Saxo Association

Retired and semi-retired horse and ponys

We like to share with others the story of our horses and ponies, and what makes them special.

Canaille

• Height: 1m40
• Colour: Chestnut
• Breed: Pony
• Birthdate: 2012
• Arrived at BF: 2017

Canaille came from an equestrian center across the Jura. Visibly his initial training was not as good as expected, as he has always been a complicated case. Katy was bought the same day from the same place. Canaille has learned to always be ready to defend himself, to always expect the worst. Years of patience including a long break didn’t help him to become a suitable riding school pony. He also started showing signs of discomfort in his front feet, including suspicion of laminitis. We took the decision to stop asking him things he could not do. Canaille has now retired and lives with the oldies. 

What’s special ?

Canaille developed a special and lovely attachment to his favorite rider Agathe, who worked a lot with him. He was more comfortable with just one person, as some are. But his on and off lameness when being ridden had to be taken into account. He does however cause quite a lot of chaos as his older friends don’t really always feel like playing around as much as he does. He’s a bit the cheeky boy in the classroom who always needs keeping an eye on!

Snow

• Height: 1m10
• Colour : Grey
• Breed : Shetland
• Birthdate : 1999
• Arrived at BF : 25.11.2015

Snow has been just a perfect gentleman shetland pony!  He came from a family I know well, who trusted us with him when the daughters grew older. He has always had a calm, well behaved, gentle personality, looking after his little riders as well as possible, be it on the ground or on his back. He has stayed at the farm for his retirement as most shetlands do. He doesn’t escape from fields, he never misbehaves. Other than his size, he doesn’t really resemble the average shetland pony!

What’s special ?

Other than his exceptional character, Snow has the most loyal friendship with his very best friend Christmas, also a grey shetland. They also had little Billy (mostly gray with some brown patches) in their trio until he passed away. They are so close that one never sees one without the other. Our photos can look like one body with 2 heads (!) and in the field there’s often not even space to walk between them! 

Chocapic des Solans

• Height: 1m09
• Colour: Noir
• Breed : Shetland
• Birthdate : 1997
• Arrived at BF : 2006

Chocapic was Clarissa’s first jumping pony! I had spotted him at the French Championships, originally for another rider. I saw his previous owner putting up the add, and I took the number and called immediately. His palmares was just extraordinary. I’d also seen another Shetland, Romeo, so we agreed to try them both. Chocapic was ultra fast, and the rider felt more comfortable on Romeo, who she bought. Clarissa was with us, and I could see the look on her face when she saw this incredible Shetland. I offered her to try him, because I knew I’d never see another one like him. I had absolutely no plans to do so, but I couldn’t pass on such an opportunity. Clarissa & Heloise returned to Belle Ferme with Chocapic and Romeo, the start of a great equestrian journey for both of them! Chocapic went on to delight Heloise, Madison, Laura (Qurdjam & Ronaldo), Zazaia and Livia and taught many little riders afterwards.

What’s special ?

Chocapic won the Gold medal at the French A2 Championship (shetlands) with Clarissa. At the time, they had to do a first day, then a second. Then two courses for the top 25 and for the clear rounds there was a jump-off!  The weather was very hot, and Delphine had clipped Chocapic, leaving a lightning bolt on his croup! The other kids watched him go by and were convinced he’d be on the podium! He was also a cross-country pony and knew how to do flying changes!  A very big pony, despite his small size! Now retired, he still wonders around Belle Ferme.

.

Christmas

• Height: 1m05
• Colour: Grey
• Breed: Shetland 
• Birthdate : 1996
• Arrived at BF : 2002

Christmas was 8 years old when she arrived. We didn’t know what to expect, but we soon discovered a kind, lovely gentle ideal riding school pony. She fitted in just fine with the others, and quickly learned her job with our little riders. Great at giving them confidence, super kind when they were on the ground near her, she never took a step wrong. Christmas later met her best friends Snow and Billy, who became an inseparable trio. 

What’s special ? 

A little gray shetland was led down the path to Belle Ferme on a snowy evening a few days before Christmas. An unforgettable Christmas magical moment for Angela, Lyn & Clarissa (4 years old!) waiting to welcome her with carrots. She had actually been abandoned in a nearby village by a family who had bought her and then moved away. She had been left loose in the village! A farmer took her in and put her in a field with his cows. This was fine until winter time when he had to put the cows inside. So he loaded Christmas in the back of his vehicle and drove her to SOS Animaux. They on the one hand welcomed her, but quickly realised they had no idea what to do with her, as they usually manage cats and dogs. So they phoned us and asked if we could adopt her! Without hesitation we took her in not knowing what to expect. We started by naming her Christmas!

Tresor

• Height: 1m48
• Colour : Gris
• Breed: pony
• Birthdate : 2007
• Arrived at BF : 2012

Trésor came from a stables near Dijon. We went initially to buy Herbie, and took the opportunity to look at some others at the same time. Trésor had his own ideas about what work to do and when. He also expected to be asked everything very politely, and if this wasn’t the case he would immediately let the rider know, often by helping them dismount immediately! He did, however, have his favorite people, and with them everything went well and he would behave perfectly well!

What’s special ?

Among his most impressive moves,I believe Trésor is most probably the only pony to have ever dumped his rider on the floor during an extended walk diagonal in a dressage test! To give him some credit, he did also compete a few seasons on the national pony jumping circuit. He was actually adopted for a year by Emmeline who spent lots of time and patience learning with him. When she started competing outside of home on a new pony, the time she spent with the not so easy Trésor paid off, as she became French Champion in jumping the following year on Lorenzo!

Zenator (Zesty)

• Height : 1m71
• Colour : Bay
• Breed : Hanoverian
• Birthdate : 30.01.2002 
• Arrived at BF : 2007

Zesty was bought by Lyn at the age of 4 while training dressage in Germany. After several months of traveling there to train with him, he was brought home to Belle Ferme at the age of 5. Lyn continued with his training and competed successfully with him up to Prix St George level. Zesty was an expert at flying changes! As he got older, so as not to ask too much of him, he was ridden and cared for by upcoming riders who could learn lots from him, although not always easy as he had many more “buttons” than a riding school horse! Great for learning to be a quiet,  still and careful rider!

What’s special ?

At the age of six Zesty had a severe colic, for which he was taken to the veterinary clinic and operated on. Lyn went to visit him and spent time with him every day, and thanks to a great team, he recovered well. Going from almost losing him to getting a nice 65% during a national class at the Vidauban International Dressage Show with 5 top class judges was a real highlight of his success. 

Don Bencedor von Het Lisperhof (Ben)

• Height: 1m77
• Colour : Dark Bay
• Race : Hanovarien
• Birthdate : 2001
• Arrived at BF : 2011

Ben was Clarissa’s dressage horse. Bought in Holland, he trained and competed with Clarissa in both Holland and France, participating in many preparation training sessions with the French national dressage team and many International dressage shows both in France and abroad. He was a very genuine honest horse to ride, but a huge horse with the most incredible walk and canter which could be quite a challenge to collet and keep him together! After his dressage career Ben became the perfect school master for some of our riders; Tessa M learned loads from him including going out to amateur level shows, Victoria then took him on to learn all the dressage movements up to two time flying changes, half passes, all except canter priouettes which were by then to much to ask of him.  His pre-retirement is in the hands of Yann who is not up to asking nearly so much, but has built an amazing relationship with Ben. He’s learnt to care for him, gently lunge him and ride him respecting what he can do.

What’s special ?

Ben and Clarissa became French Junior Dressage Champions and participated for France in the European Championships in Spain in 2016. As much as he was an amazing dressage horse, Ben has always been the most affectionate horse there is. He reaches out as far as his long neck will take him (which is most of the way across the corridor of his stable!) to say hello to anyone walking past. To his favorite people he will give endless hugs where he puts his head over one’s shoulder and holds on very tightly to his person, also expecting an equally nice hug in return! 

Balinalee Blaze (Paddy)

• Height: 165
• Colour : Piebald
• Breed: Irish Cob
• Birthdate : 2002
• Arrived at BF : 2008

Paddy was bought in Normandy on the way to pick up another horse, Olympic. We met him by chance. We met him by chance, and his big, beautiful size made him an ideal horse for everyone. In fact, he was bought for and by Attila, who liked to ride him around the farm and on walks. Paddy was also used as a school horse and proved to be a powerful jumping horse, even winning the Christmas ‘power’ (high jump) one year!

What’s special?
Paddy was very energetic and very enterprising for a horse of his size and shape! He looked like a big teddy bear, but he was still afraid of anything that wasn’t quite what he thought it was!

Nachamaja (Nasha)

• Height: 1m60
• Colour: Bay
• Breed: Trotter
• Birthdate : 2001
• Arrived at BF : 2007

Nacha has been a super lovely riding school horse. Being a trotter, she always found cantering a little less easy, yet always did her best to try. She was an extremely sensitive mare and very forward going. She was also ever so comfortable to ride. She would be great for everyone, doing her job as a riding school horse and also competing in jumping competitions with super results. She spent some years in the hands of Patrick who took great care of her, and later under the care of Rebecca, who took her on as a semi-retired horse and did lots of ground work and gentle riding until she fully retired. 

What’s special ?

Nacha was sold to me after she had been used as a surrogate mare. She therefore hadn’t worked much, but her lovely character made it easy to train her and give her a new life with us. With the work Rebecca did on the gound, she featured in some very special Belle Ferme Christmas videos!

Ofalik (Olympique)

• Height: 162
• Colour : Dark bay
• Breed: Selle Français
• Birthdate : 01.06.2002
• Arrived at BF: 20.10.08

Olympic came from Normandy, where we drove specially to fetch him! He was destined to be an eventing horse, but didn’t have the quality his rider was looking for, so he was put up for sale. He has really given Belle Ferme many years of good and  loyal service! Always there, never causing trouble and doing his work as best he could. On our journey to fetch him, I saw an ad that interested me on the way for a big Irish Cob for sale. I stopped en route and tired him too.. It was Paddy! They both traveled the long journey home from Normandy together. Today, out in their retirement field, they are inseparable! 

What’s special?

For such a giving, kind, no nonsense horse, Olympic never really got to have his own “favorite person”. Rarely taken on Half Loan, although he would teach beginners as well as advanced levels, no one really became attached to him. Hoping it’s never too late, perhaps he could have some extra support for him now through Saxo, just to help him have the retirement he really deserves. Special Olympic Donations welcome;)

Limmerick Light (Rick)

Height: 167
Colour: Bay
Breed: Irish sport horse
Birthdate : 2003
Arrived at BF : 2016

Rick was bought in the UK and came to us in September of 2016. He was a ball of power and energy, full of bounce but he never misbehaved. With us he was ridden in both dressage and jumping, and enjoyed a fun canter around the fields over our small cross country jumps. He was great for the  higher levels to learn from.  For his past few years of work he was in full care of Daria and Elena, who learned lots from him and slowly wound down his work to bring him to his well deserved retirement. 

What’s special ?

He was actually an amazing 3 day event horse who had competed internationally. The photos and videos of him were stunning, and we were never disappointed by him. A big thank you to his favorite humans Daria and Elena who care for him as much after his retirement as they did before!

Da Luna

• Height: 168 cm
• Colour: Chestnut
• Breed: Hanovarien
• Birthdate: 2002
• Arrived at BF: 2005

Da Luna was bought at an auction in Germany as a 3-year-old dressage mare. She had won many prizes as a youngster, including the young horse finals at Saumur at the age of four. Unfortunately, even at this young age, she began to show signs of weakness, and was diagnosed with various problems in her front feet and spine. She was put out to pasture for a year and had a foal, named Floresca, with the well-known dressage stallion Florencio. She was put back to work after this break with extra care and help with her shoeing and back, and her work was adjusted according to what she felt comfortable doing. At the age of sixteen, Luna was retired, and now enjoys life with her herd in a field near Belle Ferme.

Feugo

• Height: 160 cm
• Colour: Grey
• Breed: Selle français
• Birthdate: 1993
• Arrived at BF: 1993

Qurdjam Champtressac (Kiki)

• Height: 131 cm
• Colour : Gris
• Breed: Welsh
• Birthdate: 2004
• Arrived at BF: 2010

Qurdjam was originally Clarissa’s pony, purchased in the Bordeaux area, where he had been trained as an eventing pony. Making the most of everything they could do together, they competed in dressage, show jumping and eventing, sometimes travelling as far as Avignon and the Paris region to compete. When Clarissa grew up, we had the confidence (a rare thing for us!) to sell him to Paula for her daughter Laura, who also competed a lot with him, including the French Championships several times. With Laura also growing up, Paula kindly kept him with us, and he has been passed on to several other little riders, giving them all a great base to carry on from.

What’s special?

He became French Dressage Champion with one of his young riders, Valentine. He couldn’t bear to be clean and presentable, so would take the first opportunity to escape from his stall – once, all braided up and sparkling clean, he was about to perform his dressage test at a show – he trotted straight out to find a mud puddle and happily dropped into it to roll around, with the saddle and lovely white rug on his back! A good laugh years later, but a bit of a panic at the time!

Thé Vert

• Height: 170cm
• Colour: Bai
• Breed: Selle Français
• Birthdate : 02.05.07
• Arrived at BF : 28.04.21

The Vert was advertised for sale very near us. He’d been out in a field not doing much, but once we had spoken to some people who had previously ridden him, we decided to buy him. He was a great size to have as we needed some bigger horses, and his papers – pedigree was impressive. The Vert was a great show jumping horse, much appreciated by some of our young enthusiastic riders.

What’s special? 

Well his character and behavior was rather special! Absolutely lovely to have around, easy to manage, care for etc. Ridden however, he could be fine and work well for a long time. He could also suddenly jump up in the air and with the strength he had, it was quite complicated to stay on board..! He could do this in the canter, but he could also do it at the end of a ride whilst walking around with long reins. Having had him checked by vets and osteopaths without finding any obvious cause, we decided for safety reasons to retire him a little earlier than planned, as he was visibly not comfortable.

Regent

• Height: 164cm
• Colour : Bay
• Breed : Selle Francais
• Birthdate : 2005
• Arrived at BF: 28.04.21

Regent comes from a neighboring stable. Not ideal for beginners, but we also need horses for higher levels. A little reluctance because he was blind in one eye, but experience has shown me that this is not a problem for the horse. He was a great riding school horse and very good at jumping. Unfortunately, perhaps a little too good and therefore a lot was asked from him.  In the short time we had him with us, his hocks couldn’t take the work. As his age was also advancing, we decided to retire him and let him enjoy life.

What’s special ?

Well, one thing he didn’t accept at all (and he was absolutely right!) was a saddle that didn’t fit his back and morphology. It was quite an art to find the perfect saddle for him, otherwise he’d let us know very quickly! 

Killasolan Star (Kili)

• Height: 1m49
• Colour: Skewbald
• Breed: Irish Sport Pony
• Birthdate : 2006
• Arrived at BF : 2014

I saw an advert with Killi’s photo on the back of a crate at the French Championships in July. I immediately liked her movements and her power over jumps. As I had a young rider who was looking for a pony, we went to try him out. Once again, I was impressed by her power and strength, but also by his speed and agility for such a stocky pony. However, the young rider felt a bit overwhelmed by Killi, and we left it at that, but Killi stayed in my mind. It wasn’t until the following January that I received a call from her owner saying that she still hadn’t sold her and that the price had dropped considerably. I decided to buy it and I’ve never looked back!

What’s special?

Killi has become Clarissa’s jumping pony. Of course, she had a lot of training in dressage, but she became a real star on the showgrounds! She was then passed on to other riders, and even sold to Natalie (which we almost never do), on the condition that we would buy her back if she ever had to sell her. I’m grateful to Natalie and her mum for keeping their word, as we bought Killi back a few years later. She also jumped successfully with Tessa and finally with Anaïs before retiring. She was a very endearing mare, who made faces at everyone, including herself, in the mirrors of the riding arena! 

Neptune du Janlie

• Height: 142
• Colour : Chestnut
• Breed : Poney
• Birthdate : 2001
• Arrived at BF : 2009

What an incredible pony! Neptune was an excellent show pony bought from friends who strongly recommended him to me. At the time, he represented quite a high budget compared with what I usually spent on a club pony, but his kindness, his results in competition and his ideal age encouraged me to buy him. No regrets, he has always been the ideal club pony, an absolutely risk-free mount for beginners, and could also do the most advanced levels and win the competitions he was entered in!

What’s special?

I can say that he was worth his weight in gold! I don’t remember ever needing veterinary care for him, apart from the usual needs. I can’t remember anyone ever falling off him, and he made it all the way to the prize-giving ceremony at the French Pony Championships in a team show-jumping event! A big thank you to this adorable pony who has brought so much to Belle Ferme!