Sire: FORESTWAY ROYAL ASCOT (IMP) - Dam: ARDCHATTAN MONIQUE
D.O.B: 20/09/1995 - NEW FOREST PONY SECTION 1
‘Odette’ has been prepared and shown for the past 2 years by Ariane (17), Kizia (15) and Priska (13) Zihlmann who call themselves “The Zeema Team”. They have done all the work on her themselves and have had great fun and huge enjoyment from all their hard work with this wonderful pony. In addition to their success in the show arena they attend Kyneton Pony Club with her, each of them taking it in turn to ride her at the monthly rallies and various interschool events. At home on the farm, Odette enjoys rounding up cattle and giving rides to all our little non-riding visitors, of whom she takes great care. One of the most amazing things I have seen is her reaction when being ridden by our intellectually disabled niece. Odette walks as if on eggshells, she has a sixth sense that the child needs protecting. Even when she has slipped off (due to her lack of balance), Odette stops dead still until the situation had been rectified. Her behaviour is quite remarkable. Odette is a very special pony in that she is so versatile and gives great pleasure to so many people. It is wonderful to see ‘The Team’ working together and sharing her so harmoniously. (Helen Maughan )
Odette has rewarded The Zeema Team’s hard work with some terrific results in 2007. Highlights of the year were the following results:
• Royal Melbourne Horse Show 2007 - Champion New Forest Pony • APSB Annual Stud Show 2007 - Champion Ridden M&M Show Hunter • NFPO&B Native Pony Show 2007- Supreme led New Forest Pony • NFPO&B Native Pony Show 2007 – Champion Ridden New Forest Mare • NFPAA Barastoc M&M Show – Reserve Champion Senior New Forest Pony • NFPAA Barastoc M&M Show – Reserve Champion Ridden M&M Mare • APSB Barastoc HOTY 2007 – Grand Champion New Forest Pony
Just when the Maughan and Zihlmann families thought they would wind down from a magnificent year with ‘Odette’ she surprised them all over again as told by Rosemarie Zihlmann…………. In October the girls went for an audition for extras in a children's TV show being filmed in Daylesford (called the Saddle Club). They made it through and filming commenced last week. In addition to the girls they were looking for a quiet pony for a disabled child to ride, so we suggested Odette and she was dragged out of the paddock, given a shampoo and was back in action once again. I am just writing to tell you how wonderful these New Forest ponies are and what a HUGE impression of the breed we have left with them. Today Odette spent the whole day (6:30 - 2pm) on the set. She had never seen anything like the equipment (umbrellas, reflecting screens, cameras, big fluffy sound booms) all of which were around her at every angle - including over her head. She was handled by various strange people (actors, wranglers etc) and DID NOT bat an eyelid. She stood perfectly ALL day and did exactly what was required of her by anyone who asked. The director was thrilled and she is now the darling of the Crawford Production team. They can't believe how calm and wonderful she is and were all asking what sort of pony she is, so of course we have given the New Forest breed a BIG wrap.
Rosemarie Zhilmann