Vandal or Red Vandal, his registered name, is a 16.1hh red bay gelding registered with RPSI (now called Westfalen) He was born in 2007 and sold at 2 months of age as a dressage prospect.
We acquired Red Vandal’s mother Vendella because we were so in love with one of her offspring (Maxamillion) who was by a Saddlebred stallion. She was a heavy, solid 16.2hh, old fashion mare with almost 50% Gelderlander blood with solid legs, strong topline, and great feet. She had been trained to 3rd level dressage as a young horse. She had a strong will and an opinion about a lot of things but she was also easy to handle and never mean or pushy. I was told that as a young horse she had been one that needed a strong hand but that once trained to do something and her trust earned she would do just about anything for her rider.
We selected Radikal for her, not so much because of his striking color, but because he was a combination of Rotspon and Weltmeyer; very much modern sires at the time (this was pre F lines defining the current modern look!). Radikal was not an overly big stallion standing roughly 15.2 but he was well balanced and most importantly he has already produced a few crops of nice moving foals with good temperament at Cocollala Creek Sporthorses in Idaho.
Vendella was an experienced mother (Vandal was her 5th foal) and she sneaked him out between two early mornings check-very much on purpose.
He had a crooked ear for the first week and he had the super-long hind legs that make some newborn foal look like little spiders.
Mom’s calm and regal attitude certainly made him feel like he was the little prince of the yard and he really had nothing to fear. He was a very laid-back foal and only the other colt that year could get him really riled up.
He was sold at two months of age and changed hands only once as a 2yrs old.
He scored Gold Premium at his inspection and he was praised for his beautiful movement. He had three good gaits right from the start and altho one hind leg twisted a bit as a foal he outgrew it in time.
He was started under saddle by Trish Tweddell and has been with Susan ever since.
“ Vandal is a fantastic horse. Every clinic we go to the clinicians wants him. My sister in law who is a trainer in Calgary says she gets first dibs on him if I ever sell him. He isn’t going anywhere though. I love his mind and he is so good for me. As a Mom to two boys life gets a bit hectic. Vandal has such a great mind I never have to worry with him.”– Vandal’s owner; Susan.
They’ve gone to clinics and schooling shows together in Alberta and the plans are to keep doing exactly that in the future.
We wish them many more years together.
