Monday, August 26, 2013

The Next Level

So I have exciting news and not so exciting news...

The not so exciting news is that Miss Beretta...

Is still having problems with that hind leg of hers. The one where she fractured the sesmoid as a foal and the tendon migrated. Yeaaaa! I was hoping for a better end result. After all, I asked my mom about it numerous times over this last year and she just kept telling me that Beretta was sound.

However, my mom's story is now changing. When I started talking about bringing Beretta back to Colorado and getting her going under saddle and then starting her on barrels next year...Mom started telling me the truth. It would seem that Beretta is 'sound', but any impact on that leg and she hikes it. That is not sound and she most definitely won't be becoming a performance horse. But I will still be starting her under saddle and riding her until she is decently broke and had some exposer to the outside world. In Beretta's case, I think it is important that I ride her at least some to get a feel for what she is/could have been. After all, I missed a generation there as Beretta's dam was not broke to ride...and I need to get a feel for what this bloodlines strengths and weaknesses are again.

I'm more than a little disappointed though. I love how Beretta moves...She uses her hindquarter exceptionally well and is a very up-right turning little mare....and she is fast...Really fast!! I really thought with careful care and giving her time that she might have a better prognosis after she matured. I was really looking forward to seeing what she could do and then breed her on down the road.

It looks like Beretta's 'momma' days are going to start a little sooner than anticipated. Luckily, I had already picked out a stallion to breed her too when the time came. Now, instead of a few years down the road, it will happen next spring.

Isn't he a handsome devil?....

His name is Firewater Fooler and he is owned by the Arizona friend who came and stayed with me while she hit some of the Colorado rodeos...

He's a son of Firewater Flit and out of a Jet Smooth/Sugar Bars/Flying Bob-bred mare. That aught to cross nicely with Beretta's Oklahoma Star/Lady Bug's Moon/Leo bloodlines.



He's a winning barrel horse...

And yet is as docile and laid-back as they come, even at competition time. I'm just in love with his personality and temperament. His owner says the 3y/o by him that she owns is just as easy going as his daddy and is showing a great deal of aptitude for barrel racing already, not that she is pushing him, mind you...but you can just tell when things come easy for some horses and that is the whole point.


Of course, the funny thing is...I have never really been a'gray horse' fan....and here I bought a mare bred to a gray stallion and am going to be breeding to a gray stallion next spring. LOL...Kind of ironic...but oh well...Color is the absolute least of my worries when it comes to what I want in a horse. I will say this though...this stallion has the most beautiful silver sheen to him. He glitters. Beretta's sire had the same glitter factor, so instead of hoping for a particular color or sex out of this baby...I'm hoping it 'sparkles'....LOL.

I have to keep pinching myself though. It's hard to believe all of the good fortune that has come my way recently. It just really feels like I am finally taking what I want to produce in terms of horse power to the next level. It is so exciting!!!

I may not have won much in terms of $$ on the rodeo trail this year, but the friends I have made and the  insight into what people are riding (and winning on) and how they work has been priceless. The most wonderful thing about it is, my non-horsie husband...although he still has no interest in riding...is getting into the excitement of it all. That makes it even more fun. :-D.

14 comments:

Vaquerogirl said...

Bec- it looks like this Stallion has green eyes- if so, that along with the silver sheen probably makes him a perlino. Very rare! AQHA has done some color studies on that gene- you should check it out. They can do DNA testing of the stallion to be sure. Just like the song- "Tennessee Stud"
Tennessee Stud was long and lean
The color of the sun
And his eyes were green...
:)
Kewl!

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

VG-Good eye! He is actually a cream carrier. I don't remember noting anything different about his eyes. Maybe a little more hazel than normal, but not green.

But damn..Now that song is stuck in my head. LUV that song!! ;-)

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Awesome! well about t hat handsome sire, too bad about Beretta but glad you have a plan going forward. I giggled a little about the grey thing You see I am not actually a huge fan of Palominos (and look where that got me! LOL)
You are like me and many in the "a good horse is never a bad color " thinking

Shirley said...

That is one gorgeous stallion- if he carries the cream gene you could get a buckskin from Baretta...
Wonderful that your husband is taking an interest now.

kestrel said...

I obviously love me a grey horse, and that grey is BUILT underneath that metal sheen. The mitochondrial influence often gets ignored in today's breeding programs. I don't care how good a stud is, he cannot outdo the mare's genes. I'm so happy for ya girl!!!!

Louisa Valentina; said...

So much excitement & so many pretty stallions and mamas in your last few posts - can't wait to see what you 'produce', here's hoping for some shimmer and glitter!

Anonymous said...

He is a pretty, pretty boy with a lovely soft eye. And a nose that is just perfect for smooching!

And Kestrel is right, he is built well. Love how his neck sits and that hip looks like it just delivers the power.

cdncowgirl said...

You'll have vampire horses!! Well, at least in the Twilight universe lmao

Seriously though, wow what an awesome looking horse. AND a good temperment? Nice!!
Not a huge grey fan either btw, but colour is the last thing to consider right? Hmmm... how would he cross on an OTMR granddaughter? ;)

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

I dunno, so I had to look. Looks like it's a pretty decent cross. Here's one;

http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-388783

And another;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KoQSCyUK7A

And another;

http://pineywoodsrunningcolors.webs.com/redlightgreenlight.htm

I will say, this last one looks really downhill...But look at his front feet. Long toe and no heel. I'd say he has been pushed into that extreme downhill position due to some really shoddy footwork throughout his life. Other than that, he is pretty darned gorgeous. :-)

Equestrian Trend said...

Pretty :)

equestriantrend.blogspot.com

Laura said...

Too bad about Beretta's injury - what a shame...but on the other hand - baby pics next year! yeah!

That stud does look handsome - looks, performance and a good temperament? Seems sorta rare these days...

Winning rodeos and races would be nice, but meeting great new friends and making connections is great too. I've found that with my intro to showing this year - I've met some neat people and learned a ton of stuff.

Laura said...

And LOL to CdnCowgirls comment - I was totally thinking about glittery vampires too! ;-)

Tammy Vasa said...

What a BEAUTIFUL mare! Congrats.

I read this blog the other day and the next day I was perusing the local classifieds on Facebook and saw a horse that looked remarkably like this one. I was surprised to find it was an own son of Frenchmans Guy. His name was UX Aught Six and had a nice price tag of $15k!

Sounds like you did really good!

Madeline C. said...

Can't wait to see pictures of those babies! They're both gorgeous.