Author: Melanie Dudding

Country Dream – Pukekohe Waiuku Veterinary Centre

Auckland Show
Hunter Spring Show

As my boutique breeding program evolved I wanted to use Country Vogue as a sire so I needed another broodmare. Good family friends Beth and Tony had a Gisborne-bred mare called Showtime with breeding to die for (two close blood-related horses exported to the USA for Show Jumping) by one of Merrain Hain’s stallions. Naturally, I wanted to use her. She came with one condition, I had to put her to the Trakhener stallion Lowenhertz first, then I could put her to my own horse, Country Vogue.

The resulting foal was ‘Cosmo’, who from day one has been a firm favourite of mine. Foaled at home on a beautiful clear night with all the stars up above out to greet him, he has character-plus, and the most amazing temperament you could ever wish for.  My 7-year-old son has taken over the ride on him (his new lead rein mount)!

He was one of the first horses that I bred, foaled and started. It is very rewarding as he had a couple of Show Hunter starts last season and measured up to my hopes by either winning or placing in each class he entered, including a small derby at Pukekohe SH show.

I am really looking forward to expanding his show competing experiences this season.

A Touch of Country

The Granddad of the team.  Bj has been my main buddy for well over a decade, what a wonderful time we have had together. Turning down so many offers from his admirers over the years, when the time comes Bj will be retired to paddock duties of looking after the young stock.

BJ began life in Ruatoria as part of Paul Johnson’s huge breeding program.  Purchased at Paul’s first auction as a gangly yearling, he was a risk that has paid off many times over.  I can remember the big drive from Auckland to Napier, to Gisborne to Ruatoria, and then back up the East Coast to Whakatane before arriving in Auckland. What a road trip.

The auction was so exciting. I actually went there to get a 3 or 4-year-old to start and bring on as my next show jumper, but once I saw BJ in a pen with a dozen or so others I was hooked. This occurred way before it was trendy to have a coloured horse. In fact, it was practically impossible to get large coloured horses as no one was really purpose breeding them back then. I sat on the cattle yard fence waiting and waiting for him to come up. Finally,  he was next and I am sure he looked me in the eye before he trotted or floated across the muddy pen. I was in love. Eventually after a fierce bidding battle, I was the proud owner of 1 coloured yearling colt – just what I needed!  Then they opened the yard gate and let all 12 horses out and they all disappeared over the hilltop not to be seen again !!!!!  eek.

I had to wait over a week before he was delivered and was left wondering what I had purchased as he was unhandled (literally wild). I was lucky he was delivered to a friends place who had cattle yards and she handled him enough so that we could catch him and lead him. So it was nearly 2 weeks before I really got to see him, where I could actually put a hand on him and check him out.

On good grazing at my parents place in Napier he gained weight and started to fill out into a lovely young colt. When I was thinking about gelding him I thought why not let him have one foal first. I put him over my TB mare and got a beautiful coloured filly that was going to be the start of my stud farm breeding program. I wanted to produce purpose-bred coloured warmblood horses.  However, I needed my own land before that could become a reality.

BJ was gelded and started his competition career. He was a head turner from day 1. In his first three seasons I actually got sick of people approaching me to buy him!!!  He was a head turner as not only was he coloured and 17hh,  but he had presence, movement and a jump that was quite special.

A Touch of Country has won numerous show hunter awards before switching focus to Show Jumping where he is consistently in the winner’s circle. He’s definitely one of the best amateur horses on the show circuit but his career has been severely restricted by a rider who has been very busy building her career in the corporate world and raising 3 small children, the oldest of which just turning 9.

But what a ball we have together when we do make it to a show.

Country Zena – Woodhill Sands

Zena was my first attempt at cross-breeding a TB with a Clydie. I have always admired station-bred horses and loved their passion for life. Using my lovely TB mare (Jess) with my stunning foal at foot (Vinnie) I wanted a local Hawkes Bay stallion (so I could keep Vinnie in my sight) preferably 1/2 Clydie, with proven progeny on the ground – Liz Nelson’s Chiralka Zibu fitted the bill perfectly. He is by the NZ famous Clydesdale stallion Glenvar Commander from Sirroco stud, who has sired many well-performed horses. Most notably the Olympic Mount for Butch Thomas’s son, and recently the well-known Grand Prix dressage stallion Airthrey Highlander, and numerous other wonderful hunters and show jumpers within NZ, not forgetting my good friend Louise Leonard’s lovely eventing horse.

Zena is a lovely example of the Clydie/TB cross with the refined quality and speed of the TB complimenting the power and honesty of the Clydesdale. Her speciality is jumping and she absolutely loves it !!

Nicknamed ‘speedy go diva‘,  Zena loves to jump and gallop. She wants to be clean over the jump and has a fantastic technic with the tightest knees I have ever seen.

Consistently in the winners circle, she’s the kind of mare anybody is stoked to have in their team. To top it all off, she is a favourite ride as she is easy to jump, forward, honest & clever.  Jumps from any distance, taking you to the jump, making you look good in the process!!

Country Vogue – Showhunter HOY 2013

Super-star Vinnie; the all round horse that is talented at everything he does. He realises this too and is known for being a bit “special’ – even his mane behaves perfectly!!

He was a winner before he was even born. The service fee was a prize sponsored by Seattle Stud’s Fred Cornege for leading rider at a Young Horse show by Voltaire II.  Home-bred by Mels out of a top class TB mare called “My Sweet Patriot” with Sir Tristram bloodlines.  Vinnie was exactly what Mels ordered a bay colt with 4 white socks and a blaze – the perfect amount of bling.  He then had a fun few years siring 3 lovely foals before being gelded and professionally started by Abderry courtesy of a scholarship that was acquired through a Horse & Pony competition.

A slow career start due to Mels starting her own family (3 children under 5 keeps one a tad busy!), however, Vinnie quickly establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s top Show Hunter horses in his first season competing. He came in 3rd at the title class at HOY with only a few starts to his name and having never jumped 1.15m until the class!!!  This was followed successfully in 2014 with Runner-up in Show Hunter of the Year and an uncharacteristic error (rail at the very last fence) costing him the Amateur Show Hunter Title of the Year. (argh horses!!) During his HOY 2015 campaign, with 4 starts for 4 wins in lead-up classes, he was on target for this years titles, only to be distracted by mounted games in the ring next door galloping towards him as he came around the corner upsetting his rhythm and softness. He still finished up in the winning lineup but not at the front as hoped!!

Vinnie has plenty of talent on offer and in 2016 we are now mixing some show jumping in. This rising star is loving bigger fences and getting the odd gallop in with the jump off, much to the delight of all his supporters.

Rock on this season.

MD Equestrian caters for professional rider tuition, holiday camps for children and show hunter clinics. From beginner to more advanced riders. We aim to provide an enjoyable, safe, and memorable experience from the idyllic backdrop of our lifestyle property.

Melanie Dudding is an experienced instructor motivated to help ensure you and your horse perform as one on the pony club ground, show circuit, or sporting recreation of your choice.  She is a very successful and well respected New Zealand equestrian competitor with a rich background in the equine industry.

Thank you for visiting.

– Mels