Just to set the record straight...

The horse industry is an interesting place! Through the extensive network of horse breeding, raising, training and competition in the 50+ years we have made many friends. Along with having made so many good friends there are a few people that seem to feel the need to spread gossip and ill feeling towards us personally, Watermark Farm and our horses.

So to lay some of the current rumors to rest-
1. No, we are not going out of business and getting out of horses entirely.
2. No, we are not selling all of our stock. (currently there are some good deals to be had though on some of the riding horses and young stock)
3. No, we are not bankrupt and/or in dire straits.
4. Yes, Anne did have shoulder surgery in December and is progressing nicely in her rehab & physical therapy.
5. Yes, Ellie was in a car accident in November and is still not able to ride but sees the specialist in early March and is hoping to be back competing by early May. (at the latest)
6. Yes, Bill is doing fine and looking forward to the spring like weather we are due to have over the weekend.

If anyone is curious as to the current status on a horse, individual person or the state of the farm in general – be a dear and contact us directly.
Anne@watermark-farm.net
Bill@watermark-farm.net
Ellie@watermark-farm.net

So now that that bit of unpleasantness is out of the way, onto more important things!

Good luck to our other four legged friends!

Westminster Dog Show is in full force today! Good luck to our friends who are up in NYC enjoying their canine companions! There are results and day sheets available here if you would like to keep up with the current placings and have a ringside seat.

Special good luck wishes go out to our good friend and member of the WF family - Karin Roseman! Her Great Dane "Daisy" is going into Westminster ranked as the Top Female Great Dane in the COUNTRY!!!!!! Whooohooooo! Fingers crossed that the Diva struts her stuff and shows to the best advantage! Good luck to Karin, Zak and Ken as they are watching their girl show off what makes a Dane such a good dog! Daisy has a lovely webpage with a progression of photos that show off her loveliness from her puppy days to the current magnificent manifestation. :) Enjoy!

:)

Here is Daisy's breeder's website. Daisy's show name is Hladik's Jump Up and Kiss Me - so keep an eye out for her name in tomorrow's results!!! Good luck to the Roseman family, Hladik's Great Danes and all the competitors at Westminster!

How fitting! Our 350th post is a big Waldaire BRAG!

It is a special treat at the end of a cold wintery day to open a super positive note from a happy owner! This is the lovely note that I received earlier this evening and it has certainly brightened my day!

"This is Warrick- a Waldaire son out of a TB mare Happening Baby. He's coming 5 this spring and is the best guy ever! Roddy Strang had him for a few months and when I told him who his father was he told me id never have to worry about him bc he's had plenty of waldaire babies and they're all blessed with his great mind.
He's begun his showing career with me, an amateur, in the beginner hunters. Hes been Champion or Reserve every time out! Always in the top of the pack for the hack classes. We're schooling 2"6' with lead changes with great ease. His jump style is classic and we're so excited about his great athletic ability paired with his laid back personality. He will for sure make a top hunter.
Can't thank you enough for what a special guy he is! I've trained all my young ones myself and he's by far the most talented and most fun to ride. As soon as we get outside showing at the larger rated shows I'll be sure to forward you a better picture."

So it is with great joy I am sharing my pleasure with everyone! Another Waldaire out doing what he's supposed to - proving every ride is a joy and how talented they are too!

ETA: Trish is a good sport - she shared more photos of her special guy with us!

Thank you so very much for sharing your success Trish! Best of luck in the coming show season!

New purchasing opportunity!

If you have enjoyed Ellie's photography over the past few years - please take a moment and peruse the new Online Gallery! You can order everything from straight prints to coffee mugs, canvas prints and framed images!!! New images will be added daily as there is a decade's worth of photography to upload.

There have been recent instances of her work popping up on other people's sites, so if you are using an image, please be courteous and include a hyperlink back to either the Watermark Farm website or directly to SmugMug.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration! Happy Shopping!

A great start to the season!

Avebury WF and Ryan Wood (www.woodstockeventing.com) had a great start to their 2011 Eventing season! They had a super dressage test, clean show jumping and great cross country run to finish the day on their dressage score!! Congratulations Ryan!!!!

Photo links will be added shortly so we can all see the proofs...

Thanks to the staff of Red Oak Farm for all their hard work and to Ryan for doing such a wonderful job with our boy!!

Eventing Rocks!

The USEA (United States Eventing Association) is really on the ball! They have had online entries for several years - that store your horse/rider results and electronic signatures. Event Entries also has LIVE scoring for the competitions they accept entries from! No waiting days and days to see how a division turned out...like dressage. Now they have really stepped it up - the USEA now has all of their entry forms ONLINE!!! The system even stores your Coggins test, signatures...pretty much EVERYTHING! :) Color Watermark Farm happy to be able to avoid a special trip to the Post Office, all the wasted paper, ink...this is so much more efficient and secure!!!

When will the USDF get with the program????? *Rant Over*

So onto the real reason for mentioning how awesome the USEA is -

Live Scoring is up for Sporting Days Horse Trials! Avebury WF (our licensed stallion) is competing for the first time this season with Ryan Wood! Check the Open Training Division for how they're doing today!!

http://www.evententries.com/livescoring/index.php

HOY AWARDS!

Huge thanks go out to Dover Saddlery and Sox for Horses, Inc. for their generous support of the AWR Awards program!!! Our two eventing stars As You Wish WF and Avebury WF were Horse of the Year in their respective divisions! It is a real treat to open the mail and have lovely gifts and Award Certificates arrive in this slow time of year!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

Having sponsors for the Awards Program is fantastic and it helps to make the hard work, sweat and effort a distant memory - it was all worth it! :)

Thank you Dover Saddlery! Thank you Sox for Horses, Inc!

Winter snow photos!

We've had quite a bit of snow in the past few days but do to a changeover in our computer department the images can only be viewed via Facebook. If you have a chance and want to see our 17" of fluffy white stuff - click HERE!

Happy shoveling everyone!

Happy owner checks in!

Here is a snippet of feedback from Ryann who has had homebred Wyncote WF for just 4 days at Amazing Grace Stables in VA -

"Hi Watermark Family:) I just wanted to let you know that Cody has been wonderful! He is soooo spoiled. We love him so much:) I know he has an amazing future ahead of him, and I feel blessed to be a part of It! Thank you both and hope you are doing well:)"

Just what we like to hear! A happy owner with their happy horse!