A number of mares have been confirmed in foal to date, with a few still to go so hoping for some super babies around the country in 2012 and some particularly good earthquake appeal foals for Kathryn Greenslade and Caroline McKnight!
Thanks so much to everyone breeding to Skip's Supreme and Mighty Luminous this year.
November 2011
Equidays has come and gone and we had an awesome time with Elizabeth Prentice and Wilma Davis, who travelled up with Commanche Warrior to help on the Sportaloosa stand.
Wilma owns the Mighty Luminous daughter Goer's Mighty Elusive (pictured right) and while we were at Equidays, she got a text to say she had managed to get into another paddock but not to worry, her friend's daughter had ridden her back to where she should have been.
All good... though she'd never been ridden before and hadn't had a lot of handling!
Hard to beat a temperament like that... make yours a Sportaloosa!!
October 2011
Mighty Intriguing is back under saddle after a few months off, stronger and better balanced and happy to be getting attention.
It's the 4 year old mare Mighty Trinity's turn to be started and she's adjusting to being dragged out of the paddock to do some work!
These photos were taken during her second lesson with Ben Longwell.
Breeding, Equidays and an Appaloosa Project first
It's been a hectic time... The boys are getting themselves fit for breeding and are looking fantastic. Hoping to meet some good mares this year!
They
have been appearing in various Sportaloosa stallion promotions, including the new Sportaloosa TV commercial.
Mighty Intriguing is about to go back into work and the beautiful filly Mighty Trinity is about to be started under saddle... these 2 lovely horses are still waiting for the right, special people to come along!
Our Equidays prep is full steam ahead and we're so proud to announce that we'll be featuring seminars from Sheila Archer (Canada) and Rebecca Bellone (USA) of the Appaloosa Project - the world's leading experts on Appaloosa colour - at the Sportaloosa stand.
More details to follow but mark it in your diaries... if you're keen on spotted horses, you will LOVE these seminars! Give us a shout if you'd like more information.
Another high point award for Lane Frost
The great Skip's Supreme colt LV Lane Frost has just been awarded Bendigo Regional Appaloosa Club high point stallion/colt for 2010-2011.
Congratulations to Ann and Warren Lewis of Lewisville Appaloosas, Victoria... this is the stallion to breed to in Victoria!
Meet us at Equidays
We'll be flying the Sportaloosa flag at Equidays and we'd love to meet you there. We'll be on the Sportaloosa stand in the Breeders' Village (stand BV4) promoting Sportaloosas and the phenomenal stallions on the Sportaloosa books.
Plus, we'll have a very special reason for everyone interested in spotted horses to visit our stand... bring every question you've ever had about spots and stand by for more news soon.
Equidays is the first ever national showcase of NZ's equine industry and it takes place 18-21 November at Mystery Creek, just out of Hamilton. It promises to be huge - find out all about it at www.equidays.co.nz
Special news
Our beautiful Skip's Supreme filly Momentarily Skipped has just become the first NZ Sportaloosa to place in the Sportaloosa Foal Futurity.
She's taken out 4th= place in the 2011 competition, tying with a filly sired by Australia's most successful dressage stallion so we are PROUD!
She scored just 1.5 points less than the winner and just a point behind her were the equally lovely Skip filly Skip's L'il Rose and colt BK Copperhead, in 7th= place.
The Sportaloosa foal futurity is open to registered Sportaloosas from Australia and New Zealand. It's judged by performance judges and horses are graded on their conformation, movement and ability.
Trig is coming along beautifully under saddle (check out the difference in his balance compared with the photo below).
He's been under saddle three weeks now and is just ready to move into a snaffle bit. He's getting a 'non-denominational' start, so he can easily go on in either english or western.
May 2011
Trig (Mighty Intriguing) is soaking up his lessons from Ben Longwell at True West Horsemanship.
Pictured here on his 8th ride, he's getting balanced and enjoying his work.
Ben's new to the area (his training facility is in nearby Snells Beach), having just moved here from the USA. This is the first horse we've sent him, after seeing him in action in April and we're rapt with the job he's doing.
Trig's with him for 8 weeks having a really solid start to his riding career and he'll be ready to go straight into specialised training afterwards.
April 2011
Once again this year, a number of Sparkling Acres horses are being offered for sale in the annual Sportaloosa web auction.
We're running open days every Saturday from 30 April to 28 May, 11am to 3pm and you're warmly invited to visit. There's no appointment necessary, you're welcome to just turn up.
February 2011
We've just re-filmed our much loved Skip's Supreme and are so proud to present the REAL Skip.
He's now in phenomenal condition - faster, fitter, stronger, better balanced and feeling fantastic. Hope you enjoy his new video... we're pretty sure he enjoyed making it!
To round out the month, Skip's super fewspot son LV Lane Frost took away reserve champion stallion at the Victorian State Appaloosa Show. Lane stands at stud in Woodend, Victoria www.lewisvillleappaloosas.com.
Photo by Ev Lagoon
December 2010 & January 2011
Happy new year! Here's a quick catch up on our news.
In November we flew to Melbourne to fly the Sportaloosa flag at Equitana. We lost count of the number of people we talked to about spotted horses and there was a real buzz in the air as people realised just what quality of spotted horse was available in NZ and Australia.
Mighty Luminous took part in the Equitana Sportaloosa stallion service draw along with his old playmate Cayuse A Grand Illusion and his service was won by Bridget Woodward of Te Puke, who joined Sportaloosa International while at Equitana.... can't think of a better winner! Bridget's mare arrived here first thing in January so we're hoping to send her away in foal in the near future.
Skip has produced 3 beautiful lookalike fillies around the country and one very handsome colt so we couldn't be happier with his first NZ-born babies.
Breeding bookings were late this year but we've been very privileged to have had some classy mares to both Mighty Luminous and Skip's Supreme and we're hoping for some really good foals to arrive in 2011.
November 2010
Since equine coat color testing first became a reality, Appaloosa breeders have been waiting for the day when they could test their horses for the main Appaloosa gene, LP. We are now one step closer.
Dr. Rebecca Bellone and her associates have just published the results of a study aimed at identifying SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with Appaloosa spotting (LP).
The results of this study can be viewed in this month’s special issue of Animal Genetics: Horse Genomics and the Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02119.x/full
“We have identified three polymorphisms that are in perfect association with LP in several breeds of horses, “says Bellone, chief molecular biologist for the Appaloosa Project. “We will continue to work to determine the causative mutation, but in the meantime, these SNPs could be utilized to evaluate potential breeding animals.”
Why is this so exciting? These SNPs can be used to DNA test horses for LP!
Having the option to test a young Appaloosa will revolutionize breeding. Many horses that have inherited the LP mutation don’t display obvious coat patterning or “characteristics”. Others don’t have coat patterns that allow for easy classification of probable LP genotype by their appearance.
Sparkling Acres will be represented at Equitana Australia, 18 - 21 November as part of the Sportaloosa International stand (along with the rest of NZ's and Australia's finest Appaloosa stallions).
If you'll be at Equitana, please stop by and say hi and put your name in the draw!
August 2010
A number of super Skip fillies were snapped up by Australian breeders who knew a good horse when they saw one and the first 2010 grandkids have begun to arrive.
Above - filly from Cayuse Skip N Stones by Barvee Mytee Spectacular and below, filly from LV Skip The Confewsion by Cayuse Bradford.
Congratulations Tammy at Yallawa Appaloosas in NSW and Mel and Merv at Delatite Park in Victoria on a couple of stunning girls! Both sold at a few days old... guess the Aussies know Skip isn't coming back!
May 2010
4 quality Sparkling Acres horses are being offered for sale in the inaugural Sportaloosa online auction at very realistic reserve prices, so if you're in the market for a seriously good horse with a priceless temperament, please take a look.
Bidder registration and conditions of sale for the Sportaloosa web auction now online at www.sportaloosa.com/webauction.shtml. Catalogue available progressively from 16th May so check the site often.
The Sportaloosa Stallion Showcase on DVD is meeting with viewer approval! Just $15 including postage in NZ, it's a great gift as well as a must-see production for anyone thinking of breeding a mare. Buy online at www.sportaloosa.com/dvd.shtml
April 2010
The great New Zealand Sportaloosa video trip has been completed with 12 spotted stallions filmed in preparation for a video showcase that will knock your socks off!
Full videos online and a 24 stallion DVD available to purchase from 30 April.
March 2010
LV Lane Frost by Skip's Supreme has done it again - Champion Stallion at the Murray Loddon show in Victoria, Australia!
Photo courtesy Ev Lagoon
February 2010
Fabulous news from Invercargill in the deep south, where multi champion mare BK Tamie has scanned in foal to Skip's Supreme by chilled semen. Congratulations to owner Debbie Keen and here's to some super South Island Skip babies late this year.
Skip babies LV Lane Frost and LV Skip N On Gold put their best foot forward at the 2010 Victorian Appaloosa State Championships for these results:
Lane Frost (pictured at one year old)
1st 2008 colt
Reserve champion colt
Skip N On Gold
2nd 2005-06 mare
Congratulations to Rachael Edmonstone and LA Warrior Queen, expecting the first South Island Mighty Luminous foal.
Congratulations also to GB Lumanique and Hayley Fenwick on their Te Awamutu A&P results; their second ridden show.
2nd Appaloosa Mare 3yrs +
Reserve Champion Mare
2nd Most Colourful
GB Lumanique and Hayley Fenwick completed their first ridden show with some excellent results - well done team!
2nd Mare 3yrs & over
Reserve Champion Female
3rd Most Colourful
2nd Amateur Showmanship
3rd Amateur HUS
5th Jnr Horse HUS
The great Australian Sportaloosa video trip was an outstanding success. 12 Sportaloosa stallions were filmed throughout Australia in a whirlwind visit and the quality of performance horseflesh was outstanding. Stand by for the NZ version of the video trip, which will take place before autumn coats grow in.
During the trip Petra was so lucky to stay at Lewisville Appaloosas in Victoria, where Skip made his home for several years before travelling to NZ. Ann and Warren Lewis have an amazing assortment of Skip progeny stockpiled around their farm, so she's now seen most of the foals Skip has produced, first hand. Tall, with excellent bone, straight legs and outstanding performance conformation, these horses are exceptional examples of quality Sportaloosas.
Congratulations to Felicity McNutt and Olympic Rose, now expecting a Skip's Supreme baby this November.
December 2009
The very first foals by Enriched have arrived and it's clear that he's a sire who's going to reproduce his own image. Take a look at www.arawood.co.nz
Huge congratulations to Nancy Shallcrass and Eve 'N Rock, expecting the second Blenheim-based Skip's Supreme foal in 2010.
November 2009
Skip's Supreme babies have been out in force in Bendigo, Australia. LV Annie's Bright Delight (right) took out reserve champion mare/filly and spectacular fewspot colt LV Lane Frost took out champion colt/stallion. Both are owned and shown by Lewisville Appaloosas.
Congratulations to Barbara Grinter and Miss Jagady in Blenheim on a successful pregnancy to Skip's Supreme, by transported semen. Wishing you a wonderful foal in 2010!
WIN a service to a Sportaloosa stallion - including Skip's Supreme (USA) and Mighty Luminous (Aust) plus a few other goodies!
We are delighted to be part of Sportaloosa International's participation in the Equine Trader Huge Summer Giveaway. One lucky person will take away a barn, Horserail fencing, water tank, a year's worth of horse feed and insurance and more... plus a service to the participating Sportaloosa stallion of their choice for 2010.
A huge congratulations to Ann and Warren Lewis - the Skip's Supreme filly LV Skip N On Gold took out Bendigo High Point Filly/Mare for the year from just a few outings.
July 2009
Keen Sportaloosa members Karen Leoncelli and Ev Lagoon, in conjunction with Gippsland Regional Appaloosa Club (Australia) have produced this gorgeous Appaloosa babies calendar as a fundraiser.
He and his mum got into a bit of strife when he was born and the overhandling he had meant he needed extra time to grow up and just be a horse.
It's all been worth it though; he's another lovely little guy to work with... keen, calm and easy to handle.
Congratulations to owner Jade Pringle; here's to lots of success together.
May 2009
Skip's Supreme filly LV Skip N On Gold (pictured right) took champion overall mare at the recent Murray Loddon Show in Bendigo, Australia. Congratulations to owners Ann and Warren Lewis on their continued success with Skip babies!
Special early bird stud fee for Skip's Supreme (USA) and Mighty Luminous (Aust) released - save $350 on services booked (with booking fee) by 1 August. See more.
Both stallions now feature on the Sportaloosa Stallion Showcase on equinetrader.co.nz and horsetalk.co.nz. This is the first group spotted stallion advertising deal in NZ; designed to promote athletic spotted stallions and proudly masterminded by Sportaloosa International. More to come... watch this space!
April 2009
The second issue of Sportaloosa Quarterly, the e-magazine of Sportaloosa International, is a free download. Please feel free to read it with our thanks.
Sportaloosa International is the new registry promoting spotted athletes as wonderful riding horses... take a look at the benefits.
March 2009
Skip's Supreme is NZ's first Sportaloosa to wear Sportaloosa International's brand. Never previously branded, he now also sports the Sparkling Acres cipher as well as the numeric brands the NZ Appaloosa registry requires.
Our last Aussie, Sportaloosa mare Few in the Cru, arrived late in the month. Full sister to the premier Sportaloosa stallion Cayuse A Grand Illusion, she's in foal to the spectacular Hanovarian Riverside (imp Germany).
February show results
Congratulations to Ann and Warren Lewis of Lewisville Appaloosas on their success with Skip's Supreme foals at the Victorian State Appaloosa Championship Show.
Skip's Supreme
2nd Get of Sire
LV Skip N On Gold
3rd 2006 Filly
LV Skip The Confewsion
4th 2004-5 Mare
LV A Little Skipperette
6th 2007 Filly - photo right by Ev Lagoon
Combining world-renown Hanovarian bloodlines (her grandsire is the German Celle Stud stallion Grand Cru) and superb Appaloosa bloodlines, this filly has floating movement, phenomenal extension and a cool, calm head.
January 2009
The sensational Skip's Supreme (imp USA) finally arrived in New Zealand, set to produce some late foals.
A sweet natured, gentle and very laid back horse, he's settled in quickly and taken the upheaval in his stride.
We're now standing by for the arrival of the Sportaloosa filly Just An Illusion (12 Feb).
December 2011
Equidays has come and gone and we had an awesome time with Elizabeth Prentice and Wilma Davis, who travelled up with Commanche Warrior to help on the Sportaloosa stand. 
Another high point award for Lane Frost
Trig is coming along beautifully under saddle (check out the difference in his balance compared with the photo below).
Trig (Mighty Intriguing) is soaking up his lessons from Ben Longwell at 
April 2011
September 2010
August 2010
March 2010
Skip babies LV Lane Frost and LV Skip N On Gold put their best foot forward at the 2010 Victorian Appaloosa State Championships for these results:
Skip's Supreme babies have been out in force in Bendigo, Australia. LV Annie's Bright Delight (right) took out reserve champion mare/filly and spectacular fewspot colt LV Lane Frost took out champion colt/stallion. Both are owned and shown by 
The star Appaloosa/Sportaloosa stallion Enriched (NZ's only Ric O'Lena horse) is standing his first season to outside mares in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay. 
July 2009
The second issue of 
Congratulations to Ann and Warren Lewis of Lewisville Appaloosas on their success with Skip's Supreme foals at the Victorian State Appaloosa Championship Show.
Our beautiful yearling 