The year started with great celebration when our new mare, Norifee, half-sister to the late Joy B, arrived from Holland and cleared quarantine in Canada on New Year's Eve.
And the celebrations just seemed to keep coming!
Making the change over from being a broodmare and mother to a "working woman" under saddle commenced immediately and Norifee took to the challenge very well.
She completed her first year of dressage competiton at training level, never out of the ribbons; traveling to Blainville, Grass Lake, Michigan, and finishing the year with some first level tests at the regional championships in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition, the big mare showed on the line in the the USDF (United States Dressage Federation) Cosequin Breeding Series. She is undefeated on the line, beating the stallions to claim Mature Horse Champion at several shows and winning the Series Title of Central Eastern United States Mare Champion at the Lamplight Regional Championships in September.
Norifee - 17 H. Dutch Warmblood mare by Boy B - Roemer - Ramiro Z
2003
2003 was a very sad year at Hill Haven Farm.
On July 9th, 2003 our dear friend and my equine partner, Joy B, was killed instantly when he slipped and fell in the horse trailer.
Joy was working on his Prix St. George training at the time of his accident.
Our thanks go out to Dr. Alan Young, Dr. Usha Knabe, and my dear friend, Heather Fairlie, who provided assistance at the time of the emergency.
Our dear Joy B, will be dearly missed. His character and tremedous work ethic made him a total pleasure to be around both in the barn and under saddle.
We salute you Joy! We will never forget you!
Joy B - 17 H. Dutch Warmblood by Boy B - Roemer - Le Mexico
2005 was an active and terrific year. Norifee continued her successes by claiming 2nd place in the yeld mare division at the prestigious Devon horse show in the United States..
Noescka, pictured on our sales horse page, also competed at the Devon horse show under her new owner, Kristine Purdy. Noey, as we call her, was never out of the ribbons and Kristine placed 7th in junior dressage equitation and 6th in the junior handler class.
Two new horses were acquired from Holland:
Remco is a beautiful 7 year old, 17 hand gelding, by Flemming. He was trained to 3rd level by Renate Landa and the international rider Hans Peter Minderhound.
Unbreaker is a lovely 4 year old,gelding, by Heartbreaker.
He was backed and broken by the international jumper rider, Jack Neefs.
Both horses traveled well and are settling in comfortably at their new home in Canada.
2006
2006 has been an exciting and wonderful year, thus far. During the winter months, I had the privilege of studying in the Netherlands with the two Dutch Olympic dressage riders Coby and Marlies Van Baalen.
I attended the prestigious stallion show and sale in Den Bosch and was treated to a special stay at the training centre of dressage master Johann Hinneman in Germany, where Coby and Marlies both train.
The opportunity to study in Europe was simply unparalleled.
It was made all the more special for me by having the opportunity to visit with my friends Jack and Nathalie.
In spring of 2006, we imported the most lovely 6 year old mare, Tum Tum, by Hamlet, for a client of ours. Tum Tum was competing at one metre 20 in the jumping divisions, often in the top 2 placing at competitions with more than 80 competitors. She is simply an awesome mare of exceptional quality, gaits and temperament.
Tum traveled really well and is now settling in nicely at our barn in Canada.
Tum Tum.
Hamlet x Nimmerdor x Holland
Norifee
Remco
Flemming x Landgraf x Doliart
Unbreaker
Heartbreaker x Nimmerdor x Burggraaf
2008
Two horses from Hill Haven Farm were out in competition in 2008 . Lyric, a lovely Hanoverian mare sent to us for training in the fall of 2007, started her dressage career in shining form. She was First Level Reserve Champion at her first show, earning scores in the mid sixties.
Lyric continued her consistent performance throughout the show season, with a high score of 70%, earning the year end title of First Level Champion in the Amateur Owner division for our region.
We offer congratulations to both Sylvia Wiggins, Lyric's owner/breeder and Kristine Purdy, rider and staff member here at Hill Haven Farm. Lyric is proudly offered for sale and can be seen on the sales page.
2007
2007 was an interesting and varied year with many significant ups and downs.
I spent a good deal of it in Holland, looking for horses and studying. Of great note was time spent with the fantastic Penny Rockx and I had the very wonderful opportunity of lessons on Johan's Grand Prix horse, Kondor.
You just cannot say enough good things about Penny and Johan and I encourage everyone to check out dressageclinic.com for online instruction and excellent videos. It's a really super site.
On the home front, a new Dutch Gelding, Roemer, was obtained for clients of ours. As the name would suggest, this gelding is by the famous Roemer, and he has a character that matches his spectacular breeding.
Not long after my return from Holland, we embarked on a total renovation of our 1872 farm house, . This entailed living in a Winnebago during the winter time.... a winter, I might add, that was the most severe in the last decade.
Also in the fall, my good, young horse, Unbreaker, underwent colic surgery. Hopes for a full recovery are on everyone's mind and certainly he will not be participating in any show activity in the 2008 season. Our fingers are crossed for 2009.
Our own Dutch gelding, Remco also completed his first show season this year, earning the title of First Level Reserve Champion in the same show series in
our region.
To round out the year, an educational trip is planned in December to attend the USDF Symposium with Kyra Kirkland.
Finally, in family news, the renovations on our home are nearly complete and we will not be living in a Winnebago this winter.
