George left for his new home in Delaware this evening. It was a very late and starless night when the shipper arrived, and a very brave George walked up our dark lane and straight onto the awaiting (unlit!) van, like a professional. We miss him already, but we know his new owner Jody will love him well and produce him to his potential as a stallion. Bon chance George!
Bonnie is very happy to welcome home her first foal, Easter Rebellion! Bred by Jim McGinty in Texas, Easter (aka Mr. Bunny) was born in 1995, the product of a frozen semen breeding to the late Grey Macha RID. Easter was the very first purebred Irish Draught foal born in North America. After being sold twice, Easter's whereabouts were unknown for years and he was thought to have been lost to the purebred herd. A chance phone conversation in December 2002 revealed information regarding his location, and we were finally able to track him down. After 4 long years of trying, we have at last been able to purchase Easter and recover him from the field in rural Iowa where he has been living in relative anonymity, turned out with another stallion.
Easter Rebellion explores his new home on a sunny Autumn day
Since arriving home in mid-November, ER has been an absolute gentleman in every way. He is currently turned out with his pregnant little sister Hermione, who keeps him company and sees to it that he remembers his manners! We feel blessed to have the opportunity to give Easter a forever home, and most of all to be able to return this lovely little stallion to his Irish Draught family.
Angus and Anna waiting for their class (photo credit Jim McGinty)
Another great IDHS(NA) National Show for Angus and owner Ken Haley!! Angus started off his weekend by placing 2nd in the Purebred Dressage Prospect In Hand class on Friday afternoon. He continued to the purebred classes on Sunday morning, winning his two year old class. From there he went on to show against all the other youngsters (foals to three years) where he was pulled in with the beautiful three year old RID filly Windfield Blue Heather, who was bred by our dear friend Rachael Cox. In what must have been a very difficult decision, the judges eventually declared Angus Youngstock Champion with "Katie" standing reserve. This was a great finish to a fine weekend that began with a very enthusiastic recommendation from inspectors Michael Ryan and John Butler at the conclusion of Angus' stallion advisory - "Keep this colt intact!". We are so proud of our boy, especially since we heard he was impeccably behaved. Congratulations Ken and many thanks to Anna Sprecher for doing such a great job handling this young stallion!
Inspection News!!! Bonnie's first granddaughter, Arwen the Evenstar, was approved for the Registered Irish Draught Studbook at the National Show inspections! Irish inspectors Michael Ryan and John Butler commented that she is of ideal type with excellent limbs and bone, and the spectators were wowed by her suspension as she trotted up in hand. Arwen is by the wonderful traditional RID stallion Foxglen Himself, out of Texas Diamond Belle, who is a full sister to our Hermione. That makes 3 RID daughters and 1 RID granddaughter for Bonnie, with 2 additional purebred granddaughters to be inspected next year in Chicago! Hooray Arwen and a big congratulations to Patty and Shannon Prime who bred this wonderful filly, and to Sue Holland who bred her dam!
Arwen and Patty looking gorgeous (photo credit Sue Holland)
Happy (almost) One Month Birthday George!
George is developing nicely so we thought we'd show you what he looks like at one month of age. This is going to be a very powerful and true-to-type colt and we couldn't be more pleased with him.
In other news, another of our colts (George's half brother actually) had a fantastic day in the Irish Draught breeding classes at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Lionwood Kinsale's Lad, aka Angus, not only won the purebred youngstock class, but he continued on to take Reserve Champion Irish Draught of the show in front of respected Irish judge Michael Kirwan of Kilkenny. We are incredibly proud of Angus, who is only a 2 year old this year and still quite immature. We are also very grateful to Angus' owner, Ken Haley, for "doing his bit", and getting out there and educating those new to the breed about what a true-to-native-type Irish Draught looks like. Well done Ken and Angus and may your year continue as well as it has begun! Stay tuned for photos!
Lionwood Stud happily announces the arrival of Lionwood Ranger, a lovely colt out of our Bonnie, by Huntingfield Proud Tim! "George" is correct as can be with a fantastic shoulder, powerful hip and gaskin, and a very beautiful head. He is an extremely outgoing colt and thought nothing of wandering away from his mom on his very first day outside to investigate the other inhabitants of his paddock! In spite of his independent streak, our Georgie is a big mush when it comes to getting scratches, flopping down across my lap to nap when the relaxation overcomes him :-) We look forward to watching George develop because he looks like he will be a slightly more compact version of his sire. Time will tell!
Well, 2005 ended with a bang for our herd family, with Angus (aka Lionwood Kinsale's Lad) winning both the IDHS(NA) Purebred Yearling and the Purebred Dressage Prospect In-Hand classes at the Annual Show held at the New Jersey Horse Park in November. We are particularly proud of his performance in the Dressage Prospect In-Hand class as this was a large class of mostly 2 and 3 year olds that included the Dressage at Devon winners! Congratulations to Angus' owner Ken Haley of Virginia and thanks as always to Tony Phillips and Sarah Bright for their expert handling during the show.
In other news, we are expecting just one foal this year. This will be another by the Timahoe Heather stallion Huntingfield Proud Tim R.I.D., this time from Bonnie. Bonnie is looking very well and is due in mid-May. As for the rest of the girls, Hermione is enjoying her training and has proved to be a sensible ride. We are planning on attending a hunter pace and an eventing clinic this spring, so stay tuned! Miss Glimmer is growing like a weed...she is nearly 15 hands already with tons of bone. She has maintained her beautiful topline through all of the growth spurts and we are excited about doing some in-hand showing with her this summer.
In extended family news, we have a new RID stallion in the family! Shenandoah Prince Holly, by Holycross out of Bonnie's sister Shenandoah Princess, was one of only 5 horses fully approved by the IDHS(IRE) and the Irish Horse Board at the most recent Irish Draught stallion inspections. Congratulations to Prince Holly's breeder Thomas McEntee and to owner Vincent Curley of Co. Galway!
Finally, Bonnie's daughter (and Hermione's full sister) Belle is due in April with a foal by The Pride of Gloster. Belle's first daughter Arwen is absolutely stunning so we can't wait to see this foal!
CLICK HERE FOR 2005 NEWS ARCHIVE
CLICK HERE FOR 2004 NEWS ARCHIVE
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