May 2015 brought us many changes. First, we had several racers retire, some new additions welcomed and then we had to say good bye to a few others. There are big plans for June, but things are not moving as quickly as we had hoped.
QMR Antonius was retired at the age of six from steeplechase as a multiple Grade I winner and lifetime earnings of more than $900,000. He has earned a total of 177 racing pts and is the most successful horse we have ever had, winning 10/21 of his races and placing in the top three 9 times out of 21 races. Why retire so early? Steeplechasers are beginning to grow, but we felt that with his stats, it was time for him to start adding to crops of foals and future chasers. He has already sired a lovely little bay filly named QMR Lucilla out of HPS Dreamcatcher. She has gone home to her new owner, Dieuwke Reese where she will compete in steeplechase like her sire once she is old enough.
BUS In Case of Fire was retired at the age of ten as an Ungraded Stakes racer with 74 racing points. He is a beautiful boy with a great conformation and we hope that he will sire future racing champions.
Our two Arabian racing fillies, MM Exquisite Aziza and DSS Shake the Earth were retired as well. MM Exquisite Aziza is 10 years old and DSS Shake the Earth is 9yrs old but both were turf middle Ungraded Stakes flat racers. They have been together since arriving at QMR and will continue to be kept together. They have really developed a bond and we have no doubt that they will help raise their foals side by side.
We have decided to start moving away from Stock racing and have retired several of our stock racers; leaving only a few younger ones to continue. WO Heaven's Blue Girl has reached Grade III level, but has not yet won a GIII race. She will continue to race until she has reached that goal and then retired. Black Mistletoe and YVE Calypso's Angel are in the same boat as Heaven's Blue Girl and will continue to race until they have met their goal. Be'e My Gun is in a similar boat but has a higher goal. She now qualifies for GI races and we hope to race her until she has won atleast 1 GI race. She currently has two GIII wins under her belt.
We welcomed QME Golden Moon back home for a short time, but have now sent her to her new home, Viia Devereux where she will compete as a steeplechaser. We are hoping to see her rise to the top like her sire once did.
We also said good-bye to QMR Percival who has been doing well performing. He went to Myranda Miller who I have no doubt will take good care of him. He had been waiting for a long time to find the right home and with her, I think he has found it.
We have begun establishing a Rare Draft Breed import service and so far have seen decent interest in it. So far, we have been able to find and export Boulonnais, Brabants, Ardennais, and Bretons to the Equus Community and hope that the interest continues to grow. From time to time we will be auctioning or raffling off some horses that we are able to find to help bring their numbers up in ES.
We have decided to say good-bye to our Gypsy Vanners in the near future. Some will be going back to their breeders and some will be available for sale soon. We also hope to be having stock and Thoroughbred foals available soon, though the mares are not due for a bit yet. Stay tuned for that. We are also open to custom breedings when asked so please don't hesitate to look into that. We have many fine horses of various breeds available that could give you a future champion.
More changes are on the horizon for everyone here at Quiet Meadows Ranch including breedings, competing and retirements; but even bigger things are in the works, like new facilities, new partnerships and even, some trips out to our wild Mustangs! With so much going on, ES Year 8 is shaping up to be a big one!
QMR Antonius was retired at the age of six from steeplechase as a multiple Grade I winner and lifetime earnings of more than $900,000. He has earned a total of 177 racing pts and is the most successful horse we have ever had, winning 10/21 of his races and placing in the top three 9 times out of 21 races. Why retire so early? Steeplechasers are beginning to grow, but we felt that with his stats, it was time for him to start adding to crops of foals and future chasers. He has already sired a lovely little bay filly named QMR Lucilla out of HPS Dreamcatcher. She has gone home to her new owner, Dieuwke Reese where she will compete in steeplechase like her sire once she is old enough.
BUS In Case of Fire was retired at the age of ten as an Ungraded Stakes racer with 74 racing points. He is a beautiful boy with a great conformation and we hope that he will sire future racing champions.
Our two Arabian racing fillies, MM Exquisite Aziza and DSS Shake the Earth were retired as well. MM Exquisite Aziza is 10 years old and DSS Shake the Earth is 9yrs old but both were turf middle Ungraded Stakes flat racers. They have been together since arriving at QMR and will continue to be kept together. They have really developed a bond and we have no doubt that they will help raise their foals side by side.
We have decided to start moving away from Stock racing and have retired several of our stock racers; leaving only a few younger ones to continue. WO Heaven's Blue Girl has reached Grade III level, but has not yet won a GIII race. She will continue to race until she has reached that goal and then retired. Black Mistletoe and YVE Calypso's Angel are in the same boat as Heaven's Blue Girl and will continue to race until they have met their goal. Be'e My Gun is in a similar boat but has a higher goal. She now qualifies for GI races and we hope to race her until she has won atleast 1 GI race. She currently has two GIII wins under her belt.
We welcomed QME Golden Moon back home for a short time, but have now sent her to her new home, Viia Devereux where she will compete as a steeplechaser. We are hoping to see her rise to the top like her sire once did.
We also said good-bye to QMR Percival who has been doing well performing. He went to Myranda Miller who I have no doubt will take good care of him. He had been waiting for a long time to find the right home and with her, I think he has found it.
We have begun establishing a Rare Draft Breed import service and so far have seen decent interest in it. So far, we have been able to find and export Boulonnais, Brabants, Ardennais, and Bretons to the Equus Community and hope that the interest continues to grow. From time to time we will be auctioning or raffling off some horses that we are able to find to help bring their numbers up in ES.
We have decided to say good-bye to our Gypsy Vanners in the near future. Some will be going back to their breeders and some will be available for sale soon. We also hope to be having stock and Thoroughbred foals available soon, though the mares are not due for a bit yet. Stay tuned for that. We are also open to custom breedings when asked so please don't hesitate to look into that. We have many fine horses of various breeds available that could give you a future champion.
More changes are on the horizon for everyone here at Quiet Meadows Ranch including breedings, competing and retirements; but even bigger things are in the works, like new facilities, new partnerships and even, some trips out to our wild Mustangs! With so much going on, ES Year 8 is shaping up to be a big one!