from 'Around the World' to 'Vista Ridge Farm'

News from Germany

The 107th Elite Auction in Germany this month, resulted in the most expensive jumping horse ever sold at the auction. Lantinus by Landkoenig/Argentinus, a four year old achieved a top price of 215,000 EURO. The most expensive dressage horse at the sale was the seven year old black gelding Walkie Talkie by Weltruhm/Donnerhall for 110,000 EURO. It was also the second best ever of these auctions.

News from the USA

Fifteen warmblood stallions are now safely housed at Paxton Farm in Batavia, Ohio to participate in this year’s 100-Day Stallion Performance Test. The testing, which is held under the auspices of the Federation of North American Sport Horse Registries, is held in the United States every other year. Final testing is from November 7-10, 2002. More information may be found at the AHS link, http://www.hanoverian.org/100DayTest.htm including the stallion list, schedule, history and results. Three of the stallions are Hanoverian and they are sired by Contucci, Banter and Davignon.

News from the Farm - Foal and Broodmare

As many of you may know the largest and most costly wild fire (500,000 acres and almost $200,000,000.) in the US was only about 15 miles from us this summer. Although we had a few smokey days and some spectacular views of the flumes from the fire, we had no problems. The flumes, which were created when the flames of the fire reached 300 feet and looked like gigantic cauliflower, would collapse on themselves from their weight and then send flaming pine cones several miles away. We were impressed by the beauty of the first flume which was about 20 miles away, but appeared to be just a few miles away, until we learned of their destructive force on their collapse. Our little town of 2500 had more firefighters living here for awhile than residents. At one point there were 7000 firefighters on the fire, which is nearly 25% of the entire wild fire firefighting force.

SPS WORCESTER has finally arrived at our farm from Germany. This Ratje-Niebuhr (National Hanoverian German Breeding Show) Class Winner by White Magic achieved her full States Premium status with the birth on March 1st of a filly in Germany. 'Cassandra's Dream' is an beautiful and elegant dark bay filly by the 2000 Adelheidsdorf Performance Test winner Contendro. Mom and daughter are now both doing better after their long journey from Germany. Cassandra will be moving to her new home in Washington State soon. Worcester is in foal for 2003 to the consistently successful and popular sire, Don Gregory by Donnerhall. Her 2003 Don Gregory filly foal is already reserved and her colt foal is available for $12,500 in-utero.

Elite Mare TIRAMISU had a dark brown colt by Domiro by Donnerhall on March 15th. 'Dunnigan' is a long legged handsome gelding who is built uphill and has an excellent shoulder with excellent suspension....and he is a very friendly and brave fellow. He is for sale now and offered at $9,500. For 2003, Tiramisu is again in foal to Contucci. She has produced two other extremely nice foals by this sire. This foal is available in-utero for $9,000.

SPA/ EM ALUETTE (Argentan/Donnerhall/Bolero) had a large and handsome colt by Winterprinz on April 4th. 'Wyeth' is an impressive colt with a well set neck, excellent shoulder and hip and he has the wonderful suspension that we desired. He is a potential stallion prospect. We are waiting to offer him for sale as a yearling in 2003 in order to continue to evaluate his sire potential. We may also consider a partnership for this colt to take it through its 100 day Stallion Performance Test. Please contact us if you have an interest in such an arrangenment. Aluette is not in foal for 2003.

New pictures of the foals can be seen at www.foals.com . Due to requests, we now offer future foals on a pre-delivery (in-utero) sex- preference reserved basis or on our free waiting lists on 'first on list-first choice' basis.

Also for sale, is a yearling, FREEDAME by Freestyle out of Mighty Avenger xx. We sadly lost Mighty Avenger and her foal during birthing this year. The other foals from this mare have all produced well performing horses for their owners, including the consistent Virginia breed show winner and now show winner, Falconer. Her 2000 Diamont foal in now under saddle and a joy to his owner. She is offered for $8,000 firm until the end of the year.

Also offered by a client of ours, is the SPA Wolkentanz mare (What a Girl) in foal to De Niro. This mare can be seen on the '1999 Foals' page on our web site. She was recently imported from Germany and is with her new owner in Washington State. She is offered at a very reasonable price of $22,000 and offers will also be considered.

In closing, we have been experiencing a very mild and very dry autumn .... believe it or not we are looking forward to SOME of the soon to arrive famous Oregon rains! The horses are enjoying the warm nights and sunny days, but they miss the normally lush grass which returns in most Octobers.

Jo Ann & Dale Thomas

www.foals.com

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