Charming Meadows Farm

HORSES BOARDED, indoor arena. We also welcome retirement horses and excellent broodmare care/ management is available. If you need a lower cost place to raise your weanlings and yearlings, we have the facilities and the knowledge to give your youngsters a great start. Email Sue for rates.

December 2011

It's official! With the completion of the registration of Rajima's 2011 filly Ammiraj (yes, I had to add an "m" to get the name I wanted!), I have now bred 50 purebred Arabian foals.... it only took me 40 years to do it! My first foal was born in 1971 - a bay colt I named Zai el Tobruk (El Tobruk X Munire el Ajzaa). I kept him throughout his life and learned so much from him. He was my show horse, pleasure horse, dressage horse, competitive trail riding horse, driving horse, young horse baby sitter and costume horse .... and my best friend. I still miss him to this day. Although I'm ready to retire from breeding, Rajima really isn't, so I am offering her for an onsite breeding lease for 2012. If interested, email me for details.

One of the nice things about the end of the year with horses is the high point awards banquets. With our kids results just starting to roll in, I'm pleased to report that this was one freakin' awesome year! Congratulations go out to Jebediah Black+ (Klint Black+++. X Midnite Cynderella) culminating his show season with the United States Dressage Federation/ Adequan All Breeds Award for National High Point Champion in Arabian Training Level Dressage. Jeb was also National High Point Training Level Dressage Champion and 6th Place in First Level in the United States Equestrian Federation as well as USEF Region 15 Champion in Training Level Dressage and Champion in the Pennsylvania Arabian Horse Association High Point Awards.

Congratulations also to Bonnie Kessler and Khassidy Bey (Klint Black+++/ X Rakhassa Bey). In the Blue Ridge Arabian Horse Association Awards Banquet, he won:
Junior Horse - Champion
Halter 5 and Over - Reserve Champion
Western Pleasure - Reserve Champion
Walk/Trot-Jog - Reserve Champion
Versatility - 3rd
Adult 18 & Over - 3rd
Halter Handling - 4th
Sport Horse in Hand - 4th

And in the Eastern Amateur Arabian Horse Show Association (eaahsc.com) High Point Awards:
Purebred Gelding 4 & Over - Champion
Green Horse Division - Reserve Champion
Halter Handling 4 & Over - Reserve Champion
Junior Horse - 3rd
Adult Western Pleasure - 5th
Western Pleasure Open - 5th

November 2011

This just in from Pat Tancredi and Rajima's full brother, Klint McGuire (Klint Black+++/ X Radiant Love). Pat bought McGuire when he was just a few weeks old, has done all of his training and conditioning, and now he's starting to compete in his first endurance rides! McGuire and I are doing very well. He is the most awesome horse, with the sweetest personality and does everything I want him to do and then some. He is doing endurance now, his first ride was in March and he did the 30 Miles mostly alone and ate and drank at every hold. He and my mare Cassie who was ridden by a friend did Ft. Valley in Virginia and again he came through with straight A's beginning and end. We are going to the Mustang Memorial ride in NJ this coming weekend to do his first 50 miles. We are just going around and taking our time, mostly for me, 60 years old is no time for racing. I think it's so neat that Pat is 60 and still doing endurance riding! Horses really do keep us young!

October 2011

With the final results of the 2011 Arabian Sport Horse Nationals in September, I'm proud to announce that Windsong Bey (Wind Storm V X Kharifa Bey by Kharbon Bey V) is now an "Aristocrat Mare" with 4 champion foals - and ALL of them have National titles this year! In addition, according to researcher Arlene Magid, Windsong was the "Leading Dam" at this prestigious show and, to her knowledge, the only mare to have four National winning offspring in the same year. Her national winning foals this year are:

KLINT BLACK+++/ (Desperado V X Windsong Bey) - 2011 Canadian Reserve National Champion Western Pleasure, 2005 National Champion Sport Horse Stallion In Hand

KHOLELA BEY+++// (GS Khochise+++// X Windsong Bey) - 2011 Top Ten Sport Horse In Hand Mare ATH, 2011 Top Ten Training Level Dressage ATR, 2011 Top Ten Training Level Dressage AATR, 2011 Top Ten Sport Horse Under Saddle, 2011 Top Ten Sport Horse Under Saddle AOTR

ANNA MIRIAH C (Mirage V+++// X Windsong Bey) - 2011 Reserve National Champion Sport Horse 2 Year Old Filly

MIRAI C (Mirage V+++// X Windsong Bey) - 2011 Reserve National Champion Sport Horse Yearling Filly

In addition, Windsong had 2 grandsons and a greatgrandson competing at SHN this year and all of them came home with National wins! Jebediah Black+ by Klint Black+++/ out of Windsong was National Champion Training Level Dressage Open and HG Khosmic Enkhanted also by Klint Black+++/ was Top Ten Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse and Top Ten Training Level Dressage Junior Horse. Windsong's great grandson Black Magyk (out of Rajima Black by Klint Black+++/ out of Windsong) was Top Ten 2 Year Old Gelding In Hand.

Left to right: Mirai C by Mirage V+++//, Anna Miriah C by Mirage V+++// and Kholela Bey+++// by GS Khochise+++//

Here's a picture of Bonnie and Khassidy Bey(Klint Black+++// X Rakhassa Bey) taking a break from the show ring and having fun on a Poker Ride at Fair Hill Sunday for Breast Cancer Awareness Month put on by Purina. Pink is definitely their color!

September 2011

Kholela Bey is now officially "Kholela Bey+++//". Congratulations to owner/trainer Megan Frantz on this tremendous accomplishment. Kholela is a 7 year old mare by GS Khochise+++// out of Windsong Bey. Megan purchased her as a yearling and has done all of the training and showing herself... and what's really awesome is that Megan doesn't have an indoor arena or even a riding ring! She does her training in a flat part of her pasture! Kholela lives outside with several other horses - no pampered life for this amazing gal! She has won in everything from Sport Horse in Hand and Halter to Dressage, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Hunter Pleasure and Walk/Trot classes. Yes, when she's not winning with Megan, she's busy showing the next generation the ropes. Next stop for this versatile pair is Sport Horse Nationals...

I'm thrilled to announce that Jebediah Black+ (Klint Black+++/ X Midnite Cinderela by Padrons Mahogany) has completed the points for his Legion of Honor. Jeb is owned and shown by Lynn and James Tucker of Pedricktown, NJ. This versatile 5 year old gelding earned the 75 points needed for his Legion on Honor by competing successfully in Sport Horse Under Saddle Open, Junior Horse and Amateur to Ride; Sport Horse Show Hack; Sport Horse In Hand Amateur to Handle; Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse; and Training Level and First Level Dressage. He was Region 15 Champion in Training Level Dressage and Introductory Level Dressage as well as Reserve Champion Training Level Open. In Region 14 he was Top 5 Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse and Top Five Sport Horse In Hand ATH. Jeb finished up his Legion of Honor points at the East Coast Championships where he was East Coast Top Five in Training Level and First Level Dressage and Reserve East Coast Champion in Training Level Junior Horse. Congratulations to Lynn and Jeb!

August 2011

I got these cute pictures from Dawn Voris and Magyk's first "fun show". He won the "Black Horse Halter Class" and when I asked Dawn what that was, she said it was an open class for any horse that was black! What fun! Magyk also went in the In Hand Costume class... here are some pictures. According to Dawn,

Had a great time at the fun show. Magyk won the ‘Black Horse Halter’ and the Open Sport Horse In Hand. We put an authentic costume halter and collar on him, and he was just stunning!The judge told Clint that “Magyk gave her goosebumps”. I had to giggle at that. He took everything in stride and was a doll, as usual. Mikayla took him in the costume class. Here are some photos with his ‘mini horse’ buddy, Blue. They make a cute pair J

July 2011

Here are some pictures of Amiraj at one month! She's now got her own page, click HERE

I was trying to reproduce the pose of Black Magyk (maternal brother) at 3 weeks below, LOL. Remember this one from 2 years ago?

June 2011

June 25, 2011

Exciting news! Rajima Black had a filly Saturday night by Mirage V+++//. She's a beautiful bay with star and 4 socks. I'm going to name her "Amiraj" - an anagram of "Rajima" and tribute to her sire.

As Megan Frantz with Kholela Bey++/ (see show results page) is getting close to the magic 300 achievement awards points, her Maska C (Mirage V+++// V X Evening Star RR) is beginning his career in earnest. What a great shot of him at the Shenandoah Valley All Arabian Show. He won the 2-3 year old SHIH gelding with the 2nd highest score of 110 goes. Rajima Black is in foal to Mirage V+++// and due any day!

May 2011

May 28, 2100

Just got these cute pictures from Emily Stauring of her newborn Klint grandson by Klint Bey out of Bay Vashanna by SF Valentino. According to Emily, I think he is an absolute stunner and he is SO full of life. His name is to be NS Sabri Amir. He is exactly what I was hoping for with this cross!!!! Has an AWESOME personality too!!! Loves people already, curious as all get out and just plain sweet (a doll pretty much summed it up!!) Loves to be scratched for sure!!! Congratulations Emily!

Just got this sweet picture of Kharifa Bey (now 24 years old, dam of Windsong Bey) enjoying her retirement years by toting around Melanie Davis' nieces, Brooke and Thalia. They are pictured here with grandma Pam. According to Melanie: Kharifa is doing well...showing a bit of age, but doing much better after over a year of special shoes for the founder and meds for the Cushings. She is kicking up her heals and feeling great, although a bit stiff from arthritis in places.

I call this picture "Mom's Braggin' Rights"! This was taken at the Mason Dixon Show and I'm thrilled to be the breeder of the Champion and Reserve Champion Training Level Dressage horses. On the left is trainer Pam Thompson on Jebediah Black (Klint Black+++/ X Midnite Cynderela) , Champion Training Level with Pam and Reserve Champion Introductory Level with owner Lynn Tucker who's standing there looking a little shocked. (This was Lynn's - and Jeb's - first ever dressage show!) Of course, that's me holding one of Jeb's ribbons, and on the right is Megan Frantz on Kholela Bey++/ (GS Khochise+++// X Windsong Bey). What a great start to the 2011 show season!

March 2011

Magyk is in his new home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He wasn't sure he wanted to leave here, but once he found out there was alfalfa hay in the trailer, he was ready to go! The Vorises were really sweet about emailing me during the trip so I knew all was well and sent this update this morning.

"We're home, safe and sound. Magyk is settled in and munching hay. Gotta tell you, we're just amazed! He never kicked, pawed, or did anything in the trailer. You never knew he was back there. You would think he was an old pro at this. We thought he might jump out since it's kind of a big step and he hadn't done it before, but he STEPPED down and walked out like it was nothing. He whinnied one time. Clint doesn't get impressed easily, but he is already bragging about him. You raised him right :>) "

Congratulations to Bonnie Kessler and Khassidy Bey (Klint Black+++// X Rakhassa Bey) on a spectacular end to a successful 2010 show season. Bonnie and Khassidy competed on two circuits: the Blue Ridge Show Circuit and the Eastern Arabian Amateur Horse Show Circuit.

Blue Ridge:

Purebred Halter 3-4 year olds Champion

Junior Horse Champion

Walk-Trot/Jog Reserve Champion

Sport Horse In Hand 4 and over Champion

Versatility 3rd

Halter Handling Reserve Champion

Adult 18 and over Champion

EAAHSC:
Purebred Gelding 4 and over Reserve Champion

Walk-Trot Equitation 13 and over 4th

Halter Handling 4 and over 5th

Congratulations to Dawn and Clint (how I want to spell that with a "K"!) Voris of Fort Wayne, Indiana on their purchase of Black Magyk. They plan to show Magyk in hand this year and are thinking about aiming him toward the Sport Horse Nationals 2 Year Old Jackpot Class. Best wishes for happiness and success!

November 2010

An update from Beth Conti and the Transcontinental Kittens... as you can see, they are growing up in spite of their apparent death wish when it comes to German Shepherds! This is Beth's very tolerant shep, Chili, doing his best not to eat Charlotte! According to Beth: Here are some kitten photos from today, a rainy, windy, stay inside kind of day. Both kittens love Chili, but Charlotte in particular just won't leave him alone. Wherever he goes, she follows and climbs all over him. And she is either very brave or very dumb, because the first moment of introduction she was all over him. I've never seen anything like it with a cat.

September 2010

CONGRATULATIONS to Beth Conti and Mirage V++// . Mirage had a fantastic show at this year's Arabian Sport Horse Nationals finishing up Reserve National Champion Stallions In Hand, Reserve National Champion Sport Horse Under Saddle, Top Ten Stallions In Hand Amateur To Handle, Top Ten Third Level Dressage and Top Ten Fourth Level Dressage. And to top it all off, he was named High Point Sport Horse Payback "Super Stallion" and received the Bey Oro Perpetual Trophy and a cooler from the Sport Horse Payback Association. He also compiled enough points to finish up his Legion of Supreme Merit with Legion of Supreme Excellence! Way to go Mirage! The rider/handler in these pictures is Jennifer Toby.

Lynn Tucker was out this week and had a really good session working with Anna Miriah (Mirage V++// X Windsong Bey). She's due to leave in about 4 weeks since Lynn's new barn is nearly finished, so we've been working to get Anna Miriah ready to leave here and take her first trailer ride. Lynn's been working her over lots of obstacles such as crossing plastic, feed bags and the scary blue tarp, as well as going over poles and learning to back with poles on either side. Next step: The Trailer!

Magyk is growing up but, at 14 months he still needs a buddy to keep him company. My neighbors Steve and Lois Smith have very graciously lent me their gelding Tucson since last March to live with Magyk, but now that Steve is retired he wanted his fella home so he could ride him. So Lois "donated" her gelding, March Wind to fill in for babysitter duty. This is so neat because I had bred March 11 years ago and now I get to keep him for a while and watch him play with Magyk!

I got these pictures of my boarder Marj this week. She's a special friend and has been my inspiration to get back in the saddle after my hip surgery. Marj is 75 and has had both knees replaced. I figured if she could ride and have so much fun, it was time for me to get back on the horse too. It's been going well for both of us and we have a great time riding together, working over little obstacles and enjoying our horses. Marj is riding Rdell Shantilly, a wonderful mare that she purchased last fall from Megan Frantz. Shantilly is 21 and couldn't be a more perfect match for Marj.

Just got these updates from Beth Conti about the "Transcontinental Kittens":

Those kittens are "wild childs" .... last night Charlotte flew across the kitchen and in one soaring leap, landed on the top of the stove where I was doing a stir fry. I grabbed her just before she went into the pan. She has no fear!!! She jumps and climbs on everything, including my head, shoulder and any other available body parts. My arms, legs and neck look like I've been to war. But she is so sweet and affectionate and Ms Millicent, too, is getting quite full of herself.

And this one really cracked me up!

Just had to tell you the latest in the "Tales of Charlotte."
Uncharacteristically quiet and stealthy (usually she roars full speed
ahead), she climbed into the dishwasher and was quite content there. When I finally discovered where she was it took me a little while to disengage her little claws from the racks and pull her out. Guess she liked her new playpen! Or maybe she just has a love affair with kitchen appliances!

Four years ago Beth Thomas and Lisa Devineni bred their Elaborat daughter, Afinity to Klint and got a bay filly they named Seeta. Beth is a professional trainer who has shown successfully at the Sport Horse National level, so I've been waiting to see how Seeta does in the show ring. Last weekend was her debut and this is what Beth had to say about her first showring experience:

Sue, Seeta was AWESOME! Despite having never been off the farm ever, she hopped on the trailer, rode like she had done it her entire life and acted like a veteran at the show! She looked around and I put her on the lunge for a few minutes to relax her. Needed the whip to get her going! She gave me a couple of little bucks but settled down and worked well for such a baby. She got a lot of compliments from those around us, including a couple of the open dressage competitors. She did her dressage tests fairly well, wiggly on the center line, not staying on the aids, pretty much baby stuff, but she was quiet and she listened to me and wasn't wigged out by the judges tent or the ring fence and I was really pleased with her. We were 6th in Intro A with a 54 and though her score went up a couple, didn't get anything in B.

Showed the triangle very nicely and got 10 for manners, winning the amateur class and 2nd in the open with scores in the 70's. She also won the junior SHUS class, getting both leads and not shying at all the signage that hangs in that ring. I was so happy with her and will post photos whenever I get them!

Beth

A happy update from Melanie Davis about Windsong's mom, Kharifa Bey. Kharifa had foundered last year and Melanie was able to place her in the care of Eponatec. They did an incredible job of rehab and Kharifa was featured in Arabian Horse World in an article on Epona shoes and founder. So imagine how thrilling is it to see these pictures of Kharifa being ridden just one year later! From Melanie:

I thought you would enjoy a recent update on Kharifa. I’ve attached a few shots of my husband, Jim, riding her down the riverbed...just below our house, a few weeks ago. We always let the horses have a roll in the deep sand when we’re done, and Kharifa REALLY enjoys that, throwing herself into it over and over. We have sand in their corrals, but not so deep and luxurious as the riverbed.

Her founder situation is totally under control and she is thriving in the Epona shoes, still under the care of the great people at Eponatec, however they are officially done with her as a case study after the next shoeing. As you can see, she looks pretty great for a 23-year-old!

I just got some new pictures of Maranda Bouchard's 2 year old Klint son, Salinger. He's growing up fast and showing the common sense and beautiful movement that's so typical in this line. Shouldn't be too long before he's under saddle!

August 2010

New filly pictures!

Jamira Black (PA Nyte Star X Rajima Black):

Mirai C (Mirage V X Windsong Bey):

Exciting news! Rajima Black is confirmed in foal to Mirage V++// for 2011. I'm so excited about this cross - the two fillies out of Rajima's grandma Windsong Bey have been awesome. When I breed my mares I always wear pink undies - just for good luck. With 5 years of colts, you can see how well that's worked for me, but what the heck, it's become a tradition. I told my 75 year old boarder, Marj about it and she thought it was a great idea, so this year when we bred Rajima, Marj had all of the folks at her retirement home wear pink too! With that kind of mojo, Rajima just has to be carrying a filly!

We had a wonderful visit with Beth Conti, Mirage V++//'s owner. She has leased Windsong for the last two years and came out from California to see her two East Coast "daughters" as well as to see a yearling gelding, Maska, that was purchased by Megan Frantz.

Here is a picture of Beth with Windsong's yearling Mirage V++// filly, Anna Miriah C....

And here is one of Beth, Maska and Megan...

While she was here, Beth fell in love with a black barn kitten that I had named "Charles Bronson" because this little critter had an absolute death wish! He had no fear - and no sense! - and if he had continued living in the barn, his days would have been numbered! Happily, Beth adopted him and his calico sister and they are now living happily (and safely!) in Beth's home in California. Oh - and Charles Bronson now has a new name. Turned out "he's" a "she", so now HER name is Charlotte ~

Here are pictures of the intercontinental traveling kittens, Charlotte and Millicent. Beth says:
A quick note to let you know that all went well with the kitties on
the flight. You couldn't ask for better travelers and actually I was
amazed at how easy it was. The only "blip" was due to significant
turbulence and a very small, rickety old plane out of Harrisburg ....
one of the kittens vomited. But after that it was smooth sailing. I
tell you, always travel with a carry on pet. The attention and
consideration is incredible ... I even got a discount on gas at the
rental car return. And one of the attendants wanted to help me get my baggage and the kittens over to check in. A breeze. But I was so concentrated on directions to the airport that I totally spaced
getting gas and they charge $8.00 a gallon if you don't return full.
So my bill would have been $64!! The sweet, animal loving attendant however felt sorry for me and cut that charge in half. By the time I got home last night (earlier because I got on an earlier plane and connected in Philadelphia), the kittens were full of it and oh so cute. My husband got over his dismay quickly. The kittens are doing great and have adapted so easily to living inside. It's amazing how agreeable, affectionate and easy they are.

May 2010

These darling pictures are of 6 year old Emma Damrauer in her first ever leadline class. She's riding Kholela Bey+ and that's Megan Frantz handling the leadline. Both Emma and Kholela are 6 years old! This is especially fun because Emma's class was "so competitive" that the judge just couldn't decide which rider was best, so she declared a 3 way tie for first place. Congratulations Emma - I expect we'll see lots more "blues" in your future!

April 2010

Here's a new picture of Lynn Tucker on Jebediah Black practicing in the warm up ring at the Ohio Half Arabian Horse Association Show. This was Lynn's first time riding Jeb "off the farm" -looks like they're both having a great time!

This is Jane Keehn and RICKOCHET BEY (Desperado V X Moon Lily Bey) setting a new standard on desensitizing your horse to a scary blue tarp. Those who know me know I'm a big believer in working with sensitizing and desensitizing horses and I spend a lot of time with the babies doing all kinds of exercises with plastic, tarps and lead lines, so when Jane sent me this picture, I just had to share!

These pictures were sent to me of Klint's 2 year old Half Arabian granddaughter, Dark N Mello (Darkhist X Hollywood Cremella), still wet from a bath. She's really growing up nicely! They're hoping for a reiner.