and, after just two weeks of jumping under saddle, he was entered into his first show. In his debut outings as a showjumper, after a long career in dressage, Caletino consistently placed in the top ribbons in the 1.10 and 1.15 divisions at the 2009 Thunderbird Tournament (Langley, B.C), and a brought home a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in the 1.20 division at the Canada One and North American Tournaments at Spruce Meadows.

Caletino possesses a kind and willing temperament and should produce offspring of the highest quality. As a nominated sire for the Arabian horse, we expect a beautiful cross between breeds. His quiet nature and character should provide a perfect opportunity those interested in producing the Half-Arabian horse.

View Caletino’s pedigree and read more about his offspring.

Slideshow of Caletino’s offspring:

Nassau
KWPN Approved/16.1 Chestnut Indoctro x Gazelle
2005 KWPN Horse of the Year
View Nassau’s pedigree and read more about his offspring.
Frozen semen only (no live foal guarantee)

The sire of Nassau is the very famous Indoctro, who, with his sire Capitol and grandsire Caletto, belong to the world’s top showjumper progenitors. His dam, Gazelle, comes out of the world famous Jolanda (‘keur, pref. prest.’) of Roel Hagedoorn in Wierden. Jolanda produced, amongst others, the following sport horses: Old Mac (by Mister Wilfred xx) who jumps at 1.40m. level and the international showjumpers Happy Sound (by Lucky Boy xx), Servus (by Lucky Boy xx), My Man (by Tangelo xx) and Cool Cat (by Gurioso). In addition there is the international dressage horse Darwin (by Tangelo xx) and the approved stud stallions Vasco (by Gag xx), who jumps at 1.40m. level, and Hamar (by Mytens xx).

Nassau’s dam (Gazelle) gained the predicate of “preferent prestatie” in 2002. Nassau progenitors receive a lot of his quality. From the first crop 15 horses registrated in studbook, 9 times “ster” predicate and one approved son Thunderbolt. With that he scores very high,  above the average,  for exterior and action. He is much valued, the trot is powerful and well-carried.

Show Record:

1998

• Approved with an 8 and 8.5 for natural ability as a jumping horse.

1999

• Finalist for IAN Trophy for 4-Yr. old Stallions in Ermelo.
• Winner 4-Yr. Old Stallions in Denekamp, Giesbeek and Weert.
• 3 rd Stallion Show Competition for 4-Yr. Olds in Den Bosch.

2000

• Winner 5-Yr. Old Stallions at Indoor Brabant, Varsseveld, Denekamp, and Hengelo .

2001

• Winner Stallion Show Competition for 6-Yr. Olds in ‘s Hertogenbosch.
• Winner Stallion Competition in Denekamp for 6 and 7 Yr. olds
• 2 nd Hengelo Stallion Competition.
• Winner Twente Cup at finals.
• 2 nd place Weert Stallion Competition.
• Champion M level Indoor Zeeland with Eddie Brinkman.

2002

• 2 nd Weert Stallion Competition.
• Winner Stallion Competition Den Bosch.
• 2 nd place in finals (1.30-1.35m)
• Winner Stallion Competition ZZ Indoor Brabant

2003

• Winner Hoefslagprijs at NIC Zuidlaren with Jeroen Dubbeldam.
• 1 st Zuidlaren Stallion Competition.
• 4 th Geneva 1.40m
• 4thValkenswaard 1.50m

2004

• 2 nd Hengelo Grand Prix.
• 3 rd Maastricht
• 4 th Munich CSIO and Roma Piazza di Siena (1.45)
• 5 th Zwolle
• 6 th Affaterbach (Ger)
• 7 th Den Haag and Hannover

2005 / KWPN Horse of the Year

• 1 st place Rabo Jumping Rankings
• 2 nd place Dutch Championships
• 3 rd Individual and 3 rd Team at European Championships (ITA)
• 5 th Vio Grand Prix ( Spain )
• 6 th Rotterdam and Aachen Grand Pri
• 7 th aE s-Hertogenbosch, La Baule, San Patrignano and Barcelona Grand Prix

View Nassau’s pedigree and read more about his offspring.

Slideshow of Nassau’s offspring: