Spotlight on Demo Horse: O'Leary's Irish Diamond

O’Leary’s Irish Diamond (aka "Irish") is a 16.2 hand 1994 grey Registered Irish Draught stallion, by Glidawn Diamond out of Grey Curragong. Having received the highest scores of the inspection from the Irish Horse Board in 1997 in Ireland, Irish then completed his performance phase in the United States, when for the first time, the Irish Horse Board traveled here.Irish has excelled in the disciplines of Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing. Some highlights include:

*2000 Champion 3rd level Dressage Assoc. of Southern California

*2002 Open Jumper Champion

*2002 Open Modified Jumper Champion

*2004 Qualified USDF Regional Championships at Prix St. George

*USDF Performance Certificates in 1st, 2nd & 3rd level

Irish has arguably the most impressive bloodlines in the Irish Draught Horse world. His sire Glidawn Diamond is by arguably the best RID stallion of our time, King of Diamonds. During his lifetime, King of Diamonds was ranked by the World Breed Federation as the 7th best producer of show jumpers in the World! Some of King of Diamonds offspring include Mill Pearl, Special Envoy, Pinon Muldoon, Joe II, Dury Ladd and Milstreet Ruby. Glidawn Diamond’s dam, Kildalton Countess is by Ben Purple who was also known as a great producer of Grand Prix jumpers and eventers such as Custom Made, winner of Gold in the 2000 Olympics with David O’Conner.

Irish resides at Kinson Stud (www.kindsonstud.com) in Big Fork, Montana, with owner Melissa Cason-Kinney. Irish has many notable progeny, including fellow WEG demo horse, Braveheart, and doesn't mind at all staying very busy during the breeding season these days! Look for Irish to perform Show Jumping and Hunter demonstrations at WEG!

Most recently, Irish was chosen to be a Breyer Horse portrait model for 2010. The model horse is now available for purchase at http://www.breyerhorses.com/products/product.php?item=1277. Everyone at Kindson Stud is very excited about this amazing honor and hope that it heightens the Irish Draught horse breed around the world. Irish will be on display at Breyerfest 2010 from July 23-25 at home of WEG, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Amy Hunter

Amy Hunter has been a horsewoman for almost 30 years, in which time she cultivated a versatile background of teaching, training, managing, breeding, and competing. While she specializes in hunter/jumpers, Amy has formally studied dressage, cross country jumping, racing, and natural horsemanship. She has taught riding at two Universities, through Pony Club, and at several private and commercial hunter/jumper facilities.
Amy has successfully trained and worked with a wide range of breeds and has also managed several private and commerical farms. Amy is particularly proud of her farrier ability and the technical shoeing of her owns horses while showing at the Grand Prix level.
Amy is currently managing her business, Huntington Training Farm LLC (www.huntingtonfarm.org) in Viroqua, Wisconsin, and works primarily from that location, but also shows on the East Coast circuit. Her goal is to consistently compete successfully at the Grand Prix level, to train and instruct a small group of clients, and to further the hunter/jumper sport in the US by continuing to breed, train, and promote the highest quality horses of sport.
Amy is currently leasing WEG demo horse, Cradilo, and will be performing Show Jumping demonstrations on him in conjunction with the Irish Village. Look for Amy and Cradilo on the Grand Prix circuit between now and then!

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Cradilo

Cradilo is a 17.1 hand, 1,500 pound plus, 16-year-old red chestnut Registered Irish Draught stallion, with plenty of chrome and a strong presence. He was sired by the great Kildalton Gold, out of the mare Brehan Lass. Cradilo was picked out of a field of horses in Ireland at the age of 2 and brought to the States. At age 4, he was taught to jump by his future rider and leasor, Amy Hunter of Huntington Farm in Viroqua, Wisconsin (www.huntingtonfarm.org). Amy was drawn back to Cradilo time and again after that first experience, to breed her horses to him or just spend time visiting with him. When presented the chance to lease him, she jumped on it.

Cradilo is the type of horse that every time he steps into the ring, the entire crowd silences. People don't know who or what he is or where he came from, but something about him demands respect. Yes, he's really big, and he gallops around the field like a war horse lunging into battle; and yes, he has a really cool tail! But, moreso, he powers off the ground in a way that regularly draws ooohhh's and aaahhh's from the crowd; because how can a horse that big get that much air time? It defies reason, yet, he does it, and unleashes incredible, raw strength and athleticism every time. There is more though. People see something in Cradilo they can't quite put their finger on. There is an animation that comes into full play when all eyes are on him, some depth of spirit, some élan vital that is coursing. But, the biggest miracle of this horse is that until a few years ago, he was retired early to stud with an official veternarian stamp of "Done with Competition." Amy Hunter took a chance on Cradilo. Her gut instinct said that he wasn't done competing yet and wanted a chance to show the world what he was capable of. Amy had no idea Cradilo would go Grand Prix, but so they did. And, Cradilo has continued breeding, producing some fantastic Irish Draught Sport Horse prospects by Thoroughbred mares.
Cradilo and Amy's biggest accomplisment to date was winning the Midstate Summer Grand Prix in Mason City, Iowa in June 2009. Continue to look for them on the Grand Prix circuit over the next year, and be sure to come watch them perform Show Jumping demonstrations as part of the Irish Village at WEG in 2010.

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Jayne Whitton

Jayne Whitton is the rider of demo horse, Graces Star, and owner of Tamzin Farm in Ohio. As a "mature" rider, Jayne appreciates the rewards and challenges of working with young horses. Jayne and her husband are both British, and moved to the US in 1999. Both always had horses, and being 'Brits,' knew about the Irish Draught and Irish Draught Sport Horse breeds and the special qualities they possess.
As a girl, Jayne rode many Irish horses from a very early age. She volunteered, rode, and worked at Mount Farm, which became Penwood, home of Penwood Forge Mill, famous showjumper who was the European Champion back in 1973. At that time, Penwood was big into buying horses from Ireland, trying them, bringing them along, maximizing their potential, and selling them. Forgie's talents immediately got him noticed, so he got to realize his full potential.
Jayne has so many happy memories of her early riding days and the horses and ponies she had the good fortune to be around. Now, as an adult, Jayne's passion remains for eventing, and she is excited to bring her homebred mare, Graces Star, up through the levels and to show her off at WEG.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Graces Star

Graces Star (aka "Sadie") is a 2004 Irish Draught Sport Horse mare. Sadie was homebred and born at Tamzin Farm in southwest Ohio and owned by Robin and Jayne Whitton. Sadie is out of an off the track Thoroughbred mare, Sheza Party Doll. In deciding to breed her, the Whitton's were looking for a stallion with correct conformation and proven ability. The Whitton's are both British, so the Irish Draught/Irish Draught Sport horse was a natural fit. With eventing being Jayne's passion, they found exactly the right sire in Registered Irish Draught Sport Horse stallion, Brandenburg's Windstar (http://teamwindchase.com).
Sadie began her eventing career in 2008 with a strong start at Beginner Novice level. In the middle of 2009, she was moved up to Novice level at the Greater Dayton Horse Trial. She had a very successful event, completing with an excellent dressage score to put her in 3rd place. Her most recent event was at JumpStart, and despite the rain, she had a good event and finished 7th.
The Whitton's could not be more pleased with Sadie. She has always had personality to spare and a penchant for mischief. The Whitton's say she is possibly the most curious horse they have ever owned. Recently, Sadie went for a day of jump training, and became entranced with jump trainer, Amanda Miller's new baby, Claire, and the stroller she was in. Sadie was obviously trying to figure out what sort of fences this creature would be taking. Between fences, Sadie would scan the surroundings for the "stroller horse," waiting to see it in action. Despite the distraction, she performed beautifully over the fences, showing off her multi-tasking ability!Sadie has qualified to perform in Dressage, Eventing, and Show Jumping demonstrations at WEG, so be sure to look for her in the ring ridden by Jayne. Sadie's Dressage trainer, Molly Xanthopoulos, and her jump trainer, Amanda Miller, will continue helping her prepare to show off her stuff in 2010!

Spotlight on Demo Rider: Connie Arthur

Demo rider, Connie Arthur, is the main rider and half owner of demo horse Bridon Beale Street. Connie has been eventing for over 35 years. She owns a breeding farm and event facility, Lone Tree Farm, in Waterford, in central California. She and her friend Shirley Kahlert decided to look for a Registered Irish Draught stallion to stand at Connie's facility. Shirley, who owns and operates Stoneleigh Farm, had taken a short trip to Ireland and had a chance to ride Irish Draught horses and was totally sold on the breed. Connie has done all the training on Liam and is currently competing him in Eventing and Show Jumping.

Connie is an active member of the USEA and a course designer as well. Read more about Connie at www.lonetreefarm.net and look for her in the demo ring at WEG aboard Liam.

Spotlight on Demo Horse: Bridon Beale Street

Registered Irish Draught stallion, Bridon Beale Street "Liam," was born in Virginia, although both parents (Mountain Pearl RID x Graceland Pride RID) were imported. After doing very little for the first six years of his life, he came to the attention of Shirley Kahlert and Connie Arthur, who picked him out of several young stallion prospects. He was brought to California in September 2006, and thus began his event training.
He did his first horse trials in February 2007, then proceeded to move up through the ranks, qualifying for Championships in all of the first three levels that year. He is currently competing at Training Level and just completed his 18th horse trial without a single cross country jump penalty. Liam has also been competing in Show Jumping and has foxhunted with the Los Altos Hounds.
Liam recently prepared and participated in the Galway (Temecula, CA) 3-day event with steeplechase as the grand finale of the great year. He finished extremely strongly with no time penalties in steeplechase and no jump penalities cross country. His other fall events were Woodside Horse Trials, where he had clean cross country and stadium rounds; and Ram Tap Horse Trials, there being ridden by Yves Sauvignon as a catch ride, where he was first after dressage and again went clean cross country.

Liam is qualified to demo in Eventing, Foxhunting, and Show Jumping, and will be ridden by his co-owner, Connie Arthur. For more info on Liam, go to http://www.lonetreefarm.net/
Liam enjoys his turnouts next to his yearling and weanling children, and it is especially enjoyable to watch them play "lip games" with their father, who loves the social interaction and is very gently with them. Liam has been a fantastic traveler through the mountains, and doesn't shy away from active surf at the beach.