Donella
Jul. 17, 2008, 12:01 AM
Ok, so some of you may know I have been meaning to get down to Spruce to see Le Primeur for a few months now, so today was the day!. And am I ever glad I went!
We got to see the boys in their stalls first. Lougheed is the 4 yr old son of Le Primeur from a Grand Cru dam. Looks almost identical to his sire but had the white around the eyes and stockings on all four legs. He also looks a tad leggier than his sire..but VERY similiar. Awesome temperment on him and it appears that he is well known and very much adored by the staff for this reason. The breeding director told us that he had broken his jaw in quarentine and is now doing fine, but it has delayed any show plans they had for him. He is also not very tall..maybe 16.1 hh and quite modern in type. Overall, I quite liked him from what I could see in hand.
Then we got to see Le Primeur. I can tell you going down that I was very interested in the horse primarily due to his breeding values and test scores (for those of you who don't know, his combined breeding value is second only to Contendro and he won both his jumping and dressage portions of his 100 DT with scores in the high 140's). Anyways, the pictures didn't do alot for me, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can honestly say, however, that he took my breath away. Absolutely a breathtaking stallion:eek:. Beautiful face..HUGE, kind eye. Lovely neck and good proportions all over. I liked his angles..he just looks powerful and yet elegant and uphill. Medium framed/bone. He just oozes presence.
SM's riding master Albert Kley rode him and all of his gaits were very nice, especially the canter. Canter was definately a ten. Trot had lots of suspension and elasticity. The hind leg was particularly notable, very quick and well flexed . Apparently Cara Witham ( O judge) had been to Spruce last week and happened to see LP being ridden. Kim (SM breeding manager) said that she and some fellow dressage breeders that were with her were completely taken by him.
During the ride a huge hail storm came up, lightning ect. We were outside and LP didn't blink an eye. Of course we came in, but he was very well behaved the whole time..he looked like a total blast to ride! Albert very much likes the stallion..and that in and of itself means alot.
We also saw Salito in the stables. I think he might be the only Stakkato son in NA? Anyways, he was having a sleep so I couldn't tell much but I can definately say that the photo on their website does not do his head justice. It is actually quite pleasing.
I had planned to use him (if I liked him in person of course) on my one mare but had tried a dose of frozen first. I hadn't really expected her to catch, but she did, so I will likely not be using him this year. I also have a three year old I would like to breed next year ..and I think I found her a date today!. I am totally in love with this horse (if you can't tell lol)....the jumper AND dressage breeders are VERY lucky to have a stallion like this in NA IMHO .
We got to see the boys in their stalls first. Lougheed is the 4 yr old son of Le Primeur from a Grand Cru dam. Looks almost identical to his sire but had the white around the eyes and stockings on all four legs. He also looks a tad leggier than his sire..but VERY similiar. Awesome temperment on him and it appears that he is well known and very much adored by the staff for this reason. The breeding director told us that he had broken his jaw in quarentine and is now doing fine, but it has delayed any show plans they had for him. He is also not very tall..maybe 16.1 hh and quite modern in type. Overall, I quite liked him from what I could see in hand.
Then we got to see Le Primeur. I can tell you going down that I was very interested in the horse primarily due to his breeding values and test scores (for those of you who don't know, his combined breeding value is second only to Contendro and he won both his jumping and dressage portions of his 100 DT with scores in the high 140's). Anyways, the pictures didn't do alot for me, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I can honestly say, however, that he took my breath away. Absolutely a breathtaking stallion:eek:. Beautiful face..HUGE, kind eye. Lovely neck and good proportions all over. I liked his angles..he just looks powerful and yet elegant and uphill. Medium framed/bone. He just oozes presence.
SM's riding master Albert Kley rode him and all of his gaits were very nice, especially the canter. Canter was definately a ten. Trot had lots of suspension and elasticity. The hind leg was particularly notable, very quick and well flexed . Apparently Cara Witham ( O judge) had been to Spruce last week and happened to see LP being ridden. Kim (SM breeding manager) said that she and some fellow dressage breeders that were with her were completely taken by him.
During the ride a huge hail storm came up, lightning ect. We were outside and LP didn't blink an eye. Of course we came in, but he was very well behaved the whole time..he looked like a total blast to ride! Albert very much likes the stallion..and that in and of itself means alot.
We also saw Salito in the stables. I think he might be the only Stakkato son in NA? Anyways, he was having a sleep so I couldn't tell much but I can definately say that the photo on their website does not do his head justice. It is actually quite pleasing.
I had planned to use him (if I liked him in person of course) on my one mare but had tried a dose of frozen first. I hadn't really expected her to catch, but she did, so I will likely not be using him this year. I also have a three year old I would like to breed next year ..and I think I found her a date today!. I am totally in love with this horse (if you can't tell lol)....the jumper AND dressage breeders are VERY lucky to have a stallion like this in NA IMHO .