Baby Shower: In celebration of the successful and safe birth of our first foals, Paint Horse Africa hosted an afternoon get-together with friends and food. The horses were on great form, with the newbees keeping the guests entertained with their antics. They really enjoyed the attention, particularly that from fellow fillies! Two fabulous photographers captured some wonderful moments from the event, one of whom was HQ's own Johann Thernon.
"Stars" for a Day: Our two California girls, Mona and Rene participated in their first photo shoot for a non-horse-related publication. They worked with a gorgeous, jean-clad model on Noordhoek beach for an Austrian magazine. Both mares relished in the additional attention. Despite an array of new and exciting distractions, these four-legged Super Models obediently responded to hand and voice commands, much to the relief of their beautiful bareback rider. The German photographer commented that these were "the best horses I've ever worked with". This earned Mona and Rene a few carrots on return to their home paddocks.
From Boys to Men: Pueblo and Leo graduated from colts to stallions in Dec 05. Confirmation of their readiness for commercial breeding was made by Stellenbosch-based Dr Rachel Shuttleworth. Both boys quickly developed the necessary affection for the "phantom". Unlike teaser mares, the dummy neither moved, nipped nor kicked! Subsequent tests showed that both had excellent fertility, despite their relative youth. Though we expected to start breeding to outside mares at the start of the 2006/7 breeding season, a few services were provided in the season prior. And, yes, theirs are SPOTTED!
Pueblo's First Outride: This was, in fact, Pueblo's first EVER ride. While he had been lunged and led while saddled, the morning of our beach ride was his first with a human on-board. He did not resist being bridled or mounted. After lunging him in the paddocks without incident, ridden by an experienced groom, he proceeded to follow the three mares through the wetlands and down to edge of the sea. This exceptional colt readily trotted, cantered and "whoa'd" over the next two hours, catering to a beach-side photo session with Horse Quarterly editor, Johann Thernon.
Rene, Su & Leo Arrive in Noordhoek: These young horses' long overseas journey ended with their safe transport from the Quarantine Station to their new home. As they had arrived in the heat of a Southern summer, from the cold Northern winter, their coats had been shaved. While nervous at first, their new-found "freedom" was greeted with bucking, bolting, and plenty of loud, joyful snorts. . . .from both ends! The new arrivals were wary of the three encumbent Paints, who stood, enticed, at the edge of a neighbouring paddock. At the end, it was Su that initiated the effort to say "hello" to her curious, new herd members.
Paint Horse Batch #2 Touch Down: Rene, Su and Leo landed in Cape Town on 8 Jan 05, where they were transported to Milnerton Quarantine Station. We were able to get our first ogle of this younger batch of horses from the office window, as the horses were led from their stables. Their journey had been an arduous one. After being trucked from their respective homes, they were put into a pre-quarantine area for 8wks. Thereafter, the ~36hrs that followed took them from California, to the Netherlands, Belgium, and finally South Africa. Needless to say, after a few days rest, they were FRISKY in the exercise yard, as the photos show!
Maiden Paint Horses Arrive in RSA: Mona, Rae and Pueblo flew into CapeTown on 9 Aug 04 - two weeks ahead of their new owners! After the perfunctory 30-day quarantine period, they were trucked to their Noordhoek home. Having never actually seen these horses in the flesh before, their arrival was especially exciting. All were in excellent condition - lean, shiny and unblemished. Once unconstrained, they went wonderfully wild - rearing, bucking, farting, and racing around the paddocks, kicking up heals with joy.
Paint Horse Picking. Paint Horse Africa started screening for Paint Horses in May04. The first palate of three arrived in Aug04, with the second palate arriving in Jan05.