After the first few shows of the year, Phoenix Farm horses and riders are enjoying fun and success. Zoe Feldman is enjoying her lease of Heather's former mount Sam, and has the ribbons and joy to show for it. After a strong showing at the Twin RIvers combined test in January, they made fantastic Beginner Novice debut at Ram Tap, coming home with a lovely red ribbon for second place. They had a great dressage and show jumping round at Twin Rivers horse trials, but the heavy rains cancelled the cross-country and ended the weekend prematurely. They then moved up to Novice at Ram Tap and we're having a great weekend, until Zoe forgot where Fence 16 on cross-country was. Oh well, we all do that once!
John and Alba sucessfully moved up to preliminary with strong goes at the Twin RIvers combined test and Ram Tap. She had a lovely clean jumping round on the cross-country at Ram Tap, but the heay fog wreaked havoc with John's glasses, causing him to have to pull up and wipe them at various points on the course, adding a heap of unfortunate time penalties. The weather intervened again at Twin RIvers Horse Trials, and Alba was only able to complete her dressage test before we packed up and headed home, but she garnered her best-ever dressage score of 36! She then moved on to Galway where she galloped around perfectly, and then Ram Tap, where the climate again intervened, and she had a single glance off due to a sunlight problem. Still, she was ridable and excellent everywhere, and her dressage continues to fulfill all the promise we knew she had. She even finished with a pretty green ribbon!
Sisko made his 2010 and preliminary debut at Ram Tap also, with a great, if a bit inattentive cross country round. His dressage continues to be a challenege, but we know time is the best cure. But, John is thrilled with how easy it all was for him, as he just played over the bigger jumps.
Mireya and Zoey (the horse) had a strong final Novice run at Ram Tap, and will be making their Training level debut at Woodside!
2009: A Year Of Changes At Phoenix Farm
It's been a big, strange year at Phoenix Farm. 2009 started with a bang, when Heather discovered she was pregnant in March. Heather and John had been told they would not be able to have children, so you can imagine their shock! Unfortunately, it's been an extremely rough pregnacy as Heather had hyperemisis, a condition which made her violently ill for most of the pregnancy, and at one point was requiring weekly hospitalization for fluids and glucose to keep her organs functioning. Other complications led to her essentially being on bed rest for most of this year.
Unfortunately, Heather wasn't the only one to have a rough year. We lost one of our first homebreds, Bongo, to an undetermined neurological problem in January, and his mother, our beloved broodmare Lizzie colicked three weeks after giving birth to her 2009 foal. Despite the best efforts of the wonderful staff and surgeons at Pioneer Equine Hospital, she didn't survive.
We also said goodbye to some non-equine friends this year. Our ancient Lab Elwood moved on to the next world, and two of our orginial goat herd, Zena and Fish, succombed to cancer.
The real blow came in September, though, when we lost our wonderful, beautiful, special guy Merlin. You can read all about him on his page. The hole in our hearts from losing him may never fully heal.
On a more positive note, John moved his two horses, Sisko (Russian River) and Alba (Glass Pass) up to Training level this year, and they both rose to the occasion as we'd always believed they would. Sysco will close out the year at Galway's Training Level Three-Day Event, and Alba is regrettfully for sale. John would love to keep her, but bills need to be paid--such is the life of an equine pro.
All of our students made us proud this year, whether it was them finally being able to ride their horses at home after years of struggle, or going out and excelling at events. You guys are why we do this and we are proud of you all!
We also had a lot of fun with youngsters this year, from taking our yearling and two-year-old siblings Ianto and Sparrow to an in-hand show, to starting Chris Misita's wonderful 3-year-old Panzyr under saddle. Sparrow, and her friend Amani were both started in work this summer, mainly light longeing and ponying, but we also put them through the jump chute once for fun. Both girls show the jump, movement, and brains we were hoping for, and we are so excited for next year when we can finally sit on them! We also welcomed new foals to Phoenix Farm this year--Phoenix Bellisima, Phoenix Promiscuous, and Phoenix Phinale. Having fancy youngsters like these around in a year of so much loss helps us always remember the cycle of life.
On the oldster front, Heather's horse Sam has an new friend in our 2009 working student Esley. She's been kind enough to dote on him the manner he prefers, and in exchange he's been showing her the ropes over fences and on the flat. To see our "rogue" trasnformed in to a schoolmaster has been great fun!
The year is winding down now with only a few events left on the calendar. John will be going to coach a few students at Woodside in early October, but not riding in case the baby makes an early appearance, and then he will be attending the Galway Downs Three Day Event, both as their Press Officer, and as a competitor in the Training Three Day. John and Heather may be attending the November Ram Tap, depending on how they adapt to the new role of parents.
We'd like to extend our thanks to those students and clients who have stuck by us during this incredibly challenging year. You are truly why we love what we do. Happy horsing to everyone and we'll see you out there soon!
Phoenix Farm Horses Climax Season With Ram Tap Ribbons
Waltzing Matilda, a Quarter Horse/Paint-cross mare whom Phoenix Farm trainers Heather Bailey and John Strassburger found working cattle in March, finished her first season of eventing by placing second in the open novice division of the Ram Tap Pony Club Benefit Horse Trials in Fresno on Nov. 14-16. In addition, Heather rode her Western Jubilee to the reserve title in the Area VI Open Novice Championship and John rode Apollo to fourth place in the Area VI Open Beginner Novice Championship.
“Matilda,” a 15-hand, beautifully dappled buckskin mare, earned her best-ever dressage score (36.4) to place fourth and then jumped faultlessly throughout the next two days to climb two places. It was the third consecutive event in which she’d jumped faultlessly and brilliantly around a novice-level cross-country course.
“I’m so proud of Matilda. This weekend, in all three phases, she really felt like she understood exactly what she was supposed to do and was eager to go do it,” said John, who’s ridden Matilda, 9, in all her competitive starts.
"When we started to work Matilda, we had to almost completely retrain her because she’d been taught that contact with the bit or legs was a reprimand, an indication that she was doing something wrong,” continued John. “We had to teach her that leg aids and rein aids are a means of communication, not a punishment, and it took awhile to gain her trust. But she’s always been ecstatic to jump—she thinks jumping’s far better than herding cows!”
John plans to move Matilda up to training level next season and to aim her for next November’s training-level three-day event at Galway Downs—unless a buyer comes along before then.
Apollo has completed his first season of eventing with a nearly perfect record—three starts at beginner novice and three ribbons (second, sixth and fourth). Apollo suffered a green run-out at one of the special championship fences (a box topped with bright fake masonry set three strides after a bank that caused problems for the majority of the division) but otherwise jumped eagerly and boldly around the course.
“Apollo is an excellent mover and jumper, but the greatest thing about him is his temperament: He absolutely shows up for work every single day and gives you 110 percent. That’s why he’s always a joy to ride,” said John, who’s ridden Apollo in all his starts too.
Heather’s relationship with “Sam” has spanned almost four years now, and she believes that the 13-year-old Thoroughbred has been one of her best teachers. The weekend’s highlight was their fluid and confident cross-country round on Saturday.
“He’s such an amazing cross-country horse—the best I’ve ever ridden. I wish I could have experienced a horse like him on cross-country 20 years ago,” said Heather. Sam also competes at second level in dressage, and Heather hopes to earn her USDF bronze medal on him.
Apollo Launches His Eventing Career With Two Ribbons
Apollo, a 7-year-old, Oldenburg gelding who didn’t know how to jump before he came to Phoenix Farm in early July, has been the farm’s biggest star in October. At the Event at Woodside on Oct. 4-5, he finished a close second in open beginner novice, and at the Ram Tap Horse Trials on Oct. 17-19 he claimed sixth place in open beginner novice.
These were Apollo’s first two starts in horse trials, and he finished both with only his dressage penalties, jumping perfectly clear cross-country and show jumping rounds in each. (Click here to read more about Apollo, who is for sale.)
“I was very, very proud of Apollo,” said Phoenix Farm co-owner and trainer John Strassburger, who competed him. “At both events, he was a bit uncertain about a few fences, but when I put my leg on him he said, ‘OK, if you say so!’ And that’s just how Apollo is—he doesn’t know how to say no. He just tries his heart out every day, every time you ride him. That’s why he’s always a joy to ride.”
Apollo is qualified for the Area VI Beginner Novice Championships next month at Ram Tap, which will be his next start.
Co-starring with Apollo this month is Phoenix Secret, Phoenix Farm’s first homebred. “Shawn” earned a close second place at Ram Tap in open preliminary under John Michael Durr. After placing fourth in dressage, Shawn galloped to the fastest cross-country time and moved up two places. It was the fifth time this year that Shawn and John Michael have won a top ribbon, three times at preliminary and twice at intermediate.
Shawn is a 10-year-old Thoroughbred gelding by Class Secret out of Native Monarch.
The Event at Woodside marked a milestone in the training of Earth To Zoey, a Dutch Warmblood mare whom breeder Kay Love sent to Phoenix Farm in September 2007 at age 5 to be started under saddle. Since then, she’s competed successfully at novice and training levels with John and John Michael, and at Woodside owner Mireya Cabron, 14, made her own eventing debut at beginner novice with her mare. After performing a solid dressage test, “Zoey” and Mariyeh jumped to faultless cross-country and show jumping rounds to earn a seventh-placed ribbon.
“Zoey is one of those rare horses who can go just as well for an experienced rider as she does for a novice rider, and it was so much fun to see her happily cantering around the cross-country course like a veteran with Mariyeh,” said John, who coached Mariyeh through the weekend.
Phoenix Farm Horses And Riders Earn Ribbons At Summer Events
Phoenix Farm’s homebred Thoroughbred gelding Phoenix Secret galloped to a close fourth place in the classic-format CCI* at The Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana on July 24-27, ridden by associate trainer John Michael Durr.
Phoenix Secret, called “Shawn” at home, is by Class Secret (a son of the legendary Secretariat) and out of Native Monarch, whom Phoenix Farm co-owner John Strassburger raced, evented and foxhunted. Shawn, 10, completed the second day with no jumping or time faults on cross-country, steeplechase or roads and tracks.
“We bred Shawn to be a classic-format horse—a horse who could gallop and jump all day—so it was fabulous to finally see him do the classic format,” said Phoenix Farm co-owner Heather Bailey. “I cried like a baby when he finished and got that ribbon.”
Shawn had been competing at intermediate level this spring—placing third at Ram Tap in February and third at Galway Downs in March—and John Michael is now aiming him for the CCI** at Galway Downs in November.
John Michael also rode Mireya Heineck’s Earth To Zoey to 13th place at Rebecca Farm (with a clear cross-country round) in the 6-year-old mare’s first training-level start. Two weeks later at Woodside, John Michael guided “Zoey” to her best dressage score to date (33.2) in the highly competitive open training division, and then finished seventh by adding no jumping or time faults.
Breeder Kaye Love sent Zoey to Phoenix Farm last Sept. 1as an unstarted 5-year-old, and “her rapid progress is the result of a real team effort,” said Heather. “John Michael has done most of the competing with Zoey, but John has also competed her and done a lot of schooling with her; I’ve ridden her and directed her training.”
Mireya purchased Zoey in January and hopes to make her eventing debut on her this fall. (She’s already ridden Zoey in a dressage show and a jumper show.)
Zoey’s seventh place was one of four ribbons earned by Phoenix Farms horses at the Woodside August event. In senior novice div. B, Alandra rode Master Merlin to second, one place ahead of Heather on Western Jubilee. It was an exciting return to action for the farm’s two most veteran horses.
Master Merlin, 14, on whom John won the Area II Intermediate Championships and an intermediate division at the Middleburg Horse Trials (Va.) in 2005 before completing the Jersey Fresh CCI** in 2006, was retired from upper-level competition this spring and hadn’t competed since April 2007. “Merlin,” now the farm’s schoolmaster for young horses and riders, was a last-minute substitute when Alandra’s Breakfast Of Champions developed a heel abscess four days before the event.
“Merlin just loved being at a competition again, although he was a bit confused by how small the fences were and how short the courses were,” said John.
Merlin, who last competed at novice level in May 2002, finished on his dressage score.
Western Jubilee, 13, whom Heather affectionately calls “Sam,” dropped just behind Merlin when he lowered one show jumping fence in his first start since October 2007, because of physical problems. “He felt just like my old boy on cross-country again! He felt so good he even left out a stride at the fence out of the second water!” exclaimed Heather.
The farm’s fourth ribbon was a seventh place earned by Rebecca Dellicker, who lives in Washington, on her homebred mare Southern Star, 7. It was the first time Rebecca had ever competed the chestnut Thoroughbred/Trakehner-cross in a horse trial.
Rebecca sent “Star” to Phoenix Farm in May, on the advice of a friend. She hadn’t been able to jump or hack the mare across country, but she hoped to be able to compete her by the end of the summer. The Phoenix Farm team worked diligently with Star, and at the end of June John rode her to clear cross-country and show jumping rounds in open beginner novice at Inavale (Ore.).
“Star just loves to gallop and jump, and she was absolutely fabulous over fences at Inavale,” said John. “But Rebecca came to ride her for the first time just before Woodside with a lot of baggage, because her experiences on Star had been mostly frightening. We were very pleased when, after riding her for a few minutes, she said, ‘Wow, this isn’t the same horse I sent you!’ And I was especially pleased to watch Star go out on those courses and do her job, to see her keep looking for the next fence to jump.”
Phoenix Farm Graduates Make Owners Proud
Four horses sold by Phoenix Farm to students of trainer Meg Finn have been carrying their riders to new experiences this summer.
Two of them competed at novice level at the spectacular Event at Rebecca Farm in Montana on July 24-27. Claire O’Connell rode Winter’s Fable to eighth (finishing on his dressage score), and Sydnee Hyman rode Allegra to 14th (with a clear cross-country round).
Just before the Rebecca Farm event, Claire and “Fable” spent two weeks at Phoenix Farm as working students. In addition to training hard, they got to gallop on the beach at Bodega Bay and enjoy a long trail ride at Shiloh Park.
Two weeks later at Woodside, Rachel Harnish rode Protégé to fifth place in senior beginner novice div. B, finishing with no jumping faults.
Sydnee then earned her first blue ribbon with Allegra at Shepherd Ranch in late August, winning a junior novice division after scoring an exceptional 27.5 in dressage. She plans to move up to training level this fall.
Hide ‘N Seeker introduced owner Kyana Sazegari to eventing at Woodside. It was only “Seeker’s” second lifetime start, having won the open beginner novice with Phoenix Farm co-owner John Strassburger at Ram Tap last February. “Seeker” performed a steady dressage test, and after a miscommunication between him and Kyana at the first cross-country fence, he jumped faultlessly and happily.
Fable, 5, and Seeker, 4, were bred in Vermont by John’s sister, Karin, and started under saddle and in competition by John before Claire and Kyana bought them last November and last March.
Galway Downs Another Success For Phoenix Farm
The support team of Phoenix Farm was on display at the Galway Downs Internationals Horse Trials on March 28-30 in Temecula, CA. Associate Trainer John Michael Durr came home with two ribbons. He finished third on Phoenix Farm homebred Phoenix Secret in the competitive Open Intermediate division, and he was 5th in the Open Preliminary division on his own Ballingowan Miller.
"Both of the boys were fantastic this weekend," he said. "They are both really coming in to their own, and I feel like my relationship with both of them is getting stronger and stronger."
Barn manager Alandra Halem contested the Senior Novice division for the first time, and finished 6th on her own Breakfast of Champions. She was thrilled with her strong cross-country performance on "Wheaties," a Connemara cross purchased from Phoenix Farms.
Ram Tap Yields Top Ribbons For Phoenix Farm Horses
Seeker, a 4-year-old Thoroughbred-cross, was the star of the Phoenix Farm contingent at the Ram Tap Horse Trials in Fresno on Feb. 15-17. The bay gelding won the dressage phase (36.0) and added no additional penalties to win the open beginner novice division by 9 points.
Ram Tap was Seeker’s first start in a USEA-recognized event. His only prior competitive experience was the Twin Rivers Farm Combined Test in mid-January, where he placed second in the dressage and finished fourth overall after lowering one show jumping rail.
John Strassburger, co-owner and co-trainer at Phoenix Farm, rode Seeker in both events. His sister, Karin Strassburger, bred Seeker at her Duck Hollow Farm in Vershire, Vt. He’s by the late Anglo-Arab sire Quartermaster and out of the Canadian draft-cross Calypso. His yearling half-sister, Sparrow (by the Thoroughbred stallion Reputed Testamony), is still in Vermont and will arrive at Phoenix Farm in April.
“It was a tremendously rewarding moment, especially since I was the first person to sit on him,” said John. “I was especially pleased that he was ready and eager to go to work on all three days and that he felt as if he was really understanding the competition. He’s going to be a fabulous horse for someone—you really can do anything with him.”
John noted that he felt a similar sense of accomplishment last year with Winter’s Fable, a Thoroughbred gelding his sister also bred. John was the first person to ride “Fable” and rode him in all four of the events he ran in 2007 at age 4, jumping faultless cross-country rounds in each. Phoenix Farm sold Fable to Claire O’Connell in November, and she’s now successfully competing him at novice level. (Update: Claire and Fable took 5th place in their first recognized event at Twin Rivers in the Junior Novice.)
Phoenix Farm co-owner and co–trainer Heather Bailey, barn manager Alandra Halem and associate trainer John Michael Durr have all worked with Seeker too. “What we do with the horses here is very much a team effort,” said John.
To prove it, John Michael earned third place in the open intermediate division on Phoenix Secret, 10, a Phoenix Farm homebred (by Class Secret, a son of the legendary Secretariat, and out of Native Monarch). It was the pair’s first intermediate start together and “Shawn’s” first intermediate start since April 2006. Shawn won the dressage phase, jumped clean on cross-country (with 1.2 time penalties) to hold on to the lead, and then lowered two show jumping rails to fall to third place.
John Michael, 20, is aiming Shawn for the Twin Rivers CCI** in April and then for a spot on the Area VI team at the North American Young Riders Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in late July.
“We had a fantastic cross-country trip!” said John Michael, “and next time I hope we’ll leave all the rails up.”
John Michael also rode the 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare Allegra [link] to third place in the extremely competitive open novice division. Like Seeker, Allegra, bred by owner Marsha Hayden, was also competing in her first USEA-recognized competition.
“Man, did she feel fabulous! I wish I could keep her for myself!” said John Michael.
Update: On the strength of their performances at Ram Tap, both Seeker and Allegra found new homes. See our Sale Page for more information.
(Below) Seeker, Allegra, and Phoenix Secret Strut Their
Stuff at Ram Tap.
Three
Phoenix Farm Horses Earn Ribbons In Woodside
Event
Associate
trainer John Michael Durr and trainer John Strassburger
rode Phoenix Farm horses to two second-placed ribbons and a
third-placed ribbon at the Woodside Summer Horse Trials on
Aug. 10-13.
John Michael claimed his prizes in two different open
preliminary divisions, riding his own Ballingowan Miller to
the red ribbon in division A and Phoenix Secret to the red
ribbon in division B. John Michael has now scored two
victories and a second in his first three starts with
“Miller,” having won at Shepherd Ranch in June and Galway
Downs in July. But Woodside was “Shawn’s” first start in a
horse trial since April 2006. Sharon White, John and
Heather’s former trainer, had competed Shawn, a Phoenix
Farm homebred, through the intermediate level, but when
Shawn was injured just before they moved from Virginia to
California in June 2006, they brought him with them. John
Michael began riding Shawn in April, following a 12-month
break.
“We’re so glad John Michael and Shawn get along well, and
it was so much fun to see him going cross-country again,”
said Heather. “Shawn was a little surprised by the size of
the first couple of fences, but then you could see how
happy he was to be doing it again.”
John Michael is aiming Miller for the CCI** at Galway Downs
in November and Shawn for the long-format CCI* there.
Winter’s Fable
proved his credentials as a rising star in eventing by
claiming third in open novice A. Fable, 4, was bred by
John’s sister, Karin, in Vermont, and John and Heather
started him last summer. This was Fable’s third horse
trial—and he now has a perfect record on cross-country,
with a clear round in his first beginner novice (Ram Tap in
April) and two clear rounds at novice (the first was at the
Woodside May event). Fable’s dressage score has improved by
13 points since the Woodside May event, which started him
in sixth place (scoring 36.6) this time. His fabulous
jumping rounds moved him up three places in the extremely
competitive division.
“Riding Fable is especially rewarding since I was the first
person to sit on him and the only person to compete him,”
said John. “He’s just a joy to ride around a cross-country
course or just across the countryside, because he just
loves it. And I’m ecstatic at how much his dressage has
improved as he’s gotten stronger and more mature.”
In addition to their ribbons, the Phoenix Farm horses came
home with a saddlebag’s worth of prizes. Miller and Shawn
each collected $300 in prize money, plus a banana-flavored
Lick-It and a $75 gift certificate from Toklat. Fable won a
lovely leather halter.
Master
Merlin And Flyboy Freddy Earn Good Scores In Woodside
Dressage
PF
trainers Heather Bailey and John Strassburger competed two
horses in the Dressage At Woodside show on July 12-14.
Heather rode Rosanne Johnson’s Flyboy Freddy, who’s been
competing at novice level in eventing, to one second, one
third and one fourth in training level classes, and John
rode Master Merlin, who’s competed at the intermediate
level for the last two years, to two seconds and two thirds
at second level.
“Freddy,” who’s been in training at Phoenix Farm since late
February, earned his best score (67.60%) in a highly
competitive test 3 class, placing fourth. Freddy, a
6-year-old U.S.-bred Hanoverian gelding, also earned 66.7
percent in test 2, placing second. The highlight of each of
his performances was his relaxed, fluid and steady way of
going, highlighting his powerful trot. Judge Jacqueline
Oldham gave him an 8 for his gaits in test 3.
“I was ecstatic with how well Freddy went, especially since
this was his first dressage show and only the fourth
competition he’s ever done in his entire life,” said
Heather. “He’s such a steady, honest and generous horse,
and that’s exactly how he went in all four tests. He went
just as well at the show as he does at home, and—especially
with a young horse—you can’t ask for more than that.”
John also thought “Merlin,” his 13-year-old Thoroughbred
gelding, had performed with the professional attitude
that’s always been the horse’s hallmark. “He did everything
he knows how to do, even though by the last class he’d had
about enough of dressage for awhile. I even walked him
around the cross-country field to refresh him mentally
before the last class!
“I certainly agreed with the judges’ comments that we need
more collection and engagement to improve our scores,”
added John. “I went to Woodside to get more practice doing
the test movements in competition, and it was very good
experience.”
Merlin received his best score in test 1, where he reached
64.21 percent, but he also scored 62.70 percent in test 2
and 62.32 percent in test 3. Judge Jacqueline Oldham
commented on one test sheet, “This horse glows with
condition—he’s beautiful!”
Congratulations
on double victory for PF Associate Trainer John Michael
Durr!
Phoenix
Farm would like to congratulate John Michael Durr and new
mount Ballingowan Miller on their back to back victories in
the Open Preliminary divisions at Shepherd Ranch by an
impressive 19 points, and Galway Downs Summer Horse Trials!
These are the first competitive outings for JM and "Miller"
and we look forward to their future successes.
Congratulations to PF client Ambar Arabians!
Phoenix
Farm would like to extend congratulations to Ambar Arabians
and Jean Marie Diaz. Her 2-year-old filly ADA Intuition
(aka"Poppy")was brought to PF farm for training on the
triangle in late April, and in May she took first in the
Arabian Sport Horse Mares in Hand (2 year olds), and
Reserve Junior Champion, Arabian Sport Horse Mares in Hand
at the Pacific Coast Arabian SPort Horse Classic. She
followed up this impressive performance by placing 4th in
the Arabian Sport Horse Mares in Hand (all ages) class at
the Pacific Slope Championships on Father's Day (handled by
PF trainer John Strassburger). These impressive showings
have qualified Poppy for the Arabian Sport Horse national
Championships. Yay for Ambar and Poppy!
More babies for Phoenix Farm!
All
of our babies for 2007 have arrived please check our
Breeding Program page
and our
Nigerian Dwarf Goat page
to view the new arrivals.
John Michael Durr Joins the PF Team.
Top
Area VI Young Rider John Michael Durr has joined Phoenix
Farm as an Associate Trainer. Heather was JM's first riding
instructor 15 years ago, and they are thrilled to be
working together again. We look forward to JM's expertise
in not just the eventing, but also hunter-jumper worlds. He
will bring a new level of excellence to PF operations.
It's a boy! First PF Farm foal of 2007 arrives.
At
2:00am on March 11, 2007, PF farm welcomed Phoenix Bongo to
the world. Our maiden mare Lizzie's Hero had a textbook
delivery of her Carlow Clover son, however, it became clear
the foal had contracted tendons in front. He spent five
days under the care of the excellent staff at Pioneer
Equine Hospital, and is now home and is expected to make a
100% recovery. Thanks to Dr. Scoggins, and Dr. Armentrout
at Pioneer for their care of Bongo and Lizzie!
First babies of 2007 arrive!
Our
Nigerian Dwarf Goat doe Cloudy gave birth to a beautiful,
healthy pair of twins on 2/28/07. The black and white buck
kid has been named Alvin. The fawn and white doe kid has
been named Corona. Congratulations to Kim Hatcher on the
purchase of Corona. Congratulations to Linda Schaap on the
purchase of Alvin. We have additional goats kids expected
in April!
John Strassburger wins USEA award
Phoenix
Farm trainer John Strassburger was 3rd in the country in
the Intermediate Master Amateur category for the United
States Eventing Association's yeard end awards.
Congratualtions!
Native Monarch 1986-2006
Phoenix
Farm is sad to report the passing of our flagship
broodmare, Native Monarch at the age of 20. "Ariel" (aka
the Queen Bee) came in to John's life 14 years ago, after
winning her final start at the race track on a fractured
cannon bone. John rehabbed her, and then raced her over
timber and hurdles, before eventing her through the
training level and foxhunting her. She is the mother of our
first homebred, Phoenix Secret, who has become a top ribbon
winner at the Intermediate level. We know Ariel is proud of
her son, and his heart and talent and keen expression will
remind us every day of our grand old lady. She has lived
for the past six years at Duck Hollow Farm, with John's
sister Karen and Kathy Marshall. Kathy has been competing
Ariel these last eventing seasons in Area I, and we thank
them for their excellent care, love and stewardship of her.
RIP Quartermaster
Photo Courtesy of Starstruck
Farms
Phoenix Farm is sad to report the passing of the stallion
Quartermaster on September 11, 2006 at the age of 22. This
handsome Anglo-Arab stallion is the sire out countless
performers in the eventing,hunter-jumper, endurance and
Arab worlds, and is the sire of two of Phoenix Farm's
youngsters--Cruiser and Seeker. He competed through the
intermediate level of eventing, and was still competing at
the preliminary level with a young rider at the age of 19.
His sire, Yankee Lad, was the sire of the 1984 Olympic Show
Jumping gold medalist, Touch Of Class. His world class
pedigree, temperament, and ability will be sorely missed.
Our condolences to his long-time companion Terry on the
loss of his very special friend. To learn more about
Quartermaster, click
here.