Hunter Breeding.

It's probably not something you think about. Your performance barn's braiding list likely lacks anything under age 4. And, unless something went drastically wrong, your trainer never exits the show ring on his own 2 feet.

Such ignorance (in the truest & kindest sense!) is not news to breeders, nor to the many young-horse professionals that make a living in these classes. Every argument towards the value of a Hunter Breeding education has been shrugged off by the performance crowd, and the chasm between in-hand and astride yawns on. But, in discussing the Hunter Breeding experience with ehj client Danielle Semerad, who proudly exhibited her 3 y.o. mare Own It (Macy) in the Amateur Handler class at Devon, a thought managed to lodge itself in my craw.

"Into the ring I walked my mare, after numerous competitions on the local circuit, time spent practicing to stand her up and jog, and hours finding the perfect outfit. It’s amazing how no matter the amount of time and effort put into it, that Dixon Oval will make you feel like you are doing it all over for the first time. Nervous doesn't begin to explain the feelings you experience while standing in one of the most legendary rings in America!"

That, my friends, is the sound of one very happy amateur owner!

At just 3 years of age Macy has a wealth of show experience without the typically associated hard miles. She is ranked 2nd in the country and has ribbons from all 3 years of Devon attendance. A product of the young horse program at Magic Hill Farm, she has been professionally handled by specialist Emily Belin for most of her career. But, thanks to the Amateur Handler classes, owner Danielle has not been resigned to the vicarious sidelines. Nope. After earning 2nd & 5th in the 3 y.o. classes with Emily, Danielle was able to take center stage with her own filly at the holy-grail of horse-showing that is Devon.

“The preparations for Amateur Handler began long before I stepped foot into the Dixon oval. For weeks I mustered ideas of what I could wear that just might catch the judge’s eye... “neatness and presentation” of the handler is one third of the criteria you are judged on. The other two areas are the “presentation of the animal to the judge”, and the “overall condition of the animal”. In essence, you are expected to emulate the professionals to the best of your ability. The only criteria that professional versus amateur handlers are not judged on is conformation. In an Amateur Handler class, conformation of the animal should not be a determining factor. We prepare for the class; we take them in the ring and stand them up… and pray the horses are as good for us as they are the professionals.”

Here we have an oft forgotten stage in the horse’s career where heavy investments of time and money are not required. Training schedules are light, horses can go barefoot, and a $5000 custom French saddle is not a barrier to entry. It is the perfect level of horse ownership for all kinds of amateurs, be they cash-strapped working adults or starving college students, and the Amateur Handler classes go a step further to offer an affordable horse show fix.

So, as performance trainers bemoan a lack of owner support for professional rides, are we not overlooking a gateway of amateur-owner involvement with the Hunter Breeding classes? The benefits are two-fold.

First, a total of twenty-six amateurs showed up to handle babies at Devon. Most of these amateurs were also owners who paid a professional to otherwise show the baby, stable the baby, and prepare the baby at home. That's money.

Second, all of these amateur-handled babies are approaching performance age and many have started under saddle. And now, just like that, all these Hunter Breeding clients are now Baby Green Hunter clients. And they're already invested, involved, and excited. That's your future.

The benefits for owners are equally grand. Suddenly, what was once a $10,000 gangly mess of baby warmblood is now a $30,000 young hunter prospect that he/she can either sell or ride, and they didn't even have to mortgage the house to purchase it. The timeline is perfect for a junior that can’t stand giving up the horse dream through college, or a new mom that’s plotting a return to the saddle the second that little terror goes off to pre-school.

So what say ye, performance professionals? Rising costs strain the traditional school horse program and kids seem to be evermore strangled for time. Fewer and fewer are making the leap from once-a-week lessons to $2K/mth horse ownership, and if that trend continues new financial models must be explored.

Maybe it's time to think about our amateurs. Maybe the days of amateur-owned and professionally-shown aren't over. Maybe it's time to realize "young" and "old" are all most people can afford, and start structuring some opportunities around horses in those stages of life. Maybe there has been too much focus on the juniors, whose time with us is often fleeting, and whose career trajectory directly contradicts that of the young horse.

Okay, so something like 267 thoughts lodged themselves in my craw. Next up is a story from the west coast, where amateur owner Leslie Scharf talks about bringing young hunter Bohemain all the way up the levels, from Baby Green Hunters to Reserve Champion in the $10,000 International Hunter Derby at the Memorial Day Classic, without ever once riding him into the show ring.

Recommended Reading:
Linda Allen: Looking For The Horses Of Our Future
Growing Opportunities:
Young Horse Series
Interesting Chatter:
Hunter Breeding Classes are they worth it?

After a brief reprieve from Winter Circuit madness sale horses are flooding in again. Thus, web site upgrades I'd begun when listings were light have been shoved to a rear stovetop, and I'll have to dig through the recesses of 28 new horses posted in 29 days to remember what I was doing and why I was doing it. But for you, buyers, the news is good. We have lots of great new inventory.

May launched with a brand new sale barn from North Carolina. Apex Equestrian currently hosts five young jumpers on their Exchange page and a dozen others at their home location. Both the quality and variety of the Apex horses add great depth to the jumper selection on our site.

The German Horse Center and Hidden Hill Farm (also in North Carolina) both updated their pages with two new sale horses, and Greg Crolick's highly regarded Top Call Farm submitted hunters Borencio & Revival for marketing.

In one week we created and launched the custom sale barn page for Stal Wilten, which added seven more gorgeous horses to the site. With several successful show horses already in the US, an established clientele from California to Florida, and a solid understanding of what the American market desires, this Netherlands-based operation offers great options for buyers interested in shopping overseas.

Two veteran jumpers joined us, both hail from the Atlanta area and both sport names that will make you smile. Tum Tum (pictured) is an awesome partner for young riders stepping into the Jr/AO ranks, and former Grand Prix horse Querreque is a schoolmaster for USEF Talent Search, 3'6" Medals & 1.25m Jr/AOs.

Aren't those names just great? I'm such a sucker for alliteration.

Devon arrived and I had to ban myself from USEF Network to keep up the pace. We sent vibes of luck to sale horses Revival, Cartaire & Own It who were all competing at Devon, and welcomed superstar Medium Pony Blackout shortly after he'd pinned 2nd, 2nd & 4th on the Grand Grounds themselves.

Other wonderful horses were posted for a total of 28 new sale horse ads built & launched in May. That's over 20,000 words published, for those counting (me). This effort would have also gotten me 1/3 of the way through The Great American Novel. (#bucketlist).

In case you missed 1 or 2 (or 12) you can review all the new sale horses here: May 2014 New Listings.

And those web site upgrades? They're coming, along with more new horses to my inbox. May the battle between web nerd and horse nerd rage on!

Updated 5/22/2014

Congratulations to all 2014 Devon Horse Show qualifiers! We saw many familiar names among the lists including several past and present Exchange listings. Currently available Exchange sale horses that will be showing at Devon and available for trial are:

• Update! Blackout, available with Linda Evans & Orion Farm.
  2005 13.2h Pony Gelding, qualified Medium Pony Hunters. 2014 WEF Circuit Champion in the Mediums, winner 2014 Fieldstone Pony Hunter Derby, 5th of 71 O/F at 2013 Pony Finals. Available for sale or lease. Ad is in production, we will add the link as soon as it is available. Linda can be contacted at 413-530-9685 for trial.
• Revival, available with Greg Crolick & Top Call Farm.
  2008 16h Oldenburg Gelding by Roc USA, qualified for the Green Conformation Hunter division. Beautiful chestnut with a fantastic jump and very impressive wins in the show ring.
• Cartaire, available with Lauren Kissel & Patchwork Farm.
  2007 16.3h Dutch Warmblood Gelding by Voltaire, qualified First Year Green Hunters. Extremely well-bred and ready to be a serious Jr/AO Hunter & International Derby horse.
• Own It, available with Emily Belin & Magic Hill Farm.
  2011 15.3 1/2h Warmblood X Mare, will show 3 y.o. Hunter Breeding. Currently leads Zone II 3 y.o. standings and is tied for Reserve Champion nationwide. Started U/S, moves very well and has excellent form in the jump chute.

It's a proper thing international rider Kyle Timm found a homebase at Apex Equestrian Center, just 15 minutes from the Raleigh International Airport. Not only can he easily entertain buyers from anywhere in the country, it adds just a quarter hour commute to his various international destinations.

Growing up 30 minutes from Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada, Kyle was bitten early by the horse bug. Riding but not competing from age 6-11 gave Kyle the foundation for quick success in the show ring and in 2003 he represented Canada in the World Childrens Jumping Championship. He competed his first FEI classes in 2006, showing against the best in the sport, and was the youngest Canadian ever to jump around the Spruce Meadows International Ring at the time.

Kyle went on to show the Grand Prix circuit in the US and represent Canada in both the 2008 & 2010 North American Young Riders Championships. Fully committed to the sport he relocated to New Zealand in 2009. He focused on the proper development of young horses and twice clinched the National 5 y.o. Championship. He also qualified 2 horses for the World Young Horse Championship in Lanaken, Belgium.

To further expand his education Kyle trained with former WEG Gold Medalist Soren von Ronne in Holstein and Pieter Kersten in The Netherlands, head of KWPN stallion approvals at the time. He has ridden and competed all over the world, including Canada, USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, New Zealand and Japan, and was a World Cup qualifier in 2010 by invitation.

Kyle integrates the American style with European effectiveness and brings some home-grown international experience to The Exchange. He does not take on horses that need fixing but instead selects quality young talent and commits to working with them until they are ready to be sold. He maintains a strong focus on horsemanship and respects the animal as a partner. His aim at Apex Equestrian is not to simply sell horses, but to place them in quality partnerships where both horse & rider shine.

It sounds weird, but I started The Exchange to help quirky horses find homes. Obviously it has evolved into something else, but our humble beginnings centered around our own quirky horse experience.

Meet Casey, aka Classified, my own little claim to fame of the '90s. He was a race-bred thoroughbred, which was nothing to write home about back then, but he moved like a dream and jumped every fence in the same incredible style. Sitting his trot was akin to being double-bounced on a trampoline and the first time I jumped him I turned to my trainer and innocently asked, "Where the heck did his neck go?", but he was the nicest beast I was ever going to get my moderately funded hands on and we had a great run in both the Junior Hunters & 3'6" Medals.

He was quirky. Not the quirkiest by any means and always very safe, but he had his moments. He hated solid white fences, wasn't real keen to leave the ground if you didn't explicitly tell him to, and spooked at his own breath in winter. He would also respond to any movement on his back and one escaped lock of hunter hair whipping in the wind was enough to cue an ill-timed lead swap.

But we were very successful and his talent was readily apparent, so when I graduated high school and prepared to move 2000 miles away for college it never occurred to us that he would be a "tough sell". Kid after kid came to try him but nobody was writing a check. One potential buyer, a pony kid, got halfway around the ring at the trot then burst into tears of fear (his trot was freaky big). Others couldn't get him over a crossbar and still others couldn't canter a straight line without a barrage of tempi changes.

We took him to the big shows, we ran ads in the big magazines, we sent him to the big dealers. We did everything we were told to do but as my sophomore year at college dawned our options grew increasingly dim.

Sixteen years later and Casey is still ours. As I turned professional he earned his keep as a very fancy lesson horse and turned out some superb riders. When the time came we retired him on 200 acres in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley of California. He still roams those fields today with his own personal herd of mares.

Which is why when the GoFundMe campaign for Jet Jones darted across my Facebook feed I immediately took notice.

Jet was an Exchange listing back in 2011. He had an excellent resume but came with some quirks and a less than perfect vetting. Hoping his accolades would be sufficient we set about finding him a home. He had promising trials but ultimately no one was willing to commit to the horse that sometimes liked to "stand and wave at the crowd". The price was adjusted but still no luck. Eventually we had to admit defeat and Jet slid off our radar. Fortunately for Jet, young Kacie Doyle did not let him slip off hers.

This January 2013 article in California Riding magazine pretty well sums up the whole "meant to be" moral of this story:

(Jet) passed through several riders, with Kacie consistently expressing her interest to Jet's trainer Kelly James along the way. For a long time, the funds just weren't there and Kacie became blue each time she learned he was out on trial with a prospective new owner. Somewhere along the line, however, Kacie got the chance to sit on Jet and knew instantly that her instincts had been right: he was her horse. The fates aligned and he became so in early March.

Fast forward 2 years and many successes later and the late night call all horse owners dread came, the 18 year old Jet Jones was colicing. For Kacie 2 years with her heart horse simply wasn't enough, and the decision was made to help him fight back. But for a rider whose horse shopping budget limited them to a teen-aged veteran with ringbone and an occasional rearing problem the cost of surgery was almost prohibitive.

Jet was 15 years old when he arrived at The Exchange for marketing. Add to that his quirks and x-rays and you have the Tough Sell Trifecta. For every 7 y.o. import there are a dozen Jet Jones; veterans that have done their jobs for a decade or more, served half-a-dozen+ riders, and schlepped back and forth across the country. These schoolmasters are far from used up but carry the wear and tear of a seasoned pro. They are all too frequently overlooked while buyers opt for the shiny new import, who himself will be cast aside in just four years time, when his age rolls into double-digit territory.

The aged or senior horse faces a great deal of prejudice. While hundreds of bright-eyed youngsters arrive from Europe each year little attention is paid to the aging show horse population. Riders with limited budgets are encouraged to buy fancy and green rather than fancy and educated, and I spend many a night wondering what has happened to our teen-aged show horses. And what will happen to these young imports in six years time, when they themselves face a market dominated by 8 year olds.

I wonder what would have happened to quirky Casey if we had been successful in selling him. Would anyone have cared enough about a flighty little thoroughbred to fund umpteen years of retirement? Would he have been cast off as old and troubled? Would he have been sent down the line, and then further down the line, until his value was measured in pennies per pound?

What would have happened to Jet if Kacie hadn't believed in him? A 3'6" medal horse with huge west coast accolades that almost no one wanted. What are our plans for these horses? The answer is none. When it comes to the bread & butter of this sport, the intermediate jr/am classes, there is little incentive to purchase anything beyond age 10 or 12 (and preferred age is 8), despite the fact that the 1.50m+ grand prix classes are filled with horses aged 14 & up.

One day I would like to see USEF shine its omnipotent light on the horses that have spent years lining their coffers. I'd like to see incentives for showing senior horses, and grants handed down to those with 7+ years of service to the sport. But until that day comes I can only recommend that the BTDT 14 y.o. Childrens Hunter would work just fine for your 11 year old daughter, and offer Jet's savior a little monetary help with his vet bills.

Thank you Kacie for taking on a senior horse. A quirky horse. A battle-worn horse. I am donating to your cause not just for Jet, but for all the show horses that will eventually need a heart as big as yours in their lives.

If you've been inspired by this tale, or perhaps you've known the aged or quirky horse that simply needed a soft landing, I encourage you to give just a little bit in their name.

Please click here to donate.

Pictured below, Kacie Doyle & Jet Jones.

Each year Washington state's Spring National Hunter show hosts their $1000 Under Saddle Championship as a special Friday night event. Open to all horses, ponies and riders, regardless of age or pro/am status, this popular event benefits the WSHJA Scholarship Fund and rewards hard-working riders with cash winnings and other fun prizes. It's a low-pressure high-stakes event in which novice riders vie against seasoned pros and daisy-cutting ponies go head-to-head with floaty First Year hunters to be crowned the best mover in all of Washington.

With young Tara Heffernan ehj sale horse Coriana topped the 13 & Under section of the Under Saddle Championship in both 2013 & 2012, and finished 3rd & 4th (respectively) in the Championship's Finals (which takes the 4 top horses from each of the 3 age groups). Hoping to defend the title, Coriana hauled into the 2014 Spring National Hunter show solely to compete in this class and was rewarded with another section win, this time in the 14-17 age category with young Erin Heffernan up. The pair also finished an impressive 6th in the Finals, out of what was originally a 30 horse starting field. Congratulations to Coriana & the Heffernan family on your continued success in this unique event!

Here come the foal photos! Mother Nature can delay spring all she wants but the broodmares are sticking to schedule. Many of this year's foals will grow with the grass and bloom alongside the flowers, and many of our breeders deserve big giant HUGE pats-on-the-back for making it through this winter.

This was not a year you could just put the girls out and expect to find healthy and happy horses in spring. It was an arctic incubation requiring extra time, extra care, and extra love, and photos of fat and sassy mares with prick-eared babies are a real testament to those who have been caring for them.

Consider the first foal photos from Hidden Hill Farm. Against barren trees this mare & foal stand out as the most colorful things in the world, and clearly the dam (Lovely Lady RSH - Hanoverian), has been treated like the royalty she is. This baby, a colt by the Hidden Hill stallion Alpine (Alcatraz x Consul), is off to a great start in the world thanks to the careful oversight his mom enjoyed this winter.

Hidden Hill has several foals due this month and we're excited to see the rest of this year's foal crop. Alpine continues to stamp big, fancy markings and we're sure these youngsters will have the same great character and versatile athleticism that their brothers & sisters have shown. Hidden Hill has been producing this line for several years and older Alpine babies are now winning in the show rings with juniors & amateurs. We have a large selection of Alpine youngsters featured here with several ready to go show this spring. Many others are available at Hidden Hill in North Carolina, contact owner Alisa Shackelford for a complete list.

Gazillion (whose name is a lot to live up to in the Money Won department!) is off to a good start in his bid for prizes awarded in the 2014 USHJA Pre-Green Incentive Program. The 16.3h Westphalian gelding is already qualified for the Finals and is Top 10 in several of the tracked standings, including 2nd nationally for 5 Year Old Money Won. Known as Gucci at home, Gazillion is available for sale with Diana Conlon of Olive Hill Sporthorses. He is located in Kentucky and can be tried at any upcoming Horse Park show.

Why feed two horses when just one can do the job?

We've known the handsome Chablis du Lys for some time and are always impressed with his updates. He comes from an eventing background with a USEA Blue Ribbon Award for Top 3 placings in 3 consecutive events and was 15th out of 54 entries at the American Eventing Championships (uber impressive cross country video here). He has also shown to 1.25m with good ribbons in good Traverse City company. But, perhaps more impressive than any of these feats, is the job he's been performing for the past year.

When seller Anne-Marie Rasch's two daughters, aged 9 and 14, expressed an interest in learning to jump she was faced with a dilemma. The two girls were years apart in skill and experience and would require very different horses, but footing the bill for two new mounts wasn't in the cards.

"'Worth his weight in gold' is how he's most often described", says Anne-Marie of Chablis. At the time he was in sale horse purgatory; successful with a pro but unproven with a jr/am, and money would need to be spent to show him and keep him marketable. She instead opted to invest in the kind nature, willing temperament, and great sense of humor she had witnessed from Chablis over the years, and see if he might work for one if not both of her daughters.

Less than a year later we are proud to report that Chablis has not only risen to the occasion, he has crushed it. Our latest photo & video update is his NAL Childrens Jumper Classic win at Country Heir Winter, a show in which he also trooped around to top ribbons in the Short Stirrup Hunters. Going from 2' hunter to 3'6" jumper and back again didn't seem to faze Chablis, he easily switched gears from fast & competitive to steady & simple. Before her eyes Anne-Marie's fancy imported eventer had turned into an exceptionally reliable & kid-friendly show mount, the type that's hard to replace at any price.

Chablis still awaits the addition of "Equitation Horse" to his résumé, a job in which his beautiful markings and dressage background will really shine. Catch him and his girls at the upcoming HJAM Welcome series at Waterloo, serious buyers and exceptional homes are invited to inquire with Anne-Marie about a trial.

Sellers in more unfortunate locations, such as Michigan or Massachusetts, may have felt Mother Nature's cruel squeeze this winter but it was a strong season for those down south. We are nearing $2 million in 2014 sales & leases (estimation) as March wraps up with the majority of those numbers coming from WEF, Ocala, Thermal or Gulfport circuits.

We were aflutter with new listings for several straight months and the buyers we worked with were both serious and ready to move. They continue to be picky about how they spend their money but are eager to put it down for the right animal. They want reasonable temps and a wide selection of show-ready horses and by-golly that's what they got. The result was lots of trial activity, several successful sales, and lots of new horse & rider partnerships that we're very excited to see.

Congratulations to our many successful clients and sellers, and thank you to the buyers for your interest in our 2014 Winter Circuit sale horses. And of course, best of luck to April Rose, Qualen's Commence the Magic, Clare de Lune, Coulor Junior, Stone Town, CR Lena, Cluny, Rosmel's Blue Jazz, Centurio, Highlands Bridget Jones, Signature, Padarco Dolce, Edulcee D'Hulst, Catch Me Z, Avicii, Popular J, Playwright, Casanova, Victurus Te Salutat, Redford, Caprio & Vitesse in their new homes.

The well-honed team of Annie Bolling and Ofrenda have done it again! After a great 2014 season start with their third straight Pensacola Circuit Championship in the 1.15m Childrens Jumpers the two traveled to Mississippi for Classic Company's Gulf Coast Winter Circuit. Though they only showed 3 of the 5 weeks, several class wins, division championships & NAL/WIHS Classic wins earned enough points to clinch yet another circuit title. Congratulations Annie & Ofrenda, your 2014 1.15m Childrens Jumper Gulf Coast Circuit Champions!

Sure, Oregon may sound like a long way to go for hunter prospects, but this isn't your average horse shopping trip. Deborah Hausman, owner of Quailhurst Vineyard Estate & Quailhurst Stables, has combined twin passions of horses & wine to create a unique destination for vino-loving equestrians, and we have two lovely reasons for you to go visit.

Nestled on a hillside in Sherwood, Oregon, the 35 acre Quailhurst estate was originally built in the 1930s. It has been restored to its original beauty and is home to a boutique Pinot Noir vineyard and a world-class facility for the breeding and training of competitive sport horses. While upper-level dressage is the focus at Quailhurst their well-bred youngsters also show great aptitude for jumping, and we are pleased to present Elliott (pictured) and Ferggie to our serious HJ prospect shoppers. Both are great athletes of wonderful quality, and I predict the movement on 5 y.o. Dutch Warmblood Elliott will blow your hack-winning socks off.

So whether you are looking for a romantic getaway in which to convince hubby to buy another horse, need some liquid incentive to get trainer on a plane across the country, or simply desire a horse-shopping trip that is more fun than frustration, the team at Quailhurst Stables & Quailhurst Vineyards has you covered.

View sale details for Elliott >

View sale details for Ferggie >

With several Top 20 finishes at Pony Finals and prizes from both Devon & Washington medium pony April Rose is no n00b when it comes to high pressure situations, and with $5,000 in pony prize money offered before the medium division even began this was exactly one of those situations.

Run at 8am on Friday in the impressive HITS Ocala Horse Properties Stadium, the $5,000 HITS Pony Hunter Prix was the first pony hunter class of the week. Having won and tricolored in the Schooling Pony divisions since arriving in Ocala Rosie was well-prepared for success in these circumstances. She again rose to the occasion; finishing 2nd with rider Devin Seek, earning the $1,000 prize, and adding yet another great result to her already impressive record. Congrats to both Rosie & Devin on a stellar outing in this very tough class.

April Rose is a thoroughly experienced Medium Pony Hunter available for sale or lease. She can be tried at HITS Ocala with Kim McCourt.

We understand, life sometimes gets busy. Show days run 16 hours, entries were due yesterday, and the ponies have decided Keep Away is their new favorite bedtime activity. The 24/7 chaos of a horse-lover's life means some things inevitably fall through the cracks, like keeping up with your favorite Exchange sale horses, and pouncing on ones freshly listed. Our new Updates page keeps track of everything you may have missed, be it horses listed in the past 90 days or a simple rundown new photos and videos added to the site. Visit the Updates page to see our latest articles plus new media & listing detail postings, and access the archives in the page's right-hand column. Still too much work? Alrighty, we'll bring the links to you. Click to see horses listed with ExchangeHunterJumper.com in December, January & February.

Based in beautiful Upperville, VA but wintering in Wellington, Gavin Moylan Stables is a full-service show barn that attends quality ''AA'' rated events across the east coast. GMS training emphasizes the uniqueness of every horse and rider and custom programs are developed for each and every team. Gavin himself specializes in producing top hunter, jumper & equitation horses and has been successful in importing top quality competitors from Europe. Their sales list currently features the young flaxen-tailed Cluny (pictured) and the thoroughly made-up and extremely competitive Chocolate Boy. Both horses are currently available for trial in Wellington and will suit the high-end hunter buyer.

Dear Diary,
~800 lbs, ~1200 cal, 17 peppermints
I'm back here in Wellington and thank heavens because I hear the snow up east is taller than me. I thought I was just going to hang out in sun and grass but this morning a new little human suddenly showed up with those crazy bows in her hair. I wasn't aware I had any appointments today but had to admit she was the perfect size & type to show off my stunning moves, and I never miss a chance to show off my stunning moves.

Mom helped me into my fancy clothes while this new human and I got to know each other. Her name was Grace Debney and she was almost as cute as me. We headed down the path and I knew we were going to the horse party. We did our usual rounds in what humans call the "schooling ring" and I got to catch up with a few of my old friends. Before long Miss (as I call all my pupils) Grace picked up the reins with new determination and I knew it was time. We marched over to the edible ring (ya know, the one with all the flowers they never let you eat) and I prepared myself for the chill that would run through the saddle and down my spine as we passed through the gate... but it never came. Miss Grace was as cool as a cooler-chilled carrot and I felt a wave of relief, this was going to be easy!

A soft tug on my mouth got me going in the right direction, the first hurdle appeared, and my day got even better. It was the Short Stirrup, an easy effort from front to back no matter the approach. As long as I knew where to go this outing could only end in one way: Peppermints. Miss Grace and I did a few of these treks and I eagerly awaited the bestowing of flappy colored things. I knew the blue ones meant extra peppermints, and the multi-colored ones turned humans into a veritable treat vending machines, and both were hung around my face (could this day get any better?!). Both Miss Grace and Mom were beaming, so I threw a perfect pony ear prick their direction and, like clockwork, got more treats. I sauntered home with minty-breath and thought to myself how easy it all is. It was a pretty mellow day as far as parties go but I'm gonna hit the hay early anyway. Never know who will show up tomorrow, could even be my new Mom.

Happy trails ~
Highland's Bridget Jones

Update, March 5th 2014: Bridget has been leased! Congratulations to owners Lisa & Elizabeth Foster and best of luck to Bridget who will partner with Chloe Watrous and Messenger Hill Farm for the season.

It's pretty easy to spot a Popeye K baby, they're usually well-marked with chrome and hanging out somewhere near the ribbon podium. So we were not surprised to learn that Popular J (Popeye K x Jade) & owner Rory Ingels were Champions in the Adult Amateur Hunters last week at HITS Thermal. This handsome and very good-brained coming 8 year old is now back from Thermal but still available for trial in Southern California. He is eligible First Years, could make up into an incredible Small Junior, and would absolutely LOVE a kid to call his own.

Young Nealie Boschma is off to a great Winter Equestrian Festival debut with Exchange sale horse Campari. In her first trip to WEF and just her second day to show in those prestigious rings she won the 15-17 Equitation Flat out of 40 entries and placed 2nd of 41 in each of the over fences to be Champion. They also had great warm-ups in the 3'6" Medals and showed that top USEF & Maclay pinnings are in their wheelhouse too. Campari is available for trial throughout the circuit, contact Jenny Schutzler for details.

When a group of sellers all have horses in one place we throw a little online party for them, as is the case with our Winter Circuit promotions. It's always a large marketing event but this year it's morphed into a creature all it's own, and I've named the little bugger "Sunshine & Sale Horses". We've had several sales but new listings keep arriving and we've surpassed 50 sale horses & ponies available for trial from various quality sellers at 2014 WEF, Thermal, Ocala & Gulfport circuits. In celebration, we've extended invitations to our online soiree to readers of the country's #1 equestrian sport web site with our first Chronicle of the Horse banner ad. So be sure to look for our banner during your daily pilgrimage to COTH and visit the entire Sunshine & Sale Horses promotion here.

Oklahoma based amateur owner Mindy Coretz is having an incredible debut season at WEF. Her three sale horses, Stone Town (Harley), Classic Contender (Dan) & Gretta have dominated the 3'3" Amateur Owner Hunter 18-35 division by trading off tricolors each of the first 3 weeks. Such consistent results have created a sibling rivalry at the top of the WEF circuit standings, with Harley ever so slightly edging out sis Gretta and brother Dan who are tied for 2nd. As long as it stays in the family, right? Well, the competition snuck up when the Coretz crew took a week off and now threatens their Top 3 holdings. With commitments at home there was no intention of showing this week but trainer Val Renihan has different ideas... Mid-Circuit awards are right around the corner! Stay tuned to see if Mindy flies in for day 2 of the division this week, which gives them just 2 O/F rounds to add some solid padding to the circuit points. No pressure Mindy, no pressure at all!

It's photo shoot time! Also known as the bore-your-horse-to-tears exercise (I'm guilty) so kudos to the oh-so handsome Ellington for keeping his spirits (and ears) up. Fancy New Camera owner Estelle Corr set up a beautiful display of this young horse's take in his first full show season; a 2013 LIHSA Championship in the Young Hunters (with accompanying tricolors in all but one outing) and an impressive championship in the 2'6" Hunters out of 17 at Middlesex.

Perhaps a bit young and green when he first listed, we've now had the pleasure of watching Ellington develop for a full season and think it's time for buyers to take notice; he's ready to step into a quality program and be very successful in the Pre-Greens. Congrats to Ellington and owner/rider Alora Corr on a great 2013 season and congrats to Mum on the Fancy New Camera. We expect all kinds of genius sale horse photography and will be stalking your facebook page with even greater regularity...

Thermal is off to a great start for young rider Bailey Smith her lovely hunter Padarco Dolce. Facing stiff competition in the older Large Juniors, including the beloved Rumba and 2013 USEF National Champion Montague, Bailey and "Petey" put down a great trip to win the handy and earned good ribbons in all their classes. They're off to show week 2 and welcome interested parties to come visit, contact Kelly Marriner-Smith.

With Medium Pony Hunter tricolors weeks 1 & 3 out of 16-23 entries Qualen's Commence the Magic (Manny) is currently 2nd in the WEF Circuit rankings for the Medium Pony division. He was also ESP Holiday Circuit Champion and now has ~4700 points for 2014 Devon and 3800+ points for 2014 Harrisburg. He is available for lease or sale and can be tried in Wellington with owner Lisa Foster or trainer Scott Stewart.

Ch/AA Jumper Ofrenda is the 2013 Pensacola Circuit Champion for the Childrens Jumper division, her third consecutive Circuit Championship for the Pensacola show series! Owner/rider Annie Bolling is thoroughly prepared to tackle the Jr/AO divisions and has even begun showing Ofrenda in 1.20m classes.

March Update! With tricolors and multiple NAL/WIHS Classic wins Annie & Ofrenda currently lead the Gulf Coast Classic Circuit standings for the High Ch/AA Jumpers.

Congratulations to Imagine That on a great 3'6" debut at HITS Thermal. She ribboned well in the Green Conformation classes and won the 3'3" Amateur Owner hack with owner Kristina Novak. New video has been posted, see again at Thermal week 2.

May the madness begin, our winter circuit promotion is open! This year we've devoted an entire section of the web site to horses available for sale on the 2014 Winter Circuits. These custom-built-for-the-occasion pages allow buyers to view sale horses by the week for Wellington, Thermal, Ocala & Gulfport. It's a great opportunity for buyers to evaluate the market, try lots of great horses, and make an educated purchasing decision. Click here to view the Winter Circuit sale horses and keep checking back as more horses are added (psst, there's still time to include your sale horse, register for an Exchange marketing campaign here).

8 year old Rintoo has gone 3’3” cross-country, jumps beautifully out of a quiet hand gallop, and shines on a big grass field. He has Jr/AO Hunter tricolors and was also 5th of 39 in the very competitive 2013 Chicago National Hunter Derby and 7th of 30 in the National Derby at Chagrin. He is a big, beautiful and scopey horse that has yet to meet a distance or hunter fence that scares him. He loves to horse show and is a great partner for the serious jr/am.

From repeat EHJ seller June Gillis & Victory Stables comes the beloved Ginger Snap, an adorable small pony available for lease for the Short Stirrup or Childrens Pony divisions. Ginger has experience with all kinds of novices, Childrens Pony tricolors from WEF, and show miles from walk/trot to Pony Finals. She possesses all the qualities of a wonderful first show pony plus a really fancy jump that is competitive anywhere. She is both a confidence builder and a winner for young riders launching their show careers.

Priced in the low-mid 5 figures, Woodlands Juniper is a reliable show pony that is very sadly outgrown. He has been with the same junior since his green days and came up from Pre-Childrens to Large Pony Hunters with zone tricolors in the Greens and two fun trips to Pony Finals. He is as athletic as he his handsome and ready to help another young rider move up.

Honored to welcome Karen & Michael Newman and the team at Aubrey Hill Equestrian to our sale barn program. With over 30 years competing at the highest levels, and a record of tricolors from top venues such as Devon, Pony Finals, Harrisburg & Washington, the team at Aubrey Hill has great experience finding and developing tomorrow's champions. Included on their new page is back-to-back Pony Finals winner Valentino, 2013 Pony Finals Reserve Champion Large Green Pony Casanova, proven Jr/AO Jumper for move up Big Promise, and top quality Junior Hunter contender Stevens. Two more ponies will be added soon, click here to check out the current selection and visit Aubrey Hill this winter in Florida.

Signature is a 15.3 1/2h Oldenburg Gelding that rides anything but small and takes up a good amount of leg. He has a beautiful head and neck and a striking ring presence that is always well-rewarded. He has wins in the Performance Hunters, Junior Hunters & 12-14 Equitation in solid company at Traverse City & several Childrens Hunter tricolors at good-sized shows in the Midwest. He is a quiet and steady horse that can handle a lot of practice at home then go show in any company.

Another 1 of 3 top quality hunter listings from Libby Barrow's Farewell Farm! Classic Contender, aka Dan, began his hunter career with Childrens Hunter ribbons at 2013 WEF and is now winning in the 3’3” Amateur Owners. He has also shown the jumpers with top prizes to 1.40m and is completely unfazed by anything found in the hunter ring. He is quiet with a huge step, can power out of any missed distance, and gives his rider a great feeling of confidence to the jumps. He has great show ring experience and is ready to be competitive for pros or jr/ams with International Hunter Derby goals.

Catilla GF is a scopey and powerful jumper with talent to develop as a quality 1.40m prospect. She is a very fun ride over fences, appropriately forward for the jumper ring, and gives her rider a great feeling of scope and confidence in the air. She has placings in 1.15m Young Jumper classes and clear rounds in several schooling classes. She is ready to be a great partner for a confident jr/am rider and can be seen along with young hunter, derby & eq prospect Five Alive with Grande Farms in Ontario.

From Matthew Sereni's Sterling View Farm in California comes this top quality contender for the Derbies, Second Years, and Jr/AO Hunters. Altimo is a flashy chestnut gelding with a cute belly spot and a fantastic jump. He is a very well-bred KWPN son of 1.50m jumper Ultimo and imported in 2011. He has AO Hunter wins at Blenheim, good ribbons at Thermal, recent Junior Hunter prizes in Nor Cal, and is ready to be a very competitive 3'6"-4'6" horse for the serious exhibitor.

Great winter project that will be ready to show or sell in spring. Priced at $10,000, Barbie Doll is a beautiful, well-bred 6 y.o. mare that is registered AHS and approved for ISR/Oldenburg breeding with 99 points. She has a gorgeous canter that will be competitive anywhere and is currently jumping easy 2'9''-3' courses. She grew up on a large ranch with exposure to a variety of character building experiences and is a very quiet horse. She has great potential to finish for the Ch/AA Hunters or more and a price that will tempt you to purchase sight unseen!

Goliath is a top-of-the-line small and a great all-around show pony for riders that want to move up, have fun, and win great prizes. He has tons of kid miles and a wide variety of experience that includes cross-country schooling, wins at dressage shows, several successful years on local circuits, tricolors in the Green Pony Hunters, and a great trip to Pony Finals in 2013. He is a scopey pony with a safe and athletic jump for young riders to learn on and has been very sadly outgrown.

This well-loved & well-maintained pony has been with the same family for 10 years and 3 sisters and is looking for a 2014 lease. Uptown Girl has ribboned at Saugerties, Garden State, Lamplight, Kentucky and was 8th O/F at Pony Finals in 2006. She has lots of step & jump to still do the larges or can show a child the ropes of the Childrens division. She has always been kept in a quality program and has taught riders of various levels but misses having a full time kid with long term goals. Available for $12,000/yr to an approved situation.

An incredible 2013 season wraps up with an equally incredible West Coast Hunter Finals for Stone Town at the Las Vegas National Horse Show. Piloted by amateur owner Mindy Coretz, "Harley" won the under saddle and an over fences to be Reserve Champion Younger Adult Amateur Hunter, and was also winner of the 2013 NAL West Coast Adult Hunter Finals. With only 11 shows he was already leading USHJA Zone 7 Adult Hunter points and we suspect this 12th show will only solidify those standings. Congratulations to Stone Town, Mindy, trainer Libby Barrow, and the entire Farewell Farm team.

Welcoming two new youngsters to the Hidden Hill Farm page: Cassius is a handsome dappled grey grandson of Cassini I and has already been very popular among shoppers. He has light show miles with Pre-Green wins and Adult Hunter ribbons and is a lovely horse with a quality canter & jump. Alpine's Daisy, by the HHF flagship stallion Alpine, has her sire's classic bay with chrome beauty and is showing talent for a variety of jobs. She's just started jumping small courses, will be ready to show next season, and is a great prospect to bring home and develop over the winter.

Congratulations Well Wishes, Champion 3'3" Junior Hunter + great ribbons in the Performance Hunters out of 16 at Atlanta Fall Classic I. "Valerie" has top quality movement & jump and will be a winner for both pros & jr/ams. She is a very well-maintained 11 y.o. with low show miles, an excellent record in the junior classes to 3'3", and First Year Green eligibility. She has plenty of step & scope for the 3'6" and is ready to move up now. Highly competitive and well-proven in the reliability department, this horse would be much more money as a 7 year old and still has a whole career ahead of her. Perfect for buyers that want seriousness, not silliness, and available with Patchwork Farm in Atlanta.

One of 3 new listings from Farewell Farm and available for trial at the Las Vegas National Horse Show. Gretta is beautiful to watch and always scores well with the judges. She has dominated 3’-3’3” Childrens & Adult Hunter divisions in TX, OK & CO for many seasons plus has several NAL Classic wins, USHJA National Derby & HITS Hunter Prix ribbons, and multiple Adult Hunter tricolors from her winters in Ocala. She is a stunning performer for riders serious about winning in the 3'-3'3" divisions.

Hosted by West Palms Events and featured (so far) only in California, this new hunter derby format is the talk of the town from coast to coast. It's hunters, judged on style, with time to count, and the result is a truly exciting hunter class. Qualifying events have been held all year at west coast shows and ehj sale horse Popular J, with a 4th place finish at Flintridge, easily made the cut for the $25,000 Finals at the Del Mar International Horse Show. Courtesy USEF Network, we have the video and it is an excellent representation of what this class is about. Click here to view Popular J in the 2013 $25,000 Grand Prix Hunter Derby Finals.

Top quality horse with a wealth of experience. Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, has top prizes from all over the east coast and has been showing consistently for many seasons. He was imported as a 3 y.o., started showing as a 5 y.o. in a top program, and has only had 3 owners since arriving in the States. He has been a contender in everything from the 3’6” Amateur Owners to 3’ Childrens Hunters and is great at helping riders move up to bigger jumps. He is available in PA with Blue Valley Riding Center.

Another listing available in the Chicago area with easy access from O'Hare airport. Welcoming Avicii, beautiful first 3’6” horse with a wide variety of success in the hunters & equitation and experience with several different riders. 7th of 61 in 2012 Hunterdon Cup, 7th in 2012 Maclay Region 5 Finals, tricolors in the Junior Hunters, great prizes in the Talent Search, and 8th of 30 in the $5,000 National Derby at 2013 Chagrin. A top quality horse for riders moving up in company.

As confirmed by Ryegate on November 1st, our west coast listing Connoisseur, from the esteemed Waldenbrook Farm, currently leads the 2014 THIS Childrens Medal national standings. He has also racked up several Childrens Hunter tricolors this fall in big company and currently stands 3rd in USHJA Zone X points with only 9 shows. He will be available for trial at the Las Vegas National along with several other Exchange listings.

The first of two new listings from Grande Farm in Ontario, Five Alive is an athletic prospect for 3'6"-4'+ anything. She has great gaits, an easy natural lead change, plenty of jump for the Jr/AO Hunters & International Derbies, and is an elegant candidate for finishing as a serious Medal & Equitation partner. She has shown a handful of times and is eligible 3' Pre-Greens for 2014, This mare doesn't have a cranky bone in her body and has been a total delight to bring along.

From Jennifer Gray & Jack Pine Equestrian Centre in Owen Sound, Ontario. Dolly B was imported in 2012 and very quickly established herself as a reliable partner for riders moving up to 1.20m & 1.30m fences. She has Jr/AO Jumper ribbons from WEF, Kentucky, Saugerties & Vermont and several impressive placings in big 1.30m classes. She does the open water, knows her job well, and is always dependable in the ring. Ready to help the serious Ch/AA rider move up in 2014.

The 3 latest additions to the Raven Ridge page really flesh out the variety available to RRF shoppers right now: Kenzo Desfi is a veteran in the jumper ring and was Champion Med. Jr/AO Jumper with an 11 y.o. at 2013 Thermal, and Will O' Wisp is a winning campaigner for anything Ch/AA and has a fantastic USEF record. Meanwhile, 6 y.o. Holsteiner gelding Ready Or Not is showing well in both 1.25m jumpers & USHJA National Derbies and is aiming for 1.30m/1.35m & International Derby levels. Available along with 7 other quality show horses & show horse prospects at Raven Ridge Farm.

Perhaps it's because we're based just outside the Windy City but we currently have a baker's dozen's worth of sale horses in the greater Chicagoland area. New listing Weto is one of those easily accessed from O'Hare airport. He is a 2005 Westphalen gelding by Cor de Star that is going in the 1.10m & 1.15m classes with an amateur and is schooling up to 1.30m at home. He is reasonably priced in the low-mid 5 figures and sellers are keen to see him placed in a quality show home. Visit Weto here or email us for a complete rundown of horses available for trial in Chicago.

Each of our new German Horse Center listings is a bit different from the others which makes for a great variety of availability on the GHC page. Arielle is a beautiful type for the hunter ring and athletic enough to pursue any high performance goal, Chosen One has good experience and high placings to 1.30m plus a typey jump for the equitation, and Steve is a very cool young athlete that is currently jumping great over 1.30m courses and is ready for a Jr/AO career. Available to be seen along with many others on a personalized German horse tour from the German Horse Center.

Jetsetter has shown for many seasons with many different riders and has a solid record to show for it. He has lots of wins & tricolors in jr/am classes up to 1.15m, has shown open classes to 1.25m, and was a member of the winning 1.10m Jr/Am Prix des Nations team at 2013 Spruce Meadows. He is a been-there-done-that type that is all business at the shows and all try to the jumps. He is priced in the low-mid 5 figures and ready to help another rider achieve their Ch/AA and even some Jr/AO Jumper goals.

Rapidash's major 2013 High Ch/AA Jumper wins include the $15,000 class at Ocala Pre-Circuit, the $15,000 class at HITS Ocala Tournament, and the $10,000 class in Traverse City. He was a Gold Medal team member at the 2013 USHJA Regional Childrens Jumper Championship in Saugerties and also earned Bronze in the individual standings. He stands at the top of the nationwide NAL standings for 2013 and was invited to compete in the $10,000 classes at both Harrisburg & WIHS. With over $32,000 in Childrens Jumper earnings he is a guaranteed winner for competitive young jumper riders.

Great words from owner Gia Gulino on her first Indoors experience. She took her 5 year old RPSI gelding Bennett to the $10,000 NAL Finals and qualified for WIHS too. Here's what she had to say, "What an amazing experience to go the NAL Childrens Hunter finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show for the first time! Most of the horses were 10 years old or older and most of the kids were 16-18 years old...This was my first time on the national stage, I'm only 13, and it was my 5 year old horse's first time too! I made some mistakes, but he took care of me like he always does...He was so good all week, didn't care about a thing, jumped all the jumps, and swapped all his leads super easy. I couldn't have been happier!"

In case Brandon Gibson's flashy chestnut hunter gelding Avelino didn't entice your phone call, here is another flashy chestnut hunter gelding that has the movement and jump to show anywhere. Play Mister for Me has earned over a dozen Best Young Horse titles and won the International Hunter Futurity Challenge series as a 3 y.o. Most recently, he won both O/F to be Champion Baby Green Hunter at Warrenton and was Reserve Champion at Gallop in the Glen. He has the quality for the professional divisions, the brain for an appropriately experienced jr/am to finish, and is ready for a great 2014 Winter Circuit,

Centurio has a consistent record going back several seasons and has been shown by many different riders. He typically shows in huge company, has great ribbons from WEF, and has competed at every level from Low Childrens Jumpers to 1.50m Grand Prix. He has a ton of heart, a powerful hind end, and more than enough scope to handle mistakes. Centurio never holds a grudge and simply jumps better when his rider is uncertain. He is a star for riders that want a confident move up and is available in the Chicago area with Buena Vista Farm.

From returning EHJ seller Brandon Gibson & Select Sport Horse comes this handsome 2006 Zweibrucker gelding by Amateur. Avelino has tricolors in the 3'3" Pre-Green & Performance classes and great previous experience with an amateur owner. He is a good mover with a great jump and flashy markings that help him get noticed. He has great potential for Jr/AO Hunters & International Derbies or is ready right now to be a handsome & quiet campaigner for the Adults.

Our newest listing to the Raven Ridge Farm page is an imported 17.2h Dutch Warmblood gelding with lots of great junior miles in the jumpers. Victurus Te Salutat is very versatile for the 3’, 3’6”, 4’, or beyond, and has all the talent of a Finals quality Medal horse. He has several Championships in the Ch/AA & 1.20m Jumpers and has also dabbled in the 3’6” Equitation & Hunter Derbies. He is extremely well-broke, has a typey presence for the Medals, and is ready to go show the USEF, Maclay, WIHS, Talent Search & more.

This flashy liver chestnut with four tall whites was sired by popular hunter stallion Redwine while he still resided in Germany. Redford arrived in the States in 2010 and has seen success in the 2’6”-3’3” Open Hunter divisions. He is a winner both O/F & U/S, has tricolors from Ocala, Atlanta & Saugerties, and has also done the Modified Adult Hunters. He is ready for First Years in 2014 and will be competitive for both jr/ams and professionals.

Lovely young hunter that has light miles in the Baby & Pre-Green classes and will aim for the 3'6"-4' divisions. Pop Star is an athletic Popeye K daughter with a light frame and elegant appeal. She has lots of scope and step and will suit riders with experience on big jumping horses. She is brave, hacks out & jumps logs in the field at home, and has great potential for an experienced amateur or pro to finish for the Jr/AOs & Derbies.

Own It, aka "Macy", is a beautiful youngster with a great start on a successful career. She has shown consistently in Hunter Breeding classes and currently leads the Zone II 2 y.o. Hunter Breeding standings. She was also Zone 2 Reserve Champion Yearling in 2012 and has Devon ribbons as both a yearling and a 2 y.o. She was started lightly this summer, is ready to resume under saddle training next year, and shows excellent form in the jump chute. She has all the basics & experience needed to make an easy transition to the performance classes.

Welcome back Sweet Treat, the perfect partner for riders that want to win in the Childrens and be very competitive in the Large Ponies. Fresh off a 3rd place finish out of 36 in the 2013 M&S Childrens Pony Medal Finals with a brand new rider, "Truffle" has also ribboned twice at Pony Finals, finished Top 25 in the USEF Pony Medal Finals, and qualified for Devon & Indoors in past seasons. He has all the experience and talent a young rider needs to learn how to win in company.

This is truly a spectacular animal with all kinds of career opportunities ahead of him. Simply Clever is a 2009 16.2+h Oldenburg Stallion by Sir Rubin available with the German Horse Center. He is a beautiful modern type that is well-started, properly conditioned, and ready to begin schooling small courses. He will appeal to many as a top Equitation prospect, others as a potential Jr/AO or Grand Prix Jumper, and still others as a gorgeous Dressage & Eventing partner with great bloodlines. Only one thing is for sure with this elegant young horse, heads will turn wherever he ends up!

Proud to introduce the seasoned equitation horse Weston on the Raven Ridge Farm page; this guy is a real honor to ride for juniors moving up the equitation ranks. He has been to USEF Finals & Talent Search Finals East, has great 3'6" Medal prizes in big company at WEF, and has been a consistent star in the 3'6"-3'9" Performance Hunters, Junior Hunters & Medals for the past two seasons. He is available for lease or sale to a great show home. Also welcoming the darling Ch/AA Hunter Viva Con Janni, who is fresh off ribbons in the Adults at Kentucky National, and congrats go out to young prospects Good Looking HU & Love Me Tender HU on their Blue Ribbon jumper rounds at Madison Fall Classic.

This sweet girl is a wonderful junior or amateur horse with a quiet athleticism that will give just about any rider confidence. Valera CBF is fresh off a win in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby out of 29 entries and has a solid USEF record in the jr/am & Performance Hunters. She brought her current rider from 2'6" fences to championships in the Junior Hunters and is simply a solid and reliable partner to learn how to show on. Available with Shannon Slyfield of Slyfield Farm, Inc and can be tried at the Great Southwest Fall Classic.

Congratulations are in order for several of our sale horses! Medium Pony Hunter veteran Hidden Galaxy has (easily) qualified for both PNHS & WIHS and Large Pony Hunter King Midas has also qualified for both PNHS & WIHS. Young up & comer Bennett had a stellar year with his junior owner and qualified for both the NAL Childrens Hunter Finals at PNHS and the WIHS Childrens Hunter Finals. Awesome Ch/AA Jumper Ofrenda has again qualified for the $10,000 Childrens Jumper Championship at WIHS and is looking to come home with an even better ribbon than last year. The handsome VDL Zingaro H has qualified for the Second Year Green Hunters at PNHS and is on the wait list for WIHS while top quality Large Pony Hunter Hillcrest Songbird has made the wait-list for WIHS with only 9 shows. For a complete list of EHJ sale horses qualified for the 2013 Pennsylvania National & Washington International Horse Shows please visit our 2013 Indoors page.

Proud to welcome our newest sale barn that has also been a client for years. Hidden Knoll Farm joins us with 3 going sport horses and 4 youngsters on the way. Fanta is an up & coming jumper that has had success in the 1.40m and is aiming for more. He is ready to be super competitive in the High Jr/AO Jumpers or keep heading towards the 1.50m. Carlos G is a classic jr/am horse that has done the 1.35m at WEF & KY and couldn't be more reliable to the jumps. He has scope for the 1.40m and is ready to launch his jr/am career. For a change of pace, The Novelist is an incredibly handsome hunter that's awesome jump is winning in the Pre-Greens and ready to rock the 3'6" in 2014. Both Fanta & The Novelist can be tried at the Kentucky National, Carlos G & the youngsters can be seen at the Hidden Knoll home base just north of Chicago, IL.

Woodlands Pick Pocket is a proven pony campaigner with a multi-year record of ribbons in top company. He was 2013 Grand Champion Pony Hunter at Charleston Summer and is currently 2nd in the highly competitive Zone 4 Medium Pony Hunter standings. He has placed as high as 4th U/S and 2nd in the Model out of 120+ Mediums at Pony Finals, and was 9th in the 2012 Model Championship. He is a top contender in all phases and ready to show for the experienced Small Pony rider with big goals in big company. Can be see at Gallop in the Glen with Triple Hill Farm.

Ready to take a rider from Short Stirrup to Pony Finals and perfect for a kid that likes to be hands on. Won & Only is a trainer favorite and has been an absolute star for his 10 y.o. owner. She moved up to Renny from the Childrens Ponies, had a very successful season in the Greens, and is now winning in the Mediums. He needs minimal tuning and is managed at home and at the show by his young owner. He’s a flashy, handsome & good jumping pony that’s perfect for building confidence and introducing young riders to rated shows & tougher competition.

This horse has a very consistent record of wins and brought his owner from ponies to Junior Hunters. In just 4 weeks at the 2013 Summer in the Rockies series, Calido's Son earned three tricolors & a Classic win in the Small Juniors; a blue in the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby wk. 3, and 5th wk. 4 (both with over 35 entries & his junior owner in the irons); and was Champion or Reserve 3’3” Performance Hunter out of 24 & 31 entries (again with his junior rider). He is a true jr/am horse for riders moving up in company plus fancy enough for the professional divisions. He can be seen with Roundabout Farm at Maffitt Lake's Madison County Fall show & Minnesota Harvest.

There have been several updates to the Raven Ridge Farm page, including the addition of 2 new horses. Welcoming Viva Con Janni, a really cute jr/am hunter type that is going well in the Childrens & Performance Hunters and is ready to step up to the Small Juniors. Also, Peakalika joins us, a 3 y.o. Oldenburg that shows a lot of talent, is going under saddle, and is priced to move, as is Love Me Tender HU. The fancy young 3 y.o. hunter prospect Easy Street HU has been coming along fabulously and the sellers are really quite smitten, his price has been raised. And finally, congratulations to Raven Ridge Farm on the lease of Milestone & the sale of Take A Chance.

Our new German Horse Center listings offer something for everyone. Young Fly High is a truly impressive mover with huge reach through the shoulder and, with a price in the Low-Mid 5 Figures, is an interesting prospect for all 3 rings. Chandro is a quality 4 y.o. big jumper prospect by Caretino. He's placing well in 1.10m classes, ready for the 1.20m, and would do very well in our Young Jumper Championship series. Should you be looking for something a little (okay, a lot) further along, Quirina is a going 1.45m horse with great amateur experience. She has tons of try, puts her heart into every outing, and has been successful with a young lady including high placings in amateur classes at the prestigious Hamburg Derby.

Imported 2012, by Cassini II and a maternal brother to Germany's winning Nations Cup horse Embassy II. Casino Royal PJ is a gorgeous horse with talent for any high level goal. He has the scope and bloodlines to go all the way in the Grand Prix ring, the stylish jump of a winning International Derby horse, and the rideability of a Finals quality Medal horse. He is going clear in 1.20m classes, easily qualified for the 2013 Midwest YJC Finals, and will be ready for 6 y.o. classes in 2014. Can be seen at Brownland Fall & Kentucky National with Halcyon Hill.

Our two latest additions to the Equine Agents page have lots to offer the American market. Granit, an 8 y.o. 16.3h KWPN Gelding by Faust Z, is currently doing very well in 1.45m classes with an amateur. He has great experience for a competitive jr/am moving up with big goals in the Jr/AOs, or scope for pro to finish developing for 1.50+m. Christian is a 5 y.o. 16.2h Westphalian Gelding by Christiano with lots of raw talent. He has incredibly even gaits, a very easy frame, and the mindset of a great jr/am horse. Ready for finishing as a top quality Medal horse or promising Jr/AO Jumper.

Chaplin, aka Charlie, was imported from Holland with great jumper experience and easily qualified his rider for Talent Search Finals West, Maclay Regionals & Hunterdon Cup. He also has a record of wins & tricolors in the Junior Hunters, great Jumper prizes in big company on the grass at Spruce Meadows, and the scopey style of a top International Derby horse. He is a tremendous athlete that can aim for just about any Hunter, Jumper or Equitation goal and is looking for his next serious rider. Available with Jenn Serek's Springbank Stables and can be seen at RMSJ Fall Classic.

Narnia is in her first season of showing and has wins & good prizes in the Pre-Greens & Adults. She is a beautiful, young, modern-type hunter with lots of athleticism, pretty movement, and an elegant presence in the ring. She was bred by the seller, has a well-rounded background that includes trail riding and great experience with an amateur rider, and is already showing a great sense of humor. Priced in our $40K & Under range and ready for finishing as a quality Jr/AO Hunter & Derby partner.

Prague based Equine Agents is full of updates for their American buyers. First, congratulations are in order on the sales of Conda, Arimani, Cascavelle03, Calato08 & Clark. This pretty well wiped out all of their current Exchange listings but never fear, new horses are already here! Welcoming Ore, cute, clever, quick and a winner from 1.30m-1.45m with miles at 1.50m; Cassi, gorgeous grey stallion by Cassini I for Equitation & Jumpers to 1.35m; and Aro, Grand Prix partner with tons of scope, good results to 1.50m, and great experience in the show ring. Preview video & details for all of these new listings here, and stay tuned for confirmed 1.40m+ parnter Granit & gorgeous equitation prospect Christian to be posted.

The first of several new horses added to our popular sale barn pages this week! Welcoming Pisani, available in North Carolina with Hidden Hill Farm. A 6 y.o. gelding by popular hunter sire Paparazzo, Pisani has great miles on unrated circuits with both a professional and an amateur. He has an amazing knees-to-eyeballs jump that will be impressive in any company and a sensible, honest & uncomplicated nature that should shine in the jr/am rings. He is pre-vetted clean, eligible Pre-Green, and ready to launch a rated show career.

This 4 y.o. gelding by Calidostar is a darling mover with lots of jumping talent. Seven was professionally started, is currently jumping around small courses, and is ready to go horse show. He has good use of his neck and back over fences and an awesome front end. He is an intelligent horse that learns quickly, adjusts easily to new situations, and even goes on the treadmill. He is very well-priced for prospect shoppers and could be finished for any ring.

This lovely youngster is truly proving himself as a stellar jr/am partner. Bennett was purchased from the breeder as a coming 4 y.o., brought along carefully in a professional program, and launched his show career with his junior owner in the irons. Now, at just 5 years of age, he has an excellent record of wins in the 3' Medals and is on his way to qualifying for the 2013 NAL & WIHS Childrens Hunter Finals. He shines over a challenging course and also did his first USHJA Derby class with a junior. He is a hands-down barn favorite over at Judgement Farm and can be tried at the upcoming Showplace Fall Classics.

First, watch this video, then tell me this isn't exactly what you dreamed of doing as a kid! Cocoa Nut is a proven kid's jumper pony that has been winning on the BCHJA circuits for several years. She is sure-footed, brave and fast, but always respectful of her rider and the aids. She is a game athlete for the showjumping ring, cross country field, or Pony Club, and full of confidence to lend to her kid. She is priced very well at only $9,000 and ideal for bold young riders that want a winning start in the jumper ring.

Cotocinco is an extremely quiet & easy-going horse with a lovely jump. He has lots of amateur experience and is great for Ch/AA riders that want to be hands-on in the care & management of their horses. Cinco has impressive ribbons in company at Lexington Spring, Lexington National, Deep Run, MD Horse & Pony, Gulfport, Duke and ESP Wellington, and spends his time off at home with mom. He has a great brain, enough style to show anywhere, and is priced very well for a quality 8 year old with many show years ahead of him.

It was a pleasure meeting Ledo last week in Kentucky, what a handsome horse to take pictures of both in and out of the ring (see his Exchange Photo Shoot here). Ledo is the classic Jr/AO partner that would like to keep life as simple as possible and is always on his best behavior. He is a winner over fences and under saddle and has the quality to show anywhere in the country. Very fancy for a Ch/AA rider moving up or ready to go for the going 3'6" competitor.

Thrilled to welcome this incredible mare! Ofrenda currently leads the Zone IV High Childrens Jumper standings, earned Team Silver at the 2013 USHJA CH/AA Jumper Regionals, finished 11th in the $10,000 Childrens Jumper class at 2012 WIHS, and was back-to-back Pensacola Circuit Champion Childrens Jumper in 2012 & 2013. She moved her rider up from a Large Pony sold by The Exchange and so we've been enjoying tales of this team's success for several years. Great partner for kids that want to be immediately competitive. Available with Holly Shepherd' & Accolade Farms.

By the legendary Popeye K, out of leading Small Junior Hunter Jade, and blessed with copious amounts of chrome that always turns heads! Popular J scored an 80 in his first ever Hunter Derby at Thermal, was 4th in the Hunter Derby at 2013 Flintridge, and also has top prizes in amateur classes from Las Vegas National, HITS Thermal & The Oaks. He was bred, started & trained by his amateur owner and has an exceptionally awesome brain. He has the scope & step to move up to the Small Juniors or could start a rider out in the 2'6"-3' Ch/AA classes. Available for sale in CA with Edgar Pagan Show Jumpers.

Pleased to welcome our latest new listing from repeat EHJ seller Patchwork Farm! Good Measure, aka Solitaire, is a handsome partner for kids and adults that want to have fun at the shows while still bringing home top ribbons. He has great markings, a cute jump, and has won many under saddles out of 20+ entries. He is endlessly kind, always predictable, and forever forgiving. Solitaire is perfect for the novice or weekend warrior that wants to enjoy a great brained horse and win from 2'3"-3'3".

At just over 17.2h, this young RPSH gelding is an excellent candidate for riders searching for that tall & elegant hunter look. Cu Roi is very handsome, has a classically correct style over fences, and is an above average mover that is very pleasant to watch. He is also an extremely athletic horse that will shine at 3’6” & above, loves the challenge of a handy course, and is very brave to the fences. He recently moved up to the 3’3” Performance classes with a great attitude and good ribbons and is ready for finishing as a talented Jr/AO Hunter & International Derby horse.

Solid partner for competitive Ch/AA riders ready to move into the Jr/AOs. Lucy is a granddaughter of two famous showjumping sires, G Ramiro Z and Zeus, and was imported in 2007. She came up the levels with great success and has found a winning niche at the 1.20m-1.30m heights. She has been Champion many times over in Colorado, boasts impressive wins from Spruce Meadows, and has also earned prizes at HITS Thermal & Las Vegas National. She show's with Michael Dennehy's Bridlewood Farm and can be seen at the upcoming Colorado Springs series.

The Big Week has finally arrived and hundreds of excited pony kids have descended upon the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2013 USEF Pony Finals. We'll be there, camera in hand, snapping shots of our qualified sale ponies and posting Exchange Photo Shoots to the web site. King Midas arrived last week and his photo shoot is posted here. Be sure to follow us on facebook for live reporting from the show and keep up with all of our pony news on our special Pony Finals Sale Pony Line Up page. Good luck to all competitors!

This wonderful first pony with a huge heart has been very sadly outgrown. Little Brown, aka Frisco, has been with his current owner for 5 years and took her from Walk/Trot to Pony Finals and most recently won Medium Pony Hunter O/F class out of 19 at Horse Shows by the Bay. He always wears a happy expression and is a cute mover and jumper. Frisco will forgive all kinds of mistakes and is a wonderful teacher for new show riders. From repeat ehj seller Sara Rhodes & Autumn Road Farm, can be seen at the Summer's End Show in Wisconsin.

Recently added to the Hidden Hill Farm page, this 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Del Piero was started under saddle with natural techniques and a focus on creating a brave & confident riding horse. He also has a great foundation of basic Dressage training and is now going over fences and showing all the traits of a solid jr/am mount. Del Fino is a handsome horse with loads of presence and a quiet & easy-going temperament. He has all the right buttons installed and is ready to go show.

Cabaret is a fun, competitive and dependable young hunter that’s just entering the prime of her career and ready to step up to 3’6”. She was imported in 2010, earned great prizes as a 5 y.o. at Garden State, and quickly moved into the jr/am ranks. She had an awesome 2012 season in the Childrens Hunters & is now winning in the 3'3" AOs. She is beautiful mover with a great round jump that should be very impressive at 3'6". Showing at HITS Saugerties & Monmouth County 'AA', see with Barbara Feigus of Nevergreen Farm.

His sire has captured the hearts of many and now young Valentino 33 is ready to shine on his own. Born 2007, Valentino was bred by the seller and given plenty of time to mature but life's circumstances now force his sale. He has shown only a handful of times yet quickly moved up to the National Derbies and handled the 3’5” options with ease. He is extremely brave and athletic, has an incredible jump, and will shine over the 4’3”+ options in the International Derbies. Located in Texas and an excellent candidate for resale.

Who says jumpers can't have style?! Finnegan is a super flashy jumper that's a joy to ride and a blast to show off in the ring. He is also an excellent partner for riders looking for their first Jr/AO mount and could bring a kid all the way up from the Low Childrens. Finn has been very successful in the 1.30m classes with great ribbons from Thermal, Thunderbird & more. He's also a capable 1.40m partner and has done some smaller Prix. From repeat ehj seller Megan Garcia, see at upcoming Thunderbird Classics.

Well, there were 4, but new listings Phoenix & Fairley have already sold so don't delay inquiring on these two! Welcoming Celeste, a stunning young prospect by Canstakko with an incredible jump that could be finished as either a top quality Hunter & Derby horse or a well-bred jumper aiming for the Big Ring. And welcome to Crispin, a going 1.30m+ jumper with great flat-kneed movement that has the looks, brain and temperament to be a lovely Jr/Am Hunter. Visit the German Horse Center page for more details on Celeste & Crispin and book your personalized buying trip to Germany.

With a Championship & Classic win at Woodedge Hidden Galaxy has once again secured the leading spot in Zone 2 Medium Pony Hunter points while simultaneously qualifying for 2014 Pony Finals. He's also a shoe-in for 2013 Indoors with nearly 4,500 points, and has a great start on 2014 Devon acceptance with 2183 points in only 7 shows. This veteran pony hunter is qualified for everything a young rider could possibly dream of and a proven partner for those stepping up to the Big Leagues. Sale is preferred but lease to an approved situation will be considered.

This classic bay beauty with great dapples is perfect for riders competing in tough local company or on smaller A & B circuits. Feiner Dream is a quality mover & jumper that has topped many hacks & O/F classes out of 20+ competitors. He has competed in a wide variety of divisions and is a very fancy 2'6" partner that can also do the 3' Hunters & Derbies. Owner is off to college, he can be seen & tried at the Equivents show series in Ohio.

This beautiful black pony is sure to be a fixture on the circuit for many years. Arkady is a leading Green pony that will be very competitive in the Mediums and has also shown himself to be super reliable in the Short Stirrup & Childrens Pony divisions. He was 6th of 31 in the $10,000 Pony Hunter Derby Classic in Atlanta and is currently 7th in the country and 2nd in his Zone for Medium Green points. He is super reliable and totally capable of prizes in the Greens this year at Pony Finals. Showing now at KY Summer and available for trial with Bruce Christison.

USEF Medal Finals veteran Caprio teamed up with junior Morgan Katz to win the highly competitive ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship class at Horse Shows by the Bay II, a WCHR member event that drew competitors from all over the midwest and beyond. Caprio has also turned in 3 blue ribbon rounds in the 3'6" Schooling Jumpers and will show again this week. See along with handsome Jr/AO & Derby Hunter VDL Zingaro H with Cathy Johnson's Meadowview Farm.

Hillcrest Farm's Vizconde (Jr/Am Hunter) & Korkade (1.40m+ Jumper) will be available for trial at HITS on the Hudson V & VI and Vizconde will remain on location for Junior Hunter Finals. Also of note, Vizconde recently received his permanent USEF Measurement Card at 15.3 7/8h, which opens up a whole new market for him as a top quality Small Junior Hunter prospect. Contact Natalee Newton or Julie Cleveland for trial.

It was a big week in Traverse City as Horse Shows by the Bay celebrated their 10th anniversary and enticed competitors with points towards USHJA's World Championship Hunter Rider series. Amidst the festivities and added pressure, EHJ sale pony Hillcrest Songbird ("Eva") rose to the occasion with young Emma Wujek in the irons. The pair won the Handy & U/S to be Champion Large Pony Hunter and were ultimately Grand Pony Hunter Champions for the week. Emma & Eva were also Reserve Champion last week in the combined Medium & Large Pony Hunters, and will vie again for a Tricolor 3-Peat this week at HSBB III. Contact Greg Franklin of Canterbury Farm to arrange a trial in Traverse City or upcoming Traders Point Charity.