Freester: finally footloose!

Becoming the DSHB Horse of the Year Reserve Champion wasn't as easy for Freester as it may have been for other colts. You see, Freester fractured a long pastern bone when he was only a couple of days old. We have no idea how it happened, although it is possible that Dazzler--a first-time mom--stepped on one of Freester's super-long legs in the stall. The next few months were harrowing for my wife and me, what with a cast, stall rest, bandaging, and everything else.

You can read about this experience in the latest issue of Warmbloods Today (the January-February, 2012 issue). Check out the issue. The article on Freester begins on page 38.

Reserve Champion Horse of the Year

The 2011 Season was a good one for Black Bay Farm, located in the Florida Panhandle. Our weanling colt, Freester (Fabayoso/Dazzler) earned the Reserve Champion USDF Horse of the Year Award for Colts of 2011. That means he is the second-ranked colt of his age in the entire U. S. His scores ranged from 75.3 to 80, with a median score of 77.5. But that doesn't tell the whole story.

Dalziel, the only colt who topped Freester had three very high scores, but he also had two scores in the low 72s--more than 3 points lower than Freester's lowest score. We would very much like to see a head-to-head competition sometime in the future. And who wouldn't want to see two very beautiful chestnut colts frolicking together. Too bad Dalziel lives in New York!