Champagne flows for rare beauty
IT’S a tender moment captured between a mother and her newborn but this birth is even more special. Dreamin of Victoree, or Callie, is one of only five registered champagne Appaloosa females in Australia and was born at the weekend wearing the rare amber champagne hue. Victoree Hobby Horses owner Kristel Baillie said the arrival was a significant moment.
THERE is one very special three-day-old foal frolicking around a Tablelands paddock.
Dreamin of Victoree — or Callie as she will be known around her Far North stud home — is one of only five registered champagne Appaloosa females in Australia and the only filly wearing the rare amber champagne hue.
But her dad, Victoree Champagne, will be able to pass on tips about dealing with the special status as he is currently the country’s only amber champagne spotted
Appaloosa stallion. Callie was born at Victoree Hobby Horses on Sunday and her owner, Kristel Baillie, explained the special arrival was a significant moment for the small business.
“It means a lot to our hobby stud having her as she will go on as a show horse and then become a valuable broodmare later in life,” Ms Baillie said.
“We’ve had several offers already to purchase her, even ones asking us to name our price, but at this point we will be retaining her.”
The Appaloosa breeder said the weekend’s arrival was the result of a program that had been under way since Victoree Hobby Horses purchased Callie’s grandfather a few years ago.
“We were very happy with his foal crops, especially when we produced our now stallion Victoree Champagne, and we have waited until now for his first foal,” she said.
“Her mother, Ashfield Always Dreamin, foaled at 3pm — which, in itself, is pretty rare because most mares like to foal in the dead of night — and it was nice to be able to watch all the baby’s first moments like standing and drinking milk.”