November 11 - New Sire for Silverthorn

For some time we have been considering the introduction of a dual registered quarter horse/stock horse stallion to our stud.

When the chance arose to purchase Crillee Amarillo Oak from quarter horse breeder Mr Ian Burns of Dubbo, NSW, we felt that it was an opportunity not to be overlooked.

Crillee Amarillo Oak ("Freckles") is by Docs Freckles Oak (imp) and from the extremely well bred mare Top Mark Amarillo. He is very nicely put together horse with characteristics that we look for in our stock horses.

We feel that this horse will make a wonderful out-cross to some of our mares and would be an asset to anyone looking to introduce the calm temperament and trainability of the quarter horse into their stock horse breeding programmes. He has sired many top performing quarter horses and we are hoping that we will be able to promote him to a similar status in the stock horse arena.

We haven't taken the decision to introduce this horse lightly and have done a lot of research into the quarter horse bloodlines that most suit the ASH, both from a commercial viewpoint as well as a practical one.

We feel that we are now able to offer our clients a comprehensive choice of stallions with qualities that would suit the most discerning of breeders.

(View pedigree on ASH Online Stud Book)

or

(View pedigree on AQHA Online Stud Book)

where you can also see his current Quarter Horse progeny:

(View current registered progeny on AQHA Online Stud Book)

Pictures will appear shortly.

Dungog Show, November 7 - Judge Rod Sharp

A lot of stock horses at Dungog Show with the campdraft running concurrently with the stock horse ring. The showground is situated in a natural bowl shaped arena where one can view the whole ring with an unimpeded view.

It was hard to keep our minds on the job with the fast runs and great horsemanship being displayed right next to the stock horse ring.

We had with us My Girl and Smoke and although we only received a couple of placings we were very pleased with the way our horses went.

Above: Elizabeth on My Girl in her mare hack class.

Above: Paul on Smoke in the stallion hack class.

Above: It was hard not to be drawn in by the campdraft proceedings.

Above: Michelle Hetherington on gelding Silverthorn Walkout.

3rd November 2008

With the show season in full swing we've been receiving some terrific feedback from Silverthorn horse owners during the month of October.

Brittany and Michelle Hetherington had a brilliant weekend when they took their gelding Silverthorn Walkout down to Camden to attend the Cumberland Branch ASH Show. Brittany was in the ribbons all day on the youth day which was held on the Saturday; and Michelle rode him on the Sunday with a very pleasing champion ridden three year old - good on you Britt and Michelle - he's a credit to you.

Scarlett McLelan on Silverthorn Danny Boy had a ripping weekend at the Stawell Agricultural Show, in Victoria, taking out champion led ASH and reserve champion ridden ASH on the Saturday; and on the Sunday followed up at Ararat with champion ASH led, with a first in her ridden class. - Well done Scarlett.

Melissa Payne and Silverthorn Royal Astra attended the National Interschool Dressage competitions in Toowoomba where she was placed seventh in both her elementary tests. - Congratulations Melissa.

Above:Reserve Champion Working, Knights Jugaby

Gloucester Branch ASHS Show and Campdraft, October 18-19

This show is held on our lovely home ground at Gloucester and run by the small hard working Gloucester Branch Committee.

Judges were Helen Batterham, Paul Vary and Bruce Withers.

In ring one, under Bruce Withers we had the Junior Led, Groups, and Hack Classes. Here we had S Shotgun take out a second in the colt 2 & 3 years, S Rookie a first in the gelding 2 & 3 years, and S Elliette and first in the filly 2 & 3 years. Elliette went on to be Junior Champion. Our Montcalm Luke group for the Sires Progeny Group of 3 came first out of several lovely groups of horses. Unfortunately, we missed our dam's and breeder's groups because our horses were required in other rings but there were some very nice groups presented for these classes.

Still in ring one, Knights Jugaby won his Stallion Hack and went on to take out Champion Hack out of nine hack class winners - a great win for him. Later in the day after the ridden classes, Jugaby was one of four to run off for Supreme Champion Rdden which he won after a flawless workout.

In ring two, under Paul Vary, Shotgun stepped up to win the challenging Three Year Old Snaffle Bit class from four other three-year-olds. Jugaby took out the Stallion 15hh and over working and was ultimately Reserve Champion Working.

In ring three, under Helen Batterham, our girls April and Elizabeth excelled in the Youth Judging 18-21 years, with April taking out first and Elizabeth with second - these placings should ensure a spot for the girls at Sydney Royal in the Junior Judging event. April will be there regardless as she is the NSW entrant for the National Junior Judging after her great win at Sydney Royal 2008 as State Champion.

Above: Elizabeth riding Elliette in the ASHLA event.

Above: Paul riding Shotgun in the Three year Old Snaffle Bit class.

Above: Paul on My Girl in the Mare Working class.

Above: Champion Hack, Knights Jugaby.

Above: Supreme Champion Ridden, Knights Jugaby, with judges Helen Batterham, Bruce Withers and Paul Vary.

Above: Silverthorn My Girl going over a jump in the Senior challenge.

Above: My Girl scoring in the campdraft section of the Senior Challenge.

Above: Paul on Elliette in her 3 year old snaffle bit class.

Saturday, October 11 - Manning River A & H Society Inc Show (Taree)

It's not a bad run to Taree from Gloucester and we arrived at the crack of dawn to find competitors already in the throes of readying their horses for their respective classes.

On the truck today we had with us Rookie, My Girl, Elliette and Shotgun.

In the ASH ring we had Mr Terry Brown of Inverell judging.

First up were the led stallions/colts and Shotgun won his colt class, then was Reserve Champion ASH Stallion/Colt. Shottie also won his 3 year old snaffle bit class. This is his first time out under saddle and we were more than pleased with his manners and performance.

In the led ASH mare classes, My Girl was placed first and went on to take out Reserve Champion ASH Mare/Filly. Girl also won her mare working class and was ultimately the Champion Working ASH.

Elliette won her led filly class and placed second in the ASH mare hack, and second in the 3 year old snaffle bit class.

Rookie, won his led gelding class and went on to be Reserve Champion ASH Gelding.

Mr Brown awarded us firsts in the Sires Progeny Group of 3 (Montcalm Luke) - My Girl, Elliette and Shotgun; Dams Progeny group of 2 (Six S Stud Charity) - My Girl and Elliette; and Breeders group of 2 - My Girl and Elliette. As breeders it is very satisfying to win these prestigious classes.

October 5, Wingham Agricultural All Breeds Hack Show - Judge Mr Kim Moy

Up early again and off the Wingham All Breeds Show - another one that we never miss. Always a great programme for Australian Stock Horses. The showground is very picturesque and as we drove in noticed a lot of upgrading work has been done to the amenities and infrastructure since last time we attended.

Horses with us today were Jugaby, Rookie and Elliette.

Elliette placed second in her led class and then Elizabeth stepped up and rode her with firsts in her ASHLA (Australian Stock Horse Ladies Assoc), her ridden mare class, ridden pleasure hack; Champion ASH ridden; and seconds in best educated stock horse and ASH mare working. Elizabeth was also second in her associate handler class.

Rookie won his led class and went on to be Champion ASH gelding.

Jugaby was Champion led ASH stallion and went on to be Supreme Led ASH Exhibit. Under saddle with Paul, Jugaby also had a good day with firsts in his ridden ASH stallion class and best educated stock horse, then Reserve Champion ridden ASH to Elizabeth and Elliette's Champion ridden ASH. In the working classes Jugaby was first in his stallion working class and went on to be Champion Working ASH.

Above: Jugaby stretching out in best educated stock horse class

Above: Elizabeth and Elliette putting on the pace in the working ASH mare.

Above: Elizabeth on Elliette coming to a nice stop in her working class.

Saturday, October 4 - Eastern Branch ASHS Show at Singleton

The Eastern Branch Show is always one we like to attend - a good safe venue, well organised, and a great opportunity to showcase our youngstock.

Our chestnut gelding Silverthorn Rookie was our most succesful horse for the day with reserve champion two year old (16 two year olds catalogued), which made him runner-up for the Buckley Shield 2007 - a very pleasing result for Rookie.

We brought Isabeau along for her first outing under saddle and she was placed a creditable fourth in her hack class. Elliette, with Elizabeth in the Saddle, was placed fifth in the same class.

Michelle Hetherington and daughter Brittany had Silverthorn Walkout (pictured below) there and it was great to see them in the ribbons in both the senior and junior classes. Congratulations Britt on your placing in the junior judging.