Filly from the Fires!

Amanda (right) with mare Ellie and their pride and joy, Elaina.  Larry Greetham, owner of Piplyn Lodge where Elaina was foaled, helps out during halter training and a weighing session.  Amanda claims that Larry provides the best service with foaling down and caring for foals

In 2009, Amanda MacKinnell was considering breeding her dark chestnut Arabian x Warmblood mare, Yalandra Elusive to the palomino Warmblood stallion Jaybee Excellent. So when she saw that he was included in the Stallion Service Auction being run to raise funds for fire and flood victims of that year, she didn’t hesitate to join in the bidding!

 “I jumped at the chance to bid for Excellent, or Mr B as his fans know him.  There was a lot of speculation on the horsy forums as the bids came in, especially during the closing stages which was a great part of the fun!” Both Elusive and Excellent represent classic Australian bloodlines with names such as Leonardo 68, Domherr and Close Encounters featuring in their pedigrees.

After winning the service to Jaybee Excellent, the next step was arranging transport for Elusive from Canberra to Cobargo.  “Ellie is a sensitive girl,” notes Amanda, “I had to duck away from work to meet the truck and stupidly wasn’t wearing boots. When the hydraulic ramp came down, Ellie’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head and she decided the safest place to be was on my right foot! I was limping for weeks!”  Amanda has nothing but praise for the care that Jenny and Paul of Karizmah Performance Palominos provided for Ellie, pointing to the outstanding condition the mare came home in and their ongoing interest in the fantastic result.

In September 2010, as a wonderful outcome to purchasing a service via the 2009 Stallion Service Auction, Amanda welcomed into the world her gorgeous palomino Arabian Warmblood filly, Elaina. “One of the best parts about Elaina being born has been contacting Ellie’s breeders to let them know where their girl had ended up, and that she is now a very proud Mum.  Elaina has that fairytale quality – simply beautiful doe shaped eyes and is everything I could have asked for. “  Amanda also notes that Bev Edwards of Jaybee Farm (and breeder of Excellent) and Jenny Stock have commented on how much Elaina resembles both her sire’s, grandsire –Jaybee Leuwin (now owned by Kirsty Ewens and one of the stallions included in the 2011 Stallion Auction) and especially her granddam – Lawes Elegant, having inherited the family’s trademark white blaze.  Amanda is looking forward to exhibiting Elaina this year, even though she has her hands full with her divine three year old buckskin Arabian Warmblood colt Aston, who also comes from Jaybee breeding!

Like the other successful bidders and proud foal owners from the 2009 Auction, Amanda stresses the invaluable nature of such auctions and recommends mare owners seize the opportunity to bid in the current Stallion Auction.   Pointing to the sheer number of people affected by the recent flooding in Queensland, NSW and Victoria as well the bushfires in Western Australia, Amanda notes that purchasing a service through the online stallion auction reinforces the sense of community between Australian horse owners, nationwide.