May 2000 - No. 2

Settlement is at the end of June. I was wanting to rent before then but am still having battles with the bank who will only lend 60 - 70% of the value of a rural property. Hopefully by spring I'll have the place in order and you can come and see my new foals.

The long awaited foal by Cudglebar Manak (x Cairo imp. NZ) out of my tall anglo mare 'Desi' (Omani Stylist by Chipala Shabah) arrived on 9 March. He was a tiny foal but is really making up for it now.

He is chestnut (at least he was until a few days ago when the MONGREL started showing grey hairs around his eyes - drats!) with a thick white blaze and 3 splashed white leg markings. I have called him Splitters Creek Fortitude (pend), but he is known as 'Ziggy' to his friends.

I recently had a visit to Les at Cudglebar Stud. It was a busy 3 days. On the first afternoon I met John from Merriwa. John and I were lucky to get into Cudglebar actually, as the main creek crossings were about 15 foot under water. If it wasn't for John's 4WD and a level crossing that was about 2' underwater, I would have had to swim!

John manages a large mixed farm and his stock horse is a bay arab stallion, Cudglebar Caleb by Cudglebar Nur Eo Dam (Ashes). John showed us some photos of his old colonial horses, including a broken 4 year old gelding that is for sale, if anyone is looking for a future endurance mount.

The following day we drove out to Tooraweenah to look at a 7 yo stallion that is shortly going to be returned to Cudglebar. He is by Cudglebar Mameluke out of Cudglebar Judith (x Cairo [imp NZ]). Unfortunately he has no papers or even a foal recording, so he will have to be gelded and might be coming to my place to be used in endurance. We also caught up with Paddy Gale, an old Tooraweenah endurance rider from way back.

The horses at Cudglebar were all looking well. My Mustafa filly, Splitters Creek Molly is in foal to Cudglebar Manak (x Cairo) and starting to show quite a bit now. I would like to bring her home for the winter.

Due to my lack of success in getting mares in foal to Ashes (the body has been willing), Les has offered me the lease of Cudglebar Raksha (Demon) for the season. He is by Cudglebar Mameluke out of Cudglebar Midi, and is a half brother to my endurance gelding Cudglebar Tarquin. Demon is a classic old colonial arabian, with good bone and strong, compact body.

On the way back from Cudglebar I made a detour and called in at Aloha Stud, Lake Cargelligo NSW to finally see my 1^st foal of the season, who I have called 'Splitters Creek Power Play' (pend). He is a chestnut Arabian warmblood colt by Aloha Power of One out of the TB mare, Continental Lady. He was actually born in December and I just haven't been able to get out and see him. I was very pleased with him and hope to show him in the summer, as a yearling (need to get him home first!)

My two endurance geldings have both recently completed their first 80km endurance rides. Rowallan Mitchell (x Diablo) completed Mudgegonga in Victoria on 8/4/00 and Cudglebar Tarquin (x Cairo) completed at Gundagai over the Easter weekend.

They were ridden by Debra Kuhne of Canberra who is now a qualified endurance rider, so it's been a successful few weeks. According to Debra, Tarquin did not relax and settle until 10km into the 2^nd leg (ie 50km behind him). Hopefully he will soon learn that the aim of the game is not just to chase the horse in front of you.

Regards

Catherine McAlpine

**Cudglebar Ishmael will be leased this spring by Barbara Marsden of Blayney, and so was used extensively over Les' mares last season.

Here is another mare of old breeding that is for sale - 'Talisman Rizali' Grey Arab mare 13 years, had 2 foals, by Beau Bahri out of a Kinsman mare. 14.2 hands, has done training rides but injury prevents anything other than pleasure riding now. Nice temperament, fast and powerful. Full brother has sprint raced successfully. $1 000 ono. Contact Zenta Downes (02) 66 321 815