Violet's Birthday!

This morning I woke up and made headbobbers -- molasses, oats, carrots and apples from the Farmers Market, baked into a wonderful yummy horse treat! Then I went to the stable and groomed both my girls, lunged them, gossiped about the day. And Violet did her jumping today. She had three jumps including one made of straw bales. She was so disconcerted by the straw bales! But she was a brave, trying, bold girl. She loves a challenge and to learn and to please! I was so proud of her. And she was proud of herself. You should have heard her snort with relief and joy when she was done with her jumping. She stood their with happiness while she received her hugs and kisses. You would have thought she had just finished a double clean round at the stadium jumping day at Rolex! She's going to be a wonderful quiet lovely hunter!

And we also sang Violet happy birthday because tomorrow is her big day! She was born on International Women's Day! She is going to be 5 years old! She was born on March 8, 2003 to her parents Groomstick and Wining Effort by Two's a Plenty. I am so proud to own this wonderful, strong, athletic, sweet, smart thoroughbred. So glad to have her as part of my family. I pray that I am able to keep her and care for her all the days of her life. Namaste and love to Velvet Tenderness.

Three Fingers and My Girls!

Three Fingers was a 1960 filly who was a successful racer. Her final record was 28: 5-2-3 with earnings of $19,725. Her breeder was James P. Headley and she ultimately had 12 foals, 7 colts and 5 fillies. She was the dam of 3 stakeswinners, and 1 additional stakes-placing foal out of these 12 -- an impressive record. Her sires were Beau Gar (2), Tumiga (4), Native Charger, Troon Road, Jacinto, Third Martini, Water Prince and Warfare.

In Violet's family she has the Third Martini baby, Three Martinis. Three Martinis was Three Fingers' most successful foal. He earned $195,501 before serving as the father of Violet's broodmare sire, Two's A Plenty.

Sweet Three Fingers is rich in Blue Hens. Just within her most immediate generations, she has Ace Card, Furlough, Sweetheart, and Mahubah. And, of course, there is the spectacular good fortune of having Count Fleet and War Admiral as your grandpas, with Count Fleet producing your Belmont-stakes winning dad, One Count through 1952 Kentucky broodmare of the year, Ace Card and then War Admiral producing your mom through a Teddy kid! Pretty smashing little family tree!

Wining Effort and My Girls!

Violet's dam was a 1997 racehorse named Wining Effort who had a dosage index of 5 and career earnings of $10,672! Her own parents are Two's A Plenty and Right Effort by Rajab. Her dad earned $282,183 and Rajab earned $75,600, and his own dad, Jaipur earned over $618,000! So, Violet is well-connected to racehorses on her mama's side.

In fact, if you look at her pedigree, you'd be super impressed. Wining Effort has Dark Star, the only horse to beat the 1953 Kentucky Derby winner, Native Dancer. And she has One Count, the Belmont Stakes winning kid and grandkid of Count Fleet and Reigh Count. And she has War Admiral, and the double whammy Count Fleet, War Admiral kid cross to create Three Fingers!. And she's got a dash of Jaipur, the horse who beat Ridan in one of the most amazing match races ever. And Wining Effort has a splash of Stymie, lucky girl!

So, my sweet, dancing, flirty, girly, smart Violet is rich in dam history!