He is a very athletic and balanced horse, he was performing walk - canter transitions (just for fun on his part I hadn't asked for them!) the fourth time I rode him. Added to this is a delightfully sweet and gentle nature, Colorado is very fond of attention and loves it when the girls feed or pet him - he's very good at lowering his nose so that a small person can kiss it.

His babies have also inherited this temperament, they are among the easiest I have ever had to train. After two sessions in the yard they could be caught easily in the paddock, and I have never needed to leave a halter on them to catch them. Shiraj was shown as a foal with mum, and at his first show, apart from coping admirably with the float ride and being washed and boxed for the first time, he went Reserve Champion Colt up against yearlings and two year olds.

River Oak Tabu, the sire of Colorado's dam, is a ½ brother to Tycoon, through their sire Arabian Park Egyptian Magnetic. Colorado carries three crosses to the legendary Ralvon Pilgrim, Australian International Champion show horse and the most well-known Arabian of his time. The River Oak horses are known for their showring successes, both in hand and under saddle; the Australian National Champions River Oak Imprint and River Oak Prestige as well as Jaytee Giselle and Jaytee Coppelia are by Arjai Summitt. There are also endurance horses in Australia of River Oak breeding, and, of course, Ron Males from Ralvon stud is a legend himself of Australian endurance riding.

Extended pedigree, pictures and video

Added to this is a delightfully sweet and gentle temperament; my youngest, Danielle, just loves Colorado and is often found at his paddock gate feeding him grass she has picked herself. Of course what she gives him is one 2" long blade of grass at a time, but he very carefully takes each blade and never bites her fingers. Mind you, he occasionally scores the odd piece of apple or biscuit that she happens to be carrying, so he's really onto a good thing!   On galloping hoofs, his mane in the wind out-flowing As if in a dream Walter de la Mare