Winter is really here and between pruning at the vineyard and feeding out morning and night, there is not a lot of time to do much.

But today we took time out to go for a trip inland and feast on the winter wonderland of North Otago and south Canterbury.

Aura Kahliquie rising 2yo colt, sire CRA Sihr Shahrif imp USA and out of Dahma Xavier

CRA Sihr Sharif imp USA

NZAHBS AGM 2009

 Clear skies dawned over Rayjan Arabians located, at Mosgiel, just inland from Dunedin, the venue for this years Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Arab Horse Breeders Society. 

 Our hosts, the Otago Arabian Horse Club presented horses for the enjoyment of NZAHBS members, and a variety of bloodlines were represented.

Gill McCarthy performed a lovely dressage test on her very nice gelding Kishon Antarctica 

Next to perform under saddle was Rayjan Harlequin owned by Cindy Storer and ridden by Harley Aitken. This chestnut gelding was the first of the Rayjan horses to appear before us and he represented the H line at Rayjan, being a son of NZ National Champion Bremervale Pocahontas imp AU (Desperado x Bremervale Decena) and Bremervale Shalimar imp AU (Rav VF x Bremervale Spanish Princess).

 Harlequin’s powerful performance was followed by the appearance of another grey Partbred gelding, namely HD Kaos. 

Kaos was bred and is owned by Sarah Walters, and is the result of putting a champion show pony to the now deceased Dellmount Sudani (Ralvon Pilgrim imp/exp AU x Dellmount Shahzar). HD Kaos is a worthy representative of his under valued sire. 

Later in the day I could not resist taking a photo of Kaos with Robin Marshall of “Horsetalk” fame. Sudani had spent his last years at Lyn and Colin Marshall’s Aurora Stud, Wyndham, Southland, and his demise is keenly felt.

It was a pleasure to view Barbara Poulter’s two representatives from her Masada Park Stud. Barbra is a very dedicated breeder and supporter of the Arabian horse and had brought Masada Park Miss America (Bremervale Legacy imp AU x Hazeldean Estefan) and Masada Park Movie Star imp iiu AU (Fame Maker R x Hazeldean Estefan imp AU) from her home at South Canterbury. 

Both mares are typey and feminine. Movie Star gave us a splendid performance at liberty and Miss America did her best to stride out in the deep sand arena. She is for sale at present and is going to be an asset to whomever buys her.

One of the newer breeding programs in Otago is that of Rob and Kylie Pape. Based just north of Dunedin at Waikouaiti, Aura Arabians have produced some classy partbreds in recent years by outside Arabian stallions. The retention of the bay colt Aura Kahlique heralds their foray into having their own stallion to further their plans. 

Aura Kahlique is a leggy and typey 18 months old, that behaved incredibly well for his first outing. He is sired by CRA Sihr Shahrif imp USA (Enzo x Fame Magic VF) and is out of the Holly Farm bred Dahma Xavier a Simeon Sapar imp AU, daughter. Kahlique’s temperament is certainly an asset to Rob and Kylie as they become conversant with the responsibility of owning a stallion. Expect to hear more of this stud in the future.

After a sumptuous morning tea, it was back to horse watching. In this portion of the parade we were treated to a succession of Rayjan bred horses and the imported mare, the wonderful moving WDF Desiree imp USA (OSO Star Maker x WS Fire Desire) bred by James Ferlita, Californa, USA. 

Desiree is in foal to CRA Sihr Shahrif and you don’t need a crystal ball to predict that the resulting foal (all going well) will be something special. 

It is not often that an opportunity to view a group of progeny together in one place is made possible, so it was with relish that we viewed the matriarch Bremervale Shalimar imp AU (Rave VF x Bremervale Spanish Princess) and some of her descendants.

First, the chestnut colt Rayjan Aiden was presented to us and he represented his sire CRA Sihr Shahrif imp USA and is a grandson of Bremervale Shalimar imp AU, being a son of Shalimar’s daughter Rayjan Hollee, sired by Bremervale Pocohontas imp AU.

Then the bay mare Rayjan Aimee, a daughter of Rayjan Hollee and sired by another American import, WA Rouge Elite imp USA.

Bremervale Shalimar imp AU, preceded her offspring into the arena, they were the full siblings:  Rayjan Hadlee (Bremervale Pocohontas imp AU x Bremervale Shalimar imp AU) a chestnut gelding and the demure chestnut filly, Rayjan Heiress and the aforementioned Rayjan Harlequin and Rayjan Hollee. 

Uniformity of type was most evident. As well as the chestnut colour, they all possessed strong hind quarters, excellent movement and substance, while still displaying obvious Arabian type.

The finale, was the introduction to the one and only CRA Sihr Shahrif imp USA. Shahrif had unfortunately sustained an injury to his near foreleg and it was most gracious of our hosts to allow us to meet him under the circumstances.  He stood calmly outside his box while the visitors patted and admired him. It was also heart-warming to witness the affection that his handler Glenn Grieve has for Shahrif. Glenn had paraded the majority of the Rayjan horses and he spoke with particular fondness for Shahrif and the time shared with him while breaking him to saddle.

Here’s hoping the God of chestnut stallions smiles on Shahrif, because the quality of his foals would indicate a very bright future for him as a sire and will make Rayjan Arabians even more competitive. 

The NZAHBS awards were presented after the AGM dinner and were as follows:

2009 WAHO award went to Mary Tylden’s stallion Cyden Son sired by an earlier WAHO recipient, Ngapa Joussif and out of Ngapa Ayda.

NZAHBS Breeder of the year was Lee Cox, Euralea Arabians. Al Dhahab and Rayjan Arabians sponsored this award. The trophy is a stunning work by Nancy Weimer Belden and depicts a mare and foal head study.

The NZAHBS 2009 Young Achiever Award was awarded to Melissa Strydom, from Auckland, who will travel to Australia as part of a reciprocal arrangement with the Australian Arabian Horse Society.

The Australian bred stallion Haddidi (Sir Ibn Moniet x Tarong Bint Shareefa) was awarded Roll Of Merit. Haddidi is owned by Tracy Rhodes, Woodlaus Farm, of Canterbury.

The new Council consists of Jacquie Webby, Jan Wilson, Fanus Crous, Tracey Rhodes and Melanie Barker.

Thanks to the organisers and those who presented horses for our perusal. 

More photos on to be uploaded. 

It was with real saddness that I learned of the passing of one of New Zealands top Breeders.
Bev Morrissey and her husband John operated Taralea Arabians in Canterbury. Over three decades of breeding they have produced some of the best stock this country has seen.

Not only have the Taralea horses been successful in the showring and under saddle, they have served as invaluable foundation stones on which many studs throughout New Zealand have been based.

The breed has lost yet another invaluable enthusiast.


On the right is a very poor photo I took at this years National Champs. Bev is hugging the handler of her stallion Fairview Shakla's Khalif. Khalif has just been awarded 2008 Nat Ch Stallion. It was a very emotional occassion. Khalif had been knocking on the door for some years and 2008 was when the door was flung open and he was invited to join the ranks of other stallions to go into NZ Arabian history.

I would like to draw your attention to what I consider an worthy and uplifting story.

This Sunday just past, I was introduced to a very intelligent and unassuming woman by the name of Shirley Nolan from Pleasant Point, South Canterbury.

 Shirley is putting together a Calendar that will feature female fire fighters from various regions throughout New Zealand. Her desire is to raise awareness of the contribution female firefighters make to the Fire Service. 

  The proceeds from the calendar will be going to the Breast Cancer Foundation  and Shirley is doing all of the organising and photography for the calendar herself at her own expense, which includes travelling around the country and gathering the material.

  The whole enterprise exhibits  the type of altruism that deserves to be promoted. I also believe that like myself, other people will be heartened to learn that there are still genuine New Zealanders out there using their initiative to benefit other New Zealanders.  

Here the link to the project blog. http://newzealandfemalefirefightercalendar.blogspot.com/    
Shirley is a fire fighter, mother and grandmother, and works for Bluebird Foods Timaru driving a fork lift. It is a great story.   I hope you feel as inspired as I was.  

 

The sky is the limit.

Had a wonderful start to the day today.

On arriving at the vineyard at 8.30 am I was greeted by the most amazing sky.

Had my camera with me, so got some shots before the scene dissipated into a vague memory.

The mountains covered with snow a the Saint Mary's Range and the peaks that dominate the Ostler Vineyard skyline are Mount Domett.

I never get tired of trying to capture Domett in it's infinite guises throughout the seasons and even within a single day.

You may have noticed that a study of Domett in winter is featured in our stud title. One of these days I intend to get myself organised enough to climb this mountain. Till then, I shall just have to keep admiring it from afar.