SuperiorHorse Update - May 1, 2009

Update - May 1, 2009:

Current circulation = 200+ recipients

OUR FIRST (AND ONLY) FOAL HAS ARRIVED!

Buckskin Swedish Warmblood Filly

Registered Swedish Warmblood (SWANA)

Foaled April 30, 2009

16.0hh mature

Sire: For Play Elite Hanov (For Pleasure x Acord II)

Dam: Clair de Lune Premium SWB (Bernstein 761 x Asterix 694)

Our first (and only) foal of 2009 arrived 15 days early. Cirque du Soleil, or "Zaia" around the farm, is an elegant buckskin Swedish Warmblood filly and is a great granddaughter of For Pleasure, who is considered to be one of the best show jumpers in the world and was recipient of two Olympic Team Gold Medals in both Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000). He also placed an fourth in the individual show jumping competition at the Sydney Olympics.

Zaia's sire is the newly-imported elite Hanoverian stallion, For Play, who won his 30 day stallion test in Germany. For Play stood at the Celle State stud and also qualified for the Bundeschampionat. He was awarded a 10 in his ability in his young horse jumping competitions and has many wins at 1.40 meters as a 6 year old.

Zaia received her name from the Cirque du Soleil production "Zaia" - a show about the dream of a young girl who journeys into space - and a celestial connection to her fabulous dam's name, "Clair de Lune". Congratulations to Chris who named this filly through our second annual Name the Foal Competition! The random draw winner will be announced shortly.

SPOTLIGHT: CLAIR DE LUNE

Clair de Lune was imported from Sweden to Canada as a yearling and has been a broodmare most of her life. She has also been a schooling horse in part due to her calm, laid back disposition. Despite having an impressive dressage pedigree, "Luna" and many of her foals are outstanding jumpers. Luna has had 8 foals, 6 of which are dilute (75%!): 2 bay Warmbloods (Clairomi '01 and Clairvoyant '05), 5 buckskin Warmbloods (El Niño '02, Elvis '03, Elmo '04, Clair My Way '06, and Cirque du Soleil '09), and 1 palomino Warmblood (Volaré '07). In 2008, Luna received her Premium B designation from the Swedish Warmblood Association - the highest predicate a mare can receive on her own (other predicates are a result of her offspring accomplishments). Luna has proven to be an invaluable addition to our SuperiorHorse breeding program.

Testimonials from owners of Luna's progeny:

Elvis - "Jessie is presently working with Dankca Ellis training Elvis for jumping. He had some work done last summer with Andy Wadowski in Dartmouth and he is looking really promising. He is an absolute unbelievable mover and is jumping over 3'6 now with ease. As far as personality Elvis is the sweetest horse in the world. He and Jessie have a great relationship and she loves him to death. He is very kind and very gentle for a big beast!!!! But, he is also an incredible horse with unbelievable talent and everyone Jess tries to get to coach her knows that and they almost get jealous of him and her. He is 17.2 hands high now and I don't think he will grow any more."

- Lynn and Jessie MacIntosh (owners)

Elmo - "Elmo is the most loving, kind and soft horse I ever had. His personality is very special. He is the most friendliest horse in the herd. He loves kids and he is very careful with them. If he could bring me to the moon, I'm sure he would.

He is now 4 and I rode him all summer on the trails. I brought him to some fairs and local shows and he did very well."

- Vickie Sauvé (owner)