It's a girl!!!!

We are happy to announce the arrival of Emma, the first filly to be born from our Voltaire x Nurzeus mare, Jimarilla.

Jimarilla comes from a distinguished damline, which has produced many approved stallions and upper level sport horses both in Europe and in North America. After producing four colts in a row, we are thrilled to finally have a filly to carry on this wonderful damline in our breeding program.

Emma's sire is VDL Windsor H, who has stamped this filly with his beautiful refined exterior and wonderful temperament.

2009 Eastern Canadian Free Jumping Competition

Our very own Bovaire (pictured at the top of this blog as a weanling with his mother, Jimarilla) captured the Championship of the 2009 Eastern Canadian Free Jumping Competition on Sunday April 5 at the Royal Canadian Riding Academy in Cedar Valley, ON. The competition's esteemed judge, Torchy Millar, awarded Bovaire a score of 9 for canter & impression, 9 for jumping technique, and 8.5 for scope. We are thrilled that this promising young horse has been added to our own list of freejumping champions: Concorde's Tiantha (2003), VDL Ulando H (2005) and VDL Windsor H (2006).

For more information about the free jumping competition, go to http://www.hanoverianbreedersclub.com/FreeJumping/2009/FreeJumping2009_text.htm

Zoe in Wellington

While most of us have had to put up with another cold winter in Canada, our daughter Vivian has been fortunate in being able to take some of our older horses down to Florida to get them in shape for the upcoming Ontario show season. I had a chance to visit her in Wellington, and took this photo of our 5-year-old mare, Zest de Pomme a.k.a. Zoe (Navarone x Always Out). Zoe is the first horse we bred ourselves. Her sire, Navarone, is by the double Olympic Gold Medal winner, Jus de Pomme. Zoe's dam is the thoroughbred mare Always Out, by Explodent. Always Out had a racing career that spanned 7 years; she retired sound and went on to compete in eventing with an amateur senior. Zoe seems to share her mom's athleticism, stamina and soundness, but we think she may have also picked up some of her grandsire's affinity for jumping. Zoe is currently schooling over a 3'6" course, and doesn't give scary liverpools or wind-blown flags and flowers a second glance. Simple to ride, level-headed and willing, she's an amateur's dream. Vivian is looking forward to taking Zoe onto the A circuit this summer, and after a few miles, hubby is thinking she'd be the perfect senior jumper for him.

Update on VDL Windsor H

July 20, 2008 - VDL Windsor H tops the 5-year-old Canadian Jumper Development class, held at Halton Place, with a winning score of 94. Ridden by amateur rider Vivian Millard, Windsor put in a brilliant round, despite the driving rain and saturated footing. To watch the round on YouTube, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLkr7ry3Rs

July 12, 2008 - VDL Windsor H is named Vice-Champion of the FEI Dressage Test for 5-year-olds at Cornerstone Horse Show, held at the Caledon Equestrian Park, as part of the Canadian Performance Futurity. Judged not only for movement and suitability for dressage but also submission and rideability, Windsor performed a stellar test despite having only 4 days preparation with his rider, David Marcus. '

August 27, 2008 - VDL Windsor H claims the 2008 Champion Hunter title for the Eastern Zone's 5-year-old divison of the Canadian Performance Futurity. Ridden by amateur Vivian Millard, Windsor once again proves his versatility by top placings across three disciplines.

September 11, 2008 - VDL Windsor H is declared Vice-Champion of the 2008 Canadian Stallion Performance Test, held in Orangeville, ON, giving him full breeding approval with the CWHBA. With a score that reflects his versatility in both dressage and jumping, Windsor obtained top marks for rideability, willingness and character. Test riders cited Windsor as being a very careful and very brave jumper with excellent gaits, who is willing to please and a pleasure to ride.

Introducing..... Dexter!!!

Dexter is our newest addition to the farm. He is by VDL Windsor H (Indoctro x Ahorn), out of our mare Jimarilla (Voltaire x Nurzeus). We are absolutely thrilled with this perfect little package! He has his daddy's handsome looks and calm temperament, and is just starting to get used to those long legs!

Dexter's three-quarters' brother is Bovaire, sired by VDL Ulando H and pictured at the top of this page with their mom, Jimarilla. Not only do Dexter and Bovaire have the same mother, but their sires, Windsor and Ulando, also share the same dam - the keur preferent KWPN mare Fanieta (Ahorn x Amor).

VDL Windsor H

Windsor is a rising 5-year-old Canadian Warmblood stallion by the Holsteiner stallion Indoctro, out of the Keur Preferent Dutch Warmblood mare Fanieta, who is by Olympic Ahorn. This young stallion is a maternal half-brother to VDL Ulando H.

Windsor's sire, Indoctro, is a son of the Holsteiner legend, Capitol, who produced many of the world's top jumpers, including Classic Touch, Carthago Z, Caretino, Dobel's Cento and Cumano. Indoctro himself has earned a world-wide reputation, producing many, many Grand Prix jumpers including No Limit, Nassau, Nothing to Lose, Orame and Jill Henselwood's Black Ice, who recently competed in both the Nations Cup and the million dollar CN International at Spruce Meadows. Indoctro is now the number one ranked producer of jumpers in North America. He has been awarded Preferent status by the KWPN, and State Premium by the Holsteiner Verband.

Windsor's dam, the keur preferent Dutch Warmblood mare Fanieta, is sired by the KWPN preferent stallion Olympic Ahorn, whose international success in the grand prix ring qualified him for the Barcelona Olympics.

Windsor is proving himself true to his pedigree. At the 2006 Eastern Canadian Free Jumping Championships, Windsor was named Champion of the 3-year-old class and Grand Champion of the competition, with scores of 9 for each category of scope, technique and quality of gaits.

In 2006, Windsor was presented to both the Canadian Warmblood and Canadian Sport Horse studbook committees at the Ontario stallion licensing, where he was proclaimed Champion of both licensing, with consistently high scores in every category. In 2008, he completed the CWHBA Stallion Performance Test, where he was named Vice-Champion based on his excellent rideability in both jumping and dressage. With his calm, quiet temperament and beautiful type, Windsor is a treasure for Canadian breeders.

VDL Ulando H

Left: VDL Ulando H competing with amateur rider, Vivian Millard, in Ocala, FL

VDL Ulando H represents the creme de la creme of Holstein and Dutch Warmblood breeding, with no less than seven international grand prix jumpers in the first three generations of his pedigree. Ulando is a modern type warmblood stallion with tremendous jumping ability and athleticism. He is very well balanced in his gaits, and his canter, in the words of Olympian Beth Underhill, is "simply perfect".

Ulando was sired by the very successful Holstein grand prix jumper Corland, who is a product of the proven formula of Cor de la Bryere x Landgraf. Corland has achieved Keur status with the KWPN, a title bestowed on only the best of Holland's stallions. Ulando's dam, the Keur Preferent dutch warmblood mare Fanieta, is sired by the KWPN preferent stallion Olympic Ahorn, whose international success in the grand prix ring qualified him for the Barcelona Olympics.

Ulando has a kind nature and a beautiful, willing temperament that is desirable in all types of riding horses. He is a good cross for those mares requiring improvement to the elasticity and correctness of gaits, a stronger loin connection and topline, improved scope over fences, and overall refinement and athleticism. His foals are proving to be exceptional, placing in the top 3 at breed shows and foal futurities across the country. His offspring are applauded for their excellent balance, movement, athleticism, beautiful exteriors, and friendly, outgoing temperaments.

Update: Ulando has been purchased by Ruth Armstrong, and will be standing at Armstrong Farm for the 2009 breeding season.