‘Creevagh Diamond Pride’
History
Bought as a 3 year old in Ireland from Ronnie Hollinger, CDP moved back across the water with us along with our other horses. Not before, though he had paid a visit to Edward Doyle, former Irish Olympic competitor. There he spent 8 months being broken and schooled for jumping.
We brought him home to give him time to think about it all and to mature, young colts definitely improve with age and this is true of CDP. At this point he covered two of our thoroughbred mares and we awaited the all important first foal. This foal called ‘Randale Ambishion’ is now a stunning 2 year old and already over 16hh, his owner has broken him and he is already hacking out. Our fingers are crossed that he has success eventing as is his destiny.
Randale Ambishion’s full sister was born in August 2009 and we have to say, she is the biggest yet! Bigger than Ambishion already, we are convinced she is a 17hh horse, the picture below was when she was 2 weeeks old, she has now turned bay like her brother, keep watching for some more up to date pictures.
The colt shown below is out of one of our racing broodmares, nicknamed ‘Legs’ he is now a lovely deep liver chestnut colour and every inch his father’s son except we suspect probably quicker! Stay posted for upto date pictures, he is due to start his training next month.
Autumn 2009 - CDP has recently been schooled by our groom and is showing a talent for dressage as well as jumping, scoring 61% in his first test. He is showing a trainable attitude and a natural ability to take the weight back.
CDP has a fantastic jump and is schooling over 1m+ quite happily at home. At shows he has fantastic manners and many people don’t even realise he’s a stallion! He has been out hacking recently and has also had a little spin up the gallops - all with a slight girl rider!
Creevagh Diamond Pride recntl attended Malton Show where he was placed 7th in the ID Breed class - not bad for his first showing class. Both judges rode him and neither realised he was actually a stallion - a testement to his fabulous temperament!
Breeding
CDP is from an established jumping line, his sire Flagmount Diamond and even more so, King of Diamonds are very famous in the Irish Draught world. Although many Irish Draughts are descended from the King of Diamonds, not that many have him as their Grandsire.
We think that having a King of Diamonds descendant is an excellent basis for a cross to any other breed of horse. He will give your horse bone and athleticism.
What kind of mares would we use him on?
As CDP has been crossed with a Thoroughbred himself, we have a stallion which has a light movement and is certainly not a plod! However one factor we feel is particularly important is that you breed sensibly, no one wants to produce a horse they do not like, who has a nasty streak, or who prefers to look at you from the ground. We would stress the importance of temperament, after all what happens if your horse does not make it to the Olympics, he/she is still going to need to be useful to somebody. You can always sell a horse that has a good temperament.
Many non-breeders have commented that the photograph of CDP on his hind legs, might put people off, we say, no, CDP was asked to do that, what you can’t see is the bucket of feed we had to encourage him! He is no wild child, he has a very ‘can do’ attitude.
We would recommend that he be used on those mares which are either heavy themselves and may be a little too sedate or the other end of the scale, breed your own eventer and cross him with a Thoroughbred.