Monthly Performance Spotlight
*PShR Specialty* Distance Riding *PShR Specialty Plus* Distance Riding The responsibility of Performance Shagya-Arabian Registry is to ensure the continued integrity and legacy of the Shagya and Shagya-bred horses in North America. For us, performance testing is the modern day equivalent of “in the field” and “at war.” Performance testing is not a new concept to the members of the PShR. We all strongly believe in the development of a purpose-bred riding animal. We achieve this development through performance riding criteria and by using these criteria as the deciding factors when choosing breeding stock and planning future generations. www.performanceshagyaregistry.com
performanceshagya@gmail.com The P erf or m an c e Sh agy a Arabian Registry (PShR) in the USA is committed to the performance testing standards of the International Shagya Society (ISG) breeding guidelines requirements (RZBO). The PShR has established comparable performance testing standards using American open competition as the testing grounds. These standards set a high bar of excellence and go beyond the minimum requirements set by the ISG.
WineGlass Rouge 1993 Shagya Mare, *Budapest (Shagal [Shagya III]) X ACE Petula ox
When I bought Rouge from Linda Rudolphi in 1998, it was as a companion horse to my first Shagya, Ranger PFF. As we turned the two of them out together in the arena, they moved like a pair of angel fish, in synch and in style. Those two horses liked each other from the moment they were introduced. Rouge was, however, inexperienced on trail, definitely not a leader, and sometimes shy when it came to other horses (never with people). I never really thought of her as becoming my primary riding horse, my lead mare, or our all-purpose riding horse. Well, here we are in 2012 and my little Rouge is turning 19 and she IS our lead mare, my primary riding horse, our most-loaned out CTR/endurance prospect (weird word for a 19 year old) and definitely fits the bill for “all-purpose”. As most of you know, I am not competitive when it comes to horses, so poor Rouge, who likes to run at the front, has always been asked to crawl along at the back of most distance rides we go to. This “at the back” approach to competition is tolerated, but not desired by this talented and athletic horse. As of Fall 2011 Rouge has accrued 975 miles in various endurance and competitive trail rides. She’s never been lame at a ride, which is pretty impressive for a horse that we saw mostly as a “back-up” to whichever horse was getting the “primary treatment” for the year. When your backup is finishing everything and your primary is going lame, it might be time for a stern talk with yourself, right?
Performance Shagya-Arabian Registry: Monthly Spotlight, May, 2012
Monthly Performance Spotlight
WineGlass Rouge Bred by Linda Rudolphi WineGlass Farm, IL Owned by Dr Eric Nelson Post Oak Shagya’s Missouri
“Overall, Rouge is my teacher. I can’t even begin to express how easy it has been to have this mare in our lives. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her, done it well, and done it with love in her heart. “ Centerview, MO postoakshayas@hughes.net enelson@ucmo.edu www.performanceshagyaregistry.com performanceshagya@gmail.com
When I tried to go back to count up her placings, I couldn’t find them… like I said, I tend to ride at the back and you can tell because IF the ribbons and placings meant something to me, I guess I’d know exactly how many 1sts, 2nds, etc. So, what I have are memorable moments: 2009 Berry Bend Boondocker where Max got loose and chased Brianna Knight and Rouge out of camp and Rouge just stood there and waited for him, then waited for me to catch him, then took off like a jackrabbit to make up “lost time” and finished 4th Lightweight, so that little wait did cost her; June 28th, 2010 Barefoot in the Park CTR where Eric “Mr. Genius” Nelson decides that a 47 count heart rate wasn’t “good enough” and asks for a recheck, to have someone run a horse by 2 feet from Rouge’s nose… resulting in a 58 heart rate and us going from 2nd place to last; 2010 State Fair Express 50 Mile - 3rd Place & Best Condition; 2011 Big River Bend CTR - 2nd Place Middle Weight (day 1), 2nd Place Heavy Weight (day 2) where Rouge and Dedi Fitzner beat me and Max at the ride that I co-host… bummer; 2010 Eagle Ranch Season Finale where Rouge carried Sidney Hoover (age 12) for her first 25 mile Limited Distance ride. I’m pretty sure that was a “steering is optional, trail’s over here Sidney” kind of ride;
Her greatest asset is that she is so easy to ride. Now please don’t mistake that for easy going, Ms. Rouge can get herself wound up with the best of them. But, she doesn’t tend to go loco, or as Kathy Voyer says of her Shagyas: “Hot on the outside, cool on the inside.” 2011 Ozark Trail 75 Mile Ride… getting lost in a torrential downpour and wondering if we were going to make it out of the Mark Twain National Forest alive. Then Rouge refusing to get on the rescue trailer since that meant quitting the ride and such an ignoble ending was NOT what she signed up for. Besides, it was a long day, she could hear the other horse crashing in the woods, and camp is at the END of the ride, not partway through a ride. She’s back in shoes and pads, so I am thinking we’ll have to do an update in 5 years….. By Dr. Eric Nelson
Performance Shagya-Arabian Registry: Monthly Spotlight, May, 2012