NEWS

Edition Eight : June 2009 – January 2010

Above: Col’s paddock of round bales

Where did the year go! I always have good intentions of sending out Xmas Cards and trying to catch up with people over the festive season but once again, time just seemed to disappear! So on behalf of all our friends and clients I hope you had a wonderful Xmas and a great start to the New Year!

THE STUD IN GENERAL

This spring/summer has seen some of the best rainfalls since early 2000 and for the first time in many years our dam is ¾ full. Although the couple of weeks of extreme heat burnt our feed off at BHM, it provided the right environment for the oats that Col had sown at Tumut. As a result, Col was able to cut a large number of small squares and round bales of oaten hay. Finally we have our own supply of hay and it is fabulous quality!

BERNIE AND CAMERON SCHULTE

Unfortunately the extreme heat resulted in the tragic fires at Vittoria near Bathurst where Bernie Schulte and his son, Cameron were critically injured trying to save their property. Bernie and his wife Bronwyn are very good family friends of over 20 years and Bernie is my son’s Godfather. Initial prognosis was not favourable for Bernie as he has received over 80% burns, however he truly is a miracle man and although still critical, is recovering well. Cameron received 30% burns and is doing very well. Cameron risked his own life by entering the fire and pulling his father out, making Cameron a true hero in every sense of the word. Both men are in the Burns Unit of Concord Hospital. I visited the family over the Xmas break and intend to visit every couple of weeks to provide Bronwyn support. A website has established to provide updates on Bernie and Cameron’s progress – www.berncamupdate.blogspot.com.

MITCHELL WEIR

Mitch or ‘Weiry” was the young fellow who was the first to ride BHM Black Elegancia when Col broke her in. At 20 years old, Weiry was a very talented young rider who rode a lot of our young horses. Unfortunately at the time of writing the final draft of this newsletter, Weiry was involved in a motor vehicle accident and is in serious condition in hospital. The full extent of his injuries is not known as yet, however he was airlifted by Southcare from Tumut Hospital to Sydney with suspected fractures to the neck. Our thoughts are with this young man and we will keep you informed of his condition.

2009 FOALS

Each foaling season I am so impressed with our Galero babies and believe that they couldn’t get any better but this year we have been blessed with a cracker of a foal crop.

Once again Kenia was the first to foal. The first PRE colt from Kenia/Galero was born and to our delight he will stay black. I had him DNA colour tested and he is homozygous black. I have called him BHM Blacks Instyle and will run him on as a colt. He is a stunner and I cannot wait to show him.

Instyle was quickly followed by:

BHM Black Joker – a jet black colt out of Princess. A full brother to BHM Black Knight and BHM Black Jack;
BHM Black Geisha - a jet black filly out of Ray. A full sister to BHM Black Galliano;
BHM Pure Magic - a bay Spanish Warmblood filly out of Ari. A full sister to BHM Black Magic;
BHM Black Lace – a jet black Spanish Warmblood filly out of Destiny. A full sister to BHM Black Velvet;
BHM Christmas Gift – a bay filly out of Missy. A full sister to BHM Rocky Road;
BHM Black Legacy – a jet black colt out of Smooth Kiss. A full brother to BHM Black Legend;
BHM Silver Jaguar – a grey PRE colt out of BHM Black Porscha;
BHM Black By Design - a jet black filly out of Grisabella.
BHM Black Storm – a jet black colt out of Odessy;
BHM Red Wine Twist – a chestnut Paint Bred filly out of BHM Red Wine Beggar by cutting QH stallion Twist.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following outside mares and owners:

Angle Sent - Black filly out of Ellegance owned by Phil and Dawn Webb. This filly is full sister to BHM Godsent and BHM Heaven Sent;
Black PRE filly – out of San Maranda Valencia owned by Marco Larenzo; and
Black PRE filly – owned by Heather Davidson of Gotico Park.

SOPHIE

Another victim of the extreme heat was our new black PRE filly by Galero out of Marieta. Unfortunately Sophie died at 3 weeks of age from a snake bite. To say I was devastated is an understatement as this was my dream filly. We have not seen any snakes at BHM in all the years we have been here but the week of the extreme 40° heat we saw several brown snakes, include a dead one the cats bought home.

At the time of writing the final draft of this newsletter a very scary brown snake was chased by the dogs in our house garden! I hate snakes; in fact I can quite honestly say I am terrified of them so now when I go outside I am on edge!

2009/10 BREEDING SEASON

I have reduced the number of mares this breeding season with some of the lease mares going home. At this stage I will not be replacing them as I intend to run on some of our fillies, however Princes will come back to BHM after she foals down her Peppa Duke foal. We still have several mares to cover, including outside mares, making this a very long season for us.

Some of the foals expected next year are as follows:

Spanish Warmbloods
Galero XIV x Grauf Destiny due October 2010
Marieta x Fürst Love due November 2010
Derivatives
Galero XIV x Smooth Kiss due October 2010
Galero XIV x Rayanui due September 2010

Inquires for the purchase of any of the foals are welcomed. I will be offering payment plans for foals purchased in-utero and before weaning.

Marieta/Fürst Love
Fürst Love is a stunning imported Warmblood standing at Bloomfield Farm in Victoria for his first season. We are so excited that Marieta has tested positive to him and looking forward to this baby. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a filly as I intend to eventually cross back to Galero. This foal is due in November 2010.
Galero
Galero is well and happy. He is such a good boy and I just adore him. Unfortunately he is still only available to public stud via AI only.

REVISION

Both Elli and Porscha were presented at the Spanish Revision on 9 November. Both girls received their “apto’ approval for breeding.

SOLD HORSES

BHM Signature
BHM Signature was purchased by Kim Barnes from Tasmania. Signature travelled well and now loves his new home.
BHM Black Legacy
BHM Black Legacy was purchased by Ben Moore of Michelago, NSW. Legacy will go to his new home upon weaning.
Painted By Chance
I gelded Chance Jnr in preparation of running Blacks Instyle and Jaguar on as colts for a little while. A friend from Tumut fell in love with him, so he is now going to a very good barrel racing home.

Above: Painted By Chance

FOR SALE

Most of the horses that are for sale will be placed on the website as they become available. The three fillies owned in partnership with Natalie and the filly out of Grisablella will be retained and join the BHM broodmare band at the end of their competition careers. Click here for more details about horses for sale.

ANCCE SCHOLARSHIP

ANCCE advertised recently that they where extending the Young Horse Scholarship. As a result, I applied again, only to be told that the scholarship is not offered to horses outside of Spain. I find ANCCE a confusing ‘association’. They advertise one thing then do another. I also found their response to be very unprofessional. I submitted a resume/portfolio and application letter to ANCCE (on their request) and yet their response was a curt one line by email – “Not possible, not for horses outside Spain”. No letter acknowledging receipt of the application, no thank you, just a curt ‘no’.

COMPETITIONS

Above: Matt Hanns and Mayica Encantado

Young Horse Seminar and Judges Workshop with Uwe Spenlen.
We did not attend the NSW AHAA Championships as we were asked to participate in a Young Horse Seminar and Judges Workshop with Uwe Spenlen held at Callum Park Warmbloods, Wamboin. Uwe is one of the world’s best known and respected Olympic level judge and trainer. He has had a long and distinguished history with horses, training with the great Paul Stecken (along with his very good friend, the late great master Reiner Klimke) and is well regarded as a master of classical and correct training of dressage horses. Uwe is also a well known advocate of the young horse and has delivered seminars and presentations on young horse training around the world.

After the seminar, a workshop was conducted demonstrating training of horses from 4 to 6yr old before a young horse display and stallion parade. BHM was represented by BHM Black Elegancia in the 5yr old class and BHM Godsent in the 2yr old young horse parade. Matt Hanns rode his 4yr old PRE stallion, Mayica Encantado, in the 4yr old class and in the stallion parade.

Above: The BHM Team watching the stallion parade.

The day was very well attended and feedback was fantastic. It was a privilege to be asked to participate and a great promotion for the PRE/Spanish horse.

The day was planned by Susie and Russ Elekessy on behalf of The National Capital Equestrian Club. Susie and Russ own Callum Park Warmbloods. The event was extremely well organised and a credit to Susie and Russ. More information about their stud can be accessed at www.callumpark.com.au.

National Capital All Breeds Show

The numbers were very disappointing for the PRE/Andalusian classes for this show. This particular show is probably one of the best open shows for our horses. It has classes ranging from Dressage, All Breeds Challenges (ridden and led/junior and senior), hack classes as well as a full program of PRE/Andalusian classes. The facilities are top quality and it is such an easy place to get to and such a relaxing venue. Several studs sponsor our classes so the prizes are great and there is a Supreme Ridden perpetual trophy.

Unfortunately due to low numbers we are in danger of losing this show and it is possible that we may not have classes for 2010. BHM and Del Rio QH will provide sponsorship again this year if classes are allocated however we need people to attend and support this show. So if you own an Andy please come and show!!! It would be a real shame if we lose this show.

Our results for the show are as follows:

BHM Black Elegancia

2nd Official Novice 2a
2nd Official Preliminary 1c
Champion Led PRE
Champion Led Spanish
Champion Ridden PRE/Andalusian
Supreme Ridden

BHM Godsent

1st Partbred Gelding
Reserve Champion Partbred

BHM Silver Ballerina

Reserve PRE Led
1st Spanish Led Mare/filly under 4yrs old

BHM Black Elegancia and BHM Silver Ballerina

Above: The BHM Team watching the stallion parade.

BHM Signature

1st Pinto gelding 2yrs & under 4yrs old

BHM Nikita – owned by Sam Gamble

1st Led Partbred Mare/filly
Champion Led Partbred

Above: Susie Burns and BHM Black Jack

NSW AHAA Championships 5/6 December 2009

Unfortunately the NSW AHAA Championships clashed with the Young Horse Seminar so the only horse to represent BHM was BHM Black Jack owned by Susie Burns. Well Jack certainly represented us brilliantly winning the Gotico Park Yearling Futurity and Highpoint Junior Exhibitor of the show! Congratulations to Jack and Susie!

Thalaba Bolero

Congratulations to Kerry and Brett Irwin who bred and show Thalaba Bolero. Bolero is by Galero out of the absolutely beautiful Pinto mare, Waverly Pastel. Only a yearling, Bolero has just commenced his show career. Not bad results for his first two shows! I cannot wait to see this boy as he matures. Together with their other gorgeous Pinto Warmblood stallion, Thalaba Alchemy, Kerry and Brett will stand Bolero as a sire at their stud in Sydney.

Castle Hill Twilight Show

Above: Thalaba Bolero winning Champion at Castlehill Twilight Show

Champion Led Pinto

NSW Pinto State Titles

3rd Yearly Sweepstakes
1st Yearling Colt to exceed 14h
2nd Best Marked Colt or Stallion

BHM Black Elegancia

Elli has come back into work and is just going wonderfully. It is hoped that she will qualify for the 5yr old Dressage of the Stars to be held in March 2010. We missed most of the qualifiers as we made up our mind to keep her in work too late. Our next qualifier is in Sydney in January. Rebecca’s husband, Jim, has been competing Elli. Rebecca will ride Elli at the Dressage of the Stars if she qualifies, however Jim will take over the reins full time for the remainder of her campaign. Elli will more than likely go into foal next breeding season.

BHM Godsent

Above: BHM Godsent and Jim – his 2nd ride.

Godsent has come in from the paddock as a 2yr old and has been lightly ridden by Rebecca’s husband, Jim, before being turned out again. During his time in work, Godsent participated in the Judges Seminar/Workshop and the National Capital Horse Show and just took everything in his stride. Godsent is expected to mature almost 17hh and is a very flash boy with lots of chrome and awesome movement. He is now owned in partnership with Rebecca/Jim and we cannot wait for him to start under saddle seriously.

BHM Black Galliano

Above: Galliano prior to going to Natalie’s to commence training.

Like Godsent, Galliano has just come in from the paddock as a 2 yr old. He will go to Natalie’s place some time at the end of January to be broken in. Galliano is owned in partnership with Natalie and is the first of our partnership horses old enough to begin light training. Galliano looks like he will be a slower maturing horse so will be turned out again after some light riding. He should mature in the vicinity of 16.1-2hh.

Del Rio QH Stud

Above: Diva and her son by Pep, DR Heza Cracker

Good rain has meant some fabulous feed and plenty of hay making. Although it is now dry, there is sufficient hay to see Col through. This year has produced some awesome Pep foals including a stunning loud colt from my Paint mare, Whatabusybody. This year also sees Col using imported frozen semen from “Mr Boomsmal to You” as well as local semen from the imported stallion Catmandee. With nearly twenty foals on the ground, Col will certainly be busy at weaning time! Unfortunately Col injured his shoulder at the end of last year. He finally visited the doctor to be told he will need surgery. At date is yet to be fixed but with all those foals to handle he will have to recover fast!

For the last month or so Col has been busy catching cats! A well meaning family member has been feeding all his barns cats and word has got around to the Tumut feral cat population that there is a free feed at Col! All the cats are humanely captured and delivered to the local pound for re-homing. I have bought 7 kittens to BHM to tame for his grand children and will in the next couple of weeks take them back to Tumut to their new homes.

The Tumut River is flowing beautifully and of course Col cannot resist the need to fish. Considering the river is at his back door he really does not have far to go to catch a fish or two. I am waiting patiently for my last mare to foal so that I can enjoy an evening or two fishing with him!

On the Home Front

All is good on the home front. Jamie has a wonderful job with FACHSIA and is returning to part time university in March. Matt has commenced with the AFP communications centre prior to been allocated a class for Police training.

We intended to go to Spain for SICAB this year however it is not possible to leave during the breeding season. We will look at going in 2011 after the AHAA National Show. In the meantime, I am hoping to travel the South Island of New Zealand sometime February/March and maybe Tasmania. Whilst in New Zealand I will try and visit some of the Spanish studs.

I have been asked to judge at the Morgan Horse Nationals this year and this is an appointment I am looking forward to. I like the Morgan and I am interested in seeing the progression of the breed in this country.

My next newsletter will be out mid year.

Cheers
Sabina Callaghan

PHONE : +61 2 6236 3055