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Craver Farms Page 4 FROM OUR READERS
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Craver Farms Page 4 FROM OUR READERS
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 My vet
came the other day... and while floating the girls’ teeth, she paid me,
and them, the wonderful compliment that she had never come across horses
with such supple tongues. Almost always she finds resistance of some kind
but not with Soubrette or Plaisance. She said they must take the bit well.
They do. I have never come across such light, responsive, intelligent,
willing horses before. Not forgetting the forgiving, which, of course,
I have needed from time to time.... The girls are coming along well. Before
I had to cut down to two or three 1/2-hour sessions a week, we had made
great strides. They now stop as I incline my weight & are willing to
come under much more control than I had expected for this amount of time.
They are a real joy to work with & it is wonderful to see such results
so quickly, especially since I’m so inexperienced at all this (training
at age 10 back 37 years isn’t much to lean on!).... I am coming along well
with them all on my own, even with having had little formal training. They
are a joy to have and to know and I would hate to see other people deprived
of what I have been able to enjoy. Davenports bring you not only special
horses. Today there are over 700 horses owned by some + 150 breeders. These
breeders are a special lot full of great wit, kindness and a sense of history.
Every Davenport owner I have met has been a joy to know, an enrichment
of my life. I hope this can continue to be the case for many others."
Comments from Our Quest: Julie’s success with these two mares fills us with humility bcause she has gotten along with them so well in spite of having little personal background in horse training. When she picked the mares out at Craver Farms, we were comfortable with her choice of Plaisance CF, who was a young mare that had been handled some and was very people-oriented. We were much more doubtful about Soubrette CF because she was 10 years old, had been handled little, did not care much about being handled, and was a “Princess" type with very quick reactions. Looked to us like maybe she was a little too much horse for the buyer. We warned Julie, and that did not make any difference: she wanted that mare! We warned several more times with equal results. We did not want to offend a lovely lady, so we gave up with warnings. Soubrette—along with Plaisance—went home with Julie, and the two have gotten along fine. Shows what expert counsel about horsemanship from Craver Farms is worth. Linda McDowell (1998): "'Caliph' (Caliphate [Dharanad/Culpurnia]) will be 18 this year, but looks and acts younger. We love him so much and as I told you before, he is such a sweet, loving animal. Before acquiring Caliph I had several bad experiences with horses that had various 'problems.' Caliph has changed horseback riding for me from a terrifying experience to an exciting one. I look forward to each ride with him - he is the same all the time. If he has 'bad days' I never see them. Again... if he’s an example of the Davenport breeding, then I would recommend them to anyone wanting a kind, intelligent, spirited but gentle horse." Steve & Gwen Farmer: “Gwen has been doing great with Sinbad LF (Ibn Don Carlos/Persephone CF). He came in 3rd in the Dammeron Valley 60 Miler, and he was very strong for his age and for the competition at the Jean to Blue Diamond NV two-day 50. He finished in the middle of the pack on both days. So he has completed his first multiday ride (100 miles in two days). Gwen got lots of attention from some of the big names because of his attitude as a stallion and because of his conformation and ability.... He is incredibly smart. He really thinks his way through a race."
Azali Malak Enjoying Herself Mary Buser Gills, 5/31/97: "Thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of Zali (Azali Malak [Pursuit/DDA Asma Sama]) in her first 25-mile endurance event. She had a great time! And came in 4th out of 37, 3rd place for best condition.” Linda Sherrill, Awards for 1998: Demitasse CF (Javara Thadrian/Dixie Cup), Linda Sherrill riding. White River Rides Series: Champion & High Point Competitive Trail Horse. Great Lakes Distance Riding Ass’n: 3rd Extended Distance Competitive Trail (year end). Set a new state record for pulse & respiration. Demitasse had a 7/1 P&R in 15 seconds after 23 miles of sand (surprise vet check) at the TinCup Springs Ride, August 1998.
Amy Sherrill, 1998 Awards: Fakher El Alamein (by *Fakher el Din out of the Davenport mare, Bint Alamein) Top 5 Jr. Competitive Horse, Arabian Horse Distance Riding Ass'n. Top 10 UMECRA Junior Competitive Horse. Reserve Champion Junior Horse of the Great Lakes Distance Riding Ass'n. Judith Franklin, 7/24/98: "Chatauqua’s (Monsoon/Verona) anecdotal story of this year: One day... I was riding with 3 other people when we came to a nasty little boggy/spring crossing. The trail crew had put down a piece of spooky looking plastic matting, but it was skew-haw, too narrow and too short. The horses in the lead wouldn’t cross it, but I was sure Chat might, so I got off him (decided if he went into the swamp he’d be safer without a rider). Took down my 10' reins and walked across a log, which was about a foot wide and about 5' long, across the mud. I called back to Chat, who gulped in a big breath and walked across the log (<with> all 4 feet). I love it!" |
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Julie
Wallace: "I have had six straight days of nice riding,
wonderful riding, after the thaw & before the rain. I guess God now
wants me to stop playing and get on with the chores.... Plaisance (Regency
CF/Pleasantry CF) is a real character. She has developed a herding pattern,
trying to make sure we, especially Jennifer, zero in on her. What was really
funny was how she behaved when I come out w/saddle & bridle the other
day. I wanted to clean up in the paddock a bit first, and Plaisi took that
time to show me how she felt. She herded me away from Soubrette (Tajar
CF/Piquante CF) & then started to do a mini-Salutation bucking bronco
act right in front of me, finishing off with a swagger back & forth.
It was very cute. She was rewarded, and I swear she beamed as I rode her.
She still likes to jump out of her skin now & again, though, which
is why I’d hesitate to put anyone else on her yet. Soubrette is the more
confident calm & wise one, but you have to approach (& understand)
her the right way to make that work. We have lots of time.... 