Calidora GypsyCobs

SD Bluebells - "Eden"
2019 Blue blagdon mare
(SD Flash Harry X SD Big Black Mare)
NFS

We all know stallions are an important part of the equation when making foals but I feel that our mares are just as, if not more, important than the stallions. The mares put so much of themselves into their babies from their conformation, to their personality, and sometimes their mannerisms while raising their foals. You can have the nicest stallion around but if your mare isn't equally as nice, you're missing an important piece of the puzzle.

Each of our mares are different and special in their own way. Eden has a kind, gentle disposition, but she is the leader of our herd as well. She has a calm, quiet presence that the other horses respect, and a sweet disposition she passes on to her foals. She also has a habit of teaching them to be clean in their stall/paddock area - which we love! Not just that but the quality of this mare shines through in every part of her. Generations of careful breeding shows in this incredible mare.

Unfortunately we lost her 2026 c**t, and we made the decision to leave her open for 2027. In the mean time, we've been hitting the trails and taking some time to unwind and relax. We have some exciting plans for her for 2027 though. In the future there will be more foals, more riding, and Eden may even step foot in the show ring. Eventually...

SD Miss Bonny
(SD Knomeo X SD Blueberry Pie)
Smokey black pinto mare
Ee Cr/cr T/T
NFS

We are a small family run farm with only three mares and one gelding. Each of our mares were chosen carefully for qualities they possess, and all three mares are different. One thing remains consistent though: quality. I know this is something I speak about a lot, but our program is built on a foundation of true, traditional Cobs that follow the TGCA/UK standards of what a quality Gypsy Cob should be. We breed for (in no particular order): heavy bone, heavy feather, lots of hair, flawless conformation, great temperaments, and once in a while you'll get some colour thrown in, but that is never our main goal.

Miss Bonny has all of these qualities as well as a sweet, perfect head and the most gentle disposition of any horse you'll ever meet. She is our go to for new riders, kids, and people who are nervous around horses. Oh and she makes amazing foals. We shared her now 2 year old c**t, Bentley, yesterday and he is absolutely incredible. Bonny is being re-bred to his sire for a full sibling for 2027.

Calidora's Handcrafted Luxury - "Bentley"
2024 black and white c**t
SD Empire X SD Miss Bonny

Bentley resides in Minnesota these days at White Horse Ranch. This young c**t is blossoming into the absolutely stunning horse we knew he would be. The cross of SD Empire and SD Miss Bonny came together and made pure magic when this boy was born. He wasn't quite two years old when this photo was taken. The bone, hair, feather, and presence this c**t has blows me away and we are so proud to say we bred him. Bentley is going to be a stallion to keep an eye out for in the future. This boy is quality through and through; the epitome of what our breeding program stands for.

We may have a full sibling coming for 2027... Keep watching for updates

SD Bluebells - "Eden"
2019 Blue blagdon mare
NFS

I have no fancy photo today, just a sweet picture a friend took of Eden and me yesterday while she was here to visit. I don't often share pictures of myself because I'm usually the one behind the camera.

I bought Eden sight unseen from England (from SD) when she was just a long yearling. Watching her bloom from a young filly to the incredible mare she is today has been an amazing journey. While I love all of our horses, Eden very quickly became my heart horse.

What is a heart horse? A heart horse is something you feel, a connection unlike any other horse you've come across. It's an intensely powerful and deep affinity for each other. It's an unbreakable bond. If you haven't felt it, it's hard to explain. Once you have it, you know that bond will be hard to find again.

I've been lucky enough to have two heart horses in my lifetime. My first was a sweet bay Thoroughbred gelding named Romeo. I had him for 14 years, until he passed away at 24. Now I have Eden, who will hopefully be with me for the rest of her life.

Calidora's The Devil Wears Prada
2023 blue blagdon mare
(SD Bluebells X SD Empire)

Prada is one of our Calidora foals from 2023. She is out of my gorgeous blue blagdon mare, Eden (SD Bluebells) and by the stunning world champion, SD Empire. These days, Prada is living her best life in South Dakota with her wonderful family. I know I usually share my more polished, artistic photos, but when her family sent us this picture, it was simply too good not to share!

Yes, our horses have all the things you want in the breed - beautiful conformation, gorgeous hair, abundant feather, great bone, etc. One of our favourite traits is the gentle temperament this incredible breed is known for. And sometimes... Their complete lack of understanding of personal space. 😂 Okay, okay—we do teach them manners!

We absolutely love seeing how much our horses adore their people and how their goofy, affectionate personalities shine through. Watching them settle into their homes, build bonds with their families, and grow into the unique horses they were meant to be is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

Every one of them is different. Every one of them is special. And seeing updates like this always makes us smile.

Time for some real talk—this is important for anyone breeding horses. Farming isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. This past week, we lost our only 2026 foal, a beautiful c**t we named Elliott. Despite multiple veterinarians and doing everything possible, we couldn’t save him.

In over 20 years of breeding, I had never heard of Neonatal Isoerythrolysis (NI). That's how we lost Elliott. By sharing our experience, my hope is that someone else may recognize the signs early and prevent a similar loss from happening.

In very simple terms: NI happens when a newborn foal’s red blood cells are destroyed after it drinks its mother’s colostrum. It happens because the mare’s colostrum contains antibodies that mistakenly attack the foal’s red blood cells due to a blood type incompatibility. There is a lot more to understand about NI, and I strongly encourage you to do further research.

Foals affected by NI often appear normal at birth but may quickly become weak and develop jaundice within the first few days of life. This is a big red flag and requires immediate veterinary attention. Additional symptoms can include difficulty standing, dark urine, poor nursing, lethargy, as well as elevated heart and respiratory rates.

Mares that have produced an NI foal cannot safely provide colostrum to future foals unless blood compatibility is confirmed. However, NI is manageable. It is not a hereditary condition, and affected mares can continue to have a successful breeding career with appropriate management.

Please consider donating colostrum to local veterinarians or colostrum banks. Many foals depend on it.

Thank you to the breeders who have reached out to share their knowledge and support during this difficult time. It has been deeply appreciated.