Sunday, January 19, 2014

The State of SSF and Future Sales

What a nice weekend.  I didn't get a chance to pick up mail this week until Saturday morning, and, much to my delight, the most recent edition of the KWPN-NA Newsletter was waiting for me.   Our breeding program has had a lot of success over the last 20 years (knock on wood), but it never gets old to open a magazine and read such positive comments about SSF horses. We are positioned to be breeding better and better horses.  Our mareband is the strongest it has ever been, and, with the maturation of some of our best-bred fillies, we're looking forward to a really exciting next few years of foals.

On top of this, I'm finding more and more satisfaction and personal fulfillment from riding, especially since I'm riding an SSF-bred horse.  Over the next couple of years, I have two more "saved" horses entering the riding regimen.  It's, indeed, a dream come true.  Today, Princess (ZaVita SSF) and I had one of our most relaxed, through sessions we've ever had.  Thanks to Melinda Johnson for being on the ground and slowing down my brain and intensity level.

I'm also working on developing a slightly different business plan for SSF.  My current five-year plan is to continue building our mare base so that we're producing at least a dozen foals per year.  Since our marebase is the strongest it's ever been, I'm also planning on producing a series of stallion prospects in the next five years.  Additionally, I want to increase our sales over the next few years, but I want to  do it in a specific way.  Some of my most rewarding experiences in producing the quality horses we produce is to get them in the hands of really deserving people.  As part of my refocusing of our program, I want our foal to go to talented people who need a little help in acquiring top horses.  Recently, we just made a partial-ownership deal with a super talented young rider to help her and to promote one of our most talented mares.  Repeatedly, we've sold horses on terms so the right horse got with the right owner.  I'd like to make this the norm for our sales.  I want to sell our babies as low as $250/month to people who have a dream of owning and competing a super talented dressage horse.  Currently, we have a UB-40 x Sir Sinclair weanling/yearling available.  He's a super mover and really sweet.  Next year, we'll potentially have four foals available for this option.  The following year, we'll have, perhaps, six or seven foals available.  If you or someone you know wants to raise your own top dressage prospect, I want you to think of our program and what we're willing to do to help you. Our logo is, and always has been, "the place where dreams come true."  As sappy as that may seem, it's the way I want to do business.

Of course, I haven't updated the website in ages, so none of this is reflected anywhere but here; hopefully, since I've taken some significant steps in downshifting my outside committments, over the next few months, I'll get our website reorganized and more reflective of our SSF present and future.


Friday, January 3, 2014

Happy New Year!

Not only is it the new year, but, also, I'm on my second snow day in a row!!!  School was supposed to start on Thursday; however, thanks to the convergence of two storm systems, New England has been beset with a major snow event.  On top of this, tonight, we're supposed to have record lows...-20F...before the windchill factor.  Holy crap.

So, New Year's resolutions?  Nope.  Not really.  During the last few months of 2013, I began to take some actions to refocus my life a bit.  One, I'm about to write and direct my last production for Keene High School; two, my last column in Warmbloods Today just hit the newsstands; three, in spite of the cold, the rain, my schedule, my moods, etc, I ride four to five days per week.

Speaking of riding, it's going well.  Princess and I are definitely in a transition phase.  We've been basically on our own since leaving Jane's in the middle of August.  I've had a couple really good lessons with Zaz Putnam and some important feedback from Melinda Johnson, but, otherwise, it's been just Princess and me.  As much as I was almost afraid to leave the constant instruction and guidance of Jane, I see now that it was an important step for me as a rider to really have to figure out some things on my own.  I think both Princess and I are better for it, and I'm really looking forward to more and more progress.  It's slow, but that's how it probably should be.  Denny Emerson's posts on Facebook really motivate me to just take it slow and put in the day-to-day small efforts necessary to get all the pieces in place for success.

Speaking of Princess, yes, I am going to try an ET from her.  I know that after all of our unsuccessful attempts I've sworn never to try again, but I love this mare.  There's no way she's coming out of work to have a baby at this point in time, so there's no other option.  Of course, making the right choice for her is now my primary focus in life!  Those of you who obsess over breeding picks as much as I do certainly understand this.  Michaela and I are both on the task.  At the top of our list right now are Floriscount and Bordeaux--but, since this baby is a keeper, much as Princess was destined to be a keeper (Carol gave me the breeding to Contango for Father's Day, with the stipulation I keep the resulting foal for my own riding horse...guess it worked out!), I'm really tempted to go with one of the two stallions that make my heart go pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.  One of these is Totilas.  Since we're already risking the ET procedure, I can't justify spending the money on a dose of him, however.  The other is Lyjanero.  Few horses have had the immediate effect on me that he did when I walked into his stall at Gestut Sprehe.  As corny as it sounds, his energy just clicked with my energy, and it was love at first sight.  We have two Lyjanero fillies, both really special.  I'd really like a colt.  As a little reminder of who he is, here's my favorite clip:  http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PPLu6WryJa8

Big news I discovered yesterday:  Special D is going to be at stud in South Carolina for the 2014 season!  $1200 stud fee, fresh cooled semen.  He might be just the ticket for Eliscia (UB-40 x Pass the Glass xx).  I've watched Special D for years in Holland.  Some of his offspring are top-notch movers and nice types--really top dressage horse prospects.  Unfortunately, some of his offspring look like Friesians, complete with the fetlock feathers. He has to be crossed with a more modern type mare, unless you want to breed a Gelders horse, which is also a legitimate option.  Nonetheless, I'm psyched that his owner has decided to stand him to North American breeders.  We need him as an option.

Well, time to get out into the snow and feed the ponies!  I wish you all the happiest and healthiest of New Years.