Well, we had a very rewarding trip to the IDHS(NA) National Show and Inspections :-) We are happy to announce that Hawk passed his R.I.D. inspection and is now an approved breeding stallion! As if that isn't enough, he won his 3 year-old class at the National Show and then went on to take the Countess Stud Perpetual Cup for Youngstock Champion, the Tommy Cooper Memorial Trophy for Best North American Bred Horse, the Snowford Challenge Plate for Best Purebred In Hand, won best Get of Sire with his brother Fergal (Winmaur Sargeant Pepper R.I.D.), and then went Reserve Supreme Champion of the whole show!! To say we are thrilled is an understatement, particularly since the show was very well attended with several former breed champions in the ranks!
I don't think anyone will soon forget the stallion parade on Saturday. Snowford Bellman and his two R.I.D. sons (Fergal and Hawk) put on quite a performance. Not only did they demonstrate an incredible consistency of type - they absolutely stole the show, floating around the arena showing off their stunning movement to much cheering and applause from the crowd. It was an incredibly moving moment for all of their connections and we were very proud to be a part of it!
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Tony Phillips, Dutch Morrow, Jontelle Forbus, Jesse and the rest of the fabulous Red Ridge gang who did a superb job handling Hawk for his inspection and classes.
Harkaway Lionhawk R.I.D. and Tony Phillips (top); with Jontelle Forbus (bottom)
On the heels of the show we turned right around to represent the breed the next weekend at the 2nd Annual Rare Breeds Expo in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This year we were joined by Cleveland Bays, Icelandics, Fjords, Haflingers, Lipizzans, Peruvian Pasos, Rocky Mountain Horses, and Friesians. Hawk was the only R.I.D. there as we decided the mares were just too furry to go. He did the breed proud though, flat-footing it around the warm-up area in close quarters with several other stallions and mares, one of which was carrying a cowboy practicing his rollbacks with a flapping American flag! Hawk trotted up brilliantly and stood quietly for the crowd, generating quite a bit of interest in the breed back at the stable area. Several people commented on his lovely movement and size (I believe they were pleasantly surprised to find out that real Irish Draughts come in sizes other than BIG!). Hawk also received many well deserved compliments on his good manners.
Fall has been a very busy time around the farm. We've been working with the youngsters and attending inspections. We are proud to announce that Nora was given her R.I.D. with VERY high marks from the Irish inspectors! They commented that Nora is the type of mare they look for, the sort of mare that in the old days could carry you 30 miles to town and back the same day. Bonnie is also the proud dam of her *third* R.I.D. daughter, Lionwood Seventh Heaven (by Happy Ending R.I.D.), owned by Sue Holland of the Woodlands, Texas. "Holly" received excellent marks for her conformation, with especially high marks for her outstanding movement and temperament. Way to go girls!
Dandelion Nora Blue R.I.D.
In other news, both Rowan and Nora have been sold. They were purchased by our new friends, the Cairns family, of Madison, Wisconsin. While this has been an especially bittersweet sale, as Rowan is the first true product of our breeding program (from a homebred R.I.D. mare, and by our own stallion who we purchased as a 2 week old foal), and coming close on the heels of Nora's stellar inspection, we couldn't be happier with their new home and we know that they are already cherished members of their new family. We expect great things from these young ladies and wish them all the best!
Well, summer is coming to the close. Rowan and Angus have been weaned and Hawk is showing us his soft side by taking up "nanny" duties! He stands watch over the two of them as they nap in the late morning sunshine and gently grooms them as they stretch to scratch his withers in return. What a fantastic testament to the temperament of these horses!
Hawk, Rowan, and Macaroni the Pony enjoy the morning sunshine
Speaking of the foals, they are both developing nicely. Angus is going quite grey already and his temperament is just so sweet that it's easy to forget he's a colt! Rowan is growing like a weed but it hasn't affected her movement at all. Both foals have shown that they are very brave, spontaneously following Hawk through the jumping chute the other day just for fun (no we don't routinely free jump our foals but it was nice to see that the natural jump we breed for is in there)!
We are preparing horses for inspection in September and October. Nora is learning to wear a bit in her mouth and trot in hand. Next project...pulling that abundant mane! She is really developing into a beautiful mare. Hawk is practicing his free jumping and going on hacks around the neighborhood. He is quite bold, a very fast learner, and his natural self-carriage makes him a pleasure to ride. We are getting more and more excited about him and can't wait to get him out and about and show what the traditional Irish Draught can do.
Today was photo day...Enjoy!
Angus (top), Rowan (bottom)
FINALLY!! Bonnie presented us with a purebred foal by O'Leary's Irish Diamond this morning! Although he was over 3 weeks late, "Angus" was worth the wait as he is a gorgeous brown colt (but will grey) with fantastic bone and the most appealing "tippy" ears! At this early date he appears to be the image of his dam.
In other "May Day" news, Angus and Hermione's full sister, Texas Diamond Belle (owned by Sue Holland of the Woodlands, Texas), placed second in her first Combined Driving arena trial with Karen Garrett driving! After only two weeks of training since being started as a late 2 year old, Belle won her Training level dressage test over much more experienced single horses, ponies, and VSEs (very small equines!). She received excellent comments from the judges and created quite a stir amongst the spectators as she was the only Irish Draught at the event. Belle and Karen's trainer, Irishman Tom O'Carroll, says that with her movement and "mind", Belle has what it takes to go very far indeed. Belle will be competing again in a few weeks so stay tuned!
Belle winning her dressage test with Karen Garrett! Well done Karen!
Today we bid a fond farewell to Gortlea Legacy, aka Dillon, who is off on new adventures that we hope will culminate in his approval as an R.I.D. stallion. Dillon has very rare bloodlines, being the only direct-male-line descendant of Young Arthur in North America, and one of only a handful in the world. We wish Dillon and his new owner the very best in their future together!
Gortlea Legacy - Off to a new home!
Here are some photos taken of the girls on a sunny Iowa spring day.
Dandelion Nora Blue (doing her impression of a bird dog), Bonnie Belle Supreme (due to foal any day!), Lionwood Waterwitch and daughter Lionwood Rowan de la Mer
After a week of watching Rowan busily cantering everywhere she went, up hill, down dale, leap-buck-flying-change-pirouette, and head back the other way...she finally showed us the trot we've been hoping we would see...and we are thrilled to announce she has her sire's amazing cadence, elasticity and free shoulder (and with all of that leaping around, if she doesn't make a jumper I will eat my keyboard)! We are getting more and more excited about this filly, who incidentally is bred from all of the same RID bloodlines (Blue Henry, King of Diamonds, and Laughton) that Grand Prix jumping phenom Ado Annie is. We will be retaining Rowan for the time-being to promote her sire and our breeding program.
It's a girl! Today Hermione presented us with a large purebred filly foal by our stallion, Harkaway Lionhawk, at the entirely reasonable hour of 11 a.m.! A flashy chestnut (but will grey), with the most striking facial markings, "Rowan" was up and nursing in record time. Rowan is the fifth exceptional filly in a row from the RID mare family founded by her granddam (and Hermione's dam) Bonnie Belle Supreme. Hermione has turned out to be the affectionate and attentive mom we knew she would be, and both mom and baby are doing well. Check back soon for photos!
Early spring finds us anxiously awaiting Hermione's first foal, a purebred by our stallion Harkaway Lionhawk. She is due around St. Patrick's day, but with the reserve typical of a maiden mare, she's not giving any hints as to the actual delivery date!
Hawk has gone away for training with Brad Hall in Galena, IL. Brad's facility Riverview Equestrian Center is quickly becoming "Irish Horse Central" with 4 purebreds in residence right now (including Hawk and R.I.D. stallion Rhyd's Sea Quest), and at least a half dozen ID sport horses. Hawk has settled in with his turnout buddy "Yoshi" and will begin his education under saddle later this month.
Bonnie is due April 8th. Bonnie is at her most beautiful when pregnant - if she were human she would be glowing! We are very excited to see this foal, by O'Leary's Irish Diamond, who will be a full sibling to our mare Hermione, aka Lionwood Waterwitch R.I.D.
In other "comings and goings" news, we have sold our yearling stallion prospect, Gortlea Legacy, to a purebred enthusiast from Minnesota. We decided we just did not have the time to do two stallions justice and so made the very difficult decision to sell "Dillon". The good news is that his new owner is keen to keep him a stallion, thus ensuring he has the opportunity to pass on his rare bloodlines to the next generation.
And under the heading "nature abhors a vacuum", we are pleased to announce the arrival of a purebred black filly from Dandelion Farm in Montana. "Nora" is a big, free-moving filly with the sweetest temperament imaginable and we are so excited to own her. You can find out more about her on our "Mares" page.
Check back soon for foal news!
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