Camden Haven Agricultural Show - February 13, 2010
Judge: M/s Maxine Brooks

Paul on Shotgun doing an extended trot in his hack workout.

Once again we made our way to the lovely shady Camden Haven showground. The rings overall were pretty well attended, but as we are finding more and more often nowadays, the Australian Stock Horse ring is enjoying huge roll-ups and today was no exception.

In searing heat as the day moved on and the shade was becoming harder to find we found ourselves vying for any shady spot available.

As it was a last minute decision to come today we brought just the one horse - our four year old stallion Shotgun. Shotgun had a good day and brought home champion stallion, reserve champion hack and reserve champion working.

As you can see from the picture right, Judge Maxine Brooks goes over the working pattern with Paul - for your interest, this is one we haven't come across before, and can be found in the ASHS pattern book (W16). It's different, but once you get your head a round it, wasn't all that difficult, and was a nice one to watch from the sidelines.

Our latest work in progress - January 31, 2010

SILVERTHORN WITCHERY

This exercise of our "works in progress" demonstrates a time frame to work on when preparing a show horse.

We put a picture of this yearling filly up on November 17, 2009 when we brought her in to prepare for show/sale.

The second set of pictures were taken seven weeks later; and the last two were taken on 31st January, 2010.

For more information on her please go to our sale page.

Nov 17, 2009

January 9, 2010

January 31, 2010

February 2, 2010

After a very short period on our sale page, Silverthorn Lucky Strike has been sold.

We feel that his new family, the Fangmeiers, will do well with this lovely individual. We look forward to hearing of his progress and perhaps a few photos for our website.

Morisset Lake Macquarie Agricultural Show, January 30, 2010
Judge: Mrs Helen Batterham

Paul riding Shotgun in the stallion hack event

Our break from showing is now over after an extremely busy stud season. Our first outing was to Morisset, an agricultural show that is always our first show for the year. The Australian Stock Horse ring was huge - seems that everyone is keen to get back on the circuit. Our ring was still going at 4pm when every other ring had finished up around 2pm. Great to see so many capable young people out - they certainly make great competitors. It makes one very confident that the Australian Stock Horse breed will continue going ahead in leaps and bounds and that with all the opportunities afforded children by the society, its future is assured.

The day presented mixed weather with intermittent clouds, showers, hot sun, and an occasional soft breeze. We were lucky to have plenty of horse holders - thank you all - makes the day go so much easier.

With the lead-up to Canberra Royal Show we had with us our four-year-old stallion Silverthorn Shotgun, Elizabeth's three-year-old gelding Silverthorn Lucky Strike, the two-year-old colt Montcalm Kirribilli (Waikon Park Coolabah x Montcalm Jedda), Silverthorn My Girl, and our yearling filly Silverthorn Witchery (St Ronan Abdul Smoke x Newline Flitter) for her first show outing.

First out was Witchery for the yearling filly class in which she placed first to her sister filly Silverthorn Journey (St Ronan Abdul Smoke x Silverthorn Danni Girl), who was second, and is owned and shown by Mrs Carolyn Murphy.

My Girl also won her led class, and under saddle placed third with Elizabeth in the ASHLA.

Kirribilli won his led class, and although not placed in the hack three years and under, did a very good workout for a newly broken-in two-year-old. For his first outing ever, we couldn't have been more pleased with his temperament, attitude and behaviour.

Shotgun had an excellent day that started with champion ASH stallion, then wins in stallion hack and working stallion.

Elizabeth's Lucky Strike placed third in his led class, and was second in both the hack 3 years and under and 3 years and under working, and third in the novice hack. A good day for such a young horse.

Elizabeth on Lucky Strike in the hack 3 years and under

Carolyn Murphy's yearling filly Journey

Yearling filly Witchery

Elizabeth on My Girl in the ASHLA event

Summer school holidays - December-January

We had quite a few youngsters spending time with us during the school holidays and it always gives us great pleasure to have them here to hone their skills and brighten our days.

When granddaughters Lilly and Maisy arrive the first thing to be done is to fetch Nimbus our old welsh pony in, for their usual routine of shampooing and grooming, followed by a lot of leading, feeding and "gymnastics". The girls love to place a crate under the old pony to practice vaulting on and sliding off, as well as standing up and any other "trick" they can think of.

Lilly giving Nimbus a brush.

Brittany Hetherington brought her gelding Silverthorn Walkout prior to going to a youth camp run by the Eastern Branch at Stroud and as always is a delight to have stay with us.

Emily Martin who is a Bachelor of Equine Science student at Charles Sturt University spent two weeks practical experience on the stud. Emily did some work experience with us after completing her course at Tocal College and has kept in touch with us ever since. She keeps her horse Montcalm Lester (by Knights Jugaby and from Montcalm Lee) with her on campus at Wagga Wagga and brings him home during the holidays.

Emily on Lester receiving some coaching from Paul.

Silverthorn Shotgun

Sunday, December 12, 2009

The Hunter Valley Cutting Club had their Christmas party at the property of Mr and Mrs Ross Hicks at Woodville, near Maitland where we enjoyed participating in their final training day for the year of 2009.

As always, there can be a lot to be learned from these cutters and they are always happy to share their knowledge and know-how with us. So many of their techniques can be applied to our discipline and we are always very appreciative of their generous advice and help.

The pictures here are of Paul on Shotgun.

ASHS Nationals new venue

We were pleased to learn that 2010 ASHS Nationals will be held at the spectacular Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), Tamworth. Show dates 14-16th May, 2010.

Silverthorn Shotgun

Bulahdelah Show - November 20, 2009

Judge: M/s Ashley Olsen

This is the last show on our calendar for 2009 and in searing high temperatures we made our way cross-country over lovely rolling countryside from Gloucester to the town of Bulahdelah.

We saw a good attendance in all the breed rings. The working dog trials and campdraft also were well attended providing spectators with plenty of thrills and action.

It was a easy day for us as we took only one horse - our four-year-old stallion Silverthorn Shotgun who made it a memorable one indeed by taking out three championships - led ASH stallion/colt, hack, and working. Our judge, M/s Ashley Olsen certainly set some difficult patterns and riders had to be on the job to go out and correctly execute the course.

Elizabeth on My Girl in the mare working class

Castle Hill Twilight Show - Castle Hill, November 14, 2009

Judge: Mr Bob Kildey

We thought we'd venture down Sydney way for a change and attend the Twilight Show at Castle Hill. With a 1pm start, on a very hot day, it was an effort to get the horses prepared for the ring in the midday heat. The day didn't get any cooler, only the shadows that we were all looking in the middle of the day did get longer as the afternoon wore on and conditions became somewhat more bearable. Both horses and riders were all looking for "another" drink of water most of the time, but apart from that we had an excellent day.

There were nine breed rings in progress that were, from what we could see, well attended. The stock horse ring had a good roll-up with a lot of quality horses and with the exception of a few, ones that we don't normally come up against. Our riders found the condition of the ground to be excellent which allowed for fast, safe work-outs that could be executed with confidence.

Our black yearling Acres Destiny colt, Silverthorn Easy Acres, placed second in his yearling class.

Silverthorn Shotgun had a really good day with firsts in his led stallion, stallion utility trial, 4 year old hack, stallion working, second in the saddlehack class; and finally took out reserve champion ridden stock horse.

Silverthorn My Girl was champion led mare, placed second in the mare utility trial, and won her mare working class.

Elizabeth McKelvey was in the ribbons with her three year old gelding Silverthorn Lucky Strike with seconds in the gelding utility, and three years and under hack; thirds in his led and hack over 15hh; and a fourth in the working over 15hh class - a very pleasing result.

Above: April on her own filly with Paul on Shotgun, and
below: April with My Girl for champion led ASH mare

New owners for Silverthorn Gothica

If you were thinking about purchasing this lovely filly - sorry, she's sold. Pemberton Grove Partnership of Temora, NSW, are her new owners and we wish them all the very best with their choice. It was a hard call parting with her but we know she will get every opportunity with Pemberton Grove who are keen to get her out and about.

We have now brought in the yearling filly Silverthorn Witchery (Newline Flitter x St Ronan Abdul Smoke) for show/sale preparation - watch out for her - she's our next "work in progress" project. She's another outstanding show prospect - brown/black, should mature a bit better than 15hh.

November 2nd, 2009

Montcalm Lucile dam of our foundation stallion Montcalm Luke has joined our broodmare ranks, thanks to Mr Peter Taubman of Montcalm Stud, Cudal.

Pictured (right)is Crillee Amarillo Oak's first foal for the season - a chestnut filly from Crillee Spin N Charisma, owned by Mr David Anschau.

The two-year-old filly Silverthorn Musical Sally (Waikon Park Coolabah x Musical Fortune) has been sold to Mrs Carolyn Murphy of Gloucester. Carolyn is pictured here on Sally with Paul on Jugaby, about to set off for a day of cattle mustering.

Northern Branch ASHS Show, Tamworth - Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre,
31st October-1st November, 2009

Judges - Mr Joe Best and M/s Sam Davidge

A well-contested novice hack class

Our drive over to Tamworth from Gloucester is on a road that is very testing both ways. Going over the mountain to Nowendoc is a long slow haul up and coming back down is 6km of winding road in low range gear. Then there's the Port Stephens Cutting coming down into Tamworth which is scarcely wide enough to take our truck let alone the odd time when you meet a double decker cattle semi. Sometimes there are only inches to spare to the edge of a sheer drop of hundreds of metres. Another one of our "adventures for the adventurous!" one might say. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful drive with some of the most spectacular views imagineable.

On arrival at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) we were allocated stables and camping facilities second to none. This is the first time we've shown at the centre and from start to finish Northern Branch organisers should be commended for the smooth running of their wonderful show.

The numbers and quality of horses here was as good as anything we've ever seen (Sydney Royal Show included).

We travelled light this weekend with Knights Jugaby aboard for the open events and yearling colt Silverthorn Easy Acres for a look about.

Jugaby's day started with him winning his led class from nine stallions, and then on to taking out Champion Led Stallion.

In the hack ring he won Stallion Hack, and then Champion Hack. It was a treat to watch this wonderful big horse perform with such faultless precision in a difficult and challenging workout. In the middle of it all was the extended trot in which he excels; and it was a proud moment for us when the crowd in the stands stood and loudly applauded this section of the championship. Cee Dee Juggler - a gelding by Jugaby was also a winner of his hack class and it was a lovely to see father and son out there competing at such a high level of performance.

Juggler took out Reserve Champion Gelding in his led class.

Then, late in the afternoon, we made for one of the outside arenas where the Station Horse events were taking place. Jugaby was placed first in the station horse stallion 4 years and over, and was ultimately Champion Station Horse.

Jugaby had a wonderful show that culminated in him receiving the Tony Sherrin Memorial High Point Horse of the Show. Tony's wife Jane and daughter were there to present a magnificent perpetual silver trophy cup that will reside in the Equine Centre for all to see.

We saw Jo and Geordie Akeroyd there with their two-year-old filly Silverthorn Sashay (Knights Jugaby x Barsham Sunaround) - Jo and Sashay won the Station Horse 3 and Under class - congratulations Jo and Geordie.

We were delighted to learn that Gavin and Tracey Strelitz's Silverthorn Elliette (Montcalm Luke x Six S Stud Charity) was awarded the Highest Place 4 year Old in the Campdraft held on the Saturday evening - what a win! Elliette was also second overall in the Maturity, winning her time trial, placing second in the working and third in the hack - congratulations Stelitz family.

We saw young Kayla Robinson-Bard on her gelding Silverthorn Durallie take out seconds in youth handler and in rider - well done Kayla. Kayla was also placed first in her junior judging - no mean feat considering the number of keen young people in the competition.

Paul and Jugaby going through the gate in the station horse stallion event

Paul on Jugaby receiving first place in the stallion hack

Jugaby - Champion stallion

Jugaby - Champion hack

Paul with Jugaby receiving the Tony Sherrin Memorial High Point Horse of the Show trophy and rug
from Mrs Sherrin and her daughter

Jugaby - Champion Station Horse

Gavin Strelitz on Silverthorn Elliette, Highest Placed 4-year-old in the Campdraft

Silverthorn Shotgun's first foals

Pictured here are Shotgun's first two foals - like peas in a pod - and with plenty of chrome. The waiting for a colt's first foals is always filled with great anticipation and hope and we certainly weren't disappointed with this pair of quality foals. We compared the pictures of these two with Shotgun's own foal photos and they could easily be mistaken for the same foal.

Son of a Gun from Barsham Prodigal Lass and

Double Shot from Elizabeth McKelvey's mare Kindred Stud Music Time