Video Update: Impress DF

We are very pleased to bring you this video update of Impress DF. This 2016 filly is out of Highland Empress is by MASTER IMP, OUT OF A CAVALIER ROYALE/CLOVER HILL MARE,  a combination of Ireland’s very best blood, with close up relations including William Micklem’s stallion, Jackeroo, Zara Phillips’ High Kingdom,  Karen O’Connor’s Mandiba, Clayton Fredrick’s Ben Along Time, Mary King’s Imperial Cavalier, and Tiana Coudray’s Ringwood Magister.

Her sire is The Twain, our Nation’s best bred Thoroughbred stallion for Eventing. The Twain is by Green Dancer, who was a stakes winner in France, winning the French Classic before retiring to stud. He went on to Kentucky for breeding, where he sired many million dollar winners, as well as steeplechase stars. Green Dancer was named the French Leading Sire in 1991. The Twain brings the blood of NIJINSKY to the front of his papers as his grandsire. During Nijinsky’s brilliant career, he became an English Triple Crown winner, set a European earnings record, was Europe’s Horse of the Year in 1970, and was syndicated for a world-record price. He was historically important for establishing the international reputation of his sire, Northern Dancer. Retired to stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, Nijinsky was the Leading Sire in Great Britain, Ireland and eventually the Leading Broodmare Sire in North America. Sir Tristram, sire of The Twain’s dam, was the greatest Thoroughbred stud in New Zealand racing history. He was Irish-bred and raced in Ireland, England, France and also in the U.S. in the Kentucky Derby. He was then bought and retired to stud in New Zealand, where he sired over 140 stakes winners and an extraordinary 45 group one winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners. One of the most sought after performance sire lines of modern day breeding, Sir Tristram’s influence has been incredibly widespread, particularly in International Show Jumping and Eventing. THE TWAIN IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OVER 40 RECENT WEG, OLYMPIC, AND 4**** TOP TEN FINISHERS.

Owned by Dayna Lynd-Pugh, we are eagerly looking forward to what the future holds for this super star of a filly!

 

Congratulations Tanni!

Freedom Twain DF at her new home

Congratulations to Tanni Griggs on her recent acquisition of two year old mare, Freedom Twain DF. This full Thoroughbred is by The Twain and out of Warbird Commander, a paternal sister to Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird. "Frankie" is as beautiful as her namesake, Frankie Theriot, and has the level temperament that we have come to expect out of The Twain foals. She has an extravagant movement that will likely make spectators wonder what kind of warmblood she is on Dressage day, but there will be no doubt about her heritage come Saturday when she is blazing around the cross country course, and has plenty left in the tank for Sunday.

Tanni herself is a newly converted Eventing enthusiast, though she is no stranger to working with young horses, and will certainly do a fine job bringing Frankie along. We are so excited for this team and can't wait to cheer them on in their adventures together. Congratulations!!!

Dragonfire To Host The AHHA Northern California Inspection

Dragonfire is proud to be the Northern California host of the American Holsteiner Inspections on September 6, 2016. Please join us at 9:00 A.M. to view the best mares and foals this beautiful breed has to offer in our area.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the American Holsteiner and see first hand what you can expect from the Association. In the fall of each year, the AHHA conducts an approvals tour at sites across the United States and Canada.  The approvals events are gatherings of  Holsteiner horses and studbook eligible Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds for evaluation by judges.  Successful evaluations will enable stallions and mares to enter the breeding books of the AHHA and thereafter produce fully registerable offspring with AHHA papers.  In addition, the sites also provide scoring and branding of foals and valuable feedback for breeders.

We hope you can join us for this exciting event.

Chosen One DF (Coconut Grove x Diarado/Cassini II) 

It's A One-Two Punch For Stoneman DF and Be Real At Rebecca Farm

Stoneman DF and Jennifer McFall

Rebecca Farm has become the nation's largest destination event, boasting over seven hundred entries this year at their summer event that includes competition in FEH, YEH, Novice and Training Three Days, Novice thru CCI***.  It comes as no surprise that each division is hotly contested with some of the best horses and riders the country has to offer. The Novice Three Day is no exception.

Jennifer McFall piloted two great young entries in their first full phase experience in the Novice Three Day. Both Stoneman DF, owned by Cheron Laboissonniere, and Be Real, owned by The Be Real Syndicate, were stellar in their performances and grew immensely in their maturity thanks to the positive and challenging efforts a three day presents.

Stoneman DF

Stoneman DF emerged victorious, after a very impressive score in the dressage ring of 23.9. A full Thoroughbred, Stoneman DF has every quality you would expect of his bloodlines, with the added bonus of the loose and rhythmical movement required to get the good marks in today's competitive first day of eventing. His careful and stylish jumping form, even after the speed and bravery required on endurance day, ensured his win of the Novice Three Day at Rebecca Farm.

Be Real and Jennifer McFall

Be Real, is another exciting rising star for McFall. This Irish Sport Horse is a paternal brother of Ballynoe Castle RM, and carries the same blood as Master Imp on his damside through Puissance. He has the perfect temperament for success, with three quality gaits and strong jumping style. His reasonable and easy going attitude make him a top contender at every show he attends and his efforts at Rebecca Farm were rewarded with a second place finish.

Be Real

Congratulations Elizabeth!

Fürstenshine DF

We are very pleased to congratulate Elizabeth Thieriot on her acquisition of Fürstenshine DF! Bred and formerly owned by Cheron Laboissionnere, we know that "Shawn" is going to makes some dreams come true for the Thieriot Family in the years to come. 

This phenomenal Oldenburg colt is by the incomparable Fürstenball and out of Lady's Comet, who is by the famed Thoroughbred stallion, Comet Shine. He has legs for days, an impressive uphill frame, and an absolute stellar temperament. 

Fürstenball´s pedigree enjoys an influx of blood further down in the pedigree with Holstein and thoroughbred genes. He won his licensing and stallion performance test, was regional and national champion of Germany, sire of champion stallions, winner of S level dressage classes, 2013 VTV stallion of the year, and number 1 of the FN breeding valuation throughout Germany in 2015 - it is hard to do better at such a young age! With his first crop, Fürstenball had already produced the champion stallion and top price (400.000 euros) of the 2012 Oldenburg Stallion Days, Follow Me. Up to now, 34 sons of Fürstenball have been licensed, often awarded with premiums and some of them sold for record prices. He was champion of his licensing, with a sensational154.98 points in the dressage index (16 x 9.0 and better, as well as 10.0 for rideability) and with a jumping score of 113.65 to best the field of 44 stallions.  He was Champion of the German national championships of five-year-old dressage horses in 2011. He won the Championship with top marks: 9.5 for trot and overall impression, 10.0 for walk. 9.0 for canter and suppleness. Prior to that, he became Oldenburg regional champion with a mark of 9.1. In 2012, he put his quality again to the test with high placings at the regional and German national championship and at the World Championships of six-year-old dressage horses. In 2013, he won his first advanced level/ Prix St. Georges competitions. 

Fürstenball

Fürstenshine's dam, Lady's Comet,  was a winning USEA YEH Four Year Old before beginning her career as a broodmare. Although, it is her famous brother, Courageous Comet, that makes this cross so exciting. One of America's best and brightest eventers of all time, Courageous Comet, came from the track and  propelled himself to international fame with Becky Holder. The team represented the Untied States in both World Equestrian Games and the Olympics, as well as winning the American Eventing Championships.

Courageous Comet

This truly special individual combines the very best of his winning family before him, and exudes the class it takes to be dominate in today's sport world. Congratulations Zib!

Let's Go DF and McFall Lead Wire To Wire

Although just a mere 5 years old, Let's Go DF, owned by The Let's Go DF Syndicate, was the picture of a seasoned performer in the Training Three Day at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana. Piloted by Earl McFall, this young Holsteiner gelding (Linaro x Rani D) gave a brilliant performance in the Dressage phase of the three day to put them solidly in the lead in a large field of competitors going into the jumping portions of the competition.

What a gallop!

Earl described the Steeplechase as a bit of a surprise to the youngster, and he required a bit of scrappiness to complete the phase, but that Scotty had plenty of heart and a strong desire to compete. The pair came away with no penalties to add to their score and a new knowledge of jumping at speed. The rigors of endurance day suited "Scotty" just fine, as he settled into his rhythm and improved as the day went on. His beautiful uphill gallop was truly a sight as he completed the difficult cross country course and crossed the finish line with ease.

Scotty jumps beautifully out of stride on cross country

The Stadium test for Scotty and Earl was nothing short of flawless. They had a stylish and text-book round to finish on their Dressage score and secure the win. In fact, Earl was found back at the barn fielding inquiries about purchasing this great talent after the beautiful round! Although the Syndication has no immediate plans of selling Let's Go DF, there are a few shares available to those interested in sharing an exciting and successful journey with Earl and Scotty.

a clear round for Earl and Scotty

Scotty will now be taking a short, but well deserved break before the Fall season commences. He looks forward to competing in a few dressage and jumper shows before the YEH 5 Year Old Championships at the end of the year.

Introducing Fürstenshine DF

It is with great pleasure that we announce the arrival of Fürstenshine DF! This phenomenal Oldenburg colt is by the incomparable Fürstenball and out of Lady's Comet, who is by the famed Thoroughbred stallion, Comet Shine. He has legs for days, an impressive uphill frame, and an absolute stellar temperament.

Fürstenshine DF stretching his long legs!

In a congruence never seen before, Fürstenball sets a new standard in his own career as well as in his heredity. He won his licensing and stallion performance test, was regional and national champion of Germany, sire of champion stallions, winner of S level dressage classes, 2013 VTV stallion of the year, and number 1 of the FN breeding valuation throughout Germany in 2015 - it is hard to do better at such a young age! With his first crop, Fürstenball had already produced the champion stallion and top price (400.000 euros) of the 2012 Oldenburg Stallion Days, Follow Me. Up to now, 34 sons of Fürstenball have been licensed, often awarded with premiums and some of them sold for record prices. This stallion is pure fascination. Equipped with a maximum amount of easy elegance, suppleness and elasticity, he is the embodiment of the modern sport horse. Sold as a foal at auction he achieved price peak, being sold for a sum of 110.000 euros. He was champion of his licensing, with a sensational154.98 points in the dressage index (16 x 9.0 and better, as well as 10.0 for rideability) and with a jumping score of 113.65 to best the field of 44 stallions.  He was Champion of the German national championships of five-year-old dressage horses in 2011. He won the Championship with top marks: 9.5 for trot and overall impression, 10.0 for walk. 9.0 for canter and suppleness. Prior to that, he became Oldenburg regional champion with a mark of 9.1. In 2012, he put his quality again to the test with high placings at the regional and German national championship and at the World Championships of six-year-old dressage horses. In 2013, he won his first advanced level/ Prix St. Georges competitions. His sire, Fürst Heinrich, was a dressage horse World Champion and in his short time at stud he sired 49 sons and 56 advanced level/S level dressage horses. The dam line of Mon Amour, which is of French origin, has what it takes:  from it stem Sieger Hit, the Oldenburg champion stallion 2007, Hot Spot, the second reserve champion, Desiderio, multi-fascinating stallion, expensive top foals and many more. Inbred with dressage hero Donnerhall, Fürstenball´s pedigree enjoys an influx of blood further down in the pedigree with Holstein and thoroughbred genes.

Fürstenball

Fürstenball

Lady's Comet herself was a winning USEA YEH Four Year Old before beginning her career as a broodmare. Although, it is her famous brother, Courageous Comet, that makes this cross so exciting. One of America's best and brightest eventers of all time, Courageous Comet, came from the track and  propelled himself to international fame with Becky Holder. The team represented the Untied States in both World Equestrian Games and the Olympics, as well as winning the American Eventing Championships.

Courageous Comet

Courageous Comet

Combining the blood, heart and stamina from the Thoroughbred stallion, Comet Shine, with the movement, trainability, and beauty of Fürstenball has produced a colt that is simply out of this world. Fürstenshine DF will be a force to reckon with in the years to come.

Fürstenshine DF