Candice Burger
01-22-2007, 12:36 PM
Hey ya'll. Back from another beautiful visit to Puerto Rico....
You know you've got it bad when you stop to look at horses on the way to the hotel....We stopped again at Vivian Feliciano's place, owner of Poema de Altura. I got to ride Don Cholito and our very own Rafael Arbelo's filly in training.
We stayed at the Pelican Reef Apartments right on Jobo Beach where us Ramey AF folks would ride down to for the day. It was right on the beach and we got to see the surfers having fun every morning. BarbT took pics with her camera and we'll have to wait until she is home to download. The apartment we stayed at was really, nice. People were great and VERY easy to get to from the San Juan airport.
I took BarbT through Ramey and showed her where we kept our horses and our riding trails.
I met David Lang, he is an encyclopedia of information. His book, which I've still only seen previews of is a masterpiece of photos and information. It is coffee table quality. He has information about both PR and COL horses in PR and DR, tracing even Joyero in DR, finding an old PPR line, Copita II/Dije in DR, etc. David forgets more than I'll ever know about these horses. We visited David Valle's place to see David Lang's Farola (pic posted here), a champion Bellas Formas mare and a filly that is an inbreeding to Lord de Soberano. The filly is by Lord out of Farola, a daughter of Lord. The filly is truly fantastic. Some are suggesting the Lord X Plebeyo is nicking extremely well. There are several offspring of this cross that are promising.
I also met the wonderful Juan Villanueva who was president of the Federation in PR. A great man and very dedicated to PPRs. He told me of an elderly man that new Dulce Sueno's trainer and is still using the techniques since that time. I hope to meet this man before it's too late. Apparently the techniques leave no marks like the "traditional" methods (what an abuse of the word "tradition") and the horses respond well. It was an honor to talk to such a great man.
Let's see, we met David Ramos, owner of a Campanero son, Magico G, and rode a fantastic filly by Zaphiro de Kristal. I also rode a few COL/PR mixes that were very good.
I went to see Pepe (Pepito) Lopez's horses again. Armagedon cannot be beat in conformation in my opinion. I wish I could find that here in the USA. I rode a filly that is by Controversia de Labriego out of an Armagedo mare that will be hard to beat later. I also saw a very interesting colt (one week old) that is an inbreeding to mare, Yauba, carrying the lines of Cuentas Claras, Don Toqui, and Batalla, plus Labriego. Both stallions, Armagedon and Alazan de Plebeyo are producing well.
I saw another Alazan de Plebeyo filly at Tito Toro's place that is also very interesting. He is definitely upgrading the mares in conformation. I rode another Armagedon filly at Tito's that is very powerful and great conformation again. Armagedon is producing excellent brios, conformation, size and power. My only criticism is the lack of refinement in the gait. Too much power to execute the precision I like to see. That is Don Cholito and Poema's specialty. The music and softness belongs to Poema.
I rode another Zaphiro de Kristal daughter at a young man's farm, whom I can't remember his last name. Christopher had several Poema offspring that were showing the same gait execution and phenotype as Poema. The Zaphiro de Kristal daughter was different from the one at David Ramos place. She was very sweet, noble, solid in gait, soft and correct in every way. The Zaphiro daughter I saw at David's was more temperamental and powerful with less percision in her gaiting style. Christopher was a student of Vivian and I think he will do very well. I very impressed with his quiet, soft approach to handling the horses.
I met Linaje de Excelencia's owner and saw two young foals by Linaje that are showing promise. We didn't stay long but we did get to see a demonstration of America del Norte, a Bellas Formas champion mare. Definitely in the same category as Farola.
Last we visited Controversia de Labriego. To me this horse is very exciting pheontypically and genetically. He as a refinement in his gait expression, quickness, and execution that is tremedous. Where Poema excels in the rhythm, Armagedon in power/conformation, Controversia is the refinement. Every Controversia offspring I saw I liked allot.
Christopher showed us a Controversia filly he is training that is outstanding. David Lang said the last horse he saw like Controversia was Siboney el Brujo. Interesting both have the same temperament, intolerant and unforgiving, and similar bloodlines. Siboney is Kofresi X Galana. Controversia is an inbreeding of Cialito (Kofresi X Galanita) and
Kofrega (Kofresi X Galanita). http://www.tesiopower.com/pf/fourgen.aspx?hID=55412 Pepe Lopez told me that Kofrega was known for her bad temper and Controversia has her temper. Depending on the mare, Controversia will influence the offspring with both his refinement and temper.
There were a few more horses that I've forgotten to list but will check my notes and try to add them later.
For the practical aspects of the trip we had no serious problems. We got "lost" on the way to the hotel, because it was late by the time we left Vivian's and passed the hotel going into Isabela. It took us a while to find it but the directions were exact and the hotel really easy to find once we realized our mistakes. Flying Spirit Air was impressive. On time and professional. Yes, you are one of many sardines, but for the price, I'm not complaining. Easy car rental, easy roads to follow from San Juan to Isabela. Found a food co-op for groceries and good restaurants. I was treated to a delicacy I can't find often, octopus salad and it was delicious!
Unfortunately we ran out of time before we could see all the horses I wanted to find. Still on the list are
Fiel Diseno
Puro d'Aqui
Turan de Espectacular
Linaje de Excelencia
and many others that have rare lineage.
I hope to repeat the trip later in the year, so I invite anyone to join me. BarbT and I had a great time!
You know you've got it bad when you stop to look at horses on the way to the hotel....We stopped again at Vivian Feliciano's place, owner of Poema de Altura. I got to ride Don Cholito and our very own Rafael Arbelo's filly in training.
We stayed at the Pelican Reef Apartments right on Jobo Beach where us Ramey AF folks would ride down to for the day. It was right on the beach and we got to see the surfers having fun every morning. BarbT took pics with her camera and we'll have to wait until she is home to download. The apartment we stayed at was really, nice. People were great and VERY easy to get to from the San Juan airport.
I took BarbT through Ramey and showed her where we kept our horses and our riding trails.
I met David Lang, he is an encyclopedia of information. His book, which I've still only seen previews of is a masterpiece of photos and information. It is coffee table quality. He has information about both PR and COL horses in PR and DR, tracing even Joyero in DR, finding an old PPR line, Copita II/Dije in DR, etc. David forgets more than I'll ever know about these horses. We visited David Valle's place to see David Lang's Farola (pic posted here), a champion Bellas Formas mare and a filly that is an inbreeding to Lord de Soberano. The filly is by Lord out of Farola, a daughter of Lord. The filly is truly fantastic. Some are suggesting the Lord X Plebeyo is nicking extremely well. There are several offspring of this cross that are promising.
I also met the wonderful Juan Villanueva who was president of the Federation in PR. A great man and very dedicated to PPRs. He told me of an elderly man that new Dulce Sueno's trainer and is still using the techniques since that time. I hope to meet this man before it's too late. Apparently the techniques leave no marks like the "traditional" methods (what an abuse of the word "tradition") and the horses respond well. It was an honor to talk to such a great man.
Let's see, we met David Ramos, owner of a Campanero son, Magico G, and rode a fantastic filly by Zaphiro de Kristal. I also rode a few COL/PR mixes that were very good.
I went to see Pepe (Pepito) Lopez's horses again. Armagedon cannot be beat in conformation in my opinion. I wish I could find that here in the USA. I rode a filly that is by Controversia de Labriego out of an Armagedo mare that will be hard to beat later. I also saw a very interesting colt (one week old) that is an inbreeding to mare, Yauba, carrying the lines of Cuentas Claras, Don Toqui, and Batalla, plus Labriego. Both stallions, Armagedon and Alazan de Plebeyo are producing well.
I saw another Alazan de Plebeyo filly at Tito Toro's place that is also very interesting. He is definitely upgrading the mares in conformation. I rode another Armagedon filly at Tito's that is very powerful and great conformation again. Armagedon is producing excellent brios, conformation, size and power. My only criticism is the lack of refinement in the gait. Too much power to execute the precision I like to see. That is Don Cholito and Poema's specialty. The music and softness belongs to Poema.
I rode another Zaphiro de Kristal daughter at a young man's farm, whom I can't remember his last name. Christopher had several Poema offspring that were showing the same gait execution and phenotype as Poema. The Zaphiro de Kristal daughter was different from the one at David Ramos place. She was very sweet, noble, solid in gait, soft and correct in every way. The Zaphiro daughter I saw at David's was more temperamental and powerful with less percision in her gaiting style. Christopher was a student of Vivian and I think he will do very well. I very impressed with his quiet, soft approach to handling the horses.
I met Linaje de Excelencia's owner and saw two young foals by Linaje that are showing promise. We didn't stay long but we did get to see a demonstration of America del Norte, a Bellas Formas champion mare. Definitely in the same category as Farola.
Last we visited Controversia de Labriego. To me this horse is very exciting pheontypically and genetically. He as a refinement in his gait expression, quickness, and execution that is tremedous. Where Poema excels in the rhythm, Armagedon in power/conformation, Controversia is the refinement. Every Controversia offspring I saw I liked allot.
Christopher showed us a Controversia filly he is training that is outstanding. David Lang said the last horse he saw like Controversia was Siboney el Brujo. Interesting both have the same temperament, intolerant and unforgiving, and similar bloodlines. Siboney is Kofresi X Galana. Controversia is an inbreeding of Cialito (Kofresi X Galanita) and
Kofrega (Kofresi X Galanita). http://www.tesiopower.com/pf/fourgen.aspx?hID=55412 Pepe Lopez told me that Kofrega was known for her bad temper and Controversia has her temper. Depending on the mare, Controversia will influence the offspring with both his refinement and temper.
There were a few more horses that I've forgotten to list but will check my notes and try to add them later.
For the practical aspects of the trip we had no serious problems. We got "lost" on the way to the hotel, because it was late by the time we left Vivian's and passed the hotel going into Isabela. It took us a while to find it but the directions were exact and the hotel really easy to find once we realized our mistakes. Flying Spirit Air was impressive. On time and professional. Yes, you are one of many sardines, but for the price, I'm not complaining. Easy car rental, easy roads to follow from San Juan to Isabela. Found a food co-op for groceries and good restaurants. I was treated to a delicacy I can't find often, octopus salad and it was delicious!
Unfortunately we ran out of time before we could see all the horses I wanted to find. Still on the list are
Fiel Diseno
Puro d'Aqui
Turan de Espectacular
Linaje de Excelencia
and many others that have rare lineage.
I hope to repeat the trip later in the year, so I invite anyone to join me. BarbT and I had a great time!