Bloomington Farm

We are leaving tonight for the Stallion Show in Holland.  This will be very exciting I just can't wait to be there. On Sunday we will have the opportunity to visit VDL Stud once again and then  the stable of Edward Gal and Moorland Totilas. 

Prelude was freed from her quarantine quarters and slowly introduced to the herd.  She could see the other mares from her stall and I could sense for the past few days that she was getting anxious to meet them.

 She was first introduced to Nabella. Nabella greeted her well and seemed happy to have a new friend.  Jenni was ok but wanted to made things clear:  she was the boss.  As for Olympia everything went smoothly. Now Wagrusa!

Right from the start Wagrusa felt that Prelude had to earn her place, as she did when she arrived.

      Prelude with Nabella ...                                                                                                                                                    ...   and Olympia  

It has not been as easy for her with Jenni so why would this be different for Prelude.  They might speak the same language and come from the same country,  she still had to earn her degree! 

So for now I will let Wagrusa and Prelude clarify the situation over the fence for a while and Olympia will nicely keep company to Wagrusa.  

                                                                                
                                                                                             Prelude free and happy!

 PRELUDE IS FINALY HERE!  

One of the greatest mare in Holland has finaly arrived home  in the middle of the night, directly from Toronto after a 7 hours flight from Holland that landed at 4 PM yesterday.  She did it like a pro.  

She had been paired with two young crazy 3 years old that had not been handled much in their life obviously as they needed to be tranquilized during the trip.  The groom was thankful to Prelude as she succeeded in keeping one of them in a more manageable way during the trip. But as soon as they got out and into the trailer one of them put a fight and got trapped over the front bar of  his trailer. It took 4 men to get him out of there and again they had to get him some tranquilizer.

As for Prelude she took it all in stride. She ate, drank and went in the trailer like the sweet girl she really is.  Sympathetic was the word people use to describe her.  She is a very interesting mare with a curious  inquisitive eye.  

I am really starting to love those chestnuts mares. Here is a picture of her in her first morning in Canada.  She was greeted with Canada famous snow!!!

We just came back from Prima Keuring with Epsom and Exodus,. We could not bring them all and we had to make a choice but they both made us very proud.  

Epsom class was presented as the best of the entire KWPN tour in North America. The judges mentioned how pleased they were to see such high quality with the mares and added that the choice of the stallions really complemented the mares which are really what breeders are striving for.  I can not think of a better compliment.  

Epsom class was all First Premium which was unique in this tour. He came second. They said he was a lovely, lovely colt, very elegant with long legs and long lined. They liked him a lot and they mentioned that the first and the second were very similar in type and this was the type they were looking for. We were very pleased with their comments. 

As for Exodus he must have made history of being the first colt to win a First Premium as a hunter and dressage colt in the same class.  It all started about a month ago when I called the KWPN-NA office to ask if it was possible to change his class from dressage to hunter. Being by Sir Sinclair he was registered as a dressage colt but he really showed more of a hunter type so I wanted to move him to the hunter section. They said only the judges could change this and to wait for the keuring and discuss with the judges.  So upon our arrival I ask the office clerk at Prima if they could contact the judges for me about my decision to change the class and was told they had taken good note of it.   

Well I never heard of anything and I presented him as scheduled but  he was presented as a dressage horse  with comment about his more horizontal look and his lower action in the trot (exactly what a hunter type should be ) but gave him a First Premium as a dressage colt considering his high quality!!!  Well, well, well, there is something wrong here so I ask the judges what was going on.   

They had not been told by anyone of my request and  agreed that he certainly could be a wonderful hunter but is also a First Premium dressage colt.  I could decide at his studbook inspection in which category he would better fit.  So he is a First Premium quality colt  dressage/ hunter.  We are talking versatility here. What could we have ask more?  

Such a sad, sad day.   

We had to euthanize Durango today.   As a three weeks old he unfortunately  broke his elbow  and we did all we could do to save him but it was not enough.  After three operations and a long period of hand walking, Bowen therapy we thought he was getting better.   

However we saw his conditions deteriorating in the past few weeks.    Arthritis has stolen the quality of his life and he was in constant pain...we had to end his journey.  It is so unfair and as much as I know this was the right decision,  it is  heartbreaking.   

Jacques and I decided we would be with the vet for his last moment.  I went to get him in the field and for the first time he wasn't eager to come with me. They all followed him to the gate and Dragon was scratching his neck and back as we were walking.  Durango  stoped several times and this was to much for me. I thought I could handle it but I could not. I gave the shank to Jacques for his final moment and ran home to cry. 

Durango had a hard time in the Hospital when he had his accident. He was only a baby  but so so strong a real Swazaneger , all muscle and bone , so strong that I never could hold him between my arm as I do when my  foals are born; he was getting away even at one day old.   At the vet hospital there was a warning on his stall:  Beware, dangerous foal!  He was not happy at all, and would kick and bite anyone coming near him.  He came back to us as a wild wild foal, and he almost broke the arm of Jacques who had to go to the hospital. 

But it was not long that we discover his real personality. A sweet, sweet  little thing.  Our daily walk became the highlight of my day.   We would pace along the road or in the wood and he really enjoyed it. At the end he was following me like a puppy dog, nobody could have guessed he was once considered the monster of  St-Hy.

We decided to bury him in a remote part of our land where there is a small meadow surrounded by woods.  We use to go there as well, from time to time, so he knew this place, now it is his final resting place. R.I.P. Durango.This will be your home now and forever.)

Adieu my sweet little Durango,  you will always stay in our heart and we will never forget you.    

Dragon was vet check today.   During the examination twice the vet exclaimed: Amazing!  At the end she asked me if the owner was willing to train him to his full potential.  I asked to what level she thought he would be able to reach and her respond was: ‘ Grand Prix’.

Of course this is the goal of every serious breeder to produce offspring able to perform at this top level, but it is a long and difficult road that very few have the priviliege to attain.  However, it is encouraging coming from the mouth of a vet who is also a dressage rider.  I always have been proud of Dragon, his attitude first has given me the best moment of my breeding life but his quality has also been recognised where he got First Premium and was tied in the Championship of Iron Spring Farm huge keuring with a foal who went on to win the Champion dressage colt at Devon the following week. I knew I had a special one here, right from the start.  

Anyway the vet was impressed to see such good balance and engagement of his hind legs especially at this awkward stage  yearlings have to go through. I am really proud of him.

This vet had also made good comments on my broodmares band. While student at the vet school, she was shown a picture of a 24 years old Hanoverian broodmare taken as an example on how a broodmare should looks like when well taken care of. Even at this old age, she was in good shape and certainly didn't show her age. Well she told me that my broodmares could have also been used as such example. How gratifying ! 

Well this was a very busy week as Dragon Bloom was sold to my sister Julie.  She realized she couldn't let him go and had to buy him before a serious prospective buyer came to see him.  She knew there are very few like him. Dragon has this special personality who easily bond with you and makes you feel special. He loves peoples and peoples love him.   He will stay on our farm until he is ready to be trained so this is great as we will have the possibility to continue to enjoy his loving attitude. Congratulations Julie !

Epsom Bloom has been sold to a wonderful family in Pennsylvania, the acclaimed hunter/jumper trainer Louise Serio and her daughter Chrissy are delighted to add Epsom as one of their future Grand Prix prospect. It is so comforting to find a good home after all the care and concern we are providing them. 

Epsom is such a loving colt  with tremendous potential. I have no doubt that he will make the joy and pride of their new owners. Congratulations to Louise and Chrissy Serio from Derbydown.

Enough of bad news please... Anime did not get in foal to CHIN CHIN!   Well maybe it is her way of telling us that she will be ready to be back in shape for the spring. Well, what can we do.  Nabella has been bred to Johnson on July 8th, and Olympia to Zapatero. If not in foal this will be it for this year but I guess I better take dancing lesson this winter.

 Jenni has been confirmed in foal to Ferro today!  This is great news as she is 21 years old now and if she had not got in foal we would have retire her but she seems to have decided to continue her career.  She is such a great mare. So as of now we have two mares confirmed in foal.

On the downside, Nabella is not in foal...Well, I did not dance enough I guess... I really love her  foal  from Sir Sinclair but with the CEM going on it is just too risky to try to import fresh semen from the state. Ferro or Johnson would be good combination and their semen are great  so I have to decide soon. 

Anime has pulled a check ligament and has to be on rest for 6 months so she will not be presented at her inspection this fall as planned. This is such a pity... so we anticipated our plan and she has been bred to Chin Chin. This should be an amazing cross and I am very excited. We will know next week the outcome.

Nabella and Jenni were brought to St-Hy to be bred. Nabella was inseminated to Indoctro and everything went great. She had no reaction to the semen and she can be brought back home tomorow.

Now I have practice my fertility dance!  Well, it has worked the last time with Hickstead. My repro vet had warned me that it would take a miracle for her to catch as  motility of the semen was only 10%!  So you see, everything is possible. 

Olympia has given us the only filly this year and she is a pale chesnut.  She looks like a deer. Olympia is the broodmare that anyone would dream of owning.  She was a maiden acting as if  this was her 10th foal. She knew exactly what to do. She broke her water at 10 to 10 PM on May 22, 2009 and 20 minutes later everything was done. She licked  her for 5 minutes, took half an hour break and then just dedicated all her attention to her baby. She is quiet, patient and has a ton of milk.  This little girl was born earlier than anticipated and needed to unfold.  Olympia is just great with us and the baby as she does everything to help us.

GREAT NEWS  today. Our vet has confirmed that Wagrusa H has been 14 days in foal to Hickstead. This was a great relief as this semen is quite expensive with no guarantee. We are so proud of her.

Wagrusa H is our best mare. She was imported from Holland in 2008 and comes from a very good mare line. Her siblings include Approved stallions and high level jumper . His brother from the same mare was a Grand Prix CROWN Approved stallions. She is a young mare but already has 3 foals on the ground and her  first one was bought by the famousVDL in Holland as a stallion prospect. Wagrusa H is a predicate mare; Star and Prok.  We expect this foal to be a Grand prix prospect and hopefully a stallion prospect.  

Here is our third of the season. Jenni has given us a wonderful colt from Padinus at 2 this morning. He is black with a blaze and two hind socks. This one will need a few days to unfold but he sure will be gorgeous.

And here is our second edition!  Exodus Bloom was born at 7:20 PM on May 17. By Sir Sinclair out of Nabella (Rolls Royce) this little guy is the spitt image of his sire. Same color, same head, same buttock and soooo smooth and friendly.  We were kind of hoping for a look alike of his dam but hey, it is a good thing that we choose a pretty  good stallion as she doesn't seem to give much of herself.  But we will see, they can change so much.

We have just received news from Dr. Raggio of St-Hyacinthe Hospital and Wagrusa should be inseminated Tuesday as we expected. He was raving about Epsom nice attitude and conformation. He has been very friendly and cooperative with everyone. Sometimes it takes outside viewers to make us realized how lucky we are. 

Wagrusa and Epsom had to jump into the trailer for a three hours drive to St-Hyacinthe Vet Hospital where they have a great repro team. She should be bred to Hickstead on Tuesday I guess.

Epsom made us so proud of him. He was a bit reluctant first but with a little help he went right in. At the Vet clinic the resident comments on how nice he was. He said  he had seen about 300 foals this year and this one was by far the nicest one...well, we won't argue!!! Thanks.  

 I miss him already... maybe Nabella will do me a favor and foal tonight so I can use my newly spare time on her.

 IT'S A BOY!  Yes, Wagrusa did it again!  337 days, same as last year!  

 I  checked  on Wagrusa arouond 8 PM... Business as usual, nothing special but I had the feeling that this was the night!  I cleaned her stall very carefully and added a ton of straw.  At 9:15 PM, I heard the foal alert, ran into her stall but there he was, all cleaned up! Darned, I missed him.  I have an infrared camera, a foal alert device, did not leave the house for the past 3 days but I still managed to miss the foaling!   

Well,  she didn't need me to deliver her colt like a pro. He is stunning, everything I was hoping for except for the sexe. I would have given everything to have a filly but he is so cute.  He has this huge star on his forehead, a snip and a hind sock. He is strong with good legs, strong topline, well put together.  With this fantastic look and excellent bloodline he is a star in the making!  Pictures will come soon.

We were informed Dragon Bloom has won the Prize for being the Best Offspring of the 2008 KWPN-NA keuring tour resulting from the 2007 KWPN-NA Stallion Auction. We were thrilled but not that  surprised as he really had good score.  Still, Dragon never fails to amaze us! 

Our foals are not even on the ground yet and we have to prepare ourselves for the next year. We have taken our first breeding decision of the year:  Hickstead.

We had been following this stallion  for the past 3 years and  he never stopped to amaze us. He is such an athelete,  one of a kind champion.  We believe he will be a wonderful combination with Wagrusa line.  She is tall, very athletic and comes from a very good performance mare line.  The result should be spectacular.  

The decision of the KWPN to approve Hickstead was the final incentive.     

Now... there is a long way to go before we see anything running in the field and a lot of thing can go wrong. But here we are, taking this first step by reserving the semen and hoping for the best!

Wish us all the best as this will be one and only attempt!

Our two weanlings has been separated from their mom today; Dragon has been calling her mom but Wagrusa was the only one to call back.  Zalanta and Durango didn't care at all. These two share the same lack of interest on this separation. In fact,  Zalanta seems to enjoy not having to share attention anymore. They settle easily .

Our only breed show of the season was the ISF keuring in the State but maybe we should have pushed our effort to make it to Devon. It would have been quite a long drive but Dorado ISF who was tied fifth with Dragon at the big ISF keuring, was First at Devon USDF Prospects in-Hand colt class.  FIVE foals in Dragon's class were in the TOP TEN at Devon with the lowest score being 77!  Quite a class indeed! No question why we were so impressed with the quality of the foals presented at Iron Spring Farm!!!

We just came back from Iron Spring Farm keuring with First Premium for Dragon Bloom. We manage to bring only one foal with his dam Zalanta.  Dragon was just fantastic. We had a lot of good comments on his behaviour as I took so  much  time to braid his mane but he stay quiet and patient up the end. He is so easy to handle.

A keuring is always good to have independant opinion on our horse. They found him very expressive in his movement and conformation, refine, lean, light footed and that he has a good use of the hind legs.

Selected for the Championship the jury added that he was a very leggy foal, lean in the leg, good shoulder, very willful, long line and that he had a good rectangular body.

Well that was a lot of qualities for our little one and we were quite happy on our way home as we drove 13 hours, taken a 2 hours rest during the trip. Zalanta and Dragon were the best, they even lay down while on the road.  !