Growing Up...the Waiting Game.

Levante went to two USDF shows as a yearling, placing first in both filly championships, each time against older mares.  

As a two year old she didn't attend any shows, but instead focused on growing, playing and enjoying large turnout with other mares.  This summer, as a three year old, she had 30 days of professional groundwork and 60 days under saddle with Mark Jakopak. 

Mark Jakopak (trainer) riding Levante in the warm-up ring at a local schooling show.

Levante SLS as a 3 year old

In the last month with the trainer she attended a couple local schooling shows to gain experience off the farm under saddle and also went on trail rides.  Our focus has been on a light start, as she is still growing.  She is very willing under saddle, but is again enjoying time off to grow up some more.  We did manage to capture a few pictures last weekend to chronicle where she is at in her development, before her winter coat comes in.

 

Levante SLS tied as a Top 5 Filly for the 2010 RPSI North American Tour!

The 2010 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International (RPSI) North American tour covered 27 states and 3 Canadian provinces. One German judge examined all of the colts and fillies presented, ensuring continuity and eveness in the scoring at all sites, regardless of location. Levante SLS went gold premium at inspection and has now made the list of the top 5 fillies in North America, tying for 5th with an overall score of 8.3.

We are very pleased with this news and look forward to showing Levante SLS (barn name "Elle") in-hand next summer.

Levante SLS Gold Premium Filly

On September 24th, 2010 we attended the RPSI Keuring at Solomon Farm. Gabriella II was accepted into mare book I and Levante SLS went gold premium with an overall score of 8.3!

Introducing Levante SLS (Landfriese II/Galoubet A)

Gabriella II easily delivered a beautiful, bright bay filly by Landfriese II on May 18th, 2010. Levante SLS has correct conformationa and demonstrates three excellent gaits with good impulsion and suspension. We simply could not be more pleased with the outcome of this breeding!

We intend to carefully develop Levante as both a sport horse and future broodmare. Although Landfreise II is approved Oldenburg GOV, Levante and Gabriella will be presented to RPSI this September, as there is no regional GOV inspection this fall due to the host farm's conflicts with WEG. More pictures and videos to come.

Galoubet on 2009 List of Top German Jumping Sires!

The 2009 FN Zuchtwertschätzung (Breeding Value Statistic for German Warmbloods) has been published. Galoubet A not only makes the elite German list, which is compromised of only the top one-percent of jumping stallions, but he ties for first place for his breeding value based on his offsprings' competition records! And when you are using a stallion for breeding, what his offspring can do is what really counts. You can see his ranking (tied with Heartbreaker and Lupicor) under the TSP value. Fantastic!

Obviously, as Galoubet is Gabriella's sire, this is wonderful news. Not too bad for a deceased French stallion! You can see the complete results by clicking on the highlighted text above.

Olympic Showjumper Abdullah

Gabriella's damsire is the famous grey Trakenher stallion, Abdullah. Recently honored as one of the top 50 Horses of the Century by the Chronicle of the Horse and inducted into the Showjumpers Hall of Fame, Abdullah is best remembered for his brilliant clear round in the 1984 Olympics--clinching the gold medal for the US Team. He and his rider, Conrad Homefield, went on to win an individual silver medal in the Games. Other international career highlights include the 1985 World Cup Showjumping Winner and 1986 World Team gold and individual silver medals.

Galoubet A Champion Selle Français Stallion

Gabriella's sire, Galoubet A, was a legendary stallion both as an international showjumper and as the sire of grand prix horses (including the international superstar Baloubet du Rouet).

In four years of competition Galoubet A placed either first or second in 22 starts at international level Grand Prix or Prix de Nations.

He was named the Champion of France in 1977, 1979 & 1982.

To learn more click on the purple text above (Hamilton Farms) or click on the picture to go to the Horse Magazine's "Great Sires" article on Galoubet.

Siouxland Sporthorses has a home on the web!

Welcome to SLS. I've currently abondoned working on the website: Siouxland-Sporthorses.com in favor of this blog. While that won't always be the case, this should be a more user-friendly means for me to communicate for now. So thanks for stopping by!