Hilltop News
Two months can go by remarkably fast! Michael Bragdell took eight horses down for winter training and showing options in Florida this year and we can hardly believe their season is already done. We keep our time in Florida shorter to allow the stallions to come home for the start of breeding season. Special highlights of this winter show season included Iris Aberbach’s Boxster A (Bugatti-Weltbekannt) earning the FEI High-Score Award at Global Dressage 3, Mitch & Lara Mitchelson’s Faberge Blue (Contango-Democraat) move up to the Developing Prix St. Georges with consistent top placings, Hilltop’s Sternlicht (Soliman de Hus-Rascalino) earning all scores of 73-78% in his FEI 7-year old and Prix St. Georges classes, and Bvlgari’s (Bordeaux-Rohdiamant) win of the Fourth Level AA class at Global 6 with owner Beth Custalow. All four of these talented horses are US-bred too!
The other horses with Michael used the training time to prepare for their moves up later in the spring. All have left Florida early this morning and we’re anxious to get everyone safely home. Thank you to Lady Jean Ranch for sharing your beautiful facility with us, to Brookledge Horse Vans who we trust to take us to/from Florida each year, and to all the owners who took part in this Florida experience.
Stallion News
Hilltop Archives
Devon is one of our favorite shows and we always look forward to catching up with other breeders, owners, and friends at this historic show. A large group of horses joined us from Hilltop’s Raising Department and Devon Prep Program making this year’s Devon especially busy for Team Hilltop.
Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate 15 wonderful years at Hilltop Farm! Over 350 people attended this colorful afternoon celebration on Saturday, October 28. We so appreciate the rave reviews over our main event, the music-filled presentation of our stallion line-up and their offspring. We also appreciate everyone’s time, support, and good wishes. Friends and customers traveled as far as from Chicago, Kansas, and South Carolina to celebrate with us.
Hilltop Articles & Interviews
A Sport Horse Handler, whether at a show, inspection or exhibition, constantly strives for that 'magical moment' as he guides a horse in hand around the arena, often negotiating a large triangle formed from flower pots and jump poles. Together the two lift off and eat up the ground, matching stride for stride -- the horse seeming to float, to collect and extend on his own, all in perfect rhythm. The handler is as discreet as possible so that all attention focuses on the horse looking his best.
For many Warmblood enthusiasts, just the mention of the famous stallion Riverman is enough to send chills down their spines. The stunning grey Holsteiner, who currently stands at stud at Hilltop Farm in Colora, Maryland, was the Reserve Champion at his stallion licensing, and was a Verband stallion in Germany for the first part of his life.
