Meet the Horses
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Aviva was lucky to find this diamond in the rough in April, 2024. He has big shoes to fill as he now lives in Q's stall! Ralphie is a 2017 Dutch Harness Horse. He was purchased broke but green and had quite the confidence issue. Aviva spent months working with him on the ground teaching him how to trust her and to use his own body to manage his anxiety. He is now becoming quite the fancy dressage horse. Aviva and he are having fun developing their partnership and where they go is anyone's guess!
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Pantaleone FLF (aka Leo) was bred by Juliana Whittenburg of Flying Lion Farm in Florida. Aviva's dear friend, Phoebe DeVoe-Moore purchased this 2011 Oldenburg gelding by Pablito. When Aviva realized that she needed a new horse, Phoebe encouraged her to come meet this special guy. Can you say love at first sight?!
Leo moved to Horsepen Hill Farm in late September, 2015. He settled in beautifully and is working like star.
Aviva began showing Leo in the Spring of 2016. She competed only 4 times placing in every class and winning one. Leo was the Zone 2 Silver Stirrup Award Sixth place horse at Training Level. The future is bright for this young horse. Aviva says that if he was a human, he would be in a boy band he is so pretty and talented!
Unfortunately Leo was diagnosed with Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM) in early 2023. He is no longer safe to ride but enjoys his retirement with his buddy, Tiger.
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Raison De Joie (aka "Tiger") is a 2002 Holsteiner/TB (Regulus/Krystal Heiress xx) bred in Kentucky. Tiger was started by Elly Schobel and earned amazing accolades including the USDF HOY honors as a 3 year old and winning the Materiale at Dressage at Devon as a 4 year old. Although approved as a breeding stallion by the American Warmblood Registry, he was gelded and sold at 5.
Tiger was successfully competed through Fourth Level with Liz Austin and then was sold again as a 10 year old. During the next 8 years he was leased to an AA for a season to earn her Bronze Medal and was donated to Dressage 4 Kids.
In March of 2020, Tiger landed in the barn of Aviva's friend and Gold Medal rider/trainer, Jennifer Mutchler. One of Jennifer's students rode him for her Fourth Level scores towards her Silver Medal and Tiger was then used for lessons. Aviva met him in late January of 2021 and struck a deal with Jennifer to bring him home in March, 2021. After 2 months of a lease, Aviva knew Tiger had found his forever home and Jennifer graciously agreed to sell him. Aviva and Tiger have a very special bond- they were just waiting for one another!
Maybe Tiger will be the horse who takes Aviva into the FEI ring for her Silver Medal. But maybe this team will just train and work and play and enjoy. Time will tell. Tiger came at a time when Aviva really needed a reminder of the joy of riding! How lucky are they both??
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Fandango HHF (aka “Fang”) is a 1995 imported Hanoverian gelding by Fein Brand.
Aviva purchased him in late 2003 and began showing him at Third Level in 2004. They quickly earned the scores needed for Aviva to earn her USDF Bronze Medal.
Unfortunately, Fang developed severe arthritis in his right front fetlock and was retired in 2006.
Aviva was able to show him a bit at Fourth Level and was able to school the Grand Prix movements but Fang’s soundness was the priority and he is now a pasture ornament and runs the farm.
He is affectionately known as "The Emperor.
Fang enjoyed almost 18 years as a pasture pet. He died on December 2, 2023. He has left an enormous hole at HHR. RIP.
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Waterford SE (aka “Fredi”) is a Virginia-bred 2003 DWB gelding by OO7 o/o a Wanroij mare.
Aviva purchased him as a 2 year old and took her time with his training allowing him time to mature.
Although Fredi earned Aviva her Fourth Level scores towards her Silver Medal, Aviva noticed increasing issues in his performance and comfort under saddle. After 2 years of multiple diagnostics, treatments, and frustration, Fredi was diagnosed with a severe metabolic problem. He has been retired from riding.
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Continuum HHF (aka “Q”) is a homebred 2006 Hanoverian gelding by Contucci o/o Aviva’s retired Bordeaux mare, Bit Of Gold (“Gracie”).
Aviva bred Q hoping for a filly standing about 16.2hh. Instead she got a colt who has matured to 18.3hh!
He is the gentle giant of the farm. Because he is so big, he wasn’t backed and started until he was 4 years old.
Q started the 2012 show season with a couple of schooling shows winning all of his First level classes with scores from 69%- 75% and getting High Scores for both shows. He then moved on to licensed competition where he won his Training Level 2 test at the PVDA Spring Show to qualify for the BLM Championships with a 67.5%.
He continued his winning ways at the PVDA Summer Showdown with a whopping 79.4% at Training Level test 3 to win the Training Level High Score Championship and Overall High Score for the show. He also scored over 67% at First Level test 2 to qualify for the BLMs at First Level.
Q ended the show season by qualifying for both the BLM and GAIG Championships at Training and First Levels. He was 8th at Training Level B at BLMs with a score of 69+% in a field of more than 40 horses and was 11th at First Level B with another 69+%in an even larger class. Although qualified, Q and Aviva did not compete at the GAIGs.
Additionally, Q and Aviva were the PVDA First Level Professional Champions with a median score of almost 72.5%.
Q was a star in 2014 ending his show season with a Fifth place at the BLM Championships at Second Level. At 18.3hh, Q has a lot of physical challenges to his soundness. The degree of collection required at Third Level seems to be more than his back and hips can handle. Comfort is the most important thing for Aviva's horses at all times and Q is now retired enjoying life as a gorgeous pasture ornament.
Unfortunately Q suffered what was probably a stroke in February 2024 and was humanely euthanized His huge presence has left quite a hole at HHF and he will be missed. Q was truly the horse of a lifetime and Aviva's dearest heart horse.
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Aviva purchased Pennsylvania-bred Gracie the same year she built the farm. Nineteen ninety-nine was a very good year!
She was the horse of a lifetime for Aviva earning all of Aviva’s scores at First and Second Level for her Bronze in a single show season.
Although they were only able to show during the 2001 season, Aviva and Gracie won the PVDA High Score Award at both First and Second Levels. Gracie sustained a navicular injury and was retired after only one show season.
After spending her last years in peaceful retirement, Gracie died on June 11, 2018. She is missed every day.
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Comanche Moon aka "Harley" was a boarder's horse who Aviva judged at a schooling show and fell in love with and recommended her student to consider when she was looking for a new horse. He was the perfect horse for his owner who named him "Harley" because he was "a sweet ride!". Aviva actively competed him for one season in 2016 and qualified him for and showed him at the BLM Championships at First and Second Levels. Not your typical dressage horse, Harley is a Percheron/Hackney Pony. An impressive and light horse despite his draft looks, Harley was super fun to ride until he contracted EPM in early 2020. Unfortunately, the damage was done and Harley had to be retired from riding. Aviva adopted him from his owner and he will stay at the farm for the rest of his life.
Harley was exhibiting signs of heaves over the winter and his neurologic symptoms were getting worse. He was euthanized in February, 2024 before things progressed and he was severely compromised. We miss his funny personality every day.