THE STUD'S RECAP ON '24

The year 2023 ended with much excitement and joy, which ushered in a highly anticipated 2024, and it has not disappointed. In January we continued welcoming newborn foals into the stud. We where really blessed to have Dani Ludick as our stud manager, and Yanke Pieters from South Africa, here to help us with training, foaling, clipping and record keeping, up until the end of February. Ance Deetlefs also came to our farm from South Africa to help our riders for the April show in all the riding classes. It was an incredible effort from her as well as the rest of the team to accomplish what they did in the run up to the show.

We had seven foals born to us during December, January, February and March. Four purebred foals and three Anglo Arabs. We then managed to get another four Arabian mares in foal and one Warmblood x TB for the next season. The seven foals have been a delight to us and each one has turned out to be exceptionally gentle and loving which compliments our whole team hugely, grooms and management alike on the careful handling of our stock.

Our team of grooms, riders and trainers in March and April gave a dedicated effort in getting all the horses ready for the Show. The girls where up at five most mornings, riding, training and clipping stallions, colts, mares, fillies and foals until sundown. Special attention was put into acquiring and cleaning all the specific tack and attire need for each event.

The first Arabian show in twenty years was a resounding success for the Zimbabwean Arabian society and breeders. The event started in the early Bromley morning at Hillcrest. A strong contingent of Namibian breeders there in strength to lend a hand and give their much-needed support. Special mention and thanks must be made to Nigel Philp and Celeste Wright for hosting us all and providing good and secure accommodation for all our horses and grooms.

The show was judged by Janice Wight from  USA and Allan Preston from Australia. We as a stud where extremely blessed that our horses, handlers and riders all performed and competed impeccably. In truth I believe all three of the breeders in attendance can be proud of their respective efforts.

After the show it wasn’t much time to rest as our girls began practicing for various dressage and show jumping events at the ARC shows and Hipec, including the Zimbabwean National Show Jumping Championships. Although no major accolades were won, much was gained in experience and exposing the relevant public to the Arabian horses capabilities.

In August we welcomed two mares from Harwin Arabians for insemination by FS Thunder. We’re very proud to announce it was successful and in October both mares returned in foal with strong heartbeats in their uteruses.

November saw the arrival of our first two filly foals for the new season. One by FS Thunder  and one by FS So Magnifico, both with potential to be beautiful, elegant and functional Arabian horses. This was extremely exciting for us as we had invited the Peterhouse Equestrian Centre for a morning of Arabian horses. The children were delighted to see a newborn foal! They were taught about the history, uses, differences of Arabians – including a real life comparison between an Arabian, warmblood and thoroughbred. There was a photo display of the various disciplines Arabians can be used for, our Zimbabwean National Arabian Championship 2024, world famous Arabian horses, etc. The children fed and cuddled the yearlings, asked questions and ended off the morning with a short ride. The purpose of this was to educate and promote this phenomenal breed.

We were very honoured for SS Sariyah to be awarded the WAHO trophy for 2024. She is the first purebred Arabian foal born via artificial insemination in Zimbabwe. She has a wonderful temperament and her conformation is closely aligned with the breed standard. SS Sariyah won Zimbabwean National Champion Foal Champion (filly and colts combined), Zimbabwe National Champion  Filly Foal and Best Bred Arabian both in Zimbabwe and between Zimbabwe and Namibia. She had a near perfect score of 18.5/20 declared  by Janice Wight who judged both the Zimbabwean and Namibian Arabian Nationals in 2024.

December 2^nd saw the third foal arrive, another filly foal by FS Thunder. A wonderful way to end off a fantastic year.

We’re excited about the future as new dreams and vision are stirring within our hearts for furthering our stud to and ever higher level and standard.