Those of you who follow my blog know how heartbroken I was when my dressage horse, Jazz, died from a tear in his heart. I was devastated. It took me a couple of months to feel like I could even look at another horse as a prospective new partner. Well, yesterday, May 23rd, I brought home a beautiful little mare. She is eight inches shorter than Jazz and a girl to boot. I have never had a mare. I've always been attracted to boy horses and girl dogs!
As I said, I brought home this sweet girl and am already in love with her. She is an American Warmblood. Jazz was a Hanoverian, a warmblood breed developed in Germany. But America is developing their own warmbloods.
American Warmbloods are a warmblood type horse developed for the sports of Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, and Driving. They are approved and registered by the American Warmblood Society. The horse must be suitable for the above sports and born in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. While almost any breed is possible for acceptance, they must meet the strict criteria set forth by the society. Therefore, the American Warmblood is more of a "Type" than a "Breed" at this point.
Typically, they are solid in color and between 15 and 17 hands tall.
I have named my new horse "Amara" because she is so feminine in appearance. She is very responsive and as supple as a rope of licorice. She is amazingly calm for just an 8-year-old.
I am planning to work up the levels in dressage with her, but I also love to trail ride and jump so she is going to get to do a little bit of everything.
Right now I don't have any plans to feature her in a book like I did Jazz in "Behind the Mist," but you never know....
