Headed to the Stallion Show!

As those of you who read my journal on a regular basis know, this is one of my favorite weekends of the year, the KWPN Stallion Show.  In the past 20 years, I think I've only missed two. Maybe three. Even better, Michaela goes with me now.  My dream vacation?  All four of us going to the Stallion Show together.  I would absolutely love that.  Of course, the last time Carol went with me, we weren't sitting in the VIP section, so we stood at the rail for HOURS watching horse, after horse, after horse, after horse...which is perfect for me, but Carol practiced casually taking off one shoe with the toes of her other foot, putting it back on, then doing the same thing with the other shoe.  Poor woman.  She loves our horses, but she can only take so much of other people's horses.  Now that we sit at table with a constant supply of tea, wine, beer, and snacks, the whole experience is a whole lot more user-friendly.  Keagan would be fine on all accounts.  One, he is willing to talk to anyone; two, there's an unlimited supply of free beer.  Actually, both Keagan and Carol have a super eye for quality horse flesh--they're just not as obsessed with the whole experience as Michaela and I are.

This year, I am unabashedly excited about seeing the first Totilas sons.  Our two Totilas fillies have given me almost three years of time to analyze what he brought to the equation; I can't wait to see what he produced on Annabel and the full sister of Parzivel.  I'm also excited to see the Bon Bravours.  I think he's going to be a really good horse to have in a pedigree.  Plus, there's an Alexandro P in the second ring for the Gelders horses. And, of course, there are something like six Jazz sons in the mix.  It's pretty incredible to have a 22-year-old stallion still producing top foals, mares, and stallion candidates.  Not that Jazz sons do our program that much good, since all but three of our mares are either by Jazz or have him as a dam's sire...

Of course, even better than the horses (almost) is catching up with friends and fellow breeders.  Michaela says we're staying for the dance party this year.  We're sharing our table with Loucky Hagens and the Jansen family.  Margret Peters has already arranged a meeting place and time for some whiskey celebration of the Gelders horses.  It should be a fun time!

So, early next week, look for my annual report.  It may take me a few days to get all of my observations put together, but I am planning on posting.  If you need some fun reading material in the mean time, check out my new blog, Project Shadbelly.  I'm chronicling Princess and my journey to FEI.