Herbert’s Horses

Miss Spot (Briannes Final Print) is 10 years old. She has shown lightly for several years, had some years just hanging out in the pasture and has a riding routine with me that includes a little work in the arena and a lot of wandering around, going out on the trails, and that’s always followed by turnout or hand grazing. She’s a happy girl who leads a fairly low-stress life. But… in the show pen, she keeps getting better. This weekend, we did something that neither of us have ever done… turned a PLUS ONE circle. Amazingly, I didn’t lose my balance or my count, and we got things shut off right, too. If Spot were a dressage horse–not a reiner–folks would say she’s just coming into her prime. In reining, however, most horses at age 10 are looking for other careers. Spot is pregnant right now and will have to pack it in, but I will so look forward to showing her again… and for having a great partner for many years to come!

New filly, out of NRHA Top Ten mare Rock N Roll Olena by NRHA World Champion Peptos I Brow. she is adorable! Born yesterday, in fact.

And this cute ‘mother/daughter’ picture is NRHA Open Reserve Champion and Intermediate Open Reserve Champion Gunners Destiny’s daughter (by Self Shine) sold 3 days after birth to a great reining home.

Of course, it’s always hard to focus on just one generation…. very happy with how Little Ralph (or Hickory, as Jesse calls him) is progressing as a just-about-ready-to show 3 YO.

See video

Rough year for the horse industry, and lots of decisions/changes activity. I’ve been fortunate: sold the most recent filly out of Gunners Destiny within 2 days of her birth. Went to a great reining home! Very excited for the future of this pretty baby by Self Shine. White Goldpine produced another outstanding colt by Brennas Red Pine Jac. Here’s a photo of his yearling brother. One of the few (or perhaps the only!) palomino offspring of this up-and-coming stallion.

Waiting for one baby–Rock N Roll Olena/Peptos I Brow–that I own and another that I own in partnership, Fancy Smoke/Brennas Red Pine Jac.

The BRPJs haven’t done much so far, but I think that will  change. They are very, very nice horses. The first of the Peptos are now 3–there are only a couple of them, but the one that’s in the barn is a real athlete and very pretty. Hoping that she makes a splash in her debut!

Little Bingo looks like he may recover completely from EPM. He’s now a big strong 2 year old. I remain hopeful!

He’s a lovely colt out of the great mare Wild Sister (almost $50K in earnings) and by Heza Smart Chic. Started just 2 weeks ago, and is the quietest imaginable. Looks like he’ll be a nice one! Big, strong, pretty, talented. There are 3 other horses from this cross, and all did well showing, 2 in the futurities and 1 is a very nice youth horse. Hard to ask for more promise!ovely colt

The 3 year olds are getting ready to show–in fact Ralph (or Hickory as Jesse calls him) has actually been to the show pen. He did a little jackpot show recently, loped through the pattern (with almost no warm up because of timing), marked a 69.5 and won the class! Why be surprised? His mom, Les Louise, has produced NRHA  Futurity finalists and his dad is the legendary Zan Freckles Hickory.

What a change  from some years I’ve experienced! The weanlings are starting to grow up, and look like horses, and little George (a yearling, age 2) is growing into himself and looking great.

Elans Playboy/RockNRoll Olena

Bingo (Caravaggio), who contracted EPM, is looking like he’ll make a full recovery. I’m thrilled!

by Nu Chex to Cash, out of a One Gun mare, the "magic cross"

I need to update the videos from last fall for these 2007 horses:

2 year old Dot (Rock N Roll Playgirl) and Ru (Black Label Chex) looked cool today. They’re just learning the basics of maneuvers, setting the stage for long and successful careers.

The absolutely gorgeous filly RockNRoll RedPine is heading to a new home… just down the road from where she lives now. She was purchased by the owners of her sire, Brennas Red Pine Jac. Seems that Tommy Milnes and his assistant Matt Findlay were at the farm getting hair cuts (Linda has a beauty salon right in the house, which is great because there’s usually someone there to keep an eye on the horses), and, well, there’s nothing not to like about this  filly. I think they made a s mart move. I’d love to have been able to keep her but I’m sure they’ll do right by her.

From left, Yearling filly; weanling colt; yearling colt

trip to see the babies and yearlings. Happy! Left, weanling colt out of Rock N Roll Olena by Peptos I Brow; Left, weanling filly by Hickory Chic Olena and out of Fancy Smoke

Taking a look at equine news,  and finding some helpful tidbits.

This from the AAEP concerning prepurchase exam recommendations

And this update concerning travel restrictions for horses