Mandreica Saddlebred Stud - Our Australian Herd

Sunday 16th November 2008. A day to remember indeed, severe storm warnings had been issued and the entire day was brooding with heat and humidity.

The tornado struck at about 17h00, we had just arrived back home and there was no time to round up the horses and get them into their stables. Helplessly we stood and watched and listened to what was my very first severe storm experience. I had not before encountered mother Natures awesome powers unleashed in this way, the menace of it humbled me deeply and made me yet again realise how fleeting and fragile life could be. Unbeknown to me at that stage was that Duke had broken out of his paddock to seek solace with the two mares, and during the storm he found the courage to create a new life.

After the storm had abated we found him with a smug expression on his face smooching with Options. Alain, my 12 year old son commented: "Mama that will be one mighty fine horse". The wisdom of a 12 year old and out of the mouth of babes...

Should Options have indeed conceived, the foal already has a name too. "Valley's Night Storm" and we pray that our Lord will indeed bless us with "a mighty fine horse".

8th November 2008
Options enjoying the young grass...	Shads is always close by...
	Duke had his first bath ever!!
His mane is so beautiful and long.... Doesn't he look like a true Rasta Rebel... All he needs added are some beads and a little cap.	Shads has no comment, guess her face says it all... Stallions !!!!

HUG YOUR HORSE
(SA Showhorse Vol 2 Sep 2004)

When your day seems out of balance,
when so many things go wrong.
When people fight around you,
and the day drags out so long.
When people act like children, and husbands
make you think 'divorce'.
Go out into your pasture, and wrap your arms
Around your horse.

Their gentle breath enfolds you,
and they watch with big bright eyes.
They may not have a PhD, but still they're oh so wise!
Their heads rest on your shoulder,
you embrace them oh so tight.
They put your world in balance,
and make it seem so right.
Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension is at ease, your troubles now
have lifted, you're quiet and at peace.

So when you need the balance,
from circumstances in your day,
the best therapy that you could ask for,
is out there eating hay !!!!

'
28 October - my stable name is 'Duke'	'Duke' - "a nobleman of high rank, standing above the other grades of nobility - from the Latin dux - leader"

'
16 October 2008 And Star of Knight is safely delivered	What a beautiful surprise!! Lizette & David Basson visiting from South Africa!!!!
17 October, ok, I'm groomed, had a hair cut and am apparently to meet the girls...	Am I neat enough...?
	Hello Options....
Hello Shads - wait let me clean your face... lick	You sure smell good - what's with the haircut...?!
	Hey - come back, where you're off to??
	Fine - be that way...

15 October 2008 - DWF's Star of Knight is safely in transit with Queensland Interstate Horse Transport and should arrive at his new home Mandreica Stud QLD tomorrow

. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank his breeder, Lise Graber from www.deadwood-farm.com for her ability to envisage a foal of his calibre and hence select the correct sire and dam to create, with God's grace, this almost perfect specimen of the American Saddlebred Breed. Lise has many exquisite horses, one of which most certainly is Wild Blossom, our original choice, and most certainly a prospect for any serious breeder! When I visited with Lise a few weeks back, and I met Star of Knight, the penny finally dropped and I could see our path straight and clear! Lise and I had a long discussion and she agreed to 'changing' our sale agreement from Wild Blossom to Star of Knight. Both horses are near perfect saddlebred specimen, well, as near perfect as God allows us humans to get!
Lise, our prayers are with you in the coming breeding season and we wish you wisdom and God's grace for the choices you need to make.

With sincere appreciation
Andrea & Craig

DWF's Star of Knight
DWF's Star of Knight	Exquisite doesn't even start to describe him...
	Like his sire - he is a gentle giant... Still growing though...
... who said Aussies don't have a sense of humour LOL

20 September 2008
Can you imagine how royal you would feel on this horseback...
There is nothing equal to good breeding !!!