Chevaux Dansants Stables

23/02/2025

Competing at Horse of the Year Show 2025 and available to view or test ride once he’s finished competing at the end of the week next week!

Sandhill Prince Charming. (Stable name Hank)

6 year old
German Warmblood by GRP Triple Trees Prince Perfect.
Officially measured end 2024 as 14.2hh but could be park hack if you wanted - if you didn’t trim feet and take his shoes off the day of measuring. He looks like a small hack. Rider in photos is 5ft7 and 60kg.

He is suitable for small adult or young rider

Recent competition titles

2024 Horse of the Year Novice Dressage Pony Reserve Champion.
2025 Elementary Open Reserve Champion Taranaki Dressage Championships
2022 - 2024 Multiple Regional Dressage Championships with TWO different child riders.
Graded Novice but competing Elementary, training Open Medium, half pass, shoulder in, travers all established, flying changes are just starting to be trained.

Never shown but he has no blemishes, fantastic confirmation and is stunning looking!

Great to handle, shoe, truck, float, hack out.

Does not bolt, rear, buck or bite/kick. He is a really lovely character - a very kind little chap. His only thing he’s ever done since being freshly backed nearly 3yrs ago spook if given a genuine fright, but it’s just a spook, not a spooky tuck and roll!

Our 4 other ponies we have trained in dressage and sold once girls have grown out of them have gone on to win Championships for new riders in Dressage, Showing, Pony Club, Jumping you name it, thanks to a wonderful foundation of training and exposure we provide. They are genuine little schoolmasters. Hank is our last small one for sale as my girls are now 5ft7-8 and outgrown that height.

Home is genuinely more important than 💰.

Available now and can be sold before Horse of the Year show - he’s completing Elementary.

Videos (two) on YouTube - search “Sandhill Prince Charming” - of warm up in January 2025 at Taranaki Dressage Championships and his first Elementary start.

💲2️⃣5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Ono

22/02/2025

Winning both the filly and c**t awards for Dressage horses is pretty special! Congrats Leia Maxwell!

Dolce Dior (Donnerubin / Dante Weltino / Landioso / Falkensee) Breeder Leia Maxwell.

22/02/2025

Congratulations to the Cochrans! Good boy Donnerubin!!

Donnernova WP (Donnerubin DC / GT Jake / Jaybee Alabaster) Breeder: Alice Cochran and Isabel Cochran. 83.25%

18/02/2025

2 x NSC Elite Monoflap 17inch dressage saddles for sale.

Both are similar set up
- 17inch
- Wide gullet
- C blocks

3,♥️♥️♥️ each or near offer as both need to go!

Both are currently at Horsewyse Saddlery so you can go and try them there in Debs arena or I can bring to HOYS or Nationals for you to try!!

18/02/2025

2 x NSC Elite Monoflap 17inch dressage saddles for sale.

Both are similar set up
- 17inch
- Wide gullet
- C blocks
3, 🍎🍎🍎 each or near offer as both need to go!

Both are currently at Horsewyse Saddlery in Palmerston North so you can go and try them there in Debs arena or I can bring to HOYS or Nationals for you to try!!

18/02/2025

Fabulous!!

Saving the best till last!

The last mare and foal inspected yesterday were for Alice Cochran and saw a dramatic change to not one, but TWO leaderboards.

The mare SF J'Adore (GT Jake / Jaybee Alabaster / Aachimedes) now provisionally leads the Mare Pre Stud Book standings with an impressive 81.5%

Her c**t foal Donnernova WP by Donnerubin DC was super well received by the German Assesment Team and scored 83.25 to go to the top of the Dressage Foal rankings. This foal is owned by Alice in conjunction with her Mother Inlaw Isabel Cochran.

Its an exciting wait now as the Tour heads further north before finishing this weekend...

29/01/2025

CDS Florence - she’s a stunner! Updated TM ad.

Her Dam - CDS Donnerflew is full sister to two of the current NZ Showing champions from NZ National Showing Championships last weekend! CDS Donnernoire - won NZ Champion Riding Horse title and CDS Donnerossi won NZ Reserve Champion Novice Saddle Hunter title!

This young lady is absolute quality on both dam and Sire sides!!

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/equestrian/horses-ponies/horses/auction-5144459948.htm

27/01/2025

NZ Under 25yr Young Dressage Riders Championships.

Claudia Younger and her beloved CDS Donstar FEI Junior Champion, same title she won at HOYS in 2024 on full brother CDS Donnerstern, both homebred by our Donnerubin.

Olivia Younger and Ringo HPS had a cracking first test in a very strong Open Medium Level 5 class and came 6th and got a ribbon which she was really chuffed about.

Olivia on Jacquart SSH came 5th today in another really strong Medium level 4 test, which was also wicked.

Mikayla Mandichhill Prince Charming came 4th in the strong Elementary championship which was a big step up for young Hank!

Mikayla Mandich and Equestro Dionysus did an outstanding job at their first show ever!!

Thank you to thJos Greshamy welBob Smithw organisers, Judges, Volunteers, class, show and series sponsors and of course the joy that is the wonderful Jos Gresham and Bob Smith and his beloved😬

As always our steadfast sponsors
- Prydes Easifeed - the petrol in the tanks of these little rockstars!! Justine Hales
- The Equine Herb Company and Enhance Equine - the health and welfare of our horses in their supplements and herbs is always top knotch!! Kelly Shaw
- Bow Horse covers with solutions forHeritage Performance Saddles NZtRachel Gradowskich the mane at all, which has been a game changer for us!!
- Extra special thanks to new sponsor Heritage PerGraeme Stevenles NZ Rachel Gradowski who travelled down to support us at the show and check the saddle and bridle fits!

As always much love to Graeme Steven for all his hard work back at the stable!!

Now to put the finer edges on the tests as head in the countdown to HOYS!

Video of Claudia’s MFS which is improving each ride and Olivia and Ringo also starting to understand each other!! Very proud!

27/01/2025

An outstanding weekend for Donnerubin children out there!

CDS Donnerossi and Jessika Cunningham at National showing championships being award Reserve NZ Champion Novice Saddle Hunter, very proud of young Rossi who we bred and his beloved human Jessika!

NZ Under 25yr Dressage Championships,

Young Rider Championship title to Dolcetto II and Samantha Belsham.

Junior Rider Championship to our own home bred and produced team of CDS Donstar and Claudia Younger!

Congratulations also to Marianne Paton-Stetch breeder of Dolcetto II and all connections!

18/01/2025

Bridles…….

I’ve got to honest, until recently I have no particular attention to bridles apart from their shape and look…..

Then at 2024 I was looking for a new bridle for big Jackson to suit his head and Rachel Gradowski at Heritage Performance Saddles introduced me to the Fairfax Performance Bridle.

It has built in pro-lite high density foam built in on the noseband and head piece. I was dubious and brought it solely to “give it a go” but for the look of the noseband on Jackson…..

Then I rode in it……

It instantly improved the contact from the hand to the bit and it was such a sudden and stark improvement, I investigated further.

I learnt not only do the pro-lite pads reduce pressure on the sensitive nerves on our horse friends faces dramatically BUT there is NO movement of the bridle as the bit is moved by the riders hands. That reduction of moment not only improves comfort for the horse but it removes the white noise to the horse - that is the horse can utterly focus on our communication with them with the rein!

It was astonishing and as a self reflective person I felt such regret I had not considered the impact of our bridles before that moment!

My girls were also not convinced, until they rode in it, and needless to say now every horse we ride now has a Fairfax Performance Bridle and is thriving in their contact as a result!

I have to say I am so impressed with Fairfax and their innovation and commitment to improving our horses performances through maximising their comfort levels! Both saddles and bridles are utterly next level!

Available in NZ at Heritage Performance Saddles - check out their page!

fairfaxsaddles
heritageperformancesaddlesnz
rachelgradowski

18/01/2025

We welcome Heritage Performance Saddles to our fabulous team of sponsors.

For more details check out the Chevaux Dansants Stables page!!

18/01/2025

So excited to announce we have a FABULOUS new sponsor to add to our team. Heritage Performance Saddles!!!

As always we only ever endorse products we have found innovative and game changing!

The Fairfax World Class 2 dressage saddle is whole next level, it is so innovative and has made it feel like cheating to assist sitting in balance on a horse. Here’s why I think this brand new saddle on the market is a game changer…..

1. It seems infinitely adjustable by us the user to make it fit most horses and every rider. A changeable gullet, and girthing system - nothing super new there, BUT the saddle flap can be adjusted forward or back so the knee roll can change angle and length depending on the riders thigh length. ALSO there are three slots on the saddle flap which means the back girthing strap can balance the back of the saddle 4 different ways to suit different horses!

2. The knee block helps your leg stay back and your heel under your body weight. The benefit I observe is when your heel is under your body, the stirrup bears the correct ratio of weight so the saddle bar by design, can distribute that weight through the tree and to the horse. Balance is then automatic in a neutral position. All of this puts both horse and rider in natural balance and lets the performance levels blossom!

3. As a result of 2 it requires you to use the correct core muscles on the rider, rather than lower back muscles. Not only achieving balance but also helping cure and prevent sore lower backs we get as we age.

4. The saddle panels on the horses back are a combination of both pro-lite high density foam and wool flock. Wool flock is important to allow the saddle to be fitted to the horse correctly, but also brings the tried and true benefit of wool being a natural antibacterial property. No need for our Thin-line foam saddle pads anymore, - which adjusted the fit of our saddles but we used to reduce the impact of the rider on the horses back. Now that impact dampening is built in!

5. MY FAVOURITE FOR MY AGING BROKEN BODY AND HIPS- The seat of the saddle has Pro-lite high density foam built into it and is slightly raised higher than normal - why? To narrow the twist, to stop splaying our hips beyond normal reach, to again reduce the impact on our lower backs and hip flexors and has significantly reduced my hip and lower back pain!!! The pro-lite foam absorbs the impact of sitting trot on the riders body and spine and helps you sit! Again improving the horses performance and comfort!

6. The design of the knee roll being further back means the front of the saddle flap now sits directly under the pommel. This gives about 3-4cm more freedom for the horses shoulder AND shortens the entire length of the saddle on the horses back - fabulous for short coupled horses.

SCIENTIFICALLY TESTED TO IMPROVE THE HORSES PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT

The World Class Dressage saddles are the only saddles to be scientifically tested with pressure mapping under the saddle and under the rider, combined with simultaneous two-dimensional and three-dimensional analysis of both horse and rider.

RIDER TESTED TO IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY RIDER STABILITY AND BALANCE - AND COMFORT!!

Honestly it’s one of those things you have to sit in to believe, I have never ridden so well and felt so balanced and secure. So my gift to you all is passing this on so you can try it to believe it!!

You are welcome to come to our place in Feilding and have a sit in it on your horse or catch us at a show and we can lend you one at night when comps done for the day to have a sit in! We have 2 saddles currently in 17inch and 17.5inch, and 2 more saddles being made as we speak!!

It’s not at all the same as world class 1 saddle, the World Class 2 was designed with input from multiple Olympic dressage Champion Charlotte Dujardin.

Everyone that has seen it in real life and sat in it has loved it and been impressed with this level of innovation that’s been a long time coming in saddles in my view!!

If you are like me suffer from sore hips and lower back riding, then this is definitely a must try.

WHERE TO BUY AND TRIAL

Available for trialing and purchase from the fabulous Richard and Rachel Gradowski at Heritage Performance Saddles. They are based in Auckland but will be at HOYS and most big shows. Go sit in one with them or we are in Feilding and you are welcome to come and sit in one of ours!

We are so grateful for their support and welcome them with much love to our team!!!

More to come about the Fairfax bridles (also such innovation and game changers!!)

14/01/2025

And so it begins……

Claudia Younger and CDS Donstar (homebred stallion - son of Donnerubin x Gymnastic Grace - Gymnastic Star) full brother to CDS Donnerstern - had their competition debut today. Claudia has been patiently training him at home for the last nearly 4 years until she was old enough to responsibility compete him as a stallion. He grew up in the paddock outside her bedroom window, she calls him her best friend, so it feels like he was always destined to be her friend to ride not mine.

He was entered at the start of the season but slipped in the muddy paddocks cavorting and we had to give him some time off as a precaution to let him recover, then NCEA exams hit, so he’s only just getting into full work now.

Taranaki Regional Championships was just about giving him a good experience. Their trot work was superb, few wobbles with more power, the canter work he showed he was a smidge scared and held in the back during their normally fabulous flying changes, so loads to improve on. Nearly 68% so onwards and upwards from here!

So thrilled this patient hardworking kid finally got to dance publicaly with her bestie.

Dancing on and proudly sponsored by:-
Prydes EasiFeed NZ
The Equine Herb Company
Enhance Equine
Bow Horse
Heritage Performance Saddles NZ (World Class 2 Fairfax Saddle and performance Fairfax bridle) - more on our fabulous new sponsor next week (I gotta share the love about these next level innovative saddle that makes it feel like cheating AND the comfort focused and secure/non movement placement of the bridle that infinitely improves connection to the horse!)

Exciting times ahead!

♥️

13/01/2025

Sandhill Prince Charming. (Stable name Hank)

6 year old
German Warmblood by GRP Triple Trees Prince Perfect.
Officially measured end 2024 as 14.2hh (same height since 2022 - hasn’t grown in height for last 2 years) but could be park hack if you wanted - if you didn’t trim feet and take his shoes off the day of measuring. He will stay pony with that process which is the recommended process for official life measuring anyway.

Recent competition titles
- 2024 Horse of the Year Novice Dressage Pony Reserve Champion.
- 2025 Elementary Open Reserve Champion Taranaki Dressage Championships
- 2022 - 2024 Multiple Regional Dressage Championships with TWO different child riders.

Graded Novice but competing Elementary, training Open Medium, half pass, shoulder in, travers all established, flying changes are just starting to be trained.

Never shown but he has no blemishes, fantastic confirmation and is stunning looking!

Great to handle, shoe, truck, float, hack out.

Does not bolt, rear, buck or bite/kick. He is a really lovely character - a very kind little chap. His only fault ever since freshly backed is he can spook if given a genuine fright, but it’s just a spook, not a spooky tuck and roll!

Our 4 other ponies we have trained in dressage and sold once girls have grown out of them have gone on to win Championships for new riders in Dressage, Showing, Pony Club, Jumping you name it, thanks to a wonderful foundation of training and exposure we provide. They are genuine little schoolmasters. Our last pony for sale as my girls are now 5ft7-8 and outgrown.

Home is genuinely more important than price, so very reasonably priced.

Available now and can be competed at Horse of the Year show as qualified in both Noice and Elementary Pony MFS. (HOYS rules are the pony qualifies not the combination).

Videos on YouTube - search Sandhill Prince Charming - of warm up in January 2025 at Taranaki Dressage Championships link is

https://youtu.be/XM-OpfbAUjk?si=6AL9y38rNjOmOqLp

💲2️⃣5️⃣,🍎🍎🍎 NZD

14/11/2024

You all know my absolute love for these covers!!

Summer rugs now in stock!!!