Mandy McAvoy

✤ SODA SPRINGS EQUESTRIAN & MELFORD ✤

[mandymcavoy]

This is SSE Bottega, and she’s a wee little thing of one week of age. In a few days, Bottega and her dam Beretta are going over to Bottega’s new owner Bree Asgard. They will spend som months together there before Beretta comes back to us when they’ve been separated. We wish Bree the best of luck with this little princess!

SSE Bottega // Bay KWPN filly (SSE Talisman x SSE Beretta) .

[mandymcavoy]

We have started taking portrait photos of all our horses, and Appendix was first one to go. He enjoyed the sunlight that was peeking through the trees and stood still like the true prince he is. Appendix seems to enjoy being in the spotlight! SSE Appendix // Fleabitten Grey Hanoverian gelding (foundation).

[mandymcavoy]

We can stay assured that our horses are always in good and caring hands when we have such excellent staff to keep an eye on them all. Julianna Levitt has worked here for five years now and she has a strict routine for the daily care of the horses. Here she is seen putting hoof oil on CDC Eminent while LMEC Calippo relaxes and SSE Zinober waits for Julianna to put him back in his box. LMEC Calippo // Dark Bay Danish Warmblood stallion (LMEC Cadre Noir x LMEC Empress) CDC Eminent // Bay Hanoverian stallion (SSE Old Navy x LEC Elusive Embrace) SSE Zinober // Dapple Grey Norwegian Warmblood stallion (Howler HF x SSE Femme Fatale)

[mandymcavoy]

SSE Matchless is a horse we sold some time ago, and due to the previous owner's interest, Match hadn't competed much before he eventually came back to us. He’s been an active competitor in our jumper team ever since and we hope he will excel in sport like his half-brother SSE Moody Blues. Mandy had just hung up a full hay net and was about to take him out of the box to saddle him up when Match decided it was time for some cuddling. She couldn't resist staying a couple more minutes and ended up giving him some sugar cubes, hoping none of the other horses noticed. SSE Matchless // Grey Hanoverian stallion (SSE Winter Is Coming x Casablanca).

[mandymcavoy]

Life is busy at SSE, and our grooms make life way easier for our riders. Oliver had tacked up SSE Mademoiselle and made her ready for exercising with Dean. Dean, who came back from the indoor arena with Zinober, tried to push the curious grey stallion's head away from the rather unwelcoming mare. “Maddie”, who is a typical chestnut mare, is known for having a temperament and she often snaps her teeth after the other horses. Better save Zinober from that! SSE Zinober // Dapple Grey Norwegian Warmblood stallion (Howler HF x SSE Femme Fatale). SSE Mademoiselle // Chestnut Tobiano KWPN mare (PF Monet x SSE Femme Fatale).

[mandymcavoy]

London and Grace made it safely through the snow and into the indoor arena. Mandy and Dean were in full swing with two of the many horses they were riding that day - Mandy was busy riding SSE Bodyguard while Dean picked up after SSE Zinober’s toilet visit. SSE Bodyguard // Dark Bay Holsteiner stallion (foundation). SSE Zinober // Dapple Grey Norwegian Warmblood stallion (Howler HF x SSE Femme Fatale).

[mandymcavoy]

It’s beautiful outside and exciting with winter at SSE, but it's starting to get extremely cold. The thermometer showed -14 degrees celsius when London checked it before heading towards the indoor arena with FDS Amazing Grace. The distance from the stable to the indoor arena isn't long at all, but in this cold and dressed in rather thin clothes, London felt like she was crossing the Antarctica. Grace walked alongside London while bending her neck slightly so the snow wouldn't fly into her eyes. Bay Hanoverian mare (Andretti CW x FC Fancy Fiona).

[mandymcavoy]

It’s finally proper wintertime at SSE. The temperatures are definitely reminding us of this fact, and our staff spent all morning digging up our thickest turnout rugs from where they have been lying since last winter. The lucky two horses to be turned out first in the snow-covered stallion paddocks were SSE Matchless and SSE Cameo, who were enjoying themselves and playing around in the snow. SSE Matchless // Grey Hanoverian stallion (SSE Winter Is Coming x Casablanca). SSE Cameo // Bright Bay Holsteiner stallion (SSE Cruise Control x SSE Femme Fatale).

[mandymcavoy]

One and a half year ago, on July 18th 2014 (wow, time flies by so fast!), our dearest stallion “Snow” (SSE Winter Is Coming) passed away. He was our first horse in the community and had great success within showjumping. He was, and still remains, one of the most influential sires in SSE’s breeding program, if not in the entirety of the ES showjumping community. Snow suffered from a severe case of colic due to strangulating lipoma, and we decided to put him down. It was a heavy and utterly sad day for both us and all of his supporters, and his rider Mandy was heartbroken for ages after. He will always be remembered for his fantastic talent and lovely looks, and we are so blessed that his qualities, conformation and legacy lives on in his many incredible offspring. Miss you, Snow <3 Deceased // Grey Hanoverian stallion (foundation).

[mandymcavoy]

Superboy “Lobster” (SSE The 2nd Law) during the Lucky Palms I GP. Lobs is now retired from the sport, and he now enjoys life as a breeding stallion. His offspring are doing great and have really proven themselves fantastic jumpers, and we hope Lobs’ potential and technique continues to be inherited by his future babies. Black Holsteiner stallion (foundation).

[mandymcavoy]

SSE Beretta from the Grand Prix during HJC Lucky Palms II. The elegant Beretta took the 1st place home and impressed us all with her flawless clear round. She sure is one of the best mares we ever produced at SSE! Under, I have added a GIF to show you the before & after pictures.

Bay Holsteiner mare (SSE The 2nd Law x SSE Femme Fatale).

[mandymcavoy]

SSE Cruise Control is one of the first Holsteiners we ever got at SSE. Cruise used to be one of Mandy’s main mounts and was always brought to the biggest shows, along with SSE Winter Is Coming, SSE Femme Fatale and SSE The 2nd Law. He has sired some great foals, our very own SSE Cameo among them. Dearest Cruise is now retired from both competition and breeding, and this old photo was taken back at his last show before retirement, rounding it all off with a great clear round.

[mandymcavoy]

SSE Kudos, the wonderful little foal from my first tumblr post, is now a wonderful young stallion. He is as curious as ever and keeps on exploring what the world has to offer. London patted Kudos while he said hi to the handsome guy who stared back at him in the indoor arena mirrors.   Chestnut Holsteiner stallion (SSE The 2nd Law x SSE Tarot Card).

[mandymcavoy]

LMEC Empress is one of the newest additions to our stables. She will compete a while before she retires for breeding purposes. She will probably be a most excellent broodmare with her great mother instinct, kind eyes and calm being. After arriving at SSE, Mandy and Chloe had to find her some fitting blankets for the chill nights.   Dapple grey Danish Warmblood mare (Dardel x Mercedes).

[mandymcavoy]

The handsome SSE Bodyguard waiting on his rider Dean Ashford to finish checking his Facebook notifications. Dark Bay Holsteiner stallion (foundation).

[mandymcavoy]

SSE Zinober is all grown up, being the crazy youngster troublemaker that makes all the other horses annoyed and grumpy. Not even SSE Beretta, our otherwise gentle and positive mare, was pleased with him disturbing the peace! I guess it’s natural for siblings to fight sometimes. Eventually, London had to take him in from the paddocks before it got worse. SSE Zinober // Bay-based Grey Norwegian Warmblood colt (Howler HF x SSE Femme Fatale). SSE Beretta // Bay Holsteiner mare (SSE The 2nd Law x SSE Femme Fatale).

[mandymcavoy]

Our supergirl Femme with her baby Zinober out in our big pastures. When mommy won’t feed you, you can at least nibble on her ears ^^ SSE Femme Fatale // Dapple Grey Holsteiner mare (foundation). SSE Zinober // Bay-based Grey Norwegian Warmblood colt (Howler HF x SSE Femme Fatale).