Plus How Totilas Impacts Modern Breeding, the Road to Grand Prix with Idocus, and Other Hot Topics
Cor Loeffen and Steffen Peters answered questions about identifying talented horses. Photo by Monica Sakurai.
Sutherlin, OR – If your goal is to breed, own or ride the next Ravel, Totilas, Judgement ISF, Idocus, or Popeye K, the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting added to your inspiration. With insights from Olympic medalist Steffen Peters and renowned breeder and KWPN judge Cor Loeffen, along with networking with some of the world’s biggest and best KWPN horse breeders, the event was the largest in recent years. Two hundred enthusiastic equestrians gathered in Visalia, California to discuss and debate the best way to produce and manage superstar equines.
Longtime breeder, Scot Tolman of Spofford, NH, attends the KWPN-NA Annual Meeting in search of adding even more knowledge to his 20-plus years of breeding Dutch horses. “The breeders lead the KWPN; it’s an evolving studbook. Ravel and Totilas are shaping the breeding of dressage horses,” he says. “As breeders, we must be aware of what is happening in sport and [understand] what [qualities] stallions are producing.”
Conversations throughout the meeting always turned to particular stallion and mare lines and the traits they are known for producing. Scot referenced Jazz. Although the stallion has produced 40 Grand Prix horses, Jazz is often recognized only for producing hot temperaments. Scot continues, “Sometimes people hyper-focus on one trait. You can’t knock down horses because of one trait. You have to grasp the big picture.”
Breeder’s Achievement Awards Sponsored by Rabobank Will Recognize Success
Sutherlin, OR — Breeders devote their lives, energy and hopes to producing world-class sport horses that will compete at the top levels of dressage, eventing, jumping and driving. One of the best tools available to help breeders in their quest is the keuring, or inspection, of breeding stock. The 2010 KWPN of North America (Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook) keurings will take place at 11 locations throughout North America and offer breeders the opportunity to have their bloodstock evaluated, as well as see the results of other breeding programs. The outcome of keurings can increase the value of horses and also provide excellent marketing opportunities. So how can you successfully prepare your horses to receive the best marks from the jury? Several top KWPN-NA breeders share their secrets for making the most of the keuring experience.
“My favorite things about the keurings are seeing the other breeders’ foals and offspring produced by different stallion and mare combinations,” says Julie Ballard Haralson, owner of Haralson Farm in Newnan, Georgia. “You see a lot of pictures and videos on the Internet, but it is not the same as seeing them in real life. This helps me a lot with future breeding decisions.” Julie has produced numerous first premium foals. She has foals by Indoctro and UB40 that will be joining her herd this year. “I look forward to the comments from the jury and their future breeding advice,” she continues. “Good, bad or ugly I treasure these comments to help me make better decisions in the future.”
Patriot by Pilox - one of the fine prospects that will be offered in the Highlife Farms Diamond Select sale on Sunday, March 28th at 2 pm at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. (Photo courtesy of SusanjStickle.com)
George Morris to Provide Commentary at Auction
West Palm Beach, FL (March 12, 2010) – Horse enthusiasts interested in purchasing world-class sport horses will be able to find just what they are looking for at an upcoming “European style” horse auction, hosted by Highlife Farms and featuring commentary by the legendary horseman George Morris. The sale will be held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center on Sunday, March 28, beginning at 2 pm, and feature over 35 horses and sport ponies from Highlife Farms, the country’s most prominent breeding farm and home to spectacular world-class sport horses.
“European auctions and sales offer a party-like atmosphere with breeders selling their horses, and that is exactly what we will be doing,” said Joan Sims, who owns Highlife Farms with her husband Kenny. “Our sale will be like attending a European Sport Horse auction, without having to leave Florida.”
The evening promises to be an exciting and star-studded event, with Morris, the founding father of Hunt Seat Equitation and the current chef d’equipe for the USEF Show Jumping team, providing the commentary for a demonstration by Olympic show jumper Lauren Hough who competes Highlife’s Prezioso OLD. The opening ceremonies will feature a dressage stallion showcase with Olympians Lisa Wilcox and Robert Dover, joined by International Trainer, Ernst Hoyos. Wilcox is the head trainer for Highlife Farms and competes Highlife Farms’ Der Euro, Diamond Stud and Der Dollar.
Highlife’s Burberry, a Weser-Ems pony stallion bred by Highlife Farms, has made history as the first U.S. bred Weser-Ems pony to be licensed as a breeding pony. (Photo courtesy of Highlife Farms)
Orlando, FL (February 1, 2010) – Highlife’s Burberry, a Weser-Ems pony stallion bred by Highlife Farms, has made history as the first U.S. bred Weser-Ems pony to be licensed as a breeding pony. Burberry’s sire is Highlife’s Bodyguard, a Weser-Ems German Riding Pony that stands at Highlife Farms, home to world class sport horses and one of the country’s most prominent breeding farms.
“It is really exciting to have bred a pony that turns out to achieve a ‘first ever’ title,” said Joan Sims, who owns the Orlando based Highlife Farms with her husband Kenny. “We sold Burberry to Heather Luing of Whispered Wish Weser-Ems in Ocala and we are so pleased for Heather that Burberry is already in the history books. We knew Burberry was an exceptional pony.”
Highlife Farms is dedicated to enriching the lives and experiences of individuals by producing world-class sport horses. The farm offers many stallions with various bloodlines that date back to early European breeding. “The pedigrees of our stallions, such as Burberry’s sire Highlife’s Bodyguard, have stood the test of time and have created some of the best sport horses in the country today,” Sims said. Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=10066
January 19 2010 – The American Horse Council (AHC) is pleased to announce the American Endurance Ride Conference, the American Paint Horse Association, the National Cutting Horse Association, and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association have recently endorsed the Welfare Code of Practice further broadening the industry support of a national code. The AHC drafted the Welfare Code of Practice, which outlines in generic terms what it means for an organization to be committed to the responsible breeding, training, care, use, enjoyment, transport and retirement of horses.
Many associations have undertaken studies, reviews, and initiatives that indicate their commitment to the welfare of their horses. This generic code is simply a continuation of that effort.
“The American Horse Council’s Welfare Code of Practice demonstrates the equine industry’s commitment to the welfare and safety of the horse,” said Dan Metzger, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. “We wholeheartedly endorse these principles and encourage other equine organizations to do so as well.” Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=9869
This is your premium equine online magazine portal, news aggregator and THE place
to list your horse-related equestrian events and advertise your equine
supplies, services, products, horses, ponies, equipment and target the Southern
USA. We are constantly enhancing HorsesintheSouth.com to be better and better
for you!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=74dce3c3-e2bd-4b60-90b1-fdfe790bc8de)
