CLIFFHAVEN FARM

Risque Romance (2000)

  Cupid is by the Canadian TB stallion "A Fine Romance" (http://www.afineromance.ca) out of a Hanoverian mare and was bred in Ontario by Dana Balfour (www.twistedpinefarm.com).  He has spent the last couple of years in training as an event horse with Allison Springer in VA.  With Allison he competed up to the Preliminary level, usually finishing on his dressage score.  Cupid arrived at Cliffhaven in October and he and Gab are having a great time getting to know one another and looking forward to the 2010 season together!

Check out his Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNLHr2Rvgew

Eye Salut (1999) 

"Isaac" is by Salut (Trakehner) out of Twinkle of an Eye (TB). 

Isaac was the first horse we purchased several years after the death of Clifton.  His puppy-dog personality and stunning good looks make him a favourite with visitors.  He's a versatile horse with lovely movement and an extremely bold and honest approach to jumping.  His favourite food is banana muffins but he is fond of all pastry.  He loves hacking with Alex and eventing and doing dressage with Gabby.  His dislikes include deer and stall-rest. 

Isaac is currently leased by Mel Maynard and returning to his Hunter career for the time being. 

Thank you to Andrew Bailini for Isaac's XC proofs.  We have purchased the photos but they are hanging in the tack room  so we "borrowed" these instead :)

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Southpaw (2000)

"Beeg" or "BG" was bred by Diana Martyn of Martyn Stables and is a Thoroughbred and Canadian Sport Horse by Southern Hobo (TB) out of Play for the Stars (TB by Play for Time). 

We call him "The Benevolent Dictator" as he has always been the leader - of horses and humans - wherever he has lived.  He is an incredible athlete and thrilling to ride, though he is very opinionated.  His favourite passtimes include his morning gallops and spitting giant mouthfuls of water on unsuspecting passersby.  We designed the stalls at Cliffhaven to allow our horses to stick their heads out - unwittingly facilitating this charming behaviour.  Beeg's motto is "You First!".

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He Rocks My Sox (1995)

Sox is a Canadian-bred Angloarab gelding.  He has an impressive record at the Prelim level having been the OHTA high point horse for three years.  He was talent squad listed in 2007 following a great finish at the Wit's End CCI* where he finished on his dressage score.  Sox is currently rehabbing from an injury but we hope he will return to eventing in 2010.  Sox is very confident and intelligent and has one abnormally large nostril that he flares for emphasis at times.

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Polly (1990)

Polly is a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred mare by Pass the Tab (1978) out of Alison's Tiger (1979) and her racing name was Chipola.  Polly has had previous careers as a jumper and as an eventer.  She last evented at the Preliminary level in 2002 and has spent the last several years as a brood mare producing some lovely foals.  In 2007 she was accepted into the Main Hanoverian Mare Book in the US.   Polly has an adorable droopy lower lip and is in love with Beeg (what a cougar!).   She also enjoys getting as dirty as possible (see above)!  Polly is now retired but keeps herself fit in our hilly pastures just waiting to get called up to action again!

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ChampagneforShelby (1997)

"Shelby" is a New York bred Thoroughbred Mare by ChampagneforAshley out of Rexy by Big Spruce.  Her full pedigree looks like this: http://www.pedigreequery.com/champagneforshelby.  She is on loan to us from Gail Rogers, owner of the Gold Premium TB Stallion A Fine Romance (http://www.afineromance.ca/).  Shelby is another "Iron Lady" who raced an incredible 95 times and finished SOUND! Purchased as a 10 year old by Gail who found her at the Finger Lakes track, she came to us to see if she would enjoy retraining as a riding horse.  Other possibilities include breeding her, or just letting her enjoy her retirement here.  Shelby arrived at Cliffhaven in November 2008 and so far has proved herself to be an incredibly quick learner and a wonderful mover. 

Update:  Shelby has been bred to Formula One (http://www.tamarackhill.com/Stallions/F1.htm)

Shelby's Video on YouTube:  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzyPLTY_Gnk&feature=channel_page

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Clifton (1986-2001)

Cliffy or Clivers was a Canadian bred Thoroughbred gelding whose racing name was "Crown Riviera".  He was purchased by Gabby's parents as a four year-old and was Gab's first horse.  Together they learned the ropes of eventing under the guidance of her wonderful coach Dezso "Topsi" Hary.  They progressed from Novice to Preliminary eventing together and enjoyed their share of thrills and successes including winning the Ontario Championships in 1997. 

Sadly, Cliffy developed cardiac problems in 1998 and was retired from competition.  He and Gabby enjoyed two more years of hacking together before he died in the fall of 2001.  He is buried at theTillanna Equestrian Centre in Moffat, ON (we will be forever grateful to the Taggert family for their sensitivity and generosity) but his spirit is very much alive here at Cliffhaven where his pictures line the tackroom walls.