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Forty Something

Jody Swimmer and Forty Something. Photo: Bob Tarr.

Forty Something, owned by Jody Swimmer, is a 10 year old Saddlebred gelding.  Forty is one of our “hottest” horses in the barn, meaning is very electric off the leg which makes him like a little sports car to ride!  Chrissa Hoffmann started him as a 4yr old, from a saddleseat barn in the Louisville area.  She had to retrain everything he knew as a saddleseat horse.

Chrissa Hoffmann and Forty Something schooling.

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Meadow Lake Fall Dressage Classic, October 20-21st, 2009. Chrissa Hoffmann and Forty Something competed in their first Prix St Georges test. Placing 2nd both days with a 60.4% and a 62.6%!

Four years later, Chrissa showed him 3rd level in Spring of ’08 with scores in the 60’s.  After spending 3 months in Florida with Chrissa, he returned to compete Third level test 3 with Jody receiving a 64.3% earning her last score needed for her USDF Bronze Medal!   In October of 2009, Chrissa showed “Forty” in his first PSG class earning a second place ribbon with a 62.6%!


Chrissa Hoffmann schooling Forty Something.
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Chrissa Hoffmann and Forty Something. Photo: Todd Buchanan.

25th Edition of The Saddlebred

Chrissa and Forty Something,  were invited to participate in a photo shoot, for the 25th edition of The Saddlebred, a book produced and written by Judy Oetinger, of Prospect, KY.  Both Saddlebreds, Harry Callahahn and Forty Something, trained and shown by  Chrissa are featured.  Harry Callahan was trained and shown successfully to Grand Prix and Forty Something now to Prix St Georges!  Both Saddlebreds, to date, are the highest scoring saddlebreds competing at the FEI levles of dressage!  Photograph taken by Todd Buchanan, a professional equine photographer of MN.  Book will be binded and ready for WEG 2010!

Chrissa Hoffmann and Forty Something. Photo: Todd Buchanan.

Thank you to Chrissa Hoffmann for this news.

New York City Slicker

New York City Slicker and Jody Swimmer.

New York City Slicker, owned by Jody Swimmer, is her young 5 yr old American Saddlebred who she has won countless awards on already!  Jody purchased him as a 2 yr old and has basically done all the work herself.  They earned the Young Horse Material Gold Medal for the 3 yr old Division at the American Warmblood Society, for 2008, with an outstanding, 72.7%!!!  He also was awarded USDF’s All Breeds 4 yr old Champion, with an overall score of 67.1% for 2009!  They also received the Gold Medal for the overall division, as he scored in the 70%’s!  “George” is dual registered with The American Saddlebred registry and American Warmblood Society.  He is a gorgeous 15.2 hand chestnut with chrome who has a huge desire to please.  He is definitely one of the cutest geldings in the barn.  He always has a smile on his face!  He showed First level this past summer, winning the class amongst warmbloods, with a 68%.  He has natural suspension in his trot and for his age, has an extremely well balanced canter.  Our goal is that George will follow in the famous Harry Callahan’s and now Forty Something’s footsteps, by reaching the FEI and maybe even Grand Prix!

Thank you to Chrissa Hoffmann for this news.

Spotlight — Beauty and Sarah

Not to sound like a total cliché, but every single picture I have taken with my horse, I look like a giddy 12 year old girl with a smile from ear to ear.  That could be because that’s how she makes me feel.  At the age of 26 I finally realized my dream of owning my own horse.  What I didn’t anticipate was that she would be one of the safest and honest horses out there.  Or that she would be a Saddlebred sport horse. Because before 4 years ago, I never even knew that Saddlebred’s existed.

Growing up, I dabbled in English and Western riding lessons here and there – when I could afford them.  Once I moved to York, PA I was desperate to get back into riding seriously.  I was at  the point in my life that I had the financial stability to pay for riding and shows and I was itching to find a barn where I could hang out at and not only enjoy the horses but the atmosphere as well.  Since I was new to the York community, I scoured Craig’s List looking for advertisements for riding lessons.  One ad caught my eye – riding lessons in exchange for barn work.  It sounded like the perfect situation and it ended up being one of the best decision I have ever made.  The ad was for Sorrelstone Farms – a huntseat focused barn that happened to specialize in Saddlebred Sporthorses.  Now, as a riding novice, I didn’t know a Saddlebred if it snorted on me, however, as soon as I was introduced to the farms resident Saddlebreds, George, Oscar and Alice – there was no way I could forget them.

As I grew in my riding capabilities and horse care experience under the guidance of Lillian, owner and trainer at Sorrelstone Farms, she and I both came to realize that her horses were not the best fit for me.  They were all very well trained, but just took a little bit more skill then I had under my belt.  And while I wasn’t the most timid person around horses, there were still some situations that made me question my aptitude – on the ground and under saddle.  But, at the same time, there was no way I was abandoning Lillian’s farm or the Saddlebred breed.  I wanted to become the owner of my own horse but the horse had to have the right personality – forgiving, personable and ready to catch me when I fell.

Although Lillian had a small farm compared to other big name Saddlebred trainers, she had the contacts and she made a few calls on my behalf.  A week later, Mirrored Beauty showed up at Sorrelstone Farm on a two week trial basis for me.  Beauty, whose name was very fitting, was a five year old, green broke, liver chestnut Saddlebred Sporthorse and instantly became the love of my life.

I quickly found out that the love of my life had quite the personality and she knew exactly what buttons to push, but she never went too far.  Besides her lovable personality (depending on who you asked) Beauty had two characteristics that are a testament to her breed – she was smart as a whip and at 5 years old she was as trustworthy as Lillian’s 17 year old packer.

In the past 3 years since I’ve own Beauty we’ve gone to breed shows and trail rides, I’ve ridden her in new “strange” indoor rings and we’ve gone galloping in an open field; she’s been used for camp, in lessons, and packing my non-horsey boyfriend around in 2 feet of snow.  She is a treasure and exactly what a Saddlebred Sport Horse represents – versatility.  One day we’re taking dressage lessons and the next day, I’m riding her bareback in the field with nothing but a lead rope tied to her halter and she’s the same horse. I never worry about my safety when I’m on her.  Beauty’s never going to be the fanciest horse.  She’s never going to make people go “wow” when they see her move in the ring.  But that doesn’t matter to me.  She’s irreplaceable in my eyes and I know I’m lucky that she found me.  I can’t wait to see where the rest of our journey takes us because I know it’s going to be a blast! And with her, I will always be that giddy 12 year old girl that beams with pride and joy when talking about my Saddlebred.

Sarah
Pennsylvania

Spotlight — Pamina and Gabrielle

At recent trail riding clinic we attended, where we're both snoozing in the sun waiting for other clinic participants to get done working in the round pen!

I have owned an ASB mare for the past year and a half.  She’s very smart, confident, high-energy (without spooky), curious and and awesome – a solid, big-boned, 16 hh, gaited, old-style saddlebred – click here to view pedigree – I called her Pamina.

I bought her last May at the age of 7, had 60 days training put on her (she was just green broke, came from a breeder here in Alberta that had wonderful bloodlines in his herd when he gave up breeding and sold all his ASBs) and have used her in the Rocky Mountains since.  We’re going to spend the next few years up in the hills.   She really seems to enjoy it, and is such a lovely ride, with beautiful, elastic, expressive movement and a forward manner.  I just enjoy her a lot, and am currently looking for a trainer locally that works with gaited horses to help me work with her more this winter.

Buying her and having her registration papers transferred to me meant becoming a member of the ASHA, and boy was that an eye opener!  The breed seems to really struggle to diversify this great horse, which can do anything!  (I’m going to have a local trainer teach both of us to drive one of these winters.   I’d love to have a sleigh – LOL.)

I’d love to be involved a little more, but Saddlebreds are nearly unknown in my area – there aren’t more than a handful of breeders, and I’ve only ever met two three other people in person that own one.  One of them (ironically) is my friend and neighbour, whom I’ve known for a few years now, and from whom I’ve since purchased a foal in uetro. She breeds warmbloods and ASB-warmblood cross sporthorses for amateur riders.   I’m looking forward to the new foal next summer, an ASB/Consul baby I hope will be my jumper in 5 or so years!

Gorge Creek, Kananaskis Country, Alberta Rocky Mountains, where we're resting at the top of a ridge enjoying the view.

Gabrielle K.
Alberta, Canada

Harry Callahan Wins at Prix St. George

American Saddlebred gelding, Harry Callahan, won at Prix St. George on Sunday, May 28, at the Kentucky Dressage Association Spring Dressage Show. His score for the winning class was 65.5. He had two other very successful rides and was FEI High Point Champion as well. Harry is owned by Linda Cawthon and ridden by Chrissa Hoffman.

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Harry Callahan at the All American Freestyle Symposium

The 8 year old ASB Dressage gelding Harry Callahan (Supreme Heir X Make My Day by The New York Times) was invited to participate at the Robert Dover All-American Freestyle Symposium held at the Kentucky Horse Park April 21-23, 2006. ( Robert Dover is a 6 time Olympian in the sport of Dressage.)

In addition to being a demonstration horse for the Choreography section of the Symposium, Harry and his rider/trainer Chrissa Hoffmann, were part of the Saturday Night entertainment where they performed a beautiful Intermediaire-1 Level Freestyle to the music “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”

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Joy Congdon and Clicquot Debut

Joy Congdon and Clicquot Debut

In their first test under saddle, Joy Congdon and Clicquot scored 65.7% at Training Level.  Clicquot is by Buck’s Co-Star out of Denmark’s Ruby Red and is owned by Susan Vine of Boxborough, Massachusetts..

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Barry Be Good and Suzanne Kloud at Plantation Fields

Hanky Panky Spanky- registered as "Barry Be Good" event horse, fox hunter, and best pal to Dr. Suzanne Kloud in PA.

In his first outing this year the 5 year old, Barry Be Good (Spanky) and Suzanne Kloud, finished 6th against some big name competition at Plantation Fields in Chester County, PA. His flawless cross-country round over the tough Training Level course was the highlight of his competition against a field of 15 other horse and rider teams. Spanky is by Mt. Zion’s Rhema out of Sweet Choice.