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Joan Watt & Grande Celeste
First foal of Grande Saber
The founder and
creative force of Tellwynd; Joan Watt (Tell) took her name and that of her horses to every
venue in modern equestrian sport. Joan brought with her passion and skills in animal
management, medicine, genetics and an eye for what works in horses. Her early training
came at the feet of her father and grandfather who taught her trust your instinct and the
husbandry mantra "Breed the best to the best". The lesson
was not lost as Tellwynd came to it own in the 1980's. Careful selection of
stallions matched to her "Dream Team" of mares has produced a string of
winning young horses taking the lion's share of America's most coveted awards.
The young horses of
Tellwynd became the stars of America...changing name and owners but not the substance that
was the trade mark of her product. Known by their smooth temperaments, top notch
types and athletic prowess. The unique qualities of Tellwynd foals translated
to recognition by the industries leading experts.
Sallie Sexton, the breeding industry icon, remarked "I know a Saber Baby when I see one!";. She of course was referring to Tellwynd stallion, Grande Saber. Her comment came as full sisters Grand Affair and Grande Divina competed against each other in Hunter Breeding championship classes at the Devon Horse Show. That was Sallie's last trip to the Dixon Oval. Ironically the next year, a Grande Saber filly won the first Sallie Sexton Memorial Trophy at the Devon Horse Show. Champ Hough was particularity partial to Saber Babies; pinning them blue in back to back competitions.
Scott Stewart, three time World Champion Hunter
Rider, took two Tellwynd babies to the heights of Hunter competitions. Eleventh Hour was
bred and born at Tellwynd. He took the country's highest honors in 1998 as the National
Grand Champion Hunter. His full brother, Jazzman, was a colorful star earning tri colors
as he debuted in the hunter divisions. Scott has always been a fan of the young horses of
our farm including Absent Art and GQ.
Grande Saber, the cornerstone stallion of Tellwynd in the 90's, gained the approving eye of many of the sport's leading riders and coaches. He saw time with Michael Matz, Rodney Jenkins, George Morris, Anne Kursinski, and Chris Kappler. His trainer's comments, "A very talented jumper with exceptional qualities for any discipline whether it be Hunter, Jumper or Dressage." Rodney Bross, trainer of Horse of the Decade, Rox Dene, watched Saber in his first classes over fences in Virginia. He watched the power chestnut stallion quietly take the hopeful jumper class and turned to me with this comment, "Don't break his greens! Take him across the street!" The hunter divisions compete among the tall oaks of the Upperville Show across the street. Later Rox Dene eggs were offered to us for breeding to Grande Saber. Breeder and owner of the legendary breeding stallion Sir Thomson, Diana Dodge holds high regard for Saber as a competitor and stallion. Many rounds of his performances in Florida gave him the approving eye of top competitors. Jessica Ransenhousen was wowed by Saber as a yearling as he participated in a USDF seminar. Her comment "Gorgeous! Too bad he's only a yearling!" Four years later, Saber arrived at the Blue Hill Farm for training. Grande saber's temperament according to Jessica...."He's a 12" Jessica was riding another Grundstein son, Gonzales. There was always the possibility of a Pas de Deux with matching chestnuts there!
The dilemma with Saber, if you want to call it that; he was talented and
versatile enough for all disciplines of performance. We chose to direct his
career in several directions. Hunter, Jumper, 3-Day and jumping. He worked to
third level in dressage, he was ready for 3 -Day and had his passion explode over
fences. He showcased his potential and scope in every discipline. Saber excelled in
open jumper classes with flair. Prior to his death, he was to return to dressage for
further development. His untimely death took the options from us. As Saber was busy
working, his foals followed suit with equal fervor. His trademark was a flashy baby with a
blaze and stocking...almost all chestnut. They made him the top freshman sire in his
registry. He lead the East Coast in producing premium foals as a freshman
stallion and continued against established stallions as a mature stallion. In competition
in the top breeding show of the nation, Saber was the only stallion competing at
Dressage at Devon with foals in the same show. His foals were winners and
champions too!
The champions of Tellwynd are many.
Fairfax, Grande Saber, Eleventh Hour, Jazzman, Grande Diva, Grand Affair,
Lauxmont, GQ, Gold Storm, Regent, Grace Adieu, Hallelujah, Grande Desire, Prince of the
Moon, Sterling Silver, Grande WInk,Cary Grant and Grande Celeste. Many more have
gone on with new owners and new names and we have lost their performances. The tally
of premium foals approached 90% of all foals produced by Tellwynd among the Dutch,
Oldenburg and Holsteiner breeding associations. Our mare have gone on for premium and Top
Ten national finishes in those breed registries. The Performance Horse Registry
(PHR) honored a Saber filly as the first leading Hunter Breeding horse and she earned that
award as she competed every year in the breeding divisions. Grande Diva now Grande Affair,
was shown by Gerry Goldman in his last year of competition. He guided the flashy
";test hunter baby" of Grande Saber to an undefeated year. She retired the
division a champion. Later, after producing a foal, she started over fences as
a champion.
The Source for Reliable Champions...Tellwynd.
More about the Grande Saber story . Click Here
saber@tellwynd.com
Tellwynd phone #: 410.757.3362 Office/Fax
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