CHERRY CREEK CANADIANS

Standing at stud:

Cherry Creek Fonzie Merit
Reg # [CAN]9539


Merit - Fall of 2012
 


2008 Champion Stallion - Pacific Canadian Horse Show
 


Official dressage debut - 2008 Salmon Arm Dressage Show
Won both a first and second place on his first time out!

NEW! Spring 2013 update
Merit had a very busy and action filled year in 2012. He went to no less than 4 different dressage shows and did very well at each, with scores ranging through the 60's with a high of 67.6. He finished last year's dressage season at First level test three and capped up our successful show year by winning his final class of the year at that level.
Not only did Merit go to various shows and clinics through last year, he also went to no less than 3 different riding camps, all of which he was stabled and ridden in the midst of numerous other horses (mares included). He was an exemplary gentleman at each. All in all we had an amazing year!
We have already started off 2013 with a bang. with Merit already being boarded out at Copper Hills Equestrian center, where again he is stabled amongst the other horses there, no muss, no fuss, just like a "regular guy". We have already embarked upon having weekly dressage lessons with level III coach Jody Sloper and are looking forward to a very fun and exciting year of moving up to second level dressage in 2013!


Spring 2012
The following You Tube video was taken at a Dale Irwin dressage clinic in the fall of 2011. In it we were just starting to work on higher level lateral movements such as shoulder in and half pass. Since that time, and as of spring 2012 Merit became my (Yvonne's) primary riding horse. I have weekly dressage lessons with him, he does ring work and goes out for trail rides with the other horses, all with absolutely no fuss and bother. He is a dream to ride, with tremendous work ethic. My coaches feel that with his strength and balance he will have the aptitude to do even higher level dressage movements requiring lots of strength and balance (such as piaffe and passage). Not sure if I will be able to be the one to take him that far, but it is sure going to be fun to try!

Merit - fall 2011 Dale Irwin Dressage clinic

See YouTube videos of Merit competing at his very first dressage show in the fall of 2008. He was a bit rushed and heavy on the forehand however given that this was one of his first "official" outings ever, I think that this could be forgiven!

Merit - Training Level Test 1        Merit - Training Level Test 2



Merit Information

Our junior stallion "Merit" is a son of  Fonzie (Henryville line), is out of La Gorgendiere Barreau Nadine, a mare who was sired by L.G. Barreau, a very rare branch of the the Royal bloodline. Nadine was born at the government breeding program at Deschambault, and was one of the highest selling fillies at the final dispersal sale of this government farm in 1981.   Sadly, we lost Nadine to old age related complications, only 3 months after Merit was foaled.  This mare/sire combination has resulted in Merit having an unusual mixture of very rare bloodlines, with Merit being the last of his dam's line.

 

Cherry Creek Fonzie Merit
Reg # [CAN]9539

Sire: # 6860 South Forty Prince Fonzie
Dam: #4493 La Gorgendiere Barreau Nadine

Merit's Pedigree

Black, no white hairs. 2002 stallion, 15.1 hh

Merit is from the rare Henryville and Barreau Royal bloodlines

Breeding information







Merit not only looks good on paper with his rare bloodlines.    We have been advised by several different judges and coaches that he is the best horse that we have ever bred, and that his conformation is exceptional. 

Although definitely masculine looking, he has a truly lovely and very classic looking head.










Merit has done well at both Canadian and open horse shows.  Even though only three at the time, Merit won Reserve Champion in the Canadian Horse stallion class (against much more mature stallions than himself) at the 2005 Pacific Canadian Horse Show held in Maple Ridge. 

We took a hiatus from showing Merit in 2006, to allow him to settle into his breeding career.

Yvonne & Merit at the 2008 Pacific Canadian Horse Show

In 2007, Merit went back to work again, and had quite a busy year.  He started in his training in January, and went to several different dressage clinics throughout the spring.   He had a couple months off during the breeding season, and started back to work later in the summer. 

Show wise, in 2007 Merit did very well at the Interior Provincial Exhibition, winning both his stallion class, as well as the champion Canadian Horse male award.   











Merit had a very good year in 2008.  He won Champion Stallion at the Pacific Canadian Horse Show.  He also made his "official" dressage debut at the Salmon Arm Dressage Show where he won a second in his very first dressage test, and a first place in his second test. To view these tests, click on the YouTube video links above.








Merit very happily goes out on trail rides with our mares, and not only is he well behaved around them, he is the most impressively bold and unspooky horse that we have ridden out.  He is forward, brave, well balanced, and most importantly, absolutely nothing fazes him!





The photo at right was taken at a conformation clinic held at the 2005 Interior BC Canadian Horse Show, where Merit was used as a conformation demonstration horse.  Despite being in the midst of many horses and people, with everyone looking at him from every angle, poking and prodding him, lifting his feet etc, he remained totally unfazed.  Not bad for a three year old stallion surrounded by pretty equine "girls" in all directions!






Merit's first foals have hit the ground, and we are very pleased with the outcome (see photo of Cherry Creek Merit Rocco at left).  They have their dad's very friendly, kind and quiet disposition, as well as good conformation and movement.  

Despite his busy role as an active breeding stallion, Merit remains very polite and attentive throughout the year, has an excellent work ethic, and truly is a pleasure to work with.

As with our other stallions, Merit has been trained for AI, and has frozen semen in storage as well. For more information on breeding to Merit, please click on our breeding info link below.

 

Show Results:

2011 & 2012 Dressage shows
Placings primarily ranging from firsts to thirds and scores in the low to upper 60's doing training level tests 2&3 and culminating with First level test three with scores ranging 60-63% and placings from first to fourth.


2008 Pacific Canadian Horse Show

1st place - Canadian Horse Stallion, 5 years & older

Pacific Show Champion Stallion

2nd Place - Showmanship Stallions & Geldings

1st place - Walk / trot English Pleasure
 


2008 Interior Provincial Exhibition

2nd place - Canadian Horse Stallion, 3 yrs & older

Reserve Champion - Canadian Horse male

4th place - Male Sport Horse type, 14.3 hh and over
 


2008 Salmon Arm Dressage Show


2nd place - Training level Test 1

1st Place Training Level Test 2

 

2007 Show Results:

2007 Interior Provincial Exhibition

 

1st place - Canadian Horse Stallion, 3 yrs & older

Champion - Canadian Horse male

2nd place - Male Sport Horse type, 14.3 hh and over

 

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Updated February 3, 2013

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