If you scroll down on her blog to the next blog entry you can read all about the cross there. I will warn you that it’s long as well.
1 Like
Really says a lot about the stallion’s temperament if he passed on the infinite patience that those young horses are showing on that youtube channel…
sheesh.
3 Likes
I gave up on the “Ride” article extolling the virtues of you Akhal Teke and the guy from Russia.
they’re neat horses with neat history, and Cradilo is a lovely classic old fellow, but man oh man… that cross didn’t work. Sorry… It just didn’t. A stallion with an Akhal Teke front end with Irish hind end attached trotting around with a short stride and ewe neck?
For the love of all things holy … GELD HIM ALREADY. Or… Present him for inspection by the Irish Sport Horse registry… And see what they have to say. I think it’s pretty predictable though…
19 Likes
Right???
2 Likes
The obscure term she is looking for is bight.
13 Likes
I believe he can’t be ridden due to a premature birth. Looks like he was stunted and crippled because of this. Poor guy!
3 Likes
There is video of the horse in question jumping under saddle on YouTube so clearly not.
2 Likes
Better look again, she states clearly that that the stallion she has for sale hasn’t been ridden. You may be thinking of a full brother that’s gelded that she also owns.
2 Likes
This is from her website about Ace of Hearts (aka Levi).
"I am just one little person that can only focus and hold on to so much. My other stallions can live with each other and the geldings. Levi now needs to live alone or with mares (tho he has spent some time recently with mares not in heat and I was impressed with how well he handled himself); which does make him more work. He could be started easily, and ridden lightly on trails and such. I think he would enjoy it greatly and this was my tentative plan, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to put that added stress on his front legs. His front ankles and one pastern has some arthritic build up and damage from the splints when he was a weanling. But trust me, he is functionally very sound (he gets around just fine, and use to like to stand up and stay there shockingly for minutes on end, just to show me how athletic he really is). But it is something that should be consulted with via a top vet prior to training and light riding.
1 Like
So why in the world isn’t he gelded?
And if he has all these health issues … especially arthritis and likely an inability to hold up to work, apparently due to a premature birth… why was she offering him for sale by auction?
18 Likes
It’s labeled Ace of Hearts so unless she has two with the same name or she can’t keep her own horses straight.
We will forget the ethics of leaving intact and breeding something that can’t be ridden as a performance stallion.
5 Likes
She needs to have that poor horse gelded and she needs to keep him home and safe. But I guess she’ll sell him and then bemoan his fate.
8 Likes
Her website talks about needing to turn hm out with mares because he is having trouble being turned out with her OTHER stallions.
But apparently she’s aware when the mares are in season or not… or something like that.
Unbelievable.
And there is other video up of a full brother - Kogan Ace. Both at liberty and under saddle. A bit bigger and chunkier than Ace of Hearts, but the same short short trot, and equally unfortunate conformation. Maybe Ace of Hearts was a preemie… but the majority of issues seem to be from the unfortunate combination of genetics.
3 Likes
Yay for him! Thanks for posting the pictures. 
1 Like
I’m almost surprised the blogger has not found her way onto this thread yet.
12 Likes
He looks lame behind to me. Can definitely tell the Akhal Teke influence in his neck. I’m not sure why he’d stay a stallion given his lameness issues, unless she assumes they are from a premature birth and he would not pass on those flaws?
3 Likes
Perhaps she has at least seen the thread. I can’t find the Ace of Hearts (talk about something that needs the good snip snip) jumping video. I assume she has pulled it. But I’m on my phone, and may just be missing it.
There is no under saddle video of Ace of Hearts, presumably due to his issues as a premie. There is under saddle and free jumping video of Kogan Ace, a full brother. From what you can see, he appears to have a good character… but similar choppy movement and short stride with the head in the air as the brother… Though this guy is definitely more sound. He’s definitely not going to have a career as a conformation hunter… But he seems well fed and like he might be a fun horse for someone.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=95s&v=XkrpczZduuU
The free jumping is horrifying and interesting. As much as the Akhal Teke choppy movement and way of going seems prepotent… Once the poor fellow is harrassed through the chute toward the the big oxer (if that really is his second time through a chute, she really overfaced him… Poor horse)… All of a sudden the Irish genes make an appearance. He can certainly jump, and work his way through being presented with a jump in a rushed and unbalanced manner. I hope he makes his way to a good partner and has a fun life.
3 Likes
She has Ace of Hearts and also Ace of SPADES. I think Spades is broke/ridden but not Hearts?!
1 Like
Fun to see the updated Cradilo photos. So glad he’s enjoying retirement! What an intense saga.
1 Like
