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From Left: Adrian Whiting and Wynne Russell get excited with the bidding card, Adrian and Manfred Schaefer study the Auction Catalogue, Sharon Cox and Dr Jochen Wilkens happily purchase a foal, Manfred Schaefer and Reinhard Baumgart study the foals from the centre of the presentation arena, Lady Sunshine (2 pics) purchased by Sharon Cox and Adrian and Rachel Whiting, Dana Vavrova purchased by Adrian and Rachel Whiting, Fransziska Purchased by Sharon Cox and Adrian and Rachel Whiting.

Our trip to Germany 2009 – Part 1 An adventure with Adrian and Rachel Whiting and Sharon Cox.

Any trip to Germany is fantastic and if you are like us, leaving 2 young children at home, it is also quick! This trip Adrian and I spent 9 days in Germany after travelling there by train via England and France. It was a great short holiday as well as an important business trip as we had arranged to buy a jumping filly privately before the visit (and had only seen video so far) and also hoped to obtain a filly at the Verden auction as part of the HHSA’s filly importation project.

I feel like I am now an expert at international train travel (all the stairs and suitcases, not much fun) but it was great to see some country side, even though it was just a glimpse and we were very pleased to finally arrive in Frankfurt on the 16^th of August. From there we hired a car and drove to Verden to meet our wonderful hosts, well known to many Australian breeders, Dr Jochen & Ulla Wilkens. The first day saw Ulla making us a huge breakfast ( a continuing theme to our visit) and then travelling to Manfred Schaefer’s (the President of the Hanoverian Verband and a Jumper breeder) to see the Stakkato filly from St.Pr.St. Gentilessa (Grafenstein/Pik Junge/Diskus). Gentilessa was a FRH (The Association for the Promotion of Hanoverian horses in Equestrian Sport) young performance horse before injury meant that she found her way into the Schaefer’s breeding program. She scored 9s for jumping in her performance test as well as 8s for rideablity and 8s for trot and canter. We felt that a typey, rideable, high performance jumping pedigree was just what Australia needed for the future of jumping breeding so after a look, were happy to sign paperwork to become the new owner of this filly Sentilessa.

We were then treated to a traditional Germany mid morning snack (huge), with lots of tea and great company. Manfred’s wife Ullricha is lovely and their son, Hendrik who is a showjumper speaks very good English. With business over, we ventured out to see the rest of the farm and the horses. In Germany they grade the quality of the land with numbers (as they do almost everything) and the Schaefer’s property is on a very high grade of soil with 80 points. Hendrik explained to us that this makes it hard in their area to find enough grazing land as it is valuable for growing crops. We saw Asparagus and corn growing mostly at this time of year (summer). We saw other foals (growing) from Gentilessa, a gorgeous grey mare by Escudo I and her foal and Hendrik’s riding horses. We also saw a young stallion (Stolzenberg x Escudo I) bred by the Schaefer’s that they were putting up for selection for the stallion licensing. It was great to hear later that he was licensed in Verden. He was sold to a private stallion owner and rider near Cologne. Hendrik told me that they are hoping to see him again, perhaps at the 2010 Bundeschampionat.

That afternoon Dr Wilkens organised to take us to another breeder’s farm. Cord and Sonja together with Cord’s parents Fritz and Elisabeth Badenhoop-Clausen run Holl’n Hof, a family breeding business concentrating on growing and selling young riding horses. It was enjoyable for us to meet some young breeders in Cord and Sonja with similar experiences and challenges as we face in Australia ie working a ‘real’ job as well as a breeding business and raising a young family. Sonja rides all the young horses and easily professes that she would keep them all if she could. Their stock is beautiful, and it is easy to see the abundance of Absatz blood in their older broodmares and their female offspring also retained for breeding. They had used Sir Donerhall, Fuerst Nymphenburg and Dancier last season and now had a paddock full of beautiful foals for us to admire. It will be interesting to see them under saddle in a few years time.

Later we sat down to drink some beer in the garden at the end of the working day. When exchanging words known in English and German, Adrian (showing off his German) pronounced ‘Ein beer and ein schnaps bitten’ all had a laugh but it wasn’t until Fritz disappeared and came back with a selection of Schnapps, that we realised he had taken him literally! It was a very pleasant afternoon and we hope to go back their again, maybe next time with our children.

The next day (Tuesday) saw us being welcomed at the Verband by Dr Schade as Dr Wilkens had set up a meeting time for us with him. He was more than generous with his time and we had some good discussions and were able to make clear the plans for the Auction later in the week. During this time, Sharon Cox arrived, a little sleep deprived but looking fresh from her trip to Verden from Adelaide. We were hosted by the Verband for a pleasant lunch (potatoes and bread everywhere) and then continued our farm visiting at the Baumgart’s. Hannus Baumgart is perhaps the best known for his early training of Isabelle Werth’s horse Warum Nicht that she comically nicknamed ‘Hannus’. The Baumgart’s property is amazing, even more now since other son Phillip has returned from managing PSI and has built another 2 arenas and a stable complex on the property.

At Baumgart’s there is breeding with the popular stallions Weltregent (Weltmeyer/Donnerhall) Romancero (Rohdiamant/Matcho AA) and Gavi (Graf Grannus/ Werther) (all live cover only), young stallion raising for colt selection and stallion licensing, and training of dressage with Hannus and

jumping with Phillip. We were very impressed by the competition stallion Big Brother that Hannus rides and who is incidentally full brother to both Libby Welch’s two imports (Brentano II/Weltmeyer). The Patriach of the Baumgart family is Reinhard Baumgart. Reinhard went out of his way to make us welcome. His influence on his sons is obvious. 62-year old Reinhard Baumgart is retiring from his position as manager of the Verden Auction team, a position which he took up in 1962 initially as rider and later on as stable master and head manager. As a note of interest, the new manager of the Auction team will be Hans-Henrich Meyer zu Strohen . The 52-year old Meyer zu Strohen is based in Hoya, and is highly active in the German dressage sport as trainer of the German Junior and Young Riders team and chair of the Hanoverian Stallion Licensing Committee.

After another lovely afternoon tea and Hannus trying unsuccessfully to give Sharon a job as a rider in his stable (Dr Wilkens can’t help but tell everyone that Sharon is SA state Grand Prix champion), we leave to meet Ulla for dinner at a local Hotel, summer eating German style.

Wednesday morning sees us taking ourselves for a visit to Klaus Bunger’s busy stables. Klaus, a now retired Board member for the Hanoverian Verband thinks a little differently about his breeding to most. He does not believe that a horse should be dressage or jumping, but that it should be just a good performance horse. It makes sense then that he bred and still owns the stallion Salieri who is jumper bred and also the sire of Anky’s Freestyle sensation Salinero. Klaus showed us a lovely young mare by Salieri who is for sale. She was very elegant and black! Unfortunately our trip to Bungers’ is cut short as we want to race back to Verden for the Celle tour and young stallion presentation at Adelheidsdorf. Klaus lets us leave with a piece of advice for the auction. He said ‘work hard, check bloodlines, pay attention and you will pick up fillies for a good price’. This is advice that we hope we can keep.

Matavia are thrilled that the grey gelding Gwydenn (Gymnastik Star/Remi Waikerie) has found a new home with David and Jo Stollery. David already owns a Matavia horse and another Gymnastik Star, Matavia Gynevieve (Gymnastik Star/Better Pine xx). This year David will campaign Gwydenn while Gynevieve begins her breeding career. Good luck to all involved. As you can see in the photos above, Gwydenn was well loved and cared for by his previous owner, Linda Lamb who bought him as a weanling and started him under saddle, and the Whiting Family. We know that he will be just as loved in his new home, and we hope to see him out there competing soon!

Congratulations to Dr James Gaite of the Philippines for this exciting purchase. Matavia are thrilled to have such a spectacular young horse sold to this highly regarded stable and a country growing in Equestrian Sport.

Matavia Filigree (Fishermans Friend/Matavia Gwyneviere/Gymnastik Star) and Matavia Worldly Girl (Worldly/Wilara Grafix/Graf Landau)

Matavia stands by the quote from retired Hanoverian Verband breeding manager Dr Jochen Wilkens ‘we must learn that breeding means thinking in generations.’ It is for this reason that Matavia selects the best from their own filly stock to breed on with. Matavia is looking forward in the new season to breeding the Fishermans Friend/Matavia Gwyneviere (Gymnastik Star) filly, Matavia Filigree, as well as classifying and performance testing her with the Hanoverian Society of Australia. Matavia firmly believes that assessing mares and stallions to the highest standards, in order to obtain Breeding Values for future breeding choices, is paramount to their success as a small stud, only breeding a few mares per year.

The yearling filly Matavia Worldly Girl (Worldly/Wilara Grafix (Graf Landau) has also been retained by the stud for its future breeding program. This filly who carries the genes of superstars Weltmeyer and Brentano II, scored a 9.5 for her walk, 8s for trot, canter and type, when foal assessed by the Hanoverian Verband.

Matavia Cheval (Champion FP/Matavia Paparazzo xx) - Weanling Colt - check out the for sale page

Matavia Freemantle (Fishermans Friend/Wien Dame K) - Weanling Colt - check out the for sale page

Matavia Freemantle (Fishermans Friend/Ribbleton Poppy) - Rising 2yo Gelding - check out the for sale page

Matavia Gwydir (Gymnastik Star/Wien Dame K) - Rising 2yo Gelding - check out the for sale page

Matavia World Games and Wilara Grafix Sold to Melanie Boot, Sunshine Coast, QLD.

Congratulations to Melanie Boot, proud new owner of the yearling filly Matavia World Games (Worldly/Matavia Gwyeneviere) and the proven broodmare and performance horse, Wilara Grafix (Graf Landau/Wien Dame K). Melanie is excitingly awaiting Grafix's foal to new Hanoverian import Lauries As by Londonderry, one of the first foals to be born by this stallion in Australia. See our 'For Sale' page for more information.

Matavia Rivendell and Katlin Hull - WA 6yo Young Dressage Horse Champions!

They've done it again! Only a few months since this combination won the State Novice Championships, Katlin and 'Fred' have won the Horseland sponsored WA 6yo class. This is an amazing progression from Novice to Medium work in 5 months and a testament to Fred's character and temperament and Katlin's training ability. Adrian and Rachel from Matavia PH were able to see the competition and were wrapped by the performance and Fred's development since being sold as a 4yo. He looked truly beautiful.

Katlin and Fred in the 6yo final Katlin and Fred with a happy Adrian and Rachel from Matavia Performance Horses.

Wien Dame K has just given birth to another elegant colt for Matavia PH, this time by National Prix St Georges Champion, Fishermans Friend. This new colt, Matavia Freemantle, has winning performance horses on both sides of his pedigree. His Father, Fish, not only is a champion himself, but sired the recent top price Auction horse at the November Verden Auctions 'Fair Play'. He is also sire of Spain's National YH winner and World Young Horse representative in Germany this year as well as many State Premium Mares and performance horses around the world. Freemantle is dark brown with a star and hind sock.

Matavia Performance Horses is pleased to announce the birth of a new Showjumper or eventer of the future. Matavia Cheval, bay colt with blaze and hind sock, is by German Performance Stallion Champion FP (Champion Du Lys/For Pleasure), from a top young thoroughbred mare Matavia Paparrazo. Champion Du Lys and For Pleasure are both top showjumpers in their own right.

Adrian, Rachel and the boys, are on an adventure in WA at the moment. Until they return, all Matavia horses are being managed by a stud in Qld. Otherwise, all breeding and performance of horses will continue as normal with Adrian and Rachel still making all stud decisions and breeding plans. Contact Rachel for more information (see contact us page). All horses are available for viewing in Qld.

Last weekend Matavia Rivendell won WA State Novice Champion with scores of up to 75.2%

Katlin bought him as a just under saddle 3yo after he was broken in by Jeremy Janjic. Breeder, Rachel Whiting, and Christine Crawford did his early training after the initial rides. Owner/Rider Katlin Hull had been training with Glenis Barry in Sydney but recently returned home to WA.

Rivendell or ‘Fred’ is now a seasoned traveller with 3 trips across Australia under his belt.

Katlin had recently advertised Fred for sale but decided to keep him and thinks he is getting better all the time!

He won the Novice championship and the Prelim Reserve Championship at the WA State Dressage titles last weekend.

‘I did a judges clinic last night with Sue Cunningham and she adored him. I got lots of very good feed back from her and the other judges, but the best thing is that I feel he can still do a lot better than what he is achieving now. He behaved so well all night.’

Matavia Gwyneviere (Gymnastik Star / Kinnordy Windstille) sold to Fiona and Sarah Normand of Victoria.

Congratulations on the purchase of Gwyneviere. We know that she has gone to an excellent home where she is well loved by Fiona and Sarah.

Remi Waikerie (Winterkoenig / Remi Daylight Saving) to Louise Cairns of Opal Park Stud.

Congratulations Louise on the purchase of Waikerie. We hope you have many happy years together.

Worldly Girl and Gwydir have been weaned from their mothers and are now living happily together in their paddock. They are starting lead training and are learning quickly. They will be ready to walk onto a horse float to their new homes soon, so give us a call or pop us an email!

As always the NSW leg of the Hanoverian Tour was a huge success, and I am excited to say, bigger and better than ever!

NSW as a population of Hanoverian breeders, owners and riders is growing, and our Classifier for 2008, Herr Fritz Von Blottnitz, was very pleased with what he saw. Whilst I knew that Fritz was a practised mare judge for the Verband, I didn’t realise his expertise in sport horses before his arrival. Fritz is an international FEI Horse Trials Judge and was once a very good event rider himself. He was able therefore to give both riders and breeders much advice to make their horses more gymnastic and athletic both with different stallions over mares as well as training exercises.

The tour started in NSW on Sunday 24^th Feb in Lochinvar by the glorious Hunter River in the Hunter Valley. Fritz was happy to see the green pastures of the Hunter after witnessing first hand the drought in SA and VIC earlier in the week. We hope these states will soon get some more drought relief.

Foals by Worldly, Fishermans Friend and Gymnastik Star were viewed at our property with Fritz most impressed with all foals (they all scored over 8) and giving Worldly Girl a 9.5 for walk and Gwydir a 9 overall making him one of only 9 foals from 70 on tour scoring 9 or over. It was well worth all the hard effort handling and plaiting mares and foals before hand. Thanks so much to Wendy and Crystal who groomed and handled for us in preparation and for the presentation. You did a fabulous job girls!

Above World Games - 8, Gwydir - 9, Fisher King - 8.9 and Worldly Girl - 8.5 (9.5 for walk) at the 2008 foal assessment and branding.

Check out the report by Berni Saunders on Matavia Rohan River Dance / Ribbleton Poppy

Go to our For Sale page to see Poppy's latest foal by Fishermans Friend 'Matavia Fisher King'

Second in the 4 YO class was the gorgeous leggy gelding Matavia Rohan
who was very nicely ridden by Jessica McMahon who has a number of lovely horses out in competition at the moment. Rohan was purchased from Rachel and Adrian Whiting from Matavia Performance Horses in NSW by the McMahon family, when the horse was just a foal. I discovered that Matavia Rohan was awarded best colt foal at the Hanoverian Tour of 2004, by German Hanoverian Classifier Klaus Bunger. The breeders were delighted to hear of his recent success and Rachel said to me, "Rohan appears to have kept his good looks and striking movement, we are proud to have bred such a horse. He is by River Dance (Rubenstein) and from Ribbleton Poppy (Pommery). Rohan has some of the best German bloodlines and was an absolute pleasure to handle, even as a young foal."

It is gratifying to see the progressive Australian breeders being rewarded for the commitment to improve their broodmare band as good mares are the foundation of good stock. Matavia Stud is very pleased that their Pommery mare has produced two wonderful youngsters by the exciting Hanoverian import, Fishermans Friend.

We are very excited to announce the birth of our last foal for the season! World Games was born last night at 11.36 pm, the second foal to Matavia Gwyneviere and our second Worldly filly this year.

This filly has world class champions in both sides of her pedigree - Debbie McDonald's Brentina, Isabelle Werth's Warum Nicht and many more. Gwyneviere's siblings are out there doing it in the dressage world with David Stollery and Matavia Gynevieve (Gymnastik Star/ Better Pine xx) having success at everything they achieve including achieving the title of Elite Mare Candidate in her Hanoverian Performance test in 2006.

We love to hear from past clients and their stories about their Matavia Horses that they adore. Linda Lamb from the NSW North Coast, bought Matavia Gwydenn Gymnastik Star/Remi Waikerie as a foal and recently had him broken in. She writes:

I love this horse, he is so soft and kind. I will ride him for another month or so, then turn him out for a few months to grow and have some R n R.

Today Gwydenn and I rode out alone into the state forest near Old Bar. This was all new, all by ourselves, and it was a real milestone for me. (we have been going out every day, but always with other riders.) He is such a lovely guy, I wouldn't ride out alone on many other 3 year olds with only 2 months riding on them, but he was really excellent. Very forward, HUGE walk, big trot and comfy canter. He is working very nicely off my leg, and starting to take up the contact. He goes happily up and down banks, thru puddles, and over logs....my future eventer! He's starting to muscle up too. It'll be hard to turn him out and give him the time off that I believe he needs. I'll keep going with him until mid January though. Linda.

25th November 2007

Matavia Fisher King - Bay colt by Fishermans Friend / Ribbleton Poppy (Pommery)

Poppy's Fisherman's Friend foal from last season was kept by Remi Stud for breeding and when looking at Fisher King, there is no question why.

Fisher King has a double cross of the famous dressage stallion Pik Bube. In this colt you can see the culmination of good solid German breeding with Poppy by the Frozen Semen German Hanoverian Stallion Pommery, and Fishermans Friend an imported licensed and performance tested Hanoverian Stallion.

Poppy's first foal by River Dance, Matavia Rohan, won champion colt foal of the Hanoverian tour in his year of birth and is now owned by VIC YR squad member Jessica McMahon. She has him just starting under saddle and is very happy with his attitude to work, ability and temperament.

Fisher King's trot has amazing rhythm and cadence for a foal. A winner on the arena of the future.

7th November 2007

Matavia Worldly Girl born - Chestnut (Grey) filly by Worldly (Weltmeyer/Brentano II) / Wilara Grafix (Graf Landau/Winterkoenig)

We have long been awaiting the arrival of the first of our two Worldly foals expected this year.

Worldly Girl is a strong, large boned but elegant foal who will knock them all dead in the dressage arena in future years.

This filly has world class champions in both sides of her pedigree - Debbie McDonald's Brentina, Isabelle Werth's Warum Nicht, Peter McMahon's KS Genoa and many more.

2nd November 2007

Matavia Gwydir born - Dk Brown Colt by Gymnastik Star/Wien Dame K

We are excited to announce our first foal for the season, a lovely dark brown colt out of Wien Dame K (Winterkoenig) by Gymnastik Star. Whilst this is our first foal out of 'V', it is not her first. She has bred many lovely foals including the Graf Landau mare from our broodmare herd, Wilara Grafix, Wilara Woomera, a Wolkentanz II mare now owned by Qld rider Libby Welch, and Wilara Gymea, a full sister to Gwydir, now owned by Cheryl O'Brien of Remi Stud.

Gwydir has a fabulous trot with super high knee action and a typical Gymnastik Star balanced canter. He will make a top dressage horse or a competitive eventer.

10th October 2007

Horse Flu at Matavia - wrapping it up or being optimistic

All of our horses are now over the flu. We were either very lucky or our horses are well managed. We only used 3 tubs of Mucoprim or Bromotrimadine between 2 mares and a minimum amount of bute. Now we just need to wait it out to see the mares foal and hope we don't get this flu back.

The vets are still saying that the foals should have immunity and as ours won't be born until the mares are completely over the virus, we are truly very lucky. When asking about vaccination for the foals I have been told that in Europe they wait until 4 months old and that is what they are suggesting we do here. So while our horses are all healthy, the issue in the Purple zone is that there are no restrictions on movement and we are working hard to ensure that we do not bring EI back to our property.

BIOSECURITY - the word that says it all!

25th September 2007

Horse Flu at Matavia - recognising the symptoms and looking at the way forward

When Berni Saunders from Cyberhorse asked me to share some information sent to her in a private e-mail, I was reluctant at first as it makes you a bit nervous to disclose the information you are infected to the whole country. However, we are all in this together and the experience that we have had at Matavia Performance Horses, may help others. Sadly, the reality is that everyone in the "red zone" is going to be affected by this outbreak of Equine Influenza not matter what level of care and observance of the DPI Guidelines. Here in the Hunter Valley, we are completely surrounded by properties which have reported cases of EI before we observed the first worrying signs - our Vet and others have suggest it was only a matter of time before our horses also got it.

The Equine Flu is definitely carried on the wind. We believe it came to us from the other side of the Hunter river. We are quite sure of this as none of our horses have been off the property in months and we have had very limited and controlled contact with other horses.

I also think it's beneficial to all to use our experiences for education rather than hiding the facts or rumour mongering. There is still a bit of that around here!
With all the properties around us coming down with EI, it was inevitable we would get it. It is contaminating most properties now through the wind. Luckily for all, the Hunter Valley in Sept is very windy!

Our case is not confirmed but seems to be positive. I thought people may be interested to hear of the first symptoms I saw. We have 8 horses on our property. A pony gelding, 2 empty mares, 1 yearling filly, 4 pregnant mares.

22/9
Pony looking lethargic, standing around not eating.

23/9
Pony coughing temp of 40degC.

Empty 4yo mare coughing
Yearling and 20yo pregnant mare looking lethargic. Mare 37.5 deg C

Yearling lying down to rest.

All others look fine

24/9
Pony still coughing

Empty 4yo still coughing,

Pregnant mare looking brighter

Her companion pregnant mare looking lethargic,

Yearling coughing and lying down.

25/9
DPI came today to put 'danger' signs everywhere as we are now officially in quarantine.
They also brought boot wash tubs, disinfectant, truck wash and a sprayer so all our boots, gloves and hats are slightly damp at all time. We are machine washing clothing and showering as soon as we enter the house as instructed and of course spray cars and wear different clothing and shoes when we go to town.

Pony still coughing with nasal discharge,
Empty mare still coughing
Her companion empty mare now coughing
Yearling filly now coughing.
2 of the mares in foal seem to have had their temp spikes. One at 38.8 (we gave her bute) and one at 38.4. None of the broodmares have coughs or nasal discharge at this stage.

The Way Forward ...

Local Vets are saying that horses recover well and the only risk to unborn foals is a very high temp in the mare. Our vets are advising to give bute if we observe temperatures over 39 degrees as this help to keep the fever controlled. Our pony now has a nasal discharge.
So many properties are infected around the Hunter region where we are situated, so the authorities are not testing them all, they take the approach that all of the horses in close proximity to a positive case will also be positive to EI. I have reported our situation to the DPI and the Rural Lands Protection Board.

We understand that we won't see vaccine in the red zones (except for race horses!!). They are just going to let us all get it and allow nature to deal with the problem 'her way'! We will wait and see how our horses recover, before making our breeding season decisions. Our vets advise that we can go ahead with breeding our mares but they will need to come to us, we can't travel into Maitland.

We are recording temperatures of our 4 mares in foal twice daily now to ensure that they do not have an elevated temperature which goes untreated.

I Hope this answers some questions that readers have about Equine Influenza and the early symptoms. I'm sure the worst is still to come, but our horses are all in very good condition (dapples on the broodmares,) so they should recover well.

Thankyou for your best wishes and assurances that the horse community are feeling for the people like us who have been affected.

In any case of hardship, there are always those who are worse off and Adrian and I wish them well and trust that they can get back to 'normal' soon.

Thankyou for the opportunity to share our story and we hope to have out horses out and about soon.

(As published on Cyberhorse - Written by Rachel Whiting and Edited by Berni Saunders - 25.09.07

Update on WA YR Katlin Hull - competing in the East.

Read below to see the success of one of our Hanoverian Young Rider’s and her Hanoverian Young Horse at the NSW Young Rider Dressage Champs:

Katlin Hull competed very successfully at the NSW Young Rider Dressage Championships held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre at the end of June. Katlin and her two horses, Matavia Rivendell (River Dance/ Windstille/Winterkoenig) and Challenger xx, completed nine very consistent tests over the four days of competition, placing in all classes.

Four and a half year old Rivendell was entered in the Prelim 1.3 and 1.4 placing 5^th (Prelim 1.3 61.8%) and 6^th (Prelim 1.4 63.2%) giving them a 4^th position in the Preliminary Championship. The youngster also managed a 6^th placing (61.875%) in the Novice Freestyle event held in the beautiful indoor arena.

Challenger finished 4^th in the FEI Junior Individual test on a score of 56.25%. The combination then went on to compete in the medium competition placing 1^st and 3^rd in the 4.3 and 4.4 respectively with scores of 73.333% and 68.947%. These great scores saw them take out the Medium Championship against some very tough competition. The Medium/Advanced Freestyle once again showed class with a 2^nd placing on 65.625%.

The last day of the competition for them was the Advanced level. These tests were the first competitive Advanced tests tackled by the combination, finishing up with a 4^th placing in the 5.3 on 61.829% and a 5^th in the 5.4 on 58.542%. These two scores combined put them 4^th in the Advanced Championship.

Katlin and her two horses have been training with Glennis Barrey in Sydney since competing at the National Young Rider Championships in April this year.

Katlin Hull, WA young rider squad member has made the long trip from WA and is currently in Sydney training with Glennis Barrey with both Fred (Matavia Rivendell) and her other horse, Challenger. Fred was originally entered for the Vic Dressage Festival, his team decided to scratch him quite early on in the piece, well before the draw was published, as they just didn't know how he would cope with the trip and then competing etc, so thought it just better to leave him out of the comps. They needn't have worried!

While they were in Melbourne, the horses were agisted at a property in Melton that hosted a fundraising event a couple of days before they left. It was called "Sing With The Stallions" combining horses and Opera and the Melbourne Orchestra. Katlin and Fred (Matavia Rivendell) did a little dressage demo for the crowd - he was an absolute champion! He also participated in a little money maker where the public could buy a carrot with a gold coin donation to feed the horses in the stables, he was very good at that too. He made us laugh though as it didn't take him long to work out that people should be bringing him carrots and pats and anyone that didn't got a fairly grumpy look!

Fabulous news today. Matavia Gwyneviere received a PPT to Worldly (Weltmeyer/Brentano II).

See below pictures of Gwyneviere as a riding horse (Peter Stoop Photography), Worldly and Worldly with his champion super sire Weltmeyer (Berni Saunders - Cyberhorse)

WA young rider squad member Katlin Hull has had an exceptional first few months with her new gelding Matavia Rivendell (River Dance / Windstille). Rivendell (Fred) has shown fabulous young horse qualities at dressage competitions, young rider squad rallies, and a Hack Show in which he received supreme champion in the unofficial ring. He also attended a two day clinic with Uwe Spenlen who commented several times what a lovely, quality horse he is. He also said that, "all four year old horses should look like your horse". Uwe is great with young horses, doesn't stress them out and gets them going really softly and Fred was looking super.

Katlin plans to take Fred to the WA summer series held at the State Equestrian centre during January and February, with the rest of her comps starting up slowly after that. She is also planning on
taking him and her other horse to the National YR Champs at Werribee in April (starting on the 10th).

Grafix (Graf Landau / Wien Dame K) using frozen semen to Worldly (Weltmeyer / Brentano II)

At 4am this morning Matavia Filigree 'Iggy' was born without any difficulties. She is the first foal for Matavia Gwyneviere (Gymnastik Star / Windstille) and is one of the first crop of foals since Fishermans Friend was imported. As you can see from these photos taken at just 4hours old both Gwynie and Iggy are doing well. Iggy has long legs typical of all the Fishermans Friend foals and has her dam's great colouring. Keep track of this page for updates.

Ribbleton Poppy's second foal was born this morning. Remi Flower Power is one of the first crop of foals by Fishermans Friend since he was imported from the German State Stud Celle last year by Remi Stud. Flower Power is very tall and no doubt has a great competition and breeding career ahead of her. She has a double cross of Pik Bube through her dam's sire Pommery, and her sire's dam Penny Lane.