Who has a Catherston Dazzler baby?

[alliemare]

Just curious if anyone on this BB has a catherston dazzler baby? Are you happy with them? Hows their personality? How easy to handle?

I know JER has one…she was a big influence on why I chose CD for my mare.

I have a yearling by CD and o/o my intermediate TB mare. He is an absolute JOY to be around. When I was considering breeding to him, a few people told me CD throws very opinionated, often difficult, “professional horses.” A few posters on the horse and hound BB told me to steer clear of CD. I chose to breed to him anyway, (build wise, he was exactly what I wanted, and I need to add bravery to my mare) and I can honestly say that oliver is one of the easiest babies to work around. He is extremely inquisitive, and I cannot wait to start him under saddle.

Have other CD baby owners found them to be difficult? Did I just get lucky?

[TSHEventing]

I think Christine Miller from EMCO Stallion services had one and Courtney Cooper as well (you can see that baby on her webpage, though I don’t know if she still has it)

Personally I don’t know anything about them, but I thought I’d give you those two!

[alliemare]

Christine Miller’s passed away in a freak accident (I think…she did tell me, but I cant remember the details)

and Courtney Cooper sold hers after he suffered an injury which prevented him from moving into the upper levels.

Everyone on Horse & Hound “knows someone” who has a CD baby, but I’ve yet to talk to anyone (besides JER) who has one.

[quiet_girl]

I have one out of a mare I bought in GB from Diana Scott (breeder of Ginny Leng’s two great horses Priceless and Nightcap). I sent the mare to Jennie- Loriston-Clarke to have her put in foal to Dazzler and then imported her in utero. I started her myself when she was 3 and she was easy to break. Very strong in the back and hind leg and a great jumper. On the dam’s side her grand dam is a half sister to Jumbo (by Skippy). There is a picture of her on my website.

www.silveroakflorida.com

[secretariat]

We’ve bred two, both fillies out of TB mares, in 2010 and 2011.

The first, out of our proven advanced producing mare, is HUGE, absolutely spectacular from day 1, probably end up 16’2 at least if not 17’0. She’s a poster child for the people who warned you about CD, tho, as she has one of the strongest flight reflexes (again, from day 1) that I’ve ever seen. Not mean, not vicious, just private, personal, and opinionated. We’re pros, so it really doesn’t cause us much concern, we just know what to expect and work thru it. I expect (and hope!) this one WILL be a professional ride, and to see her at Rolex in 10 years or so.

The second is out of a BIG Grindstone mare who throws good minds and small babies (but they all seem to catch up at 2-3 years old, so we expect to see her mature at about 16’0). This one’s much calmer and much smaller, although you can still see the CD in her when you ask for something she doesn’t want to do. She’s a hunk, biggest heart girth of the 2011 foal crop (including one that’s 16’1" at 17 months). She should mature as a “normal” horse, a bit opinionated but no indication of pro requirements. She is quite intriguing, tho, for her bravery - she’s always the first one to get into things, crossing the creek, jumping the ditch, walking UNDER the bridge.

So the mare can be expected to make a big difference, but from this small population I would expect CD babies to be talented, brave, aggressive, and FAST with some (or more) challenge for the trainer.

I’ll dig up some pix and post in a few minutes.

[alliemare]

Wow, thanks secretariat! I’d love to see pics…mine is a 2011. Im hoping he will mature around 16’1, but as of now, he is very leggy. My boy sounds pretty close to the second one you describe. He loves to stick his head up close to everything and check it out. He walked on my spookie trailer the first time with next to no encouragement. I bred to CD for his bravery…my intermediate mare is super flashy, and an A+ jumper, but I had to work to get her around XC. And her spotty record shows that. Im hoping this baby will be a breeze around XC, but might make me work in other aspects…

Here he is the week he was weaned,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/coronadoSJ33/320471_2094212003055_1477950092_32081640_500800486_n-1.jpg

[secretariat]

Here’s our CD’s in their natural habitat - they’re out 24/7 (with shelter) with their herd, so they’re a little rough.

http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo37/kyderby1973/CD%20Babies/

The bay is the 2010 model, last year at 18 months standing on the order of 15 - 15’2 hands.

The grey is the 2011 model, this year at 16 months standing on the order of 14 - 14’2 hands. As I noted earlier, her dam is noted for foaling (easily, thank heavens!) small babies that grow a lot in their 2-4 y.o. years.

[alliemare]

I am curious to hear how they are to back and work with in their 3 & 4 years.

I have a 5 y/o by R Johnson (who is famous for late bloomers – mentally) and I am taking everything super, super slow. She internalizes EVERYTHING and works herself into a huge fuss if something changes.

Are CD babies similar? Or are they pretty easy to get going, and to pick up on stuff? (just with the famous CD attitude, lol)

[secretariat]

Alliemare - WOW!!!

[noregrets]

I have a yearling gelding as well and have also been wondering if I just got lucky with his temperament! Like yours, he is very easy to handle, and smart without being overreactive.

He is out of my prelim TB mare who has an incredible temperament, which is why I decided to take my chances despite CD’s reputation! I won’t completely attribute his brain to mom though, as her 3yo full TB filly is definitely more difficult than he is.

I’m excited to start mine as well, and interested to see if he continues to behave or is just saving up all his naughtiness for when we back him!

[alliemare]

Another question – when people ask you what breed your baby is…what do you say? My first answer is usually british sport horse, but if asked more, I say 5/8 TB and the rest Gederlander.

[secretariat]

BSH

[JER]

[QUOTE=alliemare;6595403]

Have other CD baby owners found them to be difficult? Did I just get lucky?[/QUOTE]

Mine had a lovely temperament. She was very personable. We all miss her terribly.

She was not, however, the easiest of rides. She was a huge mover and extremely athletic, and there were times when she did not want to do what you wanted her to do. None of those times involved jumping or galloping.

I have some doses of CD frozen and hope to breed another one, most likely from her full-TB half-sister.

I met a number of CD foals (as young as one week) and youngsters in the UK and they were all friendly animals. I don’t know where the ‘difficult’ reputation comes from, except perhaps from people who don’t have experience working with super athletes. They often require a more thoughtful approach to handling and training.

I called mine a ‘mostly TB.’ Her dam is full TB, so Dekorum was 13/16ths TB.

[mythical84]

Alliemare … you have a PM.

[buschkn]

@secretariat;6595914

Alliemare - WOW!!!

Ditto this. WOW. GORGEOUS colt!!

[alliemare]

Thanks everyone!!

Yes, I am so, so, so pleased with my CD baby!

Which is another reason why I posted this thread…I’ve heard so many stories about CD’s “attitude,” but Oliver is just an absolute joy! Yes, he is feisty, and needs strong direction, but he is also incredibly inquisitive and affectionate. Im curious if I just got lucky, or if I have something to “prepare for” 2 or 3 years from now, lol.

[CdnRider]

No Regrets should post a pic of her CD baby, he’s super nice too!