Congratulations to Suzie Quest

EM Mabb (Maronjo/EM Lorelei) was the first horse to sell from the 2003 Mid-Atlantic Hanoverian Breeders Fall Sales Fest. Weaned exactly two weeks before she was presented under saddle by Erin Sweeney at the Sales Fest, Mabb sold as a riding horse to Suzie Quest of Chapel Hill, NC. Keeping in mind the lovely colt Mabb produced this year, Suzie eventually would like to breed Mabb for herself but first she plans to compete her for a few seasons. We look forward to hearing from Suzie and congratulate her on her new acquisition.

Congratulations to Judy Hedreen

At the 2003 Beaujolais dressage and sporthorse breed show, held in Auburn, WA (6/13-15/03), Rienzi son Remington, owned and bred by Judy Hedreen out of EM Pikante (Pik Solo), was named Reserve Champion, Colts and Geldings. In May, the 2-year-old stallion prospect was Champion Colt at the Fort Vancouver Dressage Show (5/30-6/1/03). These 2003 titles bring Remington’s life achievements to a total of three colt championships and one reserve in the USDF DSHB series.

RNS Champions 2002

Given the opportunity, we all like to brag about famous relatives. The cover story on the Ratje Niebuhr-Schau in the September 2002 Der Hannoveraner provided an occasion to indulge that impulse. Prominently featured in the main article were two mares (of the three RNS individual category winners) from motherlines shared by Marefield dams.

SPS Fenjala, RNS Champion, 4- to 6-Year Old division, is by Fabriano and out of a Prince Orac XX/Absatz dam. She was bred and is owned by the Clasen family, to whom we extend our heartiest congratulations. Marefield boards mares at Hof Clasen, and we have been aware of Fenjala’s outstanding achievements for a number of years: three-time winner of the Verden Mare Show, Reserve Champion of the 1999 Louis-Wiegels-Schau, 2nd in her class at the 2000 Ratje Niebuhr-Schau, and now the big winner of that most prestigious of shows. Fenjala’s dam, SPS Prinzessin Asta, is the full sister of Marefield’s Poppaea.

The RNS 2002 Champion Young Mare (Rotspon/Lauries Crusador XX/Lombard) was bred by the Sommerfeld family and is owned by another breeder of our acquaintance, Horst Quast. Congratulations to both breeders and owner. Marefield's SPS Bounty was bred by the Sommerfelds and she shares the same motherline with Mr. Quast’s champion–Bounty's dam, Lomella, is grandam of the young RNS winner.

VA Tech 2002 Hokie Harvest Sale

Two Arrian offspring were the subjects of an enthusiastic report from Dr. Ann Dunnington, professor of Equine Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. The 2-year-old half siblings, VT Kudos and VT Kiligari, tied for the high price at the 2002 Hokie Harvest Sale held in late October. Each year products of the Virginia Tech Equine Science Department's breeding project, which is coordinated by Dr. Dunnington, are publicly auctioned with proceeds going to support the continuation of the program. The 2002 auction brought in the second highest sales gross in the 8-year history of the event. Marefield contributes frozen semen from both Arrian and Rienzi for the breeding project.

We congratulate Dr. Dunnington and her students on the success of both the program and this past year's auction. Our congratulations also go to the new owners of Kudos and Kiligari, Lera VanMeter and Tracy West of Charleston, WV. Both horses went directly from the sale to Florida where they will be started in training under the supervision of Heidi Ericksen.

To learn more about the Virginia Tech breeding program, log on to www.equine.vt.edu or click directly from the Links Page of this website.

Robin Brueckmann and Richmond

Robin Brueckmann is one of our most loyal correspondents, and she had a good deal to report from 2002. Over the holiday season, Robin sent us the gift of a laboriously-assembled yearbook detailing her accomplishments with Richmond (Ramiro’s Bube/EM Salvana). Thank you, Robin, for taking the time and effort to put together such a thorough record and for including us on your list of recipients. Among Robin's and Richmond's long string of achievements was the Performance Horse Registry's Silver Cup Award at Training and First Levels for Region 1.

Robin called us before the journal arrived and reported that she had just come in from riding the gray gelding in a field where 45 other horses were running loose. Robin was impressed with how calm and focused Richmond had remained when the wind inspired his pasturemates to bolt off during the training session. The story of Robin and Richmond doesn't end there. A letter from USA Equestian was sent in January. It opened: "Congratulations! Your horse Richmond is the National PHR/Silver Stirrup Award Champion in the Five Y.O. Young Horse division." We echo those congratulations. With Robin and Richmond off to such an outstanding start of their performance career together, we are eagerly awaiting the next installments to the journal.

The Raphaelson Family, Erin Mattingly and Ariadne

In early January, Amanda Raphaelson (MD) sent an update on her "little-big mare," the 15.1H Ariadne (Arrian/SPS Galatee): "We think we've found the 'perfect horse!' She is absolutely the sweetest and always gives us 110%...She is such a pleasant surprise to all visiting teachers, wowing everyone with her quiet temperament and huge movement. I, Erin Mattingly and my daughter, Lia (a 71-lb., 11-year old), all ride her. Lia started jumping 'Ali' recently, as well as riding dressage. Erin is a 19-year-old student of Fred's [Woodvale Farm-based trainer Fred Weber of Fredericksburg, MD], and rode Ariadne in the Potomac Valley Dressage Assn.Chapter Challenge in November, leading the Catoctin Chapter to championship in Training Level." What a rewarding way for Amanda, Erin, Lia and Ariadne to wind up 2002. We send our congratulations to Ariadne's dedicated riders and look forward to hearing more about their accomplishments in upcoming seasons.

Vanessa Carlson and Roccoca

Congratulations also go out to Vanessa Carlson on the placement of the Rienzi filly Roccoca (out of her Tin Rocco mare, Turteltaubchen), who was named top foal at her 2002 AHS/VhW Inspection. The decision was close with two other big-moving fillies in the running–one of which was an Arrian–out of Elysia (Eiger/Perfekt)–also owned by Vanessa. From the report, the final placement was not such a big surprise to those who saw Roccoca's spectacular movement as she showed herself off to the gathered onlookers that day. Roccoca also was noted to have the most correct conformation of the contenders for the champion foal title.

Norma Lynn Fox and Floete

Congratulations to Norma Lynn Fox on the purchase of the Marefield-imported Fabriano mare, Floete '97 (out of an SPS Woodstock/Bumerang dam), and her subsequent achievements over the past season both under saddle and at breed shows.

Floete was in work with Britta Johnston when we received an excited call from Norma Lynn who had just watched a December training session. The new owner is certain the mare will be a star and wanted to get some USDF paperwork in order to ready Floete for competition first thing this season.

Floete is elite eligible, having passed her inspection in 2001 with an overall score of 7.3 (8s on walk and trot); she only needs a successful MPT to become an elite mare since she already has had one foal, Ayre '01 (Arrian), who is with Bob Orton and Sherra Kosch at their Buck Branch Farm.