Stern's Retired Horses

[Sara Jane Lyena]

Balian des Sonnensturm

The Basics
Show Name: Balian des Sonnensturm
Barn Name: Balian, Bali, Schimmel
Age: 6 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Thoroughbred
Breed Registry: The Jockey Club

The Appearance
Coat Color: Dapple Grey
Stable Color: Teal
Height: 16.3 HH

The Personality
Personality: Balian is a sweet horse that knows exactly what he wants. He can be pushy if he doesn't get something, but he doesn't mean to hurt anyone. He is so gentle that he can be ridden by inexperienced people, if Sara ever gives him up. The only thing he cannot stand is sudden changes in the ground's color. He will stop as soon as he sees it and take a lot of coaxing to get over it. He has been worked with on this, and it is getting better, but it still happens, especially under riders that don't know how bad his fear is. He works best under a soft snaffle bit. His favorite thing to eat is carrots, but he would eat anything, including raw potatoes.
Caution Around: Wet ground

The History
Basic History: Balian was born in a small family barn in Mi Wuk, California. He was trained in western riding. His dam was Sara's favorite horse, and he was given to Sara when he was born. He was trained by the owner of the barn, and Sara came to visit him every day. When he was six, Sara took him with her to her new school, and now he's here.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Barrel Racing
Owner: Sara Lyena

[Sara Jane Lyena]

Rolo

The Basics
Show Name: Rolo
Barn Name: Rolo
Age: 8 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: APH
Breed Registry: APHA

The Appearance
Coat Color: Chestnut Tovero
Stable Color: Dark Green
Height: 15.2 HH

The Personality
Personality: Cautious, Clumsy, Friendly, Sensitive/Easily offended, Submissive, Well-mannered
Notes: N/A

The History
Basic History: Rolo is an ex ranch horse who’s old owner was a young man who was in a severe car crash no so long ago. He tried to find someone else to ride Rolo for him, to be able to keep the gelding, but was unable to do so. This means that he’s had to sell him on, and wants him to get the best care possible and knows that he’d most likely find this for Rolo in the Blue Ridge auction.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Western – Barrels, Pleasure & Reining
Owner: Sara Lyena

[Amelia DeFoe]

TOMCAT'S QUIET LULLABY

Opposite Side

The Basics
Show Name: Tomcat's Quiet Lullaby
Barn Name: Tommy
Age: 9 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: APH
Breed Registry: APHA

The Appearance
Coat Color: Blue Roan Tobiano
Stable Colors: Napier green and Plum
Height: 15.1 HH

The Personality
Personality: Tommy is a very quiet, respectful gelding. He understands personal space, and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He has been extensively trained to work with Amelia, from dealing with her absent seizures by just walking on, or slowing to a walk until she 'comes back'. Otherwise, he has learned to kneel, and is very close to bomb-proof, no matter what panic may be ensuing around him. If anyone else were to try to ride him apart from Amelia, they would find that he has very different cues from what most horses respond to, in an effort to make it easier for him to notice when Amelia is having trouble.
Caution: Please don't feed him treats!

The History
Basic History: Tommy was born on a ranch, just like any other. However, from the moment that he hit the ground, his owner knew that he would be different. He wasn't a spitfire like either of his parents, both barrel racers in turn. As he grew up, the difference only became more apparent, with the horse's slow, pondering ways earning him the nickname of 'Tank'. What he didn't have in speed, however, he made up threefold in heart, starting with his owner's granddaughter. When Mr. Defoe started looking for a horse that could be trained up for Amelia, as she had been coming more and more into riding, Tommy's ways stood out to him, and without any encouragement, the pair formed a close bond. A trainer was brought in for a number of weeks, to train Tommy to pay more attention to Amelia, but even without the training, it was obvious that he was the perfect horse.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Trail Class, Western Pleasure
Owner: Mr. DeFoe
Rider: Amelia DeFoe

[Deleted]

SEASIDE REMEDY

The Basics
Show Name: Seaside Remedy
Barn Name: Murdock
Age: 12 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Holsteiner
Breed Registry: American Holsteiner Association, USEF Lifetime Recording - American Performance Horse Registration

The Appearance
Coat Color: Bay
Stable Color: Mountbatten Pink
Height: 18hh

The Personality
Personality: If you're an experienced rider that knows what to ask for, Murdock is your reliable, easy to get along with horse. He'll take you around the course, be it dressage or show jumping, without trouble, despite his large size. He loves jumping, and is a tiny bit better at it than at dressage, although he's willing to please. However, put a novice rider on him, or even handling him, and he becomes a fidgeting bundle of nerves. His bascule falls apart, his gaits are indistinguishable, and he tends to show badly. He's relatively bomb-proof with a competent rider, but has a bi-polar personality, almost.
Caution Around: Not safe for novice riders.

The History
Basic History: Murdock has had a good life so far, for the most part. He was raised and trained by a competitive rider who wanted him to replace her competition mount after a few years of work. However, he exceeded her expectations by growing larger than she was willing to ride at competitions, being a tiny woman. She put her niece on him, and found him a perfect pony mount. However, one show, that went wrong. The girl used the wrong cues at the wrong times, and ended up falling. After she started whipping the poor horse, Murdock's trainer took him from the girl and put more work into him, making him trust riders that knew what they were doing again, but no matter what she did, he would never perform for a novice rider the same way again. Still, he didn't fit her style, so at about six years of age, Murdock was sold to Glen Aulin. Since then, she has used him to continue her competitive career in the eventing rings, and he's been her solid horse for years.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Eventing
Owner: Glen Aulin Ó Raghailligh
Rider: Glen Aulin Ó Raghailligh

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Unmistakable Shine

The Basics
Show Name: Unmistakable Shine
Barn Name: Kodak
Age: 11 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: American Quarter Horse
Breed Registry: AQHA, APHA

The Appearance
Coat Color: Palomino
Stable Color: Eminance
Height: 15.1

The Personality
Personality: Kodak knows what's expected of him, and does it to the best of his ability. He's the type of horse to work his heart out for everyone, from the beginner to the experienced rider. He's been in plenty of shows and knows how to work, and thus, does pretty well. He's always out for a carrot or a peppermint, if you have one handy, although he isn't currently pushy. He is used to being handled by a number of different people, and doesn't have qualms about following anyone, even if it isn't Blythe. He's relatively bombproof, although he hates balloons, and will take off in the other direction if one pops in his vicinity.
Caution Around: Balloons

The History
Basic History: Born to a successful breeder, by of Smart and Shiney, Kodak was one to watch. He placed well in his first few events under saddle and claimed the attention of a competitive reiner, who haggled long and hard before he bought the gelding. He fine-tuned the gelding's training, adding in a dash of trail class for the gelding to have something else to do, and did many competitions with the gelding, winning quite a nice amount of cash money with him. When Blythe's father was in the market for a horse, he knew he would only buy the best, and he found Kodak. The deal was sealed, and Blythe ended up with Kodak.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Reining, trail
Owner: Charles van Rutherford
Rider: Adonya van Rutherford

[Amelia DeFoe]

AS HIGH AS HONOR


(Right) (Left) (Winter)

The Basics
Show Name: As High as Honor
Barn Name: Amerigo, Amur
Age: 6 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: 75% Arabian, 25% Hackney
Breed Registry: N/A

The Appearance
Coat Color: Bay (Somatic Mutations)
Stable Color: Barn Red
Height: 15.0 HH

The Personality
Personality: Amerigo is really a doer, rather than a thinker. He may be pretty smart, able to work out any problem you put in front of him, but he'd rather jump forward and take the risk. Luckily, little fazes him, apart from thermometers, but then, he knows they're uncomfortable. His worst habit is cribbing, although he's also known to untie himself from time to time to go wandering and raise his head when being bridled or haltered. When you turn him out in the pasture, be wary of an explosion of energy, no matter how long it's been since he's last been in a pasture. He absolutely adores salty treats, although he tends to go overboard on them.
Caution Around: Thermometers, can untie himself

The History
Basic History: Since birth, Amerigo's been around those random flailing things that call themselves humans. He was born on a farm, bred for ability rather than actual breed registration, and in that respect, he turned out well. His epileptic trainer worked with him with the intent of keeping him as a 'fun' horse, intrigued by his colour and ability, so he was always taught a few tricks in that regard, although his real tricks were closer to the stuff from stories, emphasizing his intelligence. However, after a bad fall on another of her horses, his owner was no longer able to care for him. It was luck that Mr. DeFoe found him and snapped him up, keeping him as a late Christmas gift for his daughter.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Dressage, endurance, trick riding
Owner: Mike DeFoe
Rider: Amelia DeFoe

[Katja Eder]

KLABAUTERMANN

The Basics
Show Name: Klabautermann
Barn Name: Mukki
Age: 7 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Hanoverian
Breed Registry: Hanoverian Verband

The Appearance
Coat Color: Black
Stable Color: Dark Turquoise
Height: 16.2

The Personality
Personality: Mukki is definitely not a beginner's horse. Like his namesake, he's always up to something, always getting himself into trouble. Whether it's opening his lock and heading to the feed room (although he never leaves the barn) or initiating a game of tag with the other horses in his pasture, he's a handful. In the ring, he requires his rider's full attention, although he performs beautifully if he has that. However, once the attention wanders, his beautiful carriage disappears, and he 'falls apart'. He doesn't really like being around dogs, because he wasn't exposed to them as a foal, and is still relatively leery of them.
Caution Around: Dogs

The History
Basic History: There's no tragic events in Mukki's past. The gelding was born on a well-known breeder's farm, where he stayed for the first few months of his year. Once eligible, he was tested for entry into the Verband, and soon approved. Only then did he begin his basic training with an eventing trainer, although he showed a natural aptitude for dressage. When Katja's parents were looking for a horse for her, they had her try him, and the two just meshed right away. Since then, he's been in training together with her, and they've been pushing each other further and further.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Eventing, specifically dressage
Owner: Barbara & Bert Eder
Rider: Katja Eder

[Stefan Eder]

BALL OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN

The Basics
Show Name: Ball of Unknown Origin
Barn Name: Lupus
Age: 9 years
Gender: Mare
Breed: Oldenburg
Breed Registry: ISR-Oldenburg NA

The Appearance
Coat Color: Bay
Stable Color: Emerald Green
Height: 17.0 HH

The Personality
Personality: Go go go go and go. That's how Lupus is, and that's how her world works. She is always ready to work, and enjoys working, although her enthusiasm makes her better for intermediate or advanced riders. She'll attempt to jump anything, although surprisingly, her pasture fence has never called to her (yet!). Apart from that, she's quite affectionate, although sometimes, that lends itself to her invasion of your personal space, especially while standing. She doesn't stand well, always dancing around, although usually, she'll quiet down after a bop on the nose. She does behave for being saddled, usually, although she may try to tap-dance her way out of having her boots put on.
Caution Around: Her dancing around, your personal space.

The History
Basic History: Lupus was born at a Ohio breeder's farm, although she had already been sold far ahead of her birth, due to her parentage. She was taken to an Olympic trainer's yard, where she was raised, but after it came out that she simply didn't understand the concept of dressage, the trainer knew that she wouldn't be making it to the higher levels, because some of the moves she lacked were what the elite riders looked for in jumpers as well, but continued training her anyway, refusing to give up hope on the dark bay, whom he'd rather come to like. However, after a few years of the mare standing with no interest at the highest levels, he put the mare up for sale, where she was snapped up by the Eders and transported to Blue Ridge, as the trainer was a friend of the siblings' teacher.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Show Jumping, Cross Country
Owner: Barbara & Bert Eder
Rider: Stefan Eder

[Katja Eder]

DER STRUWWELPETER

The Basics
Registered Name: Der Struwwelpeter
Barn Name: Maunz
Age: 9 years
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Dutch Warmblood
Breed Registry: KWPN (Microchipped)

The Appearance
Coat Color: Bay
Stable Color: Rich Lilac
Height: 16.3 HH

The Personality
Personality: Everything about Maunz's face screams of the intelligence of this gelding. He understands and learns quickly, and retains what he has learned for ages. Luckily, this intelligence is coupled with a cooperative, if sensitive, personality, which can be good in the dressage ring, although it lends itself well to a softer touch. He has boundless energy, and can even be more hot than average, although keeping him occupied and letting him release some energy beforehand helps calm him somewhat. When he gets to know a person, he is trusting, and will put himself into their hands quite willingly, performing whatever they wish from him. People that he does not know well, he tends to test, and can try to take advantage of the more inexperienced riders.
Caution Around: N/A

The History
Basic History: Maunz was born and raised in the Netherlands. During his licensing in Herning in 2007, Der Struwwelpeter was one of the crowd favorites and the international press has described him as the "star" of the licensing. In 2012, he won the qualifier for the Danish Championships in front of his stablemate. In the semi final, he got a score of 9.14 and thus he got a ticket for the final. Only a few short weeks after that, he was stolen out of his pastures. He was recovered after a month's time, but the damage had been done, and the stallion had been gelded. Deciding that he would be better off in a showing-only home, the now-gelding was sold to a yard in Jena. The yard owner who bought him continued his training, pushing him further and further into Grand Prix training. Katja saw him while visiting over a break and fell in love with him, and his training. It took a lot of haggling on Katja's parents' part, but in the end, her trainer was willing to give in, knowing that his student would take good care of him.

The Technicalities
Discipline: Dressage
Owner: Barbara & Bert Eder
Rider: Katja Eder

[Liana Mars]

ASTARAEL

Registered Name>> Astarael
Barn Name>> Dyrim
Age>> 13 years
Sex>> Gelding
Breed>> Connemara
Breed Registry>> ACPS

Coat Colour>> Bay
Stable Colour>> Bright Pink
Height>> 14.1 hh

Personality>> A pony, a packet of the same energy in a smaller body. At least Dyrim is, constantly ready to move on or move faster. However, if he is forced to stand still, he almost seems to power down, going to sleep almost instantly. As such, Li often says he has two modes, off and 'run'. One of his worst habits is that he chews on the bit whenever it's in his mouth, just chomping away at it. There's nothing medically wrong, it's just a habit he picked up. When he's left in a pasture he almost always manages to race around until he tires himself out and then sets to eating his grass. He rarely interacts with other horses, he is very serious about doing his own thing.
Caution Around>> Phones ringing.

Basic History>> Dyrim's life was a generally easy one. No tales of hardship or anger. He was born to a well-known Connemara pony farm and was soon sold to a person who was hoping to have him trained for the hunter ring, with some dressage thrown in. He was sent to a renowned trainer when he was finally old enough to be started under saddle, and from there his actual training began, in both disciplines. However, when his owner disappeared, and the fees for his training along with them, Dyrim was stuck in a limbo. He was finally sold on to a hunter stable, where he was used for a while as a barn horse, in the hopes that he would appeal to one of the students. However, this didn't happen. However, when Li was on the hunt for a horse, his trainer persuaded her to give the plucky pony a try, and as they say, the rest is history.

Owner>> Michael Mars
Rider>> Liana Mars
Discipline>> Hunter (Advanced), Dressage (Advanced)