PINTADO DESPERADO

2009 Annual Stallion Expo

This was our first year attending the Cambridge Stallion Parade and we had an absolutely brilliant time. We will definitely be back next year!

It was a family affair with Kirsty organising, preparing and handling Desperado, while Charelle was in control of Desperado's stunning Parade day Turn-out. Debbi was camp-mum who cared for Desperado overnight as the girls were off kicking up their heels out & about in Auckland.

Desperado was settled and relaxed the entire day, and even slept stretched out on his side peacefully snoring the night before. We can always count on him to take it all in his stride - even when surrounded by 60 unfamiliar Stallions.

Unfortunately our sunny Spring day turned into showers, so by the afternoon and we were forced indoors. But the crowd stayed on in the warm & dry and even though we were one of the last Stallions of the day we were rapt to see so many spectators! 

Thank you to all who stopped by to chat!

We love nothing more than sharing our wonderful 'Rado with you.

Welcome to Edgewater Farm located in the Mamaku ranges north of Rotorua, New Zealand.

Homestead

The property consists of 32 acres of lush, gently rolling countryside, nestled in the Mamaku ranges.

Aerial view of Property

We farm sheep in partnership with our horses to keep our pastures healthy. We keep our horse numbers down to allow the space for outside mares in the spring and summer. The sheep graze where the horses won't which keeps the paddocks in a parklike state and our pastures never sour. We fertilise regularly and undersow our pastures every year. Our seed is always AR1 status which means no endophyte to give our stock grass staggers no matter how rich the pasture.

Looking to the left of the property from the front lawn

We have two small stands of beautiful New Zealand Native Bush on the property and a natural water feature with wild ducks, native Pukeko's and Blue herons.

 Nigel with two of his dogs in a bush clearing

The property is equipped with three large Barns, Stables, an all weather Arena surface, and large flat jumping field set up with show quality Show Hunter fences where schooling & training courses are held. 

The House, and to the left the Kennel complex, round Barn, and American barn partially hidden by the house.

As standing Pintado Desperado at Stud was never our intention we have limited Stud facilities at Edgewater. However, we have excellent facilities to offer Hand services with agistment to dry mares. We also offer 'walk in, walk out' to dry or wet mares upon arrangement.

  Our Thoroughbred Broodmares enjoying a quick groom & check over after removing covers for the day

 Your mares will be well cared for and checked twice a day. We are able to provide agistment for mares up until their 42 day scan if required.

A large Hunter (Marakopa Magic) in the scanning bay

We have an indoor scanning crush making scanning safe and easy in all weather conditions.

Our equine vet, Celia Grant, scanning a large hunter mare.

  The scanning crush is adjustable at the forward end allowing the handling of different sized mares. The vet is safely behind a solid gate where He/She can not be kicked and the handler is safely ahead of smaller mares behind an ajustable barrier. 

Handler positioned ahead of a smaller mare confined by a removable barrier.

When the barrier for the smaller mares is removed the handler then stands beside the large mares behind a solid side gate. This also allows safe access for the vet to apply any medication needed.

Handler safely behind side gate of scanning crush with large mare.

Mares have their first scan at 15 to 17 Days after last service to negate twins. If twins are in place it gives the vet time to crush one leaving one healthy embryo.

A 15 day scan showing twins side by side (Each shows as a dark round circle)

Upon a positive single pregnancy scan the mare owner may then take the mare home to save on agistment costs. In this case the owner must arrange a final scan at 42 Days. We prefer that local mares do go home at this stage but we are happy for them to return for the final scan if the owner has no facilities. Mares that have travelled long distance to get here are welcome to stay until the final 42 day scan. This saves the cost of an extra trip if the mare should absorb. If the mares stay on at Edgewater they then have a second scan at approx 28 -32 days. This is to make sure pregnancy is still on track. If for some reason the pregnancy has terminated we are not wasting another 14 days before we take action toward the mares next heat. As this scan isn't so critical we time it for when the vet is here to do first or final scans on other mares to keep costs down for the owners of the mares.

31 Day Scan(The embryo is now visible inside the dark circle of fluid)

The final scan is done at 42 days after service and then your mare can be taken home and our job is done. The Live Foal Guarantee starts from this point.

As a guest at Edgewater your mare will enjoy excellent pasture & good sized paddocks. All mares are grass fed with the addition of hay or haylage if necessary. Mamaku has a high rainfall so we rarely have a shortage of quality grass. Your mares welfare is our concern and as we only take a small number of mares we are able to give your mare individual attention. Most mares visiting our property are somewhat reluctant to load when returning home which indicates they enjoyed their stay.

Mares awaiting finals scans before leaving for home  

Because our property is at the top of the Mamaku ranges the evenings are cool even in summer so please send a light cover for your mares comfort on cold or wet days. We are happy to take covers on and off as required as your mare's welfare is our priority. 

Baling Haylage

All paddocks are either deer-fenced with electric outriggers for the stallion, or post-and-rail. Mares are run in groups of four and are introduced to their group slowly and as safely as possible over several days. If there is conflict between mares (eg: two alpha mares) they are seperated and tried in another group until we have harmony.

Although we bought Pintado Desperado as a riding horse, his immense popularity has led us to offer Desperado as a sire again. We have no doubt you will enjoy his progeny as much as we enjoy him: he is a wonderful character and very much part of our family.

Schooling Desperado at home