Merit - Fall of 2012
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
Sire: # 6860 South Forty Prince Fonzie
Merit's
Pedigree
Black, no white hairs. 2002 stallion,
15.1 hh
Merit is from the rare Henryville and Barreau Royal bloodlines
Although definitely
masculine looking, he has a truly lovely and very classic looking head. We took a hiatus from
showing Merit in 2006, to allow him to settle into his breeding career. 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.
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.
Reg # [CAN]9539
Dam: #4493 La Gorgendiere Barreau Nadine
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.
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.
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.
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.
|
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. |
|
Pacific Show Champion Stallion 2nd Place - Showmanship Stallions & Geldings
1st place - Walk / trot English Pleasure |
|
Reserve Champion - Canadian Horse male
4th place - Male Sport Horse type, 14.3 hh and over |
|
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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