A WHITEWASH FOR GRIFFYNDOR PROGENY AT CHCH ROYAL A&P SHOW

Blythburn Briar and her owner / breeder Anna Pitts.

Gurteen's Eden and owner Lydia Meredith.

There were two Griffyndor progeny competing in this year's Christchurch Royal and they came home collectively with FOUR wide ribbons!! Gurteen's Eden (4yrs) and Blythburn Briar (5yrs) both competed in the Warmblood mare class. Out of a strong line-up, they placed first and second. They went on to go champion and reserve adult warmblood.

Briar then went on to win Supreme Warmblood Exhibit.

Under saddle, Gurteen's Eden won the class for 4,5, and 6yr old WB from a class of twelve. Blythburn Briar competed in the riding horse classes where she won her size class and her paced and mannered and was reserve champion.

Well done ladies. An awesome show, and only a small glimpse of what is to come as more Griffyndor progeny come of age.

DISASTER

Terrible news for Griffyndor lovers. What we thought was a recurring foot abscess has turned out to be a cracked pedal bone. After his blazing debut into level 4 dressage (1st, and 2nd places), Griffyndor has been side-lined for a few months.

His competitors will breathe a big sigh of relief. He is down but certainly NOT out. The prognosis is excellent for a return to full work.

Unfortunately our plans of taking him to the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year show will have to be put off until next season.

Still, after a winter of consolidation he will come back next season ready to WIN.

2009 FOALS HAVE STARTED ARRIVING

Glissando

Koru

Koru

Griffyndor babies are emerging all around the country. Here are two boys that have been born in the last week. Glissando is by Griffyndor and out of Geneva (Genius/Witzbold). He is a full brother to the three Gurteen Stud fillies, Godiva, Gemini and Eden. Koru is named for his unusual swirling face marking. He is out of the 1/4 clydie mare Beaudecia, and by Griffyndor.

Have you got a new Griffyndor baby? Or a youngster growing up? We would love to put your pics on our gallery page for everyone to enjoy. Just email them to gurteenstud@gmail.com

AN AWESOME LESSON

This month we had two lessons with Manuela McClean from Australia. Tina and Griffyndor have been working on increasing their power.

Manuela took us forward with containing that power and asking Griffyndor to wait patiently for instructions. This was very amusing to watch as Griffyndor tried desperately to anticipate Tina's every possible whim.

By the end of the lessons, Griffyndor was sitting on his hocks with unbeleivable power stored WAITING WAITING WAITING!!! It was awesome to watch. It gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of.

Wow, it was exciting. All the people there were buzzing.

TWO GURTEEN STUD STALLIONS AT THIS YEAR'S STALLION PARADE

I am proud as punch to report that both Griffyndor and his younger counterpart Sinatra were a huge hit at this year's South Island Stallion Parade. Griffyndor was, as always, the consummate gentlemen and Sinatra thrilled us all with his professional performance. Both stallions attracted a lot of interest and will be busy boys in the breeding barn this summer. We are also thrilled that they complement each other so well.

GURTEEN STUD IMPORTS WORLD CLASS BROODMARE

We are really breaking into the big time now.

Gurteen Stud has recently purchased the world class mare Fantine from Holligrove Stud in Victoria Australia.

Hollingrove Fantine is by the Dutch dressage sire sensation Flemmingh who currently has 2 dressage stars at World Cup level, "Krack C" and "Gestion Lingh".

In Australia he is represented by a number of outstanding horses including Neversfelde Feuer, who is partnered by Australian Elite Talent Squad rider Kelly Layne (from Queensland). They are wowing the judges at Grand Prix level.

Fantine is out Faleten who is possibly the most decorated Australian Warmblood broodmare of her time.

Faleten is by the imported (into AUS) sire Falkland and out of a Monopol (Imp) mare. Faleten produced at least five stallion sons, some of which were exported. Stirling Liberty is out of Faleten and is a full brother to horses such as Stirling Luther, Stirling Lukas and Stirling Lilac.

Fantine was lightly competed as a four year old, with great success. She has gone on to prove her value as a brood mare by producing a super moving babies by the frozen semen stallions Falsterbo, Sunny Boy, His Highness.

Dancier

The quality of Fantine's offspring confirms the worth of breeding with mares of the highest calibre with the best proven bloodlines. No matter which stallion Fantine is paired with, she produces a big, friendly youngster who has movement to impress the most disserning eye. She is in foal to the hanoverian frozen semen stallion Dancier. Dancier is by De Niro out of a Lancier mare. He was the hanoverian stallion of the year in 2002.

Fantine is an investment in Gurteen Stud's future. She will arrive on the boat from Australia in late July and her foal is due in early Nov. Email us quickly if you are interested in securing the right to her foal which will arguably be the best bred potential dressage horse in New Zealand.

VERSATILE GRIFFYNDOR BABIES!

Gurteen's Prospector was bred by Gurteen Stud and purchased by Canterbury dressage rider Shiwon Green as a yearling. He is eventually destined for greatness in the dressage arena. At present he is getting a great overview of the world on the wild west coast of the South Island. His rider reports that he is a brave and sensible ride. If only all young horses were given the opportunity to have so much fun.

BLYTHEBURN BRIAR BLAZING THE TRAIL FOR GRIFFYNDOR BABIES

Briar is getting out and about. She is very successfully doing a little eventing, a little dressage, and a little showing.

She is showing her versitility and good nature by taking all the new challenges in her stride.

Anna Pitts (Briar's owner/breeder) has done a fantastic job giving Briar an amazing grounding as a young horse. Good luck for the future, guys !

We would love to show pictures and updates of your Griffyndor youngsters as they grow to maturity.

There are some gaps on our gallery page that it would be great to fill. We would especially like to hear if they are doing well out and about at the shows.

GRIFFYNDOR WINS BY 15%

Griffyndor made his competition comeback this weekend after a break of 18 months. It was so much fun to be back out amongst it. Griffyndor was his usual relaxed self even though the wind was gusting at gale force levels. In his first test (elementary 3.4) he blitzed the field by 15%, taking out the win on a score of 71%. In his second test he was flowing better and really listening to Tina. We were so proud of him and the judge was obviously also impressed, giving him a mark of 79% (view test). We are especially happy because both tests were judged by very well respected Canterbury judges Gill Usher and Helen Spencer Bower.

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE WE COME!!!!

Obituary

It is with a heavy heart that I let everyone know that our lovely big mare Croftlea Amazon was put down last week. She already had hip/pelvis issues when she came to Gurteen Stud but a nasty foaling this spring had put her in constant pain. After continuing complications, we made the decision that it was not fair to ask Amazon to go through another foaling. She will be a big loss from our broodmare band and not just because of her 17.3hh height and white colour. Everyone that met her fell in love with her. We are sure that her Griffyndor colt Angus will carry on her legacy. We also found out recently that she has one half brother showjumping in the USA at Grand Prix level, and another brother is shortlisted for the next Australian Olympic eventing team.

Rest in peace Amazon. We miss you already.

Gurteen's Eden too good to let go!!

March 2009 I am absolutely thrilled to let everyone know that Lydia Meridith who has been riding Eden for the stud, has decided to purchase the filly herself. Lydia and Eden have quickly formed an incredible rapport. Eden just adores Lydia which is hardly surprising as Lydia is doing an incredible job of riding her (especially considering that this is the first newly broken horse that Lydia has ridden). The pictures show Eden and Lydia on their second trip off the property, having a lesson with Manuela McClean (AEBC). Look at the pictures and remember that she is a baby horse.