Apollo Recovering Well.

Kate Hedges tells us that Apollo, by Picasso Kossack, has had a bit of a rough time, picking up an infection through his umbilical stump. He's been on antibiotics and seems to be doing well now. Best wishes for a full recovery.

British National Arabian Championships, Malvern

We have just returned from our summer break at the Arabian National Championships held at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern. The sun shone very brightly and it was so hot, a welcome break from the never-ending rain this summer. We were there for the Performance Awards which were held on Saturday. The presentation was made in the main ring with a good crowd and a marquee full of VIPs. Simon Richardson did a great commentary, as usual, which was very informative for the onlookers about each individual horse's breeding and achievements. It was good to be part of the AHS promotion of the performance side of the breed and to see the other performance horses forward for their awards, from a variety of disciplines including endurance, showjumping, dressage, showing and eventing. Having 4 of our horses in the top 8 is a great achievement and one which was recognised by the President of the AHS.

On the Thursday and Friday, Leanne competed Ruby Shy and Laguna Flame in the showjumping classes. Ruby Shy finished with a 1st, two 2nds, a 3rd and a 6th. Laguna Flame did even better with two 1sts, a 2nd, two 3rds and a 5th. He was also awarded the Showjumping Award for the best overall performance at the show. This was the first time both of them had jumped on grass and if Laguna Flame hadn't slipped and almost fallen in one of his classes he would have added another 1st.

Malvern Break

Leanne and I are currently in the Malvern Hills staying with Claire and Peter at Brockhill Farm. Ruby Shy and Laguna Flame are here for the National Championships at the Three Counties Showground. They will be competing in the showjumping events tomorrow and Friday before returning for the presentation of the Performance Awards in the main ring on Saturday. The top 10  have been invited to the presentation. Ruby took 3rd overall, Laguna Flame 4th, Carousel Dreaming 6th and It's Showtyme 8th. This is the view we wake up to in the morning.

iFlame's Filly Latest Pics.

Incandescent Flame's filly, down in Norfolk, is certainly growing quickly and she's not 3 weeks old yet. Her stable name is Ferdie and what a cutie she is, beautifully marked and definitely her daddy's girl!

Ruby Shy Returns To The Ring!

We took Ruby Shy and Carousel Dreaming to Rowallan last night for a spot of BS competition. Ruby hadn't been out since the middle of May but no-one would have known. She won both her classes with faultless rounds and qualified for the second round of the National Amateur 90cm and 1m competitions. She was the only horse to go clear in the 1m class. Carousel also jumped very well, taking 3rd in the 80cm Open against some very speedy competition. Rowallan's latest acquisition of a lifesize model horse caused several competitors some problems, but not our two. Carousel didn't even seem to notice it tucked in beside a jump but several of the other horses wouldn't go anywhere near it, or the jump...and some people think Arabs are scatty!!!!

Bouncing Back To Health.

Franco, by TP Starbuck and out of Rustum's Artist's Dream, had a spell in the Large Animal Hospital following an infection. He's now making a very good recovery at home with his breeder, Stacy McGookin. What a poser!

Another Boy Growing Up.

Cumbria Showtyme (It's Showtyme x Cumbria Black Bindaree) looks like he has been developing into a lovely boy (foal pics above 2011 and 2012 yearling pics below). His dam is one of the mares that have come to the stud we would most like to keep. He certainly has presence and undoubted athleticism. He looks very well put together and should be very striking when his shiny back coat comes through.  Hopefully, we will hear great things about his future achievements.

A Colt for Tilly!

Congratulations to Kate Hedges on the safe arrival of a bay tobiano colt by Picasso Kossack, out of her cob mare, Tilly. Kate is absolutely thrilled with him. She tells me that Tilly foaled down in her stable accompanied by her companion gelding, Ollie, so, after many sleepless nights, Kate missed all the action. We shall look forward to receiving more pics as he begins to explore the world. He has lovely markings and Kate will be kept busy keeping both him and Tilly clean.

Picasso Filly Is Losing Her Baby Coat......

....and underneath she is a lovely liver chestnut colour. Hopefully, she will stay that colour because it was the most prized colour by the desert tribes where the Arabian originated. At the moment, she looks moth-eaten, not helped by a roll in the mud and a passing shower of rain! She is now 10 weeks old and, boy, she is growing like a weed!

Tobiano Filly for iFlame

Just had a call from Lianne Barrett in Norfolk to say that her Thoroughbred mare, B Polly, surprised them this morning with the early arrival of a bay tobiano filly by Incandescent Flame. Lianne says that the filly is very refined, well marked, has a lovely Arab head and is quite big. Have now received these pics. What a gorgeous filly, with her sire's head for sure! With TBs such as Distinct Native, Roberto, Northern Dancer, Ela-Mana-Mou and Dancing Brave in her pedigree, this filly is built for speed. The Arabians on her sire's side are no slouches either and Incandescent Flame has a lovely pop over jumps! This filly should have a very bright future indeed.