Monthly Archives: July 2015

Matt Hicks - Dressage and Eventing trainer
Dressage

Professional dressage trainer Review: Matt Hicks

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With the Hartpury Festival of Dressage now being packed away and the riders on the road home. Its time to reflect on what you want form your own dressage training.

Expert Tuition with a Professional Dressage Trainer Matt Hicks; the ‘gentle man’ who has a deep understanding of a horses way of going and how to improve both horse and rider.

Matt Hicks has a keen eye for the difficulties the horses under his watchful eye are experiencing and can interpret the influence (for good or bad) of the rider may have on a horses way of going.

Matt Hicks’ experience in the schooling arena proves his expertise as a Dressage Trainer.

Matt Hicks has experience to pass on built on his own experience through a varied riding career both eventing and in the dressage arena.  He trained initially with the late Debbie Johnson (Landford Stud) gaining experience in the event world to CCI3* before focusing on dressage in the 2002/3 seasons building his practice, equestrian career and knowledge base over the next 8 years before taking on the glorious Hurstbourne Equestrian Centre with his partner in 2011.  The advantage of being tutored by a professional rider with a string of top class horses is that, for clients who need an understanding of the next level, Matt is keen for his pupils to experience how a movement should feel by allowing clients to have School Master Lessons on an Advance dressage horse.

Matt has taken full advantage of the facilities and his wonderful stable staff going from strength to strength taking six major titles between 2012 and last year both Nationally and Internationally.

His success and his fabulous competition rides are supporting his claim to equestrian prowess and experience in the Grand Prix arena The lovely Excalibur, who has 287 BD points to date is owned jointly with Ms Annie Bacharach and campaigned at FEI Inter 2 . This season Matt Hicks has already, already taken 6 points and a steady stream of the ribbons. This expressive 10 year old is by the Warendorfs Ehrentusch himself a grand prix horse who has 17 progeny competing in the international dressage arena.

In Sheepcote Walnut an AES gelding from the proven performance dressage lines bred by the Pincus family who had several successes on their horses at the recent Hartpury Festival of Dressage.  Sheepcote Walnut is By Sheepcote Wurlitzer Owned by Serena and David Pincus who is by Weltmyer/Worldcup , and was successfully ridden at grand prix by David. His other progeny competing at grand prix include Sheepcote Whistle. The Pincus’ are undoubted experts in their field with successes for Sheepcote horses at this weekends Hartpury Festival of Dressage.

His other ride on the syndicated El Zorro, whose antics are all part of his up beat approach to his job! Is by the KWPN Amsterdam by Argentinus out of Touch of Class (by Tin Rocco x Barsoi xx) a dressage stallion who stood in Spain his dam Toline was also a KWPN horse. El Zorro is highly successful and Matt Competes him at FEI PSG having started his competitive career in 2009 he has now amassed an impressive BD 363 points to date.

The Duke (X), a handsome grey is now competing at Medium and is aimed at the Winter Championships. Ali Hincliffe (Matts right hand girl!) campaigned him last year.

And the nine year old Flemming offspring, Balance, out of KWPN mare Kaylee. A hansome Bay owned by Matt Himself, who, I believe, is competing at Advanced and Medium Advanced with Matt.

As a professional Dressage Trainer Matt Excells with the youngsters in his stable.

A young stallion (2011) Gaudeamus by Florencio 1 (Sensation) x Ulfia x Jazz (WBSFH top 5 Dressage Stallion 2013 and 2014) owned by Matt with Mrs Ali Hill and Mr Terry Hill.

The Hugely successful Chameur by Florencio 1 (sensation) x Elite KWPN Trendy also by x Jazz 2010 Champion KWPN Spring Stallion 2012 PAVO Cup winner (Edward Gals’ ride Glock Zonik is by Chameur) reflects the possibility of Gaudeamus as a stallion for the future.

The combined Florencio x Jazz bloodlines are extremely popular, and successful; the progeny exhibiting the grace, elevation and power of their breeding lines. White socks are definitely a feature of the line along with an elegant head and intelligent look.

At year older Fiderschwung by Fidertanz (Grand Prix Dr.) by Fidermark I (Grad.Prix Dr.) x Sandro Hit 1 lines (WSBFH top 8 2013 and 7 2014) again owned by Matt along with Mrs Sandra Thomas  an elegant chestnut with the build so liked by Matt strong through the shoulder and second thigh with a well set refined neck and the modern longer back which give these horses their ground covering advantage. Fiderscwung has started his competitive career and gaining a respectable 4th place at his BYHN5OQ last month.

His third Young horse Skyscraper is by Secano (2006 Holstein Champion) Cor De La Bryere lines x Donna.  An attractive well made iron grey Oldenburg with characteristically long legs on top of lovely black feet. A young horse with a lot of growing to do yet but an interested look in a calm face with well set ears and nostrils, he looks like he will make a nice picture for the judges in the arena in time, for his owners Ms Annemarie Dolan and Mr Mathew Metcalfe

Matt Hicks as Hicks Equestrian is a BD Accredited Coach, a professional dressage and eventing trainer and an International Dressage Rider who operates for his friendly 5* competition yard Hurstbourne Equestrian Centre which is on a large private estate.

Matt has both long and short term clients horses at livery for training and all levels are catered for

Dressage Trainer Nicola Buchanan
Dressage

Horse Scout profiled Professional Dressage Trainers : Nicola Buchanan

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Wishing Horse Scout Profiled Dressage Trainer and rider Nicola Buchanan all the best for Hartpury Festival of Dressage (9th-12th July 2015)

Reviewing Horse Scouts’ Profiled Professional Dressage trainers.

Horse Scout Profiled FEI World ranked International Dressage Rider (and trainer) Nicola Buchanan is set to thrill us at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage this weekend with her own Don Corleone VH Scheefkastee and the Horse Scout Team are wishing her the very best for her ride.

Last year at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage Nichola Buchanan (nee Joudain) was delighted with her ride Don Corleone VH Scheefkastee when competing at Hartpury last year in the CDI3* Grand Prix  and taking a very respectable score to 5th place behind Carl Hester on Nip Tuck. And a Fith place to Anders Dhal (Denmark) Wie-Atlantico De Ymas, who has six years on Don Corleone VH Scheefkastee. The pair have 291BD points. (10/07/15)

Don Corleone VH Scheefkastee  BWP (Belgian Warmblood) by the show jumping stallion Turbo Vant Gestelhof (Darco-Furioso) out of Simply You (Blesse lines) bred by the hugely successful Johan Hubrechts, (Bochholt) whose Scheefkastee progeny are deservedly in the record books.

Campaigning two horses Don Corleone VH Scheefkasteel and a new acquisition last spring Half Moon Dark Magic, a five year old gelding, and plans to bring him up to International level over the coming years, and who is out in the competitive arena with two BD competitions under his belt, and already 3 points. Nicola is introducing him to his new world with outings in the lorry and going away to school at new venues.

One of the UKs top Professional Dressage Trainers Nicola shares her passion for dressage training and the progression of a horses way of going through her clients, sharing her experience and helping clients become effective independent riders at all levels from Novice to Grand Prix.  She is, obviously, so effective on a horses back and it is wonderful to see how she can effortlessly find the right tune on any mount, but she is also an observant and effective trainer from the ground.  Her clients give very positive reviews on her effective methods which really make a positive impact on both horse and rider. Of Nicola, as a professional dressage trainer, paritipants at a recent clinic said “…most of all we love the way she trains both rider and horse”  — so whether you’re a novice rider or more advanced. and are serious about learning from the best, then take the opportunity to contact this “on point” Dressage Trainer.

Nicola regularly gives clinics at the Bovington RAC Saddle Club and is available for private or group tuition by arrangement.

To find out more or to contact Nicola Buchanan please visit her professional profile on Horse Scout by clicking on this text.

Olivia Oakley
Professional Rider

Profiled Professional Dressage Riders: Olivia Oakley

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Olivia Oakley, is one of Horse Scouts’ profiled Professional Dressage Riders.

She is an International Dressage Rider and has been a British Equestrian Federation World Class Squad member since 2010. Olivia Oakley has represented Great Britain in 5 European Championships since 2010.

As a top ranked dressage rider and a UKCC accredited level 2 Instructor, she regularly holds clinics all over the UK and is available for weekly lessons from her base in Breadstone, Berkely. We have a link to her profile page below.

One of the most valuable things for  professional dressage riders, or any professional rider, is to secure sponsorship which helps increase their profile and that of the sponsor. Recently Olivia Oakley gained a valuable sponsorship from Caldene. Their Marketing Director, Rachel Bowles, was not short of the mark when she described this rising star (who is still under 25) as “a true British Talent” who “shows great strength of character, passion and a true dedication to the sport”.

Olivia is competing at this weeks Hartpury Festival of Dressage on her handsome DiMaggio gelding Donna Summer. Donna Summer, whose stable name is “Rio” was born in 2001 is out of the State Premium mare Belinda stands at 15.3hh. Owned by Kate and Olivia Oakley he does not let size make the slightest difference to his big presence in the arena.

You can see Olivi Oakley compete on Donna Summer in the Baileys Horse Feeds BD Intermediate II (Supported by Monarch Equestrian) at 13.57 on Sunday the 12th July 2015.

Horse Scout is pleased to sponsor the Horsescout.com FEI CDI Prix St George on Friday Morning at the Hartpury Festival of Dressage.

Olivia took on Donna Summer (Rio) as a very green 5 year old and has used this as a learning curve to produce this lovely horse as an established master of the ring in just a few short years.  They established their competitive relationship in 2007 in the affiliated arena with 140 odd outings since 2007. Olivia says he (Rio) is not past sulking if her attention is not focused on him. He has a big personality; something which makes him a crowd pleaser in the arena, with the judges and with “his Public”! And on occasion he is undoubtedly a bit of a clown!!! (have you ever seen the bloops from Carl Hester at Home!) If not…. Well you definitely should. Donna Summer looks every bit like he’s auditioning for River Dance…!!

Donna Summers’ Sire DiMaggio (by Weltmyer) is a hugely successful Hanoverian Sire his progeny are in the record books consistently across all years since his first crops with 45 qualifying progeny in the BEF rankings placing him 2nd in the All Time Sire Rankings with the British Breeding Federation (2007 – date) DiMaggios’ own averaged Score comes out at 9.36 from his top 5 scores.

Of Dimaggios’ progeny namesakes Dimaggio Chillis Dino has been campaigned by Lord Leo Cornford. Last year competing at Novice, now with 4 points, and only once out of the top 4.  Who, on his 4th  British Dressage  event has qualified for the Sheepgate Tack & Togs 2015 Championships! Dimaggio Delight competed by Rebecca Whitcombe taking 1st place at AM in the last five outings.

And Keystone Dimaggio a very successful eye catching black 7 year old stallion bought by Janet Gee, with Suzanne Lavendera, scored the highest marks of the Hickstead Dressage Masters Championships in West Sussex with 76.38% and 75.43%.

Dimaggios’ performance progeny carry his stamp and are well priced in the market for the potential they hold in their genetics.

Horse Scout has a Dimaggio Mare listed on its horses for sale pages.  She’s a nice looking animal with a good write up who would fit well with a rider aiming to compete.  Her profile can be found under Domonique Dancer

Olivias other top horse is of course Don Carrissimo on whom she has been hugely successful. Taking the ride in 2014,  Don Carrissimo is a 16.2 hh Don Crusdaor x World Cup III gelding owned by Anne & Steve Keen. With 15 wins in 23 starts its an impressive record and an indication of just how strong this partnership is.  Olivia Oakley has achieved her personal best score of 74.39% on Don Carrissimo in the FEI Inter 1Q in May this year. They have also qualified for the Premier British Dressage League National Championships in September following their win in the FEI Inter1Q at Wellington, and now have 3 Regional titles. With impressive results at in the Charles Owen AMO Winter Championship 4th (69.87%) on Don Carrissimo and 5th in the Superflex FEI Inter I Freestyle Winter Championship 5th with Donna Summer (72.29%) with a captivating performance which matched the score from Matt Frost with AMD Don Rosso II.

Her other three rides are Eclips, and two fairly new additions to the stable in Lordswood Gently 16.2hh 2010 Lord Leatherdale x Vaya Condios (Negro) owned by Mel Worgan & Lucy Fawcett and the newest addition, Lordswood Givenchy 16.1hh 2011 Chameur x Special D Alice Whitefield (Lordswood Dressage) and Heather Stack (Larkhill Stud) who came over from Holland in March this year will be aimed at Young Horse Classes.

Horse Scout wishes all the best to Olivia over the coming weekend and of course for the rest of the 2015 season with all her horses.

Click here to follow Olivia Oakley on Horse Scout

HORSE SCOUT is a social, sales and promotional platform that allows members to buy or sell horses, explore the online equestrian world and build a network with professionals and businesses across the UK. Create your own personalised profile for free, connect with our online community and start advertising your horse or business today!

Kannan sire of Molly Malone V
Horse Breeds

Breeding for Exceptional Performance – Kannan

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Breeding for Performance – Congratulations to 19 year old Bertram Allen for making history as the youngest ever Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix winner!

Allens’ two top horses are Romanov (II) by the KWPN Stallion Heartbreaker and Molly Malone V by The Stallion Companys’ legendary stallion Kannan.

Breeding for performance means Selecting Performance Horses to breed from Molly Malone V’s mother Janni was herself a successful on the UK  showjumping circuit with her owner/rider Shelly Doyle.

Kannan’s Progeny just keep proving the point for top breeding. Molly Malone V ridden by Bertram Allen has continued on last years very successful season with wins at the Lumen and Dublin, Verona Grand Prixs’ and also the opening leg of the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and this season 2015.  Kannan’s AES registered Molly Mallone V one of three AES horses in the top 15 World Rankings.

View this incredible stallion and many others here on Horse Scout

Looking to buy or sell your own horse? HORSE SCOUT is the number one equestrian networking site that allows you to follow and connect with leading industry professionals as well as buy, sell and promote your horse or business – sign up free today!

AJs Farbenfroh
Stallions

Stallions for Improving Performance Breeding: AJ’s Farbenfroh

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Improving performance through breeding means considering the merits of your own mare and that of the stallion.

To breed a successful performance horse or to improve a breeding line then considering the genetics, conformation and performance record of both the stallion and mare are key and the horses in their pedigree will indicate the quality of the fola to be produced.

Key indicators for improving performance breeding with confidence

When a breeder is able to comment on the consistent quality of the progeny of their stallions then you can be sure that the stallion is influencing  the outcome through his own breeding performance genetics.

“Brilliant” replied Karen Raine “They all are, he (sic AJ’s Farbenfroh) throws such amazing stock” said Country Farm Studs owner in response to a post from D.S (Langho) after her 3 year old AJ Knockout was placed 2nd at the Northcote BS young horse Show in June this year.

AJ’s Farbenfrohs’ young stock (the oldest are now 4 years old) are certainly looking well-made and with results like this it indicates that he is passing on his Show Jumping Genetics to his progeny.

AJ’s Farbenfroh performance breeding genetics

Kurt Smiths’ lovely chestnut stallion is from a line of super star performance breeding His Sire Forrester, himself an international grand prix show jumper is by For Pleasure (Olympic team golds and a purse of over a million euro) son of the foundation stallion Furioso, who bred 250 state registered broodmares and 50 licensed stallions on his sire Forresters dam line we find  Grannus,  who died in 1993, bred seven Olympic horses and more than 60 approved stallions.

AJ’s Farbenfroh is the only licenced son of Forrester (a cross that his breeder used often) who at the moment has 15 international performance horses listed out of 29 progeny on Horse Telex.

AJ’s Farbenfroh has himself already done well on the BSJA circuit and has a good clean shoulder action with good humorous angle and length, which is a bonus when considering improving performance breeding..

AJ’s Farbenfroh influence on colour breeding

Interstingly AJ’s Knockout is a Chestnut Westphalian with a full sister born the following year (AJS* Farbenfroh) and two of AJ’s Farbenfrohs’ own filly foals AJS Knockout and AJ’s Tecquila Knockout both registered with the AES as roan two out of three registered AES filies.

Maybe AJ’s Farbenfroh breeder Hartwig Rellensmann based in Munster, the heart of the Westphlian breeders country in Northern Germany knew that he would have the capacity to throw foals with the is colourful coat colouring; or perhaps it was a reference to Farbenfrohs’ eye catching white stockings.

Most of his stock, though, do seem to be bay, brown or chestnut with 8 out of 12 being colts.

AJ’s Farbenfroh, owned by Kurt Smith stands at Country farm stud who have a range of lovely stallions listed on the Horse Scout website.

*Different lettering style but the same name

View this incredible stallion and many others here on Horse Scout

Looking to buy or sell your own horse? HORSE SCOUT is the number one equestrian networking site that allows you to follow and connect with leading industry professionals as well as buy, sell and promote your horse or business – sign up free today!

Catherston Springsteen
Horse Breeds Stallions

Breeding Performance Horses: Improver Stallion: Catherston Springsteen

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Breeding for performance and temperament: Catherston Studs’ handsome and successful British Sports Horse Catherston Springsteen

For breeders looking for that “extra mile” they can’t go far wrong with the quality and performance of the handsome and very well made Catherston Springsteen who stands four square when Breeding Performance Horses. He is consistently producing quality performance stock which carry his temperament and presence into the competitive arena, which is why those in the know can say with absolute enthusiasm:

“What a star, mind you those Springsteen babies are worth going the extra mile for” said N.C.C. (27th May)

His first progeny, now rising six, are are proof of his ability to breed for performance. They are eventing successfully and competing in dressage, alongside others following on who are in the ribbons in Sports Horse and Young Event Horse classes at prestigious county level shows etc.  They are definitely proving themselves as class horses.

This international dressage stallion standing at the Catherston Stud is a champion British Sports Horse graded with the SHB-GB and the BWBS.

Catherston Springsteen; A Performance Stallion  for Breeding Performance Horses

This expressive and elegant British Sports Horse is eye catching and has the “look at me” so necessary in the show ring as well as in the dressage arena.  He is a stallion with an exceptional temperament which he passes on to his offspring, and breeders have been more than enthusiastic about this important character trait which Catherston Springsteen passes on.

His make is exemplary, and his conformation allows him to show his expressive, bold and elevated paces to their best with his lovely head complimented by his length of rein.

His own career has been well managed and he has been campaigned successfully not only by Jennie Loriston Clark but also  as part of the Junior Dressage squad with her granddaughter Charlotte Dicker. Long listed to be part of the squad last year, Charlotte is now part of the Junior Riders Prime Squad Team for GB with Catherston Springsteen and her beloved ride Sabatini.

Catherston Springsteens’ own performance breeding (Dutch Gold) his undoubtedly played a part (along with exceptional training) in his successful career on the dressage stage.

In 2003 he qualified for the finals of the Rhinegold Potential Dressage Horse at the European Championships at Hickstead and was also short listed for the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses.

By 2005 he had also qualified for the British Dressage National Championships at Advanced Medium and in the Prix St Georges.

At only 10 years old he won the Grand Prix to Music classes at the College Premier League and at the Wellington Premier League Shows, also taking 2nd in the Grand Prix Special at Wellington.

By 2007 he was proving his breeding performance with a series of important successes at Grand Prix competitions at National Level. After an injury, he took some time away from the competitive arena but stormed back in 2010 winning the Grand Prix Special at Swolle Stallion Show in Holland. Since this, he has qualified for the National Championships most years at Grand Prix taking respectable placing’s every time out, and now Charlotte Dicker is steering him to success for Great Britain.

Catherston Springsteen himself has a bold and careful jump, and his progeny show that he is passing this on with successful youngsters in the eventing field now competing at BE100 this season.

His older progeny Longstock Sinatra, bred by Jeanette Burtenshaw who has some 395 odd BD points (at the time of writing), has qualified for every year and progressed up the levels at the Regionals and last year qualified for the Winter Regionals at Advanced Medium level.

Catherston Springnut is catching up on the points, and is now consistently winning at Advanced Medium and has also qualified for Regionals as well as the Petplan Championships.

For breeders looking to identify a quality stallion and breed for performance next year, then Catherston Springsteen is definitely one to put on your list.

Click here to follow Catherston Springsteen on Horse Scout

HORSE SCOUT is a social, sales and promotional platform that allows members to buy or sell horses, explore the online equestrian world and build a network with professionals and businesses across the UK. Create your own personalised profile for free, connect with our online community and start advertising your horse or business today!