Hi all,

Hello from Cleveland!  My baby, Tazym, is having fun eventing.  He is a 4 year old Akhal x appendix cross from Allegra Steck.  I sent you pics from his first starter (unrecognized) event from earlier this summer.  Here he is at his second Beginner Novice Trial at Hunters Run in Michigan.  We finished (an accomplishment, as the cross

country was quite hilly and challenging!!), but didn't place.

Trainer Judy Lorimer and coach Jurgen Gohler (former member of the German Olympic Eventing squad [since we are in the Olympic swing!]) are very pleased with his progress.  We will be in KY at the Classique when you are there for the rare breed show.  Come find us!

(We will be looking for you all!).

Carolyn VanDyke

Photos by awakenedimages.com

July 8th, 2008, News from Cascade Gold Akhal-Tekes

We got back from the Celebrate the Horse Expo in Puyallup, WA Sunday night and have almost unpacked by now.  We took 4 geldings with us, had 10 riders/helpers and in general had a great time.  I wrote about it in the ATSA blog, and we’ll have videos up fairly soon, so go check it out!   Then we’ll have a bit of a lull until my next competition to just enjoy the horses!

Now we’re waiting for our last foal of the year, who will probably arrive in the next 24 hours!

Cathy

June 4, 2008 News from Cascade Gold Akhal-Tekes

Galen and me and Wendy and her Nez Perce mare Allie finished the 50 mile at Klickitat Trek ride on May 31st.  We were doing really great until we took a wrong turn and did an extra 10-12 miles!  You can read the entire story on the ATSA blog.

I am now waiting for foals to come and hoping they will cooperate and come in between rides and expos!

Cathy

April 26, 2008-Cathy Leddy and her non-purebred gelding Galen on the trail at the Milwaukee Railroad Ride outside of Ellensburg, WA.  “I can now proudly say “I’m an endurance rider”, as I did my (and my horse’s) first 50 mile ride on Saturday, April 26th, 2008.  We had planned to be slow and steady, and we fulfilled this, by getting the ‘Turtle’ award for last place, but Galen vetted through with great scores and while he was tired, he wasn’t exhausted.  I have to say thanks to my riding partners, Wendy and Allie, who helped us get through it.  The complete story with photos is up on the ATSA blog if you’re interested.”

Photo by McCormack Photography

April 19th, 2008

Wendy Connell on Allie (Nez Perce mare) and Cathy Leddy on Galen (non-pure Teke gelding) both competed in the Grizzly Mountain Endurance Ride, April 19th, 2008 in Madras OR.  Wendy and Allie did their first 50 (and their first ride EVER) placing 26th out of around 40 and Cathy and Galen did their first 25 in 2 years, placing 12th out of 28.  Both horses vetted well, all parties had a wonderful time and will be doing many more rides this season.  Read a more detailed story on the Akhal-Teke Society Blog.

News from Freedom Run Farm, Michigan

Metman went all the way to Kentucky to stand in his stall, the weather was so bad that they closed all but one of the small arenas so it was better not to jump him.  I will be going with him to Travers City in July with my Holsteiners and I will be jumping my Oldenburg mare (if they ever get here) I had to postpone one more time to June 1 flight date.  I am considering letting him do some endurance rides if I can find a rider to take him.  I rode him last year with the kids on a 20 mile trail ride and he was a blast.
Other news: Magantli will be coming home this weekend, he is leaving Shirley’s on Wednesday.  He will be going to a trainer to learn tricks as soon as his mare is bred.  I am breeding him back to Sakinate.  Aishet will be bred to Metman again and Daga to Salam, with Metman as back-up in case he falls off (laugh) since he is still a little shakey on his back legs.  2009 foals will of course be for sale and in Utero may be purchased at significant discounts. If I ever get to take Magnatli to some exhibitions it would be fun for him to perform some tricks.  I also plan on driving him this summer.

Anne-Marie

News from Triple SSS Farms, Inc—Gekla (Kortik x Gumri 24) is in foal to Magnatli.  My first pure-bred baby is due 2/16/09.

Darkh Amber (who some of you will remember from Kentucky Horse Park) has been sold.  She is going to Texas to be a Polo Pony.  I have been promised frequent updates on her progress.

Shirley

Congratulations to Jacque Munn of Oasis Akhal-Tekes, Waxhaw, NC on her purchase of Murmansk, 1999 palomino stallion (Mamuk X Magnoliia), from the Pontecorvo Trust.  Murmansk will be competing in dressage this year in addition to attending to his reproductive duties for the farm and standing at public stud.  Trainer Stacy Smith of Carousel Stables, Monroe, NC will be riding Murmansk in shows.