Picara PM  

Yesterday after riding the boys I went to prepare Novedosa for her sisters arrival. After some convincing she finally left her girlfriends in the field. She had just started to eat when suddenly she starts to choke and it looked like she was going to suffocate. Panic. She cramped and something was obviously stuck in her throat. Called vet. After 15 min she coughed up saliva but continued choking. After 5 more (long) minutes I heard a burping sound and that was it, when vet arrived she was ok. Puh.

Nova last night       

I decided to wait for Picara in stables so I could keep an eye on her but she was fine. Pica arrived 00.30 ok but had fallen in trailer so she was very careful and timid, poor girly. She looked stunning in the blue moonlight, seemed to recognize her sister and started to eat happily.

Today we have been getting to know each other, she is sensitive and shy but happy to be handled and cared for. 

Pica at home today

Yesterday we could walk around in shortsleeves and 24 degrees in Madrid city by night, lovely. But that was probably our last summerday because today it's f i n a l l y raining on my lawn!

Saturday the beautiful black PRE mare arrived to her new happy owner, congratulations Jessica!

Infanta 

The australian PRE stud has decided they want to postpone Donoso's breeding project to the coming breeding season 2013 as the season has already started and the cuarantene and freezing takes at least 1 month. Also they did not want to risk rushing the necessary formalities which is sensible and understandable, we look very much forward to do this project next year!

Today all three boys worked out and Novedosa got a new autumn haircut. She is a sweety, stands absolutely still and even let me shave the hairs inside the ears :)

Tomorrow Picara will finally come home, can't wait!  

Novedosa PM next to Donoso VII

What a thriller, exciting! Total adrenalin rush and quite alot of meditation on that is what sums it up for me! 

Last monday I decided to do it, with new medication I have been feeling stronger and I thought, it's now or it might be never, who knows if I will get better or worse, living is now, now, NOW! 

So I had three days to practice the GP at home and set us up. Most difficult was the zigzag across centre line, so we practiced that a litte more. The tempi ones were spotless, just started him off and he did all 15 clear. Piaffe, passage, pirouettes and extentions I felt very comfortable with. Since Start was tired physically at last competition I decided to boost him up with more energy food and some fisio with laser and nebulizer. Me? I just tried to eat.. I did try to get help from a trainer but it didn't work out. Then I begged Javier to video me so I could correct myself, but that didn't happen either. It was me and Start.

I had insect repellent all over and warm-up was in cool indoor arena so very pleasant. But this time Start transformed into a young stallion type colt, not bombproof.. Perhaps alittle too much boosting-up? I did a normal warm-up because when he is hot lots of riding just fires him up even more. But entering the arena Start fired up like a New Years Eve and I was sitting on explosive fireworks.. Acute meditation had to be set in. Miraculously my own nerves evaporated and left was just a great feeling; We were entering our first Grand Prix, it was just me and my beautiful horse, in the sun and with a big inside smile! 

I enjoyed so much, even the fireworks he added to the show.. Start is just an awesome horse and GP is his level. Yes he is difficult to ride but so much fun and when I get him bombproof he will be dangerous! 

I got 6 from all the judges which I thought was quite generous since we had many mistakes. Start got 4-4,5.. Judge (female) comment; 

'Very difficult horse to ride, very difficult horse to judge'. Submission, submission :)' 

We did it! My dream came true..

More pictures here; 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=exp.524230187602686.unitary&type=1

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Special price will be sent to the one who can guess what it is   

I say no more! Have a nice day! 

..is now sold, its the black lady by Calificado sire and she goes to France, more info and pictures of her this week. She's the pregnant and will foal this autumn already. She will stay at our stables and be girlfriend to Novedosa and also to Picara when she's home. 

Three boys worked out saturday, Start got new bed as Virutec woodshavings arrived, best brand there is, totally dustfee. Then party in the saturday evening at old horse-home Jade, a very cool party set up with buffet, stage and full on loud dj in indoor arena :) Sunday restday and catching up on emailing, a good weekend and ready for next week. Have a great new one!

Novedosa's big sister competing 

This is for you who have been asking about Hagges story. When we bought him 2 years ago he was very little ridden. So I had to start from the beginning with building up foundation strenght and working him over topline. His good conformation, healthy physique and a strong back was fundamental for taking on the Halagador-project. He could do a extended trot on the lounge but not ridden. If a horse is not through in his back you cannot extend the trot and they won't overpass in the walk. His quality was obvious to me but he was so unfit he could not even keep the canter ridden. Now his trot extention is as good as Donoso's. His walk is loose, through and overpasses. He can collect his canter. His spanish trot is turning into passage all by itself as he is getting fitter. He loves his spanish walk because he is really good at it. And now he has also started to do flying changes. 
Objectively Halagador is not a PRE with capacity for Grand Prix dressage. He has unique beauty that overrides his correct conformation. His beauty is inherited from his Cárdenas bloodline. Cárdenas blood does not bring down strong athletic movements but he is half Yeguada Militar and was lucky to get the functionality also. He has a good overpass in walk, excellent extended trot and a great canter. His movements are elastic rather than powerful. Yes he  can learn all high school movements but he is an artist rather than a full on athlete. As you all know there is a big difference from knowing all GP moves and performing them in a dressage test where great strenght and stamina is needed. H has never been in top condition because I have not had the time and strenght to ride him every day. 'Hagge' is a horse for absolute enjoyment. He gives you a beautiful feeling when you ride. Is intelligent and learns quickly always, if treated with respect and consequence. And he loves playing with people from the ground. Halagador is a gentleman with his girlfriends, stands tied up next to the working-girls and never says a word. Just looks politely. 

Yes he gives me great satisfaction, just looking at him makes me happy. I would love to keep him and I can confess that it is not easy for me because I care deeply for him, a dream, love and enthusiasm is invested in this horse. I believe in his qualities. Even though he is not Grand Prix. And just as he is is plenty and enough to make anyone a very happy person. 

We still have summer here in Madrid! Today working all day long with happy clients, what a pleasure. Slowly we get the understanding of each other, they how I work and me what they want. We have France, Sweden and Germany lining up for visits and Halagador is on the list for two of them. I will be happy to show him because he is very much enjoying his work right now. Yesterday he wanted to warm up in extended trot! The change of food has been very good for him. He has started to do clean flying changes and the spanish trot is turning into spectacular passage as he is getting stronger. Stallions get to blossom at different ages and Halagador is at his peak now, even his hair is peak performance.. You who follow here might remember how his romantic hair-image got cut off by a nosy and too affectionate neighbour. His forelock was eaten up just below his eyes and he looked like a pony, it was painful. That was when we'd just bought him, now 2 years ago.. Today when he puts his nose on the ground his forelock drags on the floor!

Here he is doing his favourite spanish walk. 

And here's a newly selected black mare. She is 167 cm, pregnant (as you can see) and with f l y i n g movements despite her heavy belly that makes her look like a hippo. But she is just beautiful. She is in foal with a very exclusive chestnut stallion and this mare is an oportunity for any serious breeder seeing black quality PRE mare for competition and breeding. Its the kind of mare I would buy for Halagador.. 

There are also two new colourful beauties to check out on homepage;

Nr 594 http://www.horsespre.com/product/product.asp?id=1438&fn=true&scid=1&cid=0

and 

Nr 593 http://www.horsespre.com/product/product.asp?id=1437&fn=true&scid=3&cid=

Breeding brings love! Today we went with friends to see two of our selected PRE ladies for their stallion. And not surprisingly a 4 year old - absolutely beautiful black girl - in foal with tall black stallion and 1 month to go - 166 cm - and with e x c e l l e n t  movements - trotted straight into the becoming breeder's heart! And the good news is that if she will have a female foal it will be for sale.. :)

More great news! We have the first confirmed foal on FAI (frozen semen) of Festivo! We have distributed FAI to a french PRE lady that was confirmed recently in foal and today we got the news there is another one growing in a USA PRE belly! So at least two F-babies for next year! We have breeding rights for Europe so If you feel the urge to breed your mare to Festivo MR you are very welcome to contact us for distribution www.vikingapre.com We welcome USA breeders to contact Mrs Doreen Kula at Aisling Sport horses;

http://www.aislingsporthorses.com/Aisling%20Sport%20Horses%20-%20Flyer%202011-10.pdf

And then.., I actually don't have words to explain the happiness I feel to be able to present my queen Picara. This young lady is so very special to me, I have gone through alot for her and I am tremendously proud and grateful to be able to say she is a Vikinga. With her and Novedosa I will be able to continue fullfilling my dream and live out my passion for PRE breeding. And Pica will forever and ever remain to be a Viking girl :) 

Picara PM