Redheart Mares – Sex Scanned…

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So last weekend, our repro vet Mark Georgetti gave us his time, his patience and his expertise by sex scanning our three mares at around 60 days. We would like two fillies to continue our breeding programme with the semen stored from Hevans EV Catorrius (Reus). The only mares unrelated to him are Princesse Pascale and Caricks Redheart. You cannot breed two non-characteristic Appaloosas’s, (maybe one day the rule will change) therefore our fillies need to be heterozygous or homozygous.

We have inseminated all our mares with fresh semen from DFR

Left to right, Princesse Pascale carrying a filly, Peyres Catori Cat carrying a colt and Caricks Redheart also carrying a colt.

PP – Filly

 

Catori – Colt

Myka – Colt

The 60-day ultrasound identified our mares are carrying single live fetuses. Mark was very patient to find the view required and eventually the genital tubercle was located.

We are grateful our mares are in foal and the foetuses are “single” and “alive”, we pray the gestation and births follow suit!

Peyres Catori Cat, who is Reus’ dam is carrying a colt and Caricks Redheart is also carrying a colt.

Princess Pascale is carrying the next future Redheart filly, how ecstatic are we?

We await Redheart Pascalius’s (Reu’s half-sister) sex scan at the end of the month, our GAP 6 foal is definitely a filly or a colt though!!!!

At 61 days gestation, our last mare Redheart Pascalius (Evee) has been sexed scanned.

The live scan definitely showed a filly but the picture I took looks like a colt, so time will tell.

Redheart’s first GAP 6 foal (six generation of Appaloosa x Appaloosa breeding).

The genital tubercle (which eventually will become the penis in a colt and the clitoris in a filly) develops on the midline of the fetuses, between the hind legs. The structure moves towards the umbilicus in a colt and toward the anus in a filly.

I wonder when DFR Patahas Redheart (Blu) was watching over his herd as a yearling did he think one day they will all be carrying his babies?

Where there is H.O.P.E….

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DFR Patahas Redheart (Blu) first breeding season, covering mares and being collected from on the dummy mare took its toll. After all the excitement Blu’s condition dropped, we anticipated the inevitable and a month before the breeding season increased his daily feed.

After the mares were confirmed in foal, Blu’s stud duties were officially over and it was time for a light introduction back within the ring, we think he’s looking rather well!

The Horse Owners & Ponies Exhibitors (HOPE) Malvern Festival at Three Counties Showground.

One late afternoon class at our doorstep!

He doesn’t need credit for winning the young stock award and overall British Appaloosa Society Champion because there was no competition, but what he does require recognition for was his amazing attitude at his first show in 2018.

He stood impeccably well tied to the lorry in the shade on a very hot day, he was not bothered by the many lorries and horses that passed him and he stood calmly in the collecting ring with no stallion traits observed surrounded by horses and ponies being warmed up.

 

Very impressive…

The UK’s First GAP 6 Foal is Created – History in the making!

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April 21st,2013, Redheart Pascalius (aka Evee) was born, from this day her destiny was planned, to be proven in the ring and then to join our broodmares. Over the past five years, we have witnessed the amazing colour and pattern change as she’s matured and today we announce she is confirmed in foal to our stallion DFR Patahas Redheart (aka Blu).

Evee 2013

The BREEDING

Evee 2014

Evee and Blu are on the American “A” register with the Appaloosa Horse Club UK.

The foal will be “A” register

Both horses are registered with the British Appaloosa Society, Evee GRADE A and Blu GRADE B.

The foal will be registered as GRADE A

 

Evee 2015

Evee is 100% Foundation Pedigree Designation (FPD), 5 generations of pure Appaloosa x Appaloosa blood lines, Blu is also 100% FPD, therefore the foal will be 100% FPD. Because you cannot get higher than 100%, the Appaloosa Horse Club introduced the Generation Advancement Programme (GAP) which allows the foal of two 100% FPD parents to enter the first level, GAP 5. Evee and Blu are both GAP 5, therefore this foal will be the UK’s first GAP 6.

 

Evee 2016

Evee is not eligible (75% required) with the Foundation Appaloosa Horse Register, she is

72.0215% but Blu is registered at 92.9687%.

The resulting foal will be registered, with foundation lines traced back to the first 8 Stud Books of the ApHC at 82.4951%.

The GENETICS

Evee is genetically black (EE aa) and Blu is (EE aa) so the resulting foal will be definitely (EE aa). Blu carries the cream gene, so there is a 50% chance of a smokey black foal.

Evee has one copy of the Leopard Complex gene, LP/lp and Blu is LP/LP. The resulting foal will definitely inherit Appaloosa Characteristics from the LP gene with the result being 50% heterozygous (LP/lp) or (LP/LP) homozygous.

Evee 2017

Evee didn’t inherit the PATTN1 gene (patn1/patn1) and Blu has two copies (PATN1/PATN1), therefore the foal will 100% inherit one copy from Blu and be PATN1/patn1.

Both horses are negative for the 5-panel test and grey gene, by default the foal will also be negative by parentage.

The PERFORMANCE

Evee and Blu have excelled in the ring, both have won at County and National level. Between them, they have won Championships and Register of Merit (ROM) certificates with ApHC, Highest Grade Awards with BApS and Performance Awards with ApHC UK.

Evee 2018

X

Blu

History in the making, one reason why we breed forward!

Always Welcome Constructive Feedback…

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Our second ridden competition at Merrist Wood, Surry under the Appaloosa Horse Club UK (ApHC UK)

We have supported the ApHC UK Spring shows for many years with all our in-hand young stock and this year we competed under saddle.

We arrived when the Western classes started at noon,  warming Reus up around many other horses was something new to us, Reus is not used to horses being ridden around him and we have a few hurdles to overcome but this is where we start.

We entered the ring for the Walk/Jog Pleasure class with a very positive attitude, Reus warmed up beautifully with his presence acknowledged, achieving an honorable 3rd out of seven.

Our second class Novice Rider, I allowed Reus to drop his head too much, this obviously was immediately picked up by the Judge who explained my placing. Here is a picture of Reus, not carrying himself.

Taking the constructive feedback, I put it to good use in our third class, the Judge praised our efforts, the improvement recognition rewarded with third place.

 

Although we had practiced our last two classes at home with patterns, I felt it was too much to ask Reus at his first Western event. It was very late and we had a long drive ahead so I decided to leave the day on a positive note. We have plenty of time ahead of us, we are still learning and developing a relationship in our new venture under saddle.

We really enjoyed our first Western event, such lovely competitors with highly trained horses, who were a pleasure to watch.

We always appreciate constructive feedback, whether it’s positive or negative we listen, learn and aim to improve.

Redheart Appaloosa Under Saddle…

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United Saddlebred Association’s May Festival 2018

European Championship Show for American Saddlebreds & Foreign Breeds Festival at Moreton Morrell College, Warwickshire.

Under the training of Bruce Lawrence at Valley View Ranch and Equestrian Centre Reus and I have really enjoyed our Saturday group lessons, we have progressed somewhat and in reality what we achieve in a lesson is the same as what’s expected in the ring. Although we haven’t been riding Western long, we can walk, jog, stand, back and we are working on side passes and lope.

Last week I submitted entries for the May Festival, I have felt quite anxious all week but also really excited to ride my first-born under saddle at his first competition.

The May Festival is always an excellent show, very well organised with very warm and friendly competitors. It offers a huge choice of classes, always something for everyone.

Reu’s first class was “Any breed Restricted Walk/Trot”, with three competitors it gave us plenty of room to settle in the ring, look in the mirrors and pass the banners. This class was for horses and riders competing for the first time under saddle, we can never enter this class again because he won!

His second class was “Any Breed Open Walk/Trot” awarded second place, very pleased with his performance and his “reverse” felt wonderful and balanced.

 Reserve Champion from these two classes.

Our third class was the “Foreign Breeds Open Walt/Trot”, a strong class with the beautiful Saddlebreds taking first and second and Reus third.

Our last class “Intermediate Canter Class”, we entered this because we thought it would be a huge advantage to ask Reus to lope under these conditions, I did not expect his transition to being so smooth, straight and relaxed. From strong competition, he won!

                                                          

Our first competition under saddle was truly an amazing experience….

Photos by Simon Coates Photography

Artificial Insemination & Semen Collection @ Redheart Appaloosa Stud

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Our ten-year plan is now well underway, we have imported new Appaloosa blood into the UK, we have shown in-hand all our “foundation” breeding stock and strongly believe our stock have earned their merits to breed, now we begin competing under saddle.

We have tested all the stock’s genes to clarify breeding forward with clear genetics. By definition, breeding negative mares to negative stallions can only result in negative foals. HERDA – Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia, GBED – Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency, HYPP – Equine Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis Disease and MH – Malignant Hyperthermia and of course the two most important here in the UK as Appaloosa registration default, the Grey gene, and PSSM1 – Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy.

For our own interest, we have tested the “foundation” stock for their colour and Appaloosa genetic makeup. It’s good to know what percentage of chance you have for specific color and coat patterns. One definite result we will never know is the gender, although saying that, our 2016 sex scans were correct.

The British Appaloosa Society (BApS) and the Appaloosa Horse Club UK (ApHC UK) have very strict guidelines for breeding registered purebred Appaloosas. We make sure our paperwork is fault free with DNA on file, genetic tests, stallion licensing and of course pedigree percentages. Redheart Appaloosa Stud pride themselves on not only ensuring completed registration certificates but the highest of the grades possible from each mating, being 100% Foundation Pedigree Designation (FPD), Generation Advancement Programme (GAP 5 or GAP 6) with Appaloosa Horse Club and GRADE A or STUD BOOK with the British Appaloosa Society. Our horses are overstamped with the Sports Horse Society and all foals are eligible.

We treat our mares like “princesses”, they are very important and are not breeding machines. We believe in quality, not quantity. The current supply of “Appaloosa’s” is high and the demand is low and if you’re looking for a spotty horse, then the market is plentiful, it is only through education will people understand the history of a Purebred Appaloosa, albeit BApS or ApHC UK registered.  The current market offers some wonderful spotty horses, but beware and ask the right questions, not every spotty horse is an Appaloosa. The realisation that the purebred Appaloosa is a rare breed in the UK with less than twelve 100% FPD horses, less than six GAP 5 horses, not one GAP 6 and there are less than ten British Appaloosa Society Stud Book registered horses. (These figures might have increased to date).

We treasure our stallion, DFR Patahas Redheart, his age is a huge advantage to the longevity of the stud and his colour test confirmed homozygous black with a cream gene and homozygous PATN1 with foundation lines traced back to the first 8 Stud Books of the ApHC at 92.9687%. We know we have something quite unique, a very rare find in the Appaloosa world and one of a kind here in the UK.

Many studs and stallion owners allow their stallion to run with mares, some cover in hand and it works perfectly fine. On the other hand, some owners have seen and experienced detrimental damage to their stallions and mares under these conditions. Trying to limit the damage of such accidents we have stored frozen semen from our stallion Reus before castrating him, allowing him to have a rich life among his relations. Planning ahead with our stallion Blu, we have established a small AI unit, consisting of stocks, a basic lab, and a dummy mare. Certified by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as a UK AI technician I have the certificate of competence in AI of equines.

We are delighted to announce Princess Pascale, Caricks Redheart and Peyres Catori Cat are scanned in foal, due early April 2019.

We await Redheart Pascalius to come into season, looks like we will be busy next year!.

 

Redheart Yearling Wins Royal Windsor 2018

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Let the show season begin…

Well not quite, our plans to spend the season with Redheart Regal certainly stopped a month ago when she gave birth to Ru. Our three-year-old stallion should be having his last year in-hand in the ring but is now otherwise occupied with the breeding season, more about that next week. So, although we will be concentrating on competing Reus under saddle, who will attend the next in-hand event? The first horse to the gate I guess!

For those that follow us, you will know we adore the County shows, a perfect opportunity for a family day out and this year our first event was Royal Windsor. The lucky horse chosen to come with us this year was our yearling Redheart Reality aka Tally.

Such a huge event for any horse never mind a yearling, Tally took the day in his stride, he gave an amazing performance in the ring taking the first place in the young stock class and then Reserve Champion to Megan Share and her gorgeous horse Desired Edition.

Redheart Reality

Redheart Reality

Redheart Reality

A fabulous day for us and an outstanding start to Tally’s future, whatever that might be?

He is for sale, please see his page HERE and contact us if he meets ALL of your requirements.

 

Redheart Rumours to Redheart RU Chubarry – Appaloosa Ru – SOLD

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We are delighted to announce our 2018 purebred bay (Ee Aa) buckskin few spot filly Ru has found herself a 5* home here in the UK. After weaning she will head off to Chubarry Appaloosa Stud in Hertfordshire. www.chubarryappaloosas.co.uk.

Here, Ru will undertake her new registered name “Redheart RU Chubarry” under the ownership of Wendy Fitzgerald. Ru will commence her show career and eventually join the broodmares, awaiting the mating season with the resident stallion, Chubarry Charlie.

This breeding will be a superb addition to the Appaloosa world, combining excellent conformation, wonderful natured horses with proven show records and unique bloodline here in the UK.
The icing on the cake for Chubayy Appaloosas, their crossing of a bay (EE AA) non-characteristic (lp/lp) PATN1/PATN1 stallion with a homozygous mare (LP/LP) who carries PATN1 and the cream dilute gene will give the stud a superb opportunity to produce 50% bay or 50% bay buckskin characteristic foals 100% of the time.

We wish Ru, Charlie and Wendy all the very best of luck in their new and exciting venture and if anything should change we will have Ru back in a heartbeat! 💓

A picture by Sue Feast (one of the Directors of ApHC UK) Wendy and Charlie, winning one of their many Championship.

Welcome Redheart Rumours to the Stud…

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Friday 13th..

As expected, Redheart Regal’s (Blanc) udder and vulva proved correct in their progress. There is no way these are typical pictures of a mare that is close to foaling never mind 6 hours away! I guess you know your mare and the changes that occur and these developments were huge in comparison to the previous days. Notice that one tiny bead of wax on the right nipple!

 

Although Blanc didn’t have a “baby belly”, hiding the foal so well the inevitable happened!

At 2.45pm, watching her on the camera, linked to my mobile seeing her looking anxious, walking the box and lying down ‘belly watching’, it was time to get in the car!

From work, I drove home, I really do have the most understanding and supportive employers. Arriving at 3 pm the head and front feet were out and Blanc laid quietly resting, allowing the foal to receive a good blood supply via the umbilical cord, textbook delivery!

From here, I sat quietly, intensively watching as Blanc bonded with her foal, she is a maiden mare and was quite scared/confused by the event, although she did all the right things a mother does, there remained that bit of “not sure”. I read the situation and decided not to interfere until I knew Blanc was content for me to do so! Blanc had cleansed and the placenta was all intact. Within 45 minutes, the foaling had taken place, the mare had cleansed and the foal was up, trying to nurse.

You can view the bonding process and the foal eventually standing here.

It proved a big deal for Blanc to allow her foal to nurse, trying many different avenues myself and a vet failed to get the foal to latch on and not through lack of patience! Ensuring a good start, we collected the colostrum and stomach tubed the foal, the foal knew exactly what to do but Blanc was having none of it. Persevering, During Friday night and all day Saturday, I held Blanc every two hours to allow the foal to nurse and then as my alarm went off Sunday morning at 4 am I saw on the camera Blanc standing allowing the foal to nurse….such a relief, job done!

A stunning homozygous (LP/LP) buckskin FILLY! Redheart Rumours AKA Ru.

Redheart Regal x DFR Patahas Redheart 100% FPD