My new horse

[Heather]

HI folks, thought you might like to see some photos of my new horse, Fantasia, Fanta to his friends.

He arrived from Portugal a couple of weeks ago. He has been gelded, as I want him to lead a normal life being able to socialise with other horses, so he looks moer like a lean endurance model at the moment rather than a dressage horse, what with gelding and a five day journey, with four overnight stops.

He has been difficult to settle, not at all the calm, laidback horse I rode in Portugal, but has the most amazing good nture- even whe he has been at his worts, he wouldn't dream of kicking or doing anything nasty. He has had a huge shock to his system and will be given all the time he needs to adjust. Will keep you all posted as to his progress-



Photos of Fanta ( thanks to Sue and her new digital camera)
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/sue/Fanta/fanta.html

[fionahogg]

Heather, he's absolutely gorgeous! I'm green with envy!
What breed is he?

Fiona

[FRED]

Dear Heather,Fantasia looks great, this week I visited a friend who has four friesians that work for a living,two stallions and two mares, Fantasia would more than give them a run for there money in the look's stakes and no doubt the riding stakes too.If I had a horse this colour it would be a mare and we would call her Connie after our mum,she would have the best nature and be as fearless as a lion.
Anyway thanks for sharing and take care.
Fred.

[Dizzy]

What a stunner, lucky you, hope he settles in soon.

Lesley

[deedee]

Wow Heather, he looks gorgeous - and so photogenic!!!! please say he's for your students to ride and not just for you! I'll see you both in September.

Dee

[Silvia]

What a pretty horse. You will have so much fun with him once he is settled in!

[Hayleyb277]

He's to die for Heather, I'd love him there's no smiley for envy :GREEN), is he Lusitano? how old is he?
Hayley

[judyl]

Just one word - WOW!!

You can just tell that when he's had a chance to settle down and you start to work him and allow him to come into himself - he's just going to be one big stunner! Hope to see him myself sometime this year if you can fit us in.

Judy

[Heather]

HI all,

Thanks for your comments on my lovely new boy. He is an Hispano-Arab, which is a cross between an Andalusian and an Arab. He was bred in Spain, and trained by Daniel Pinto, one of Spain's top competition riders. He sent Fanta to Portugal to be sold, to one of his studnets there whom I know. They have both gone over to warmbloods now, from Iberians, which seems a little ironic as the Spanish team are doing so well in competition on their Andalusians.

So, Fanta has already a high level of training, but needs the polish put on the work, and bringing him up to Grand Prix level over the next year or two.

Sorry Deedee, this one is for me! I haven't had a horse of my own to ride and train since my arab, Spanish, developed a stringhalt type condition a couple of years ago, and I haven't had time to ride regularly now for over four years, so now I am making the time by reducingsome of my other workload.

I hope to use Fanta for demos and displays, and just for the hell of competing on a very differnt type of horse to show that there is life after warmbloods, I may even compete on him once I am satisfied with his training level. The Iberians are not taught so much to extend, and that is one big piece missing fro his competition level education, although he already has a better piaffe than most of the GP horses that you will see in this country.

It will take some time to bring him back even up to where he was as he won't have been ridden for over two months by the time I get back on him in a couple of weeks time.

Anyway, glad you like him- i also have a new mare coming, hopefully on Tuesday- she is a Lusitano/TB cross, and will be for the students too- post some photos of her shortly.


Heather

[Miriam]

Took one look at him and I thought he looked very much like an Adalusian X. I will have to give myself a brownie point for this. He look lovely. Hope you have lots of fun together.


Miriam

[horselover]

To echo- sort of- Miriam's comment, I took one look and knew he had Arab in him- and I am a real sucker for Arab crosses. Not to mention Grays!!!!:) His head is beautiful., and so is the rest of him! If he works half as well as he looks, you will have a fantastic horse!

[horsemadkid]

He is soo gorgeous. congrats on ** new horse. i hope he settles in, gd luck! :)

[Jo]

What a beaut! I am glad you are thinking in terms of your own riding and competing - it's good to hear your commitments have not driven out your own needs. It would be tragic if you sacrificed your own riding to improve others. Good luck with him.

[LindaAd]

He's lovely Heather. Looks quite sad in the photo - obviously upset by all the changes and the travelling - but he'll be an absolute stunner. Will you post some new pics soon? I hope so.

[Wally]

Wow, what a foundation you have to work your magic on, In 6 months time I'd love to see more photos!

I used to ride a X Andalusian, what a star, he was entire though, (and a pain in the bum with it!!)

These Ibererian horses do have a certain something, mettle, gentleness and what strength!

Hope you and your Family are doing okay, I know it's been hard work recently, best of luck to everyone.

[Nic]

He looks wonderful, even after the ordeals of his journey. I hope you have a lot of fun with him, you deserve it. Enjoy!!

[Heather]

HI folks,

Fanta is now settling following being gelded and is putting on weight again. It will take some months for him to regain the muscle that he has lost with the traumas of travelling and being gelded- he was a danger to himself and everyone else as soon as he spied a mare.

I am now riding him and working on strengthening him- he is just lovely to ride- although when my vet siad to start lunging him again once his swelling had gone down a fair bit- the bucks he was doing woudln't have disgraced a bronc- I was thinking- I have to get on that! Caprioles, you naem it- the Spanish Riding School had nothing on him! As soon as I got on him though he settled and hasn't been a problem since.

Haven't any more photos yet, but hope to put some more up once he is really going again.


Heather