comments

Em-

Cat (Staccato de Gerval) is doing awesome. I have to admit I say "I love my pony" at least
three times a day. He is working easily and coming along amazingly well.
His balance and movement are stellar. The other day I asked him to move
his shoulder over at a trot and he gave me a few steps of leg yield. It
surprised me but it was so effortless, I am excited at all we will get to
try come spring.

We just had our first snowfall last night so Cat was tucked in to his new
blanket (blue plaid, a great color on him and matches his halter you sent
with him). He has a sheet and heavy blanket so between the two he should
be okay. I don't think he'll have a problem with growing a coat, he has a
great start on it already.

We are having a fun show on Halloween and Cat and I are going to take a
class or two. My friend offered to come out and snap a few pics so we'll
get those to you and you can see him all cleaned up. Do you show yours
with button braids or a french braid? There is so much hair!

I'm loving my pony and he is very popular at the barn. The other day
another visiting instructor said he was "drop dead gorgeous". I know. ;)

Take Care,

Heather

Hey, I just had to let you know that I brought Pippin to a show today and he was great!! I wasnt going to go and then someone offered to trailer me and I havnt ridden him in two weeks because of all the rain but he was perfect anyways!! I wasnt going to ride in any classes and then decided he was soo good that it was worth a shot. It was just a schooling show and in w/t/c equitation we placed 4th out of 43 people, in W/T/C pleasure we place 4th again out of 60 people, in a training level dressage test 2 we place 4th once again out of 32 people, I also took him in a pole bending class for fun and neither one of us had ever done it but we placed 1st haha, and then I decided to take him in a few jumping classes even though I havnt jumped him in a very long time and we took 4th out of 35 people over 18 inch cross rails and we took 2nd over 2'6 straight rails. He had a few bucking spooking fits in the beginning but all and all he was such a good boy, I was very proud of him for the first show of the season!! I will send pics when I get a chance. hope all is well

-Casondra and Pippin

Em-

Are you practicing hard for the upcoming show this weekend?
Staccato and I had our first lunge line ride. He is spectacular!!! I rode
him at the walk and trot. Nat made fun of me because I grinned like
an idiot the whole time. His trot is awesome!! I've felt the lift in
the big boys, but never with a sport pony. It is better because I am
not scared of him at all. You were right, Haffies rock. Especially
this one. I was busy with family stuff all weekend and I'm dying to
get out to see him tomorrow. I haven't seen him since Friday and it
is sooo long. We're going to do two more lunge lessons this week and
we'll see, he might be off the line very soon. He's so smart and a
talented mover. I just can't gush enough how much I love him and am
excited for what our next years will bring.
Have you been able to send out the transfer papers? I have his papers
you shipped with him still on my table to remind me to transfer his
papers, but it sounds like I need those from you first. Yes?

Take Care,

Heather Savage

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, my morgan Pennie coliced last week and is having a hard and expensive recovery due to her neurological problems. I will buy another horse from you, hopfully sooner than later. They are wonderful and you do such a nice job training them that there is simply no other option. I was so excited to have another but life happens in strange ways sometimes, you always hope and pray for the better. But Pippin is doing wonderful ,if your ever in Maine contact me and you can come and ride him! Its been raining here for two weeks straight and we have managed to ride between the drops. He is soo sweet and coming along great! He is mastering shoulder in, and we started piaffe on the ground. With his short back and strong haunches it comes so naturally to him, and he really enjoys it so I figured he will just be ahead of the game knowing that movement. I have a prix st. george Swedish Warmblood and she has a much harder time with all the the collected movements and Pip just contantly shows her up :) I was just wondering how you asked him to go round?? He always seems confused so I thought maybe you ask different than I do. thanks and talk to you soon

He is the best pony EVER!!! Staccato came off the trailer with a
little jump and went into a private paddock which is where he will
meet everyone over two fences (about 6' between fences) for a few days
as he settles in. It satisfies the quarantine issue at the barn and
he gets to settle in. There were a lot of oohs and aaahs as he
trotted around looking at things. At first he didn't want to see me,
I stood in the paddock against the fence for a while and came and went
a few times taking care of things. By the third time, he smelled the
treat in my pocket and came trotting up when I whistled. Now, each
time I whistle he comes trotting to get scratches and rubs. I trotted
him on the line in the paddock after a bit just to make sure the legs
are looking good. He moves so beautifully! Nat said he is gorgeous
now, "imagine when he is 6 and under saddle, he is going to be
amazing!" Who doesn't want to hear that from the trainer? She said I
did a good job finding him and is very impressed with him (she rode a
few while in Germany).
Thank you again for Staccato! I am already in love with the little
guy and when I stepped up on the fence to say goodbye, he came
trotting up when I whistled and enjoyed a little head rubbing. He is
going to be a great pal and a stupendous riding partner.
I'm gushing! How is your show? I hope it is a bit dryer out there
and everyone behaved.

Take Care, I'll send some pics soon,

Hi Em,

Thanks so much for sending the pictures! They are fantastic (as usual). All of us in the breed have a lot to thank you for! You are doing so many good things.

I am afraid that due to my serious auto accident, my show season will be very limited this year. But I do plan to carry on. Nadine has gotten quite solid on 3rd Level. She does both her lead changes, fantastic half passes in all gaits and now she is getting pretty adept at the canter pirouette.

I found a fantastic lady for Haley. She rides her very well and her sister is a major dressage competitor, FEI rider and trainer. She says she plans to send Haley to her sister for several months training. So it looks like we could have another active competitor, showing a real quality Haflinger.

Keep up the great work!
hugs,
Christine---California

Hi-

I've been admiring Haflingers for some time now but have only now
found myself without horse and looking to possibly purchase one. Your
site caught my eye (from AHR registry) as you specialize in dressage.
Are yours still the smaller height? What bloodlines are you following
to get such great hock movement?
I am trying to learn as much as possible as I would like my Haflinger
to stay with me through the levels as far as I can go.

Thanks for any help,
HS, Minnesota

"Thank you for telling me about Styleschutz. He is really a beautiful stallion. What is even more important, he seems to have a great character. We don't want to breed only beautiful horses. We always shall try to breed horses with good character, so everyone will be able to handle them, not only professionals. And he is really doing a good job as a sportsman. Congratulations."

G.Bramboeck, Austria

Jacques,

Thank you for allowing us to use your wonderful mare Perseide at the Equine Affaire.

Happy Holidays

Scot Hansen, USA

Hi Emilie,

thank you for your lovely note, I was planning to write to you as we enjoyed you and your family so much again this year I am glad you come down to join us each year...... and your horses are always wonderful. I will do the big painting of Style and it will be a raffle as well as a great back wall decoration!!!!! You sent an e-maiol to my friend Sharon Sage before EQ and in it you stated you hate snow, we have so enjoyed the way you said that and now we say just like Emilie" WE HATE SNOW!!!!!!...".

Keep in touch let me know what your dressage horses are doing and of Styles too........and you guys as well

your friend in horses, Audrey

I Love Pippin he is such a great horse!! I have ridden him every day this week, he is such a joy to ride, and so easy going his trott always surprises me because I forget such a little guy has such a big powerful trott and swinging shoulder. I finnally figured him out today and I got his hind under himself up through his neck and we go very round all the time! I thought I would add that everyone rides BIG warmbloods at Spring Creek that they paid $25,000+ and there was a FEI instructor that came to the barn and we practiced an Intro and Training level test, and Pippin took the day!! The complements were great!! The instructor could not beleive how amazing this haflinger is, you should have seen the other riders faces when we started riding and could keep up with the "big boys". Made my day :) I thought it was really neat seeming I had ridden him maybe 4 times before this. I am deff. hooked with haflingers, they have the potential to kick butt without the horrible hottnesss of the many warmbloods, they are the ideal horse!! I honestly didnt think the "perfect" horse existed and he does!!! Anyways I thought you would get a chuckle, I couldnt be happier. Pippin is pretty happy too might I add :)

Love, Pippin and Casondra

Dear Emilie,

I hope that you and your team, horses included, have arrived home safe and sound. It was a pleasure to share a stall next to you.
Mostly, I want to send you a great big thank-you for your concern, understanding....and especially for sharing the medicine with Misty. We decided to take her home on Saturday after having the vetrinarian look at her again. He said that she had made a remarkable recovery. Although in his best judgement, it was highly unlikely that she had anything contagious, he thought it best that we not take her back into the breed pavillion. That being the case, we came on home. She is doing just fine...no cold, no adverse symptoms of any kind. Her fiesty old self. So who knows what it was. I guess the main thing is that she is well. However, it was disappointing to miss out on the exposure we had hoped to get for her.
I looked at your website to get your email. It's lovely. You have beautiful horses and a great facility. Maybe we will be able to come up and visit sometime.

Warm regards,
Joan Schoenhals and Joe Kovach

Hello, I rode Pippin again today with another horse in the indoor and he was great! He is just so mild mannered and easy. He is so people oriented they put him in the therapy barn at night so people can pet him, he just loves that!, thanks again for such a great horse he is perfect!! oh and did you receive my last email with pictures of him and I?

He is so wondeful!!! He is even better than I had expected. I gave him some treats and he thought that was just the best thing. I rode him in their new indoor and he was amazed at his reflection in the windows. We Walked and Trotted around, the footing confused him alittle but he did so great. I didnt even expect to trot today with him being in a new place with a new rider. I have attached pictures of him and I. I will keep emailing you, thanks so much for a great horse! talk to you soon

Casondra

(on the article on Gerval Farm in the Haflinger Pferde)

Congratulations Emilie! That is AWESOME! That is truly a compliment to you, your farm and your stallions!

Keep up the good breeding!

Sharon

The dressage and jumping instructors I work with have indicated that Loanna Gold de Gerval is talented enough to jump easily 3.9" - 4' and her dressage is developing quickly enough that 3rd or 4th level is possible. She will make an awesome eventing or combined training partner. And besides that she is so much fun to ride!!!!!!

Marci Hicks, Arizona

Hello Emilie:

(...) It must be very exciting to start to look for a good horse. We had here at Morgado, two Haflingers that were teached up to Medium level and I enjoyed very much to work with them.

My Best Regards

Rodrigo de Matos, Chief Rider at the Escola Equestre de Portugal

I just thought you would enjoy knowing that Loanna passed her first 30 days of training with flying colors! She is awesome.
I was very pleased with my trainer - this is the first time I've used them. They specialize in colt starting and showing hunters
and jumpers. She has a very nice trot and her canter is very balanced - even with the very little they were comfortable doing
at such a young age. I rode her at home yesterday for the first time and she was really nice, so I do anticipate beginning
dressage next Summer and she should be ready to bring to the National show next fall. I'm showing her in-hand only at our
Colorado show in two weeks. They were impressed with her mind- such an important feature.
She has really matured. Very lovely. I will get some additional photos up in the next weeks.

All went well with Fed Ex and the insemination, but Bella had already
ovulated, so the vet thinks that we'll probably have to try again in 3
weeks. Thanks for all of your help. It's felt very supportive working on this
with you!
Cathy (B-C, Canada)

Hi !
Loanna was very good today -she stood tied to the trailer with Woody from 8:30 am to 3:00pm and did a very good job in hand. She scored a 64% and placed 2nd. I had a photographer take some pictures today and hopefully have some better photos of her this week.