2016 Foals for Sale: Updated 3/18/16

A Place Where Dreams Come True

Keno SSF

(Governor x ZaVita SSF x Contango)

Here he is!  The top dressage foal in North America for the 2015 keuring tour!  Congratulations to Andria and Mike Allen--they had placed a first option on this breeding a few months before he was born, and are now the excited owners of the top foal in the country.

Other than the two we're keeping, all of our 2015 foals are sold.

2016 Breedings

Shooting Star Farm is a dream come true for my family and me, and we strive to be "a place where dreams come true" for others. Our goal is to help people who want a top quality KWPN dressage horse for sport or breeding get the horse of their dreams. We offer generous, no-interest payment plans, so anyone who recognizes the quality of our horses can afford to buy one. The base price for most of our foals is $15,000.  We offer discounts to FEI riders and repeat customers and friends.  If you're seriously interested in a foal from a particular breeding, contact us and we'll give you first option on that foal.  No deposit is necessary.  Once the foal is born, we'll get pictures and some short video to you, and you have until the foal is two weeks old to make your final decision.

Mares in order of age: (for detailed information about our mares, please see the Mares' Page)

LaVita keur preferent (Elcaro x Belisar)  In foal to Florianus II (Florestan I x Damenstolz)

LaVita has spent the last few years with Sean and Melissa Hardy, in Vernon, VT, where she produced a two top mares for their new breeding program.  She has come home to SSF to retire.  Of course, I couldn't resist trying to breed her one more time.  She will be 23 when she delivers this foal. Over the years, LaVita has been a fantastic producer for us.  She's the grandmother of Keno, the top foal in North America this year.  Local people also know her as the mother of Alisa Dearden's Rocco SSF and Melinda Johnson's Udo SSF. 

Under Karin Rehbein, Florianus II was the most successful Grand Prix horse in Germany for a period of time.  We've had two Flori foals at SSF so far--both Carol and I are really impressed by the strong conformation, athleticism, and tractability of his offspring. 

Mistral ster (Vincent x El Corona)  Hopefully, in foal to Governor (Totilas x Jazz)

We lost Mistral this winter.  She had lost her pregnancy to Governor prior, but still a sad situation.

Nemels elite (Samber x Rechter) In foal to Governor (Totilas x Jazz)

We've come to really adore Nemels, and I love the strength of her mare line for producing sport horses.  We're also thrilled with her Governor colt from this year.  Unfortunately, she lost this pregnancy.

Orchis keur preferent and almost prestatie!!! (Jazz x Roemer) In foal to an experimental stallion.

This foal is not for sale...unless our stallion-prospect-out-of-Orchis luck holds and we get another cryptorchid!

Werites SSF sport (Freestyle x Orchis x Jazz) In foal to Sir Sinclair (Lord Sinclair x Flemmingh)

Werites has now produced three exceptional UB-40 babies for us.  She consistently produces athletic, talented, and very pretty foals. Her oldest son was started under saddle this year, and all reports are that he's incredibly smart, super trainable, and super talented.  This year's foal was reserved and purchased by Connie and Jackie Cartesio.

We haven't bred much to Sir Sinclair.  Given the facts that he is one of the leading producer of FEI horses in North America, he has a number of FEI horses beginning to compete in Europe, our best moving mare is by him, and our one Sir Sinclair breeding resulted in a horse who went on to win the Reserve Champion title at Dressage at Devon and is now about to come out at PSG, I decided it was time to make up for lost time and breed a couple mares to Sir. 

BoWendy (Sir Sinclair x Jazz x Ulft) In foal to UB-40

It's hard to top the kind of movement BoWendy produces.  We've had four full brothers out of this cross, and each one has blown us away--the most famous of which is Godot SSF, the high score mover in North America last year.  This year's foal was reserved and purchased by Grand Prix rider Eiren Crawford.

There is a potential first option already placed on this breeding.  If someone else is also interested, contact me, and I'll confirm. We will most likely keep this foal if it is a filly.

Carpe Diem SSF keur eligible (Farrington x LaLiscia xx  x Pass the Glass xx) 

                                                   In foal to Connaisseur (Con Amore x Donnerhall)

We're delighted to have Carpe back at SSF to begin her breeding career.  Thanks so much to Sue Wildman for the opportunity.  Carpe suffered a neck injury and can no longer be ridden, so let the babies begin!

We get a number of requests for Donnerhall blood from our clients.  As much as I love Donnerhall blood and would love to use his sons and grandsons in our program, it's difficult to access via fresh cooled semen from a KWPN-approved stallion.  Connaisseur offers us this chance.  I think he needs a bigger, more powerful mare, so matching him with Carpe is perfect.  She's 17 hands and a power house.  This should be a really top sport or breeding prospect.

This foal is already spoken for.

D'Orites SSF keur (Donatelli x Orchis x Jazz) In foal to Sir Sinclair (Lord Sinclair x Flemmingh)

Dior has quite a fan base.  Her first foal was a designer foal for Clark and Richard Moss.  Her second foal sold in 15 minutes on Facebook.  Her third foal was reserved and purchased by Rhodes Farm as an addition to their breeding program.  We would really like to keep a Donatelli grandfilly for our program, but, since Dior is young and we have some older mares from whom we need to keep fillies, at this time, this breeding is available for 2016.  

Eliscia SSF keur eligible (UB-40 x LaLiscia xx x Pass the Glass xx) 

                                          In foal to Governor (Totilas x Jazz)

Lily is one of my favorite mares in our program.  She has the size, power, and elegance, combined with a strong dose of the best TB blood available, to produce top horses.  Her first foal was a first premium, super elegant, black colt by Florianus II.  From the Governor cross, I'm expecting a leggy, modern, super-moving foal.

First option taken on this foal.

Gazania keur (Bon Bravour x Santano) In foal to Florianus II (Florestan I x Damenstolz)

Gazania lost her pregnancy to Florianus...

Honorites SSF ster (Totilas x Orchis x Jazz) In foal to Florianus II (Florestan I x Damenstolz)

If you've been reading our blog, you know how devastated we are at the loss of Nora.  She can't be replaced.

Crazy Summer Recap!

I don't even know where to start...

I've spent the summer either with my arm up a mare's rectum or cooking for a happy multitude of visitors.  And, yes, I washed well in between!

Breeding Update, oldest to youngest:

LaVita (Elcaro x Belisar) is in foal to Florianus II.  She will be 23 when she foals.  Amazing.

Mistral (Vincent x El Corona) has had two cycles to UB-40 with no luck yet.  Will breed her this weekend with our experiment stallion.

Nemels (Samber x Lector) is back in foal to Governor.

Orchis (Jazz x Roemer), after a failed attempt to Apache, is in foal to our experiment stallion!!!  Fingers crossed, knocking on wood, praying to the breeding gods.

Werites SSF (Freestyle x Jazz) is in foal to Sir Sinclair.

ZaVita SSF (Contango x Elcaro) is not in foal.  Tried once with Apache, but no pregnancy.  She hasn't been cycling well.

BoWendy (Sir Sinclair x Jazz) is back in foal to UB-40 for the fifth time.  This one better be a filly!

Carpe Diem SSF (Farrington x Pass the Glass xx) is in foal to Connaisseur.

D'Orites SSF (Donatelli x Jazz) is in foal to Sir Sinclair, after a couple of failed attempts to Fairytale.

Eliscia SSF (UB-40 x Pass the Glass xx) is in foal to Governor.

Felicites SSF (Rousseau x Jazz) was bred to Florianus II, checked at the trainer's not in foal, but she's never come back into heat.  I don't know what's going on with her.

Gazania (Bon Bravour x Santano) didn't take with two perfect breedings to Bordeaux, so she's in foal to Florianus II.

Honorites SSF (Totilas x Jazz) is in foal to Florianus II.  This foal already has a first option reserved.

Hyacintia (Charmeur x Santano) is in foal to Chagall D and R.

We should have a busy foaling season in 2016!  Anyone want to sign up for foal watch now?  Happy to have you.

We had to abandon our Family Competition.  Out of the four planned breedings, mine is the only one that worked.  Carol's choice of UB for Nora ran into a bad collection day, so we ended up with Flori; Michaela's choice of Bordeaux for Gazania was a couple of thousand dollar bust; Keagan's pick of Apache for Orchis, then a switch to ZaVita, didn't work out for him, and was another couple of thousand dollar bust for us...HATE buying frozen without a LFG.  Didn't I swear last year that I wouldn't buy frozen without a LFG this year?  Stupid.  Just stupid.  When it works, it's great--like the Governor.  We've used four doses and gotten four pregnancies.  When it doesn't, all you have to show for it is an expanded credit card balance or a cashed check.  Really pisses me off.  At least I'm doing my own breeding work, so I don't have thousands of wasted vet bills on top of the lost money spent on the frozen.  I know, "bitch, bitch--moan, moan."  What are you going to do?

The issue remains that we just don't have enough options for KWPN dressage stallions standing in North America. Thank goodness there are a few that cross well on my mares. Not everyone is so lucky.

KWPN National Championships in Ermelo:

I had an absolute blast attending the KWPN Paardendagen in Holland last week.  Of course, it was extra special because our mare Hyacintia was invited to the National Mare Show.  There were over 40 mares invited, out of about 1200 mares entered into keurings throughout the summer.  These 40+ mares showed in four groups; Hyacintia was in the third.  In her preliminary round, she placed FIRST and was invited into the top 12 to show again in the final class later in the afternoon!!! It was a magic moment. I had goosebumps everywhere.  I'm not sure exactly what happened between the preliminary round, and I'm certainly not complaining--it was super exciting--but two of the mares she beat, the Davino VOD and the Quando-Quando granddaughter, placed first and third in the finals.  Oh, well.  At the end of the day, Hyacintia is the mare I wanted to take home...so it's a really good thing that she's already ours!  She's a really lovely mare.  We're going to leave her in Holland to produce the start of a breeding program for us there.  Eventually, she'll make her way stateside.

I have tons of observations about the foals, the mares, the riding, the PAVO Cup, etc., etc., but haven't had the time to put any of my thoughts into writing.  Will try to get to that.  If you have questions about specific horses, give me a shout.  I watched all of the babies and babies--and almost all of the riding tests.

Open House and Keuring:

As you can imagine, we're in the final stages of getting everything ready for August 29th.  It will be a busy week, but we're excited for everyone to see our horses.  The day starts at 8:00 sharp at Taramore Farm, in Keene. We move to SSF for lunch at around 12:30.  We end the day by showing babies, starting at 1:15.  The jury has to be in the rental car and headed to the airport by 2:45.  If you'd like a full schedule or directions, just shoot me an email.  Everyone's welcome.

Foaling Season is Complete!

The equine gods have been good to us this year (knock on wood).  We have eight healthy babies on the ground, and the biggest issue we had with foaling was a retained placenta.  Of course, rebreeding is going quite as smoothly, but I'll get to that later in the post. Overall, this may be our best foal crop to date.

Before I get going, if you haven't friended me on Facebook, please do.  I post pictures and videos of the babies and the farm frequently.  My journal posts are longer and more detailed, but the visuals end up on Facebook.

This year's foals:

Knockout SSF (Eye Catcher x Gazania x Bon Bravour)

Champ was born in early April, so, compared to the rest of the babies, he looks more like a yearling.  He's a dressage horse through and through.  He's supple, adjustable, and powerful.  Type-wise, I'm not convinced the jury is going to like him as much as I do, but we haven't offered him for sale because his pedigree is so interesting. If he can develop into the kind of dressage horse I expect, then he deserves a shot at keeping his testicles.  We'll see.

Kiarites SSF (Fairytale x D'Orites SSF x Donatelli)

Dior is producing super well for us.  This filly is a miniature, black version of her mother.  Jenn Tousignant is lucky to have had a filly option on this cross.  We would have been perfectly happy to keep this filly for our program.  As it is, Dior has been bred back to Fairytale, but it's a little early to check for the pregnancy.

Kanadian SSF (UB-40 x BoWendy x Sir Sinclair)

Sammy, Jr., is this year's cheekiest foal.  He is absolutely the spitting image of his full brother, Godot SSF--same star, same type, same movement.  He is much more independent at this age than his brother ever was, however.  Mr. Kanadian is more than happy to stand in the aisle supervising the movement of horses instead of following his mother.  He also thinks it's his job to chew off the halters of his friends.  He's a real character.  He's the perfect personality for his person, Eiren Crawford.

Karmites SSF (UB-40 x Werites SSF x Freestyle)

I'm in love with this filly.  She reminds me so much of her grandmother, Orchis.  Not only does she look like her, she's hot, typey, and loaded with powerful movement.  Again, this is a filly I'd prefer to be keeping for our program, but Jackie Cartesio has dibbs on her.  She's going to make a hell of a dressage horse.

Keno SSF (Governor x ZaVita SSF x Contango)

I loved the Totilas son, Governor, the moment I saw him, and we're certainly not disappointed that we took a chance on him during his first breeding year.  Keno is a GORGEOUS baby.  He's absolutely regal looking.  On top of that, he has the loveliest personality and movement.  We're waiting to hear if the person who had first option on this breeding has decided to take him or not.  As special as he is, I can't believe she won't, but you never know how circumstances can dictate people's decisions.  If he's available, I'll let you know.

Kalliope SSF (Heir to the Throne x Sweetwaters Little Sea Me x NFC Egyptian Kings Impulse)

Imagine my surprise when I found an adorable little pinto filly with our Mini mare, a full three weeks before she was due.  Did I know that Minis have a shorter gestation than regular horses?  That would be no.  At any rate, this filly is about the cutest thing you've ever seen.  I call her Spawn of Hell.  She is a holy terror!  She is completely unconcerned about her mother, she loves racing around so fast you can barely see her legs move, and she regularly jumps in and out of her paddock and teases Jules, the old Morgan mare who is her mother's neighbor.  Needless to say, Carol is in love with this little girl.

Kublai Khan SSF (UB-40 x Mistral x Vincent)

Once again, UB-40 blows us away.  When this colt was about a week old, Carol turned to me and said,

"This is your stallion.  We're not selling him."

I can't remember another time that she has verbalized either sentiment, stallion prospect or not selling a baby.  We love this boy.  Actually, depending on how things play out, this is a colt we'd be willing to send to Holland to go through the selection process.  It probably makes sense to keep him here until he's a two-year-old and can pass the radiographic requirements, but we'll see.  Kublia is a fancy boy.

Katmandu SSF (Governor x Nemels x Samber)

And...drum roll, please...our last foal of the year is a freaking fancy pinto Totilas grandson!  As I said on Facebook, I don't think there's a better bred pinto colt on the planet.  Even without being pinto, it would be hard to beat his pedigree.  On top of that, he's our leggiest foal of the year and the most flamboyant mover.  He's a big boy and not that old, so he's still unfolding and straightening out, but every time I look at him, I think that we might have just hit the equine lottery.  Who knows?  To quote John Sanzo for the umpteenth time, "Horses are born, and then spend the rest of their lives trying to kill themselves."  We'll just keep crossing our fingers and toes, knocking on wood, and hoping that he continues to develop as nicely as he has in the first ten days.


So, breeding back.  I'm a little bitter.  For one thing, we have three mares being bred that aren't on the farm, so I have significantly more vet bills than I'm used to during breeding season.  On top of that, on the four cycles that these three mares have been followed, we have only one pregnancy.  For the second thing, we've had three frozen breedings not work to date--that's over $3,000 down the reproductive drain.  I did those breedings, so I can't blame anyone but me, the semen, and the mares; nonetheless, it pisses me off.  Two doses of Bordeaux frozen, perfect timing both times, 6-hour post insemination flushes, young mare on her 30-day and subsequent heat.  Nothing.  I'm pretty sure we had an Apache embryo in Orchis, but she came back into heat, so she didn't think she was pregnant. Here's an update on the breeding status of our mares--if you're interested in any of the 2016 crosses, get your option in early:

Eliscia SSF (UB-40 x Pass the Glass) in foal to Governor for Scot's competition entry

Honorites SSF (Totilas x Jazz) in foal to Florianus II for Carol's competition entry

Hyacintia (Charmeur x Santano) in foal to Chagall D and R

Felicites SSF (Rousseau x Jazz) bred to Florianus II, not in foal, not back in heat

Gazania (Bon Bravour x Santano) bred to Florianus II, not checked yet,  for Michaela's competiton entry

LaVita (Elcaro x Belisar) bred to Florianus II, not checked yet

D'Orites SSF (Donatelli x Jazz) rebred to Fairytale, not checked yet

BoWendy (Sir Sinclair x Jazz) bred to Fairytale, not checked yet

Orchis (Jazz x Roemer) experimental breeding, not checked yet

ZaVita SSF (Contango x Elcaro) will be bred to Apache for Keagan's competition entry

Carpe Diem SSF (Farrington x Pass the Glass xx) will be bred to Connaisseur

Mistral (Vincent x El Corona) will be bred back to UB-40

Nemels (Samber x Lector) will be bred back to Governor

Summary:  three pregnant, five to check, one uncertain, and four still to start breeding.

Breeding and Foaling Updates

We now have four foals on the ground and the fifth is imminent!  

Knockout SSF (Eye Catcher x Bon Bravour) is a chestnut colt with an outrageous propensity for passage already.  I'm not convinced he's as modern a type as the KWPN selects, but we he's pretty close to Scot's ideal type:  muscular, supple, balanced, and charismatic.  He's a keeper.

Kiarites SSF (Fairytale x Donatelli) is a fancy black filly.  She's the first of two fillies born so far that we would have been happy to keep for our program, but, alas, that's not how it has played out.  This fancy little girl was prepurchased, so keeping her isn't an option. Our longtime friend, Jenn Tousignant is excited to add this filly to her program. We will, however, breed her mom right back to Fairytale.

Kanadian SSF (UB-40 x Sir Sinclair).  It's a tall order to be the fourth full brother in a line of super fancy colts, including Godot SSF, high score adult dressage horse in North America last year, but this colt more than holds his own.  Color and marking-wise, he looks just like Godot, light chestnut with a big white star--type and movement-wise, he's even fancier.  If this colt hadn't been prepurchased, I would have put a price tag of $25,000 or $30,000 on him.  He's that nice.  As it is, I'm equally as happy that he's going to Grand Prix rider, Eiren Crawford.

Karmites (UB-40 x Freestyle) makes three chestnuts out of four foals born so far.  Karma is a super pretty filly who looks so much like her grandmother, Orchis.  I was really excited because the prepurchase on this breeding was for a colt, so I thought this little Orchis clone was going to be added to our broodmare band...not the case.  Connie Cartesio is buying this filly as a future dressage partner for Jackie Cartesio.  She's going to be a super star.

All and all, we're amassing an impressive foal collection so far this year (knock on wood)--four more to go! The next two foals are also pre sold if I decide to sell them.  There's a colt option on the Governor x ZaVita foal, and a pinto option on the Governor x Samber.  It's possible that we only have one more foal to sell this year, our UB-40 x Vincent. If that one is a filly, however, she's probably not going anywhere!

On the breeding front, we have two pregnancies to report and some more breedings.  In foal for 2016:

Eliscia SSF to Governor

Honorites SSF to Florianus II

Bred in the last few days:

Felicites SSF to Florianus II

Hyacintia to Chagall D and R

Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if Gazania is pregnant from the first dose of Bordeaux.  Expensive bummer.  I love it when frozen semen works well; when it doesn't, it hurts.  It looks as if we'll be breeding Gazania with our second dose of Bordeaux this weekend, as well as LaVita to someone.  LaVita is an old girl now, and she's not cycling the way she used to.  I'm not sure if she'll get pregnant or not.  We'll just have to play it by ear and see if I have time to order semen, or if I need to dig into the tank.

Below is a picture of Felicites SSF (Rousseau x Jazz x Roemer) after her daily workout.  She's developed really nicely, but was having some training issues.  Thanks to Phil Shipman, it looks as if those are well on the way to being resolved, and we're gearing up for re-presenting her at this year's keuring. 

And the Breeding Begins...

So, this is what a just-under-40 follicle looks like on my ultrasound screen:

Good edema, strong structure to the follicle--I gave the shot of Sucramate this morning, so, hopefully, knock on wood, the breeding gods are with me and I'll be doing my first frozen semen breeding of the year tomorrow afternoon.  This lovely follicle contains the egg which is the planned recipient of the fastest/in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time Governor sperm cell.  Governor x UB-40 x Pass the Glass xx.

You never know for sure, but, since I've already paid for my frozen semen and received the first three shipments (my experimental stallion is not getting used this year due to the family competition), my breeding picks are fairly settled at this point in time:

LaVita x Gaspard
Mistral x Gaspard
Nemels x Governor
*Orchis x Apache
Werites SSF x Gaspard
ZaVita SSF x Apache or Governor
BoWendy x UB-40
D'Orites SSF x Fairytale
*Eliscia SSF x Governor
Felicites SSF x undecided fresh cooled
*Gazania x Bordeaux
*Honorites SSF x UB-40 (preg check next week)
Hyacintia x Chagall D+R

*family competition entry

Did you just count 13 breedings?  So did I.  If we decide to import Hyacintia and all the mares get in foal, then one of the older mares is for sale after I get her back in foal. We only have 12 stalls.

*********************************************************************************

I'm an idiot.  Forgot to post this.  So, update:  Bred Eliscia SSF at 9:30 last night, within a couple hours of ovulation--lavaged her this morning at 5:30 and gave her a shot of Oxytocin.  Keep your fingers crossed for a black dot in about two weeks.  Perfect breeding.

Godot SSF For Sale

I'm really bummed about having to post this, and have been procrastinating.  We sold Sammy two times as a young horse, and both times I backed out of the sale.  As those of you who follow our horses know, he went to become the high scoring adult dressage horse in North America this year.

He was started last year by Phil Shipman and Joe Forrest, brought along by Lilly Josephs, and then spent the winter in Florida with Eiren Crawford.  He just attended his first show in the craziness of Wellington, winning the four-year-old qualifier, with super high scores for gaits, despite some really bad luck and some first-show jitters. He's a sensible, super talent who loves to work.  Everyone who has spent any time with him has fallen in love with him.

He's truly a young horse with international potential.  I can't justify keeping him for myself.  His price is in the six figures.  I will post pictures, video, and complete contact information for Eiren Crawford on my sales page in the near future.

Godot SSF "Sammy"

(UB-40 x Sir Sinclair x Jazz x Ulft)

Update: A Little Family Competition or "Creating a Monster"

I have to take complete responsibility for the events, both immediate and long-term, that have and will have transpired because of an idea I proposed to my family:

(much of this conversation started via our family text message group)

Scot:  I would like to propose a little family competition.  We each make an SSF breeding decision,
          choice of mares to be negotiated or by lottery, and the winner is determined by Bart and Lana
          via the ringing order at next year's keuring.  Any takers?

Carol:  What do I get if I win?

Scot:  An orange ribbon!  Isn't winning enough?

Michaela:  Not a fair fight, but I'm in.  What are the terms?

Scot:  How not fair?  I will obviously win; I know.

Michaela:  An opportunity to beat you is better than no opportunity to beat you. Name the terms.

Scot:  Option one--we each pick a stallion we really want to use in the program, which you and
          Keagan have already done, then we negotiate who gets which mare.  Maybe no one else wants
          to use the mare you want to use, so your choice is available with no negotiation.  Option two--
          We pick four mares out of the program, put their names in a hat, and the we draw names.  Each
          person then has to pick the stallion he or she thinks will produce the top foal of next year.

(more conversation about possible terms for the selection of mares and how to measure the success of our decisions--at this point in time, Keagan has not weighed in. Next conversation happened between Carol and me one night last week)

Scot:  So, what do you think of my breeding competition idea?

Carol:  Hmm?

Scot:  The family text message I sent.  What do you think?

Carol:  Oh.  You want me to be part of that?

Scot:  Yes!  Absolutely.  I want it to be a family competition.

Carol:  But I don't know as much about the bloodlines as you guys do.  I'd have to start researching
            stallions.

Scot:  Seriously?  I thought you'd already made your pick.

Carol:  No.

Scot:  Really?

Carol:  Who would I have picked?

Scot:  BoWendy bred to UB-40.

Carol:  And why would I have picked that combination?

Scot: Because you're practical, you hate wasting money on frozen semen, and you've seen three
         babies out of this cross that are probably the best movers we've bred.

Carol:  Hmm.

(This next conversation took place in the car on the way to NYC on Saturday morning.  Keagan, Carol, and I drove together; Michaela took the bus from Boston and met us there, so her parts of the conversation were via text)

Scot:  So what do you guys think about the competition?  Are you up for it?

Keagan:  This is the breeding competition?

Scot:  Yeah.

Keagan:  How would it work?

(I explain again)

Keagan:  So it's a competition?

Scot:  Yeah.

Keagan:  Orchis.

Scot:  What?

Keagan:  I call Orchis.

Carol:  (starts laughing)

Scot:  Really?

Keagan:  Yup.  It's a competition.  I want to win.  Apache on Orchis gives me the best chance of
               winning.

(Carol is smiling.  My heart has sunk to the depth of my bisected colon--I'm thinking this kid could actually beat me)

Scot:  OK.  We'll have to see who everyone else wants, but thanks for putting that out there. Who's
          your pick, Carol?

Carol:  I don't know.  I think Dior is going to be a great producer.  I love Nora.

Scot:  (to Keagan)  I told your mother I thought she'd already made her pick, but she says no.

Keagan:  Who did you say she picked?

Scot:  UB-40 on BoWendy.  (to Carol)  OK, who's your pick?

Carol:  UB-40 on BoWendy.

(We laugh. Lots of joking about me losing and having to be handicapped. Now, we involve Michaela via text message)

Scot:  Keagan picks Orchis.  Mommy wants Bo.  Who is your pick?

Michaela:  Whoa!!! Not sure I like these mares being tied up...

Keagan:  You snooze you lose ;)  We told dad he hows so much he gets Jules (our 24-year-old
                Morgan mare).

Scot:  It's all negotiable.  Make your pick.

Michaela:  Gazania.

Keagan:  Big moves!  This is certainly not a birthday present for dad ;) ;)

Carol:  Wait a minute!  I want Gazania! I forgot she was available.

Michaela:  Hahaha! It's negotiable...Lilly is still available.

(more conversation in the car--then Keagan texts Michaela again)

Keagan:  I'm good and dad wants Lilly, so that's set.  Stallions?

Scot:  I need to think a bit.

Keagan:  I'm set with Apache.

Michaela:  Thinking.

Keagan:  Mom is going with UB.

(and more back and forth)

So, it looks as if the Tolman Family 2016 Best Foal Competition is under way.  Interestingly enough, we all picked a different mare we think can produce the best baby.  I think our decisions on mares are set, though Carol, while doing chores on Sunday night muttered something under her breath about switching to Nora, but not sure if she wants to take the risk since Nora is a maiden mare.

Those of you who agonize over your breeding picks the way I do can imagine the mixed emotions coursing through me over this competition:  I have to give up making the pick on three of my mares, but the people I love the most are completely engaged in making breeding picks this year--I could lose and have to live with that reality for a LONG time, yet, again, what's more fun than talking breeding picks with people you love?

As the competition winds up, here's where we currently stand:

Keagan:  Orchis to Apache

Carol:  BoWendy to UB-40, or maybe take a chance on Honorites SSF

Michaela:  Gazania x undecided.  We had a made a decision to keep her crosses pretty much Jazz free so we can use her offspring in our program, but this is a competition, so Michaela is considering all options.

Scot:  Eliscia SSF to Charmeur or Jazz himself.

Anyone want to make a wager who wins this competition?  I'd love to have some comments on this thread about your predictions!

Update:

And we an adjustment to the initial line up!  Carol announced this morning she's going with Honorites SSF (Totilas x Jazz) as her mare for the competition.  I don't think she's definitely settled on her stallion pick, but it's looking like UB-40.  (I know, Meghan; you're heart just skipped a few beats!)