Taz and Freya looking very happy with their win at Foxton.

Freya and Taz looking happy after their win in Foxton.

 

 

Exciting things have been happening for Leo Sporthorses!

 

Taz continues to be his cheeky self escaping from his yard at the Foxton SJ Show and helping himself to someone else's  breakfast and lunch  in the middle of the night. He somewhat redeemed himself by winning the University series class.

Later he was 3rd in a 1m30 class at Feilding.

His full brother Sox has been going from strength to strength, staring the season with a win and a 3rd in level 3 dressage with Fiona riding him then 2 weeks later winning the dressage phase of combined training at Woodhill with exciting new rider Blyth Tait. Time faults in the sj put them down to 3rd. Blyth's 4th ride so not bad. That was followed by a win in the Papatoetoe PC ODE level AI/1*, next came a step up to 2* at Woodhill which they also won then to Puhinui, the course was very big certainly more than Sox had seen before. 2nd in the dressage and cruising around the x-c until the 3rd to last a combination, Sox took a flyer at the first and there was no way Blyth could present him at the second so a technical runout put them back to 10th. Sox is still not quite listening to Blyth and so he pulled one rail in the sj, but all in all a super result and it is so satisfying to have him reward our faith in his ability!  Exciting times ahead.

 

 Sox waiting for the SJ.

 

 Super groom Fiona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This is a sketch I did of Sox aka Leo Distinction after he finished 2nd in the 1* at Kihikihi Horse Trials. He followed that with a win at Woodhill Sands and 3Rd at The National 3DE in Taupo.

He really revels in his work and we have high hopes for his future.

Meanwhile Leo Degas and Leo Chocolat finished 3rd and 4th respectively at HOY in a class of 99 showjumping 1m20.Not bad for a small time breeding operation! Degas also competed in the 3* 3 DE at Hoy finishing mid field after a run out at a skinny on the x-c. Such a pity after his promising start for 4th in the dressage.

Leo Dreams of Gold has had time off  following a tweak to a muscle, we are expecting him to come back better than ever.
Then Alicia is now riding Leo Donna and is delighted with her progress, can't wait to see her out next season along with Leo Diva aka Deedee who is coming along slowly, some just cannot be rushed.

Sox showjumping at Taupo where he finished 3rd out of 47 in the 1* 3DE

Rufus showing some great engagement at Clevedon.

 

It has been a quiet time for the horses since Dec, but they're back in work now. Sox will have his first run again soon at Hunua and Rufus has just been competing in the North Island Champs at Clevedon. Alicia is still delighted with Donna who is taking everything in her stride so far and Alicia is also taking over the ride on Deedee this week. It will be good to see her out competing.

 

 

Taz, Leo Chocolat, winner of the Great Lake Challenge at Taupo Xmas Classic Dec 2013.Proving to be a reliable Show Jumper up to 1m30.

Rufus, Leo Dreamsof Gold, demonstrating his piaffe, jsut needs to learn that he can actually do it in a test!! A lesson with Jeremy Steinberg dec 2013.

Alicia and Rufus with their Reserve GP Champion ribbon at the Auckland/Manukau Champs last weekend. So pleased for them both.They also won the prize for the most points for the registered Hanoverian  level 4 and above.
Then had a mad dash up to Woodhill sands to watch Sox have his first 1* cross country run. James said Sox thought the fences looked a bit bigger than before but he came home just over the time for a win .Couldn't do better than that!!

        Big Weekend for Leo horses.Leo Donna left for her new home with Alicia Collin on Saturday, she was such a good girl, travelled really well and was very relaxed about leaving home and moving to a new property,

Donna

 

Leo Distinction

Leo Diva aka Deedee won her dressage at Papatoetoe PC 2DE on 78% clear SJ but is still a little suspicious of the X_C so incurred a couple of stops, Leo Distinction was second at barge park after the dressage and SJ but just cruised the X_C as James wants him to learn not to pull so a few time faults.

Beau aka Leo Debonaire.Approx 16hh and turns 2 next week, he's not going to be small!! The last that I have bred from Leo Fanfare and the last of my breeding program on my own and as they seem to be getting bigger it's probably just as well. In future Leo horses will be from a joint venture between me and Alicia Collin. Unfortunately Leo Fanfare has decided that at 21 she is too old to produce more foals and did not conceive to Worldly last season.

What  a super weekend for a breeder! Leo Degas won the Canterbury Eventing 3*, Leo Distinction won the Pre Novice event at Taupo out of 37 and his full bother Leo Chocolat was 2nd in the 1m20 Show Jumping Championship at the Foxton Show. Can't get much better than that!

Haven't been here for a while, in the meantime Andy has started the season well. Sox is out and about showjumping, double clear in the 1m20 class at Taupo, and heading for the BOP dressage champs before resuming his eventing career. Taz is being loved to bits by his new jockey and aquiting himself well I hear. Then Tabitha(Leo Zanzibar)'s 2, Cashin's Holly and Cashin's Tory are also proving to be very capable, both being placed at Te Rapa last weekend. It's going to be an exciting season!!

Andy,Leo Degas winning the 2* at Mcleans Island sept 2013

Deedee had her first outing to Woodhill Sands on the 13th and we were delighted with her attitude, very cool calm and collected producing a super test for 76%. Not quite so settled in the next, she was a little tired but still showed some very classy moments.

On the 20th and 21st it was back to Woodhill for the practise jumping and mini ODE.She warmed up beautifully for her dressage but lost it a little as she went in, the horse next door was in a bit a  state so I guess we can forgive her. On to the jumping and she handled that like an old pro so it's up to Pre Training next time or she might start to get too complacent!

So pleased with our Leo Deedee, we think she will be a superstar eventer, she has the movement and gutsy temperament to go far. She'll have an outing at Woodhill in the intro in a couple of weeks then probably move up to pretraining.

The latest of my "grandchildren" to compete,

Cashin's Tory competing at Woodhill Sands 27/5/13

By Littorio out of Leo Zanzibar owned and bred by Leanne Cashin.

Rufus and Alicia strutting their stuff HOY 2013. Whew what an exciting few days not only were Alicia and Rufus competing in the CDI dressage  but Sam and Andy were there too in the 3*** eventing, not bad to have full brothers at the top of their game. Then there was Taz winning a 1.15m SJ class out of 190 starters!!!!!! So much fun to see them out there doing well.

Another fun weekend with Leo Degas taking second in the 3DE 2* at Puhinui and Leo Dreams of Gold ( pictured) his full brother, gaining points in the level  8/9 F/S at the Waitemata Dressage Champs at his esecond outing at this level!!
Also heard that the "black sheep" of the family Abby ( to be named Leo Abstract) had her first start and gained 75%!! Now to be registered and hopefully go to the Northland Champs in January.

Another busy weekend judging at the Waikato Dressage Champs and watching Rufus ( Leo Dreams of Gold ) full brother to Leo Degas, have his first start at GRAND PRIX!!!! Not quite there yet but some quality work shown and certainly an exciting prospect for the future. huge pat on the back to owner Alicia Collin who bought him as a 2yo and has done everything herself, right from breaking him in. This is her first horse at this level so it's a big learning curve for her too.

I think Gisborne Dressage Champs must be good luck for me. A few years ago Fiona phoned while I was there to tell me that Leo Degas had won the Young Event Horse Championship at Puhinui, this weekend she rang to say that he had won the Waiteko Trophy 2* event at Taupo!! I love news like that.What's more he won on his dressage score. Well done Sam and Andy!!

What a mission getting this on here!!I wish these things came with simple directions.
  Anyway this is Boris aka Leo Godonov father and grandfather to the current Leo clan.

Winner of 21 out of 28 starts, and only unplaced once, at level 3 & 4 dressage in the '97/'98 season. Reichenbach winner '97.  Won all 4 tests at the Nationals 1998, 2nd level 4 HOY. Back when there were up to 40 horses in those levels!

Sox aka Leo Distinction, awaiting his 4th place rosette Pre Novice Ch at Taupo, May 2012.

Taz aka Leo Chocolat, Anita's "Flying Dressage Pony" cruising around the 1m35 class at Kihikihi
November 2012.