SURPRISE! (Another Word That Starts With An ‘F’)
So here’s the thing. You know how I said I was buying a new home in Wellington? Well, we closed on Tuesday on a sweet little house on the lake in the Polo Club which we’re gutting and I’m in charge of the re-modelling. But that;s not the surprise.
Remember how I was also so excited about the possible purchase of a house on Fire Island, one of my favourite places in the world? Well, we have a signed contract so it’s looking like Robert and I will have a great beach house for next summer. Yeah! But that’s not the surprise either.
Nope. The big surprise, after many years of a “dry spell”, is that I am the very proud owner of a new horse, which is even more of a surprise to me because I’ve always said I would never buy a horse that wasn’t at least broke and going under saddle, and this baby is only two and one-half years old! And guess what else? He’s a Pure Spanish Stallion by Grandioso, who Courtney King has been training and competing and is a horse I have ridden a number of times and loved. Grandioso has all 3 lovely and corfrect paces as well as the usual fabulous piaffe and passage expected by this breed. And I also love that he’s a bay with no white and hot but sensible to deal with. I keep saying that when these horses have 3 good gaits, they make fabulous team horses. Just look at the results last week in Germany where Fuego beat Satchmo in the Grand Prix with over 73%! When they’re good, they’re really good! And I promise this one is going to be great!
My little guy is pretty much the spitting image of his Dad and has 3 exceptional paces and an extremely uphill expression already as well as a lot of scope. So then there was the question of what to call him and that’s where my “Words That Start With An F” book I am writing ( I promise I am but I can’t finish it as long as I’m coaching since some of it is not appropriate for minors or the faint of heart) came into play. You see, I’ve always loved a particular “F word” and that is “FIERCE”. So fierce in Spanish is “FIERO” which even sounds better rolling off the toungue when I say it! And so, my new beautiful young stallion, FIERO HGF, is my big surprise of the week! Just to show you how much father and son look alike, I’m enclosing some nice pic’s of each. Oh, and many thanks especially go to Kim Boyer as well as her assitants, her vet and also to Dr. Rick Mitchell who gave me the green light today!
Cheers!
RD
- Grandioso, captured beautifully by Sue Sexton
- Coutney riding Grandioso taken by Susan Stickle (sausanstickle.com)
- Fiero HGF photographed by Mary Phelps
- 2 year old, “Fiero HGF” taken by Mary Phelps
See what I mean? 
Allison Harding — September 3, 2010 @ 10:37 pm
He’s BEAUTIFUL Robert- Congratulations! I have 5 Lusitanos at Dove Hollow now and Love them.
Phillip — September 4, 2010 @ 1:05 am
Congratulations Robert. I’m sure he is going to provide you with lots of fun.
Marsha — September 4, 2010 @ 6:10 am
Fabulous!
Ralph Graham — September 4, 2010 @ 8:10 am
Congradulations Robert! He is a beautiful animal, I saw him at Kim’s and what a gorgeous guy. I have one of Kim’s first horses that David and her brought over from Spain. He is not nearly that calibar but he is my guy and I love him to death.
Enjoy!
Ralph
Noni — September 4, 2010 @ 9:02 am
ah, the PRE’s!!! Iberians rock! A wonderful ride, not physical but very technical.
michelle — September 4, 2010 @ 9:38 am
Congrats…
Marilyn — September 4, 2010 @ 12:04 pm
Robert…
I have known “Fiero” since he was born & you and he are going to ROCK the arenas together!!! I am so excited for you!!!
Good times ahead………….
Bernie Hewitt — September 4, 2010 @ 2:32 pm
How lovely Robert! Enjoy……Bx
Richard — September 4, 2010 @ 6:40 pm
I think it is a very good thing that you got Fiero at a very young age. This is a chance to bring him along exactly to your specifications and to build a strong bond with him. I believe it is very important to do that at as young an age as possible.
Sandra McGuire — September 4, 2010 @ 9:22 pm
Congrats! He is gorgeous, with lots of personality that comes though even while standing still in a photo. Enjoy your time together.
Cheryl — September 5, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
Eh Robert a great name for a great horse. Iberian horses rock. There are not many in Canada, but I would love to see Crystal Kroetch ride one of our lusitano’s in the future. She loves Relampago.
Micki — September 6, 2010 @ 1:50 pm
Perfect! I can’t wait to see you guys in action. Have fun!
Jamie — September 8, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
We have 16 andalusians, 3 stallions, two of witch are showing the dressage circut out here in ol texas…. Once you buy one andalusian you cannt handle not haven another one and then another. Congrates congrates keep him a stud, and awsome awsome bloodlines for PRE breeders in the US.. I gope you like the breed we need more andalusians in the dressage circut in america, and stat getting sme on the USA team… I hope to be there one day with one of our boys.. He is supper nice,, good comfromation.. nice head and neck set for an PRE very impresed with Grandioso too. Ive breed my TB mare to an andalusian stallion out here and hope it comes out with the springs of the andalusian breed.. You want be sorry with this purchase. Keep him a stud and i may have to buy the first breeding to him.. Congrates again..
J
Patrick — September 10, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Congratulations Robert, he looks fabulous… so much for retirement, from riding that is! Good luck and I look forward to hearing your progress with Fiero HGF