2008 Foals!!

The mares are shown below. Contact us for more information! Click picture below for details

Dahlia (ster) x Feike 395
CONFIRMED
Contract Available!

Hiltje x Wander 352
CONFIRMED
Contract Available!

Cori (ster)
Open this year. Will start breeding May 2008.

Tanbark Tales

May 4, 2008

Breeding Season is underway

BREEDING AND FOALING SEASON. This is one of our busiest and most nerve wracking times of the year. Be sure to check back often as I will be trying to make more frequent postings.

Last week my sister Carole bred her lovely mare Oeke ster (Wierd x Tsjerk) to Mintse 384 Sport. It looks like the timing was really good so we find out in about 2 weeks if there is a baby in there.

Hiltje (Lute x Lammert) is presently in foal to Wander 352 and due, basically, any day now. She also has been booked to Mintse 384 for next year.

Dahlia ster (Thomas x Tsjerk) is due with her Feike foal on June 1. I am thinking of leaving her open for next year so I can focus on getting two year old Tara ready for the keuring.

Finally, Coriander ster (Wander x Lute) is booked to Heinse 354 and I am trying hard to repeat the lovely cross we got last year with Cori's son Wikke. This will be a miracle baby. More about that....

Yesterday my dad and I loaded up Cori and hauled her to Iron Spring to try a rebreeding to one of my favorite stallions, Heinse 354. I am still recovering from almost 20 hours on the road.

As most of you probably know, Heinse, a Leffert son, is one of the most impressive stalions alive. He has 4 approved sons, including an older one just approved who went through the short test due to his success as a harness horse. Heinse himself is 4th level dressage (and thus has the Sport predicate) but he was also twice the driving champion in Friesland. He has over 50% lifetime ster rating. Although breeders would desperately like to breed to him, this has been very difficult. Heinse semen is short lived and there is not much of it. He had a very difficult time last year with semen longevity, and only one mare became pregnant. This year Iron Spring is breeding Heinse only to pre-approved mares (ones who match well to him fertility wise), and you have to bring the mare to him. It is an expensive proposition and virtually rules out people who do not happen to be located at least relatively close.

Cori bred to Heinse before and her resulting foal (named Wikke by his owner) is really lovely and sweet. I think he will be a terrific sporthorse, which is what I was breeding for. I just had to try Heinse again.

So, we shall see. Maybe I'll be lucky again. Maybe not.

But anyhow, a major reason I love Heinse is that outside of Heinse's successful stats, he has such a wonderful character. He is a barn favorite due to his desire to show affection, bonding with humans, and general sweetness. The grooms say he always wants to work.

I just cannot think of traits I more want in a horse - especially a sporthorse.

We'll find out in a few weeks if we were successful.

Note that there will probably be more photos from our visit on flickr soon. I'll post a link if that occurs.