CLEMLEV STUD

SIMPLY RED (aka Bertha)

 

(ridden above by lizzie)

Bertha was a French Bred Trotter that we purchased from a dealer who had bought her straight from the track in France.  She had been lightly backed but didnt have a clue about leg aids or much else!!  I rebacked her and started schooling her on the flat, it was quite a slow winded progress as she could be quite "hot" however she did have a fantastic temperament and was willing to learn.  I started her pole work and she showed a great jump and was extremely bold.

My friend Lizzie was coming over to watch Archie whilst I rode so i decided one day to chuck Lizzie on, considering bertha was nearly 17hh, it was quite a task, good job lizzie has such long legs!!  The pair of them just gelled immediately and Lizzie took over the exercising of her and even went to a show at Norton Heath where they had a double clear.  She was sold to a gentleman called Richard who wanted to event her and then breed a foal.

However Tragedy struck about 2 months after Richard had her, his wife awas riding her out when a wild deer crossed their path whilst they were having a gallop and bertha shield, Richards wife was thrown as was he and both horses galloped home.  The other horse got across the road safely but unfortuantely Bertha didnt and was struck by a transit van.  Sadly she wasnt killed straight away and died in Richards arms.  A truely tragic waste of a certain superstar.  She will never be forgotten. RIP

 

DABERNON ICONS IMAGE (C)

Icon was purchased as a yearling in 2003 at the same time as Rebel after Peter and Lesley sold them both to George.  He was a lovely little colt although a little weed compared to Rebel.  We turned him away to let him get some grass at my friends field in Nottingham with some other youngsters.  We went to pick him up at the end of the summer and he managed to undo himself and turn round in the back of the lorry, in the process he had hit his poll.

He had a small graze and bump but seemed absolutely fine.  However a week later we turned him out in the paddock whilst we mucked out and when I went to get him in, he couldnt walk in a straight line, it was like he had been sedated.  The vet was called and after a thorough examination she said that he looked like he had some sort of stroke and it had caused a brain injury similar to "Wobblers Syndrome".  This could have been caused by the bang to his head, although we shall never know for sure.

The prognosis was pretty grim so the decision was made to have him put to sleep.  It was a terrible waste of a very good colt and such a shock, I still think about him now 4 years on and wonder what he could have grown into.RIP

 

still to be added

 

Mexican Wave

Chantilly Dancer

Chantilly Flyer

Chantillys Pacing Boy

Silver Samvara

Mission Impossible