NIGHTSHADE

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A HORSE FLOAT ACROSS AN ARENA? HOW AMAZING IS IT? THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU WATCH THE HORSE IN TONIGHT'S STORY CANTER, ITS ALL UPHILL AND HE JUST FLOATS

This story is about a 16.3h black gelding called 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐄! Who is being partnered by Rhys Stones.

Nightshade is known as 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 at home he is by Balou out of a dam called Caramba. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 was bred in Sweden by Erica Torgersen who also started him, A young Swedish showjumper Joanna Johannsson took 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 through his early heights and then he ended up in the Stables of Alex Davis.

It is here where Rhys and Maree Stevens found him, Rhys takes up this part of the story.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 was imported in February 2023. He was purchased off Alex Davis who had been campaigning him in the Netherlands. Maree Hewitt had found 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 through her friendship with Alex and told me that “we were going over to Europe to try him because we need to get you a good horse”. When we got over to Europe, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 was the first horse I rode and after riding 15 others, he was the one we came home with. Needless to say, he has fulfilled every expectation of being that “good horse”.

Diversion - lets dig into some breeding, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 is by Balou who is by the infamous Balou Du Rouet and his famous great grandsire Baloubet du Rouet and this is where we are going to focus with some pf the research in thanks to Antares and the amazing stories of the FEI.

Baloubet du Rouet was born in 1989 and was raised on Normandy’s St Aubin de Terregatte farm of the celebrated breeder, Louis Fardin.

His high head position and ‘pigeon-throated’ neck meant that he couldn’t compete in 3-year-old stallion show-jumping events (riding competitions back then were held the day after entering hand-class events, if they qualified). As a result, he was let go due to his anatomy.

However the Coutino family saw his potential and purchased him just shy of his 4th birthday. Tricky to mount and a mind of his own they talk about people laughing at them but they persevered with him.

When he was 6, all the work by the French rider paid dividends. Now, ridden by Nelson Pessoa, Baloubet qualified for the World Championship finals, became French Champion at 7-years-old and was a finalist in the World Equestrian Games in Rome, it just goes to show all those difficult horses do have potential you just have to ride it out!

Nelson’s son Rodrigo, took the ride after WEG and the 2 of them became a force that is unrivalled. Baloubet and Rodrigo began their career 1998 and that year they went on to win the FEI Jumping World Cup Final™ in Helsinki. They also won the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in the same year. They took the gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games! The following year Baloubet, took part in his last ever FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, where he and Rodrigo finished a creditable seventh. He formally retired from competition in February 2008 at 19 years old.

Overall he amassed over 65 victories in international competition. Making him one of the most successful show jumping horses in the world.

Being so loved he went back to retire with his owners the Coutino family in 2010 and he eventually passed away in 2017 at 28, leaving his mark and his legacy on so many of todays jumpers .

His feisty spirit and his arena games will be a memory many will hold dear and his progeny just continue to shine.

Ok lets go back to Rhys and 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲!

Being together for just a year, they have really stepped up in height and 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 just keeps delivering on every level. 2 of the most favorite results from last year are 4th in the Mini Prix Summer Classic 2023 and 5th in the Riders Cup Australian Jumping Championships 2023 . 2024 looks to be even brighter for 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 has such a big heart he just likes to keep giving 100%.

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 has a funny love, it is……. to walk like a Tennessee walking horse - just weird really.

His dislikes? This one was a learning curve for Rhys. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 hates having a bit in his mouth, lucky for Rhys, but sadly for 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 someone invented the hackamore! Rhys’s tack room now consists of several different types of hackamores depending on 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲’s mood for the day.

Rhys also tells us when 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 hears the truck, it sends shady wild!!! Truck = show = a very keen 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲!

Rhys and 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 owe a lot to Maree and are just so grateful for all she has given them as together they are forming a real partnership and Rhys says 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 has got a very real and very special place in his heart.

Rhys and 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 would also like to thank the entire team at Riverton Performance Horses as well as their sponsors for keeping them looking and feeling and performing amazing.

Pryde's EasiFeed, Technyflex - Premium Joint Supplement, Saddleworld Wangaratta, Trailrace, Martin Collins Australia, Animal Therapeutics Online

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𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐲 you seem to have a great personaility and you have formed a great partnership with Rhys, Although you both are just at the start of your journey, we are excited to see you at the Classic and we are excited to watch your journey!

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Photo Credit : supplied by Rhys and credit to Australian Jumping