Nimbus FAQ

A: I always wanted the experience of training and showing a stallion. After gelding my previous stallion prospect, I was very careful in choosing a bloodline known for great temperaments and high rideability. Nimbus is a half-brother to my Grand Prix horse Caesar, so I was comfortable investing in him as a barely-broke 3-year-old. Living up to his heritage, Nimbus has been a pleasure to train and show so I kept him as a stallion with plans to present him for approval after he had the required performance scores at Prix St. Georges.

A: I Trained and rode Caesar (Nimbus' half-brother, also by Ulft). I purchased Caesar as a just started 4 year old and trained him all the way to Grand Prix and then had a very successful and long (10 seasons) Grand Prix career with him. Because of my success with Caesar, I bred my two retired Trakehner mares to Fairplay, another Ulft son. I had a total of 6 Fairplay foals, so had plenty of experience with handling them and starting them under saddle. I also have a two students with Ulft daughters (trained to 3rd and 4th levels).

On the mare's side, I did a lot of research and found Flemmingh to be extremely popular in Holland -- he recently received the Preferent status. Nimbus' breeding is among the best with many Keurs and Preferents found in his pedigree. Nimbus is a wonderful combination of Ulft and Flemmingh -- extremely sensible and rideable, yet high energy and very modern in "type."

A: Nimbus is a very elegant stallion with an extremely beautiful, chiseled head and a long, well shaped neck. He has a medium length back, allowing for both strength and suppleness. He is not light like a thoroughbred, but also is not heavy like many of the older style warmbloods. He has a high energy level unlike the older types that could be hard to motivate and engage.

A: Nimbus is very easy to handle, we have many mares here at Flying Change Farm and can tack them up on the crossties just outside his stall with only some soft nickering from Nimbus when his favorites appear. I ship him to the shows in a horse van with mares. While he does show the desirable stallion behavior, he is well behaved and easy to control. He has no vices and is good to clip, shoe and trailer.

A: Nimbus is a "volunteer" horse -- very eager and energetic, always wanting to please and willing to try new things. He is very brave and not spooky. He is also a very reliable show horse.

A: His medium and extended trots are definitely a strength -- he has great elasticity and suspension. In general, Nimbus is naturally well engaged so most movements come easily to him.

A: Right now -- his one tempi changes -- he has beautiful flying changes but gets very excited about them! He has done up to eleven one's so far.

A: As a four year old I took Nimbus to one breed show where he won the 4 year Old and Older Stallion Class, the Stallion Under Saddle Class, the Suitable to Become a Dressage Horse Class, and was named Champion Stallion. After this I decided that the focus would be on his performance career as he had proven himself in hand.

A: Nimbus is the first stallion that I presented for approval. The ISR/OIdenburg NA has a very large membership, and the stallion presentation seemed straight forward. The NA/WPN is a much more complicated procedure. I waited for Nimbus to have his FEI Dressage scores before presenting him for Approval as I did not want to send him to the 100 days testing. At the 2004 ISR/Oldenburg Approvals at Hilltop Farm, he was shown in hand for conformation and movement, and under saddle for temperament, movement and athletic ability. He was not required to be "free schooled" or jumped because of his Prix St. Georges scores and placings. He received Lifetime Approval.