SOLO VI | KLADRUBER GELDING | LEXINGTON,KY
Solo, Solo VI, is a Kladruber Gelding.
Solo is owned by Joan. Solo is retired from Driving and Fox Hunting. He is now the full time Uncle to the young horses on the farm and is a great guest horse for very green riders. Solo has an incredibly gentle soul.
Joan first found Solo when she was living in Aiken. He was 1/2 of a pair of retiring from full time driving because his partner, Faraon, was suffering from glaucoma. He was one of the first Kladrubers allowed to be exported from the Czech Republic in the early 1990’s and was the lead horse in a 4-in-hand for his first career in the US.
“Bred in Kladruby nad Labem national stud, the Kladruber breed is almost 400 years old, yet is remarkably rare (492 mares as of January, 2011[1]). Kladruby stud was founded in 1579 by Rudolf II as an Imperial stud, at the Pernstein stables. The breed was based on imported Spanish (such as the Andalusian) and Italian horses, crossed with Neapolitan, Danish, Holstein, Irish, and Oldenburg blood, in addition to the heavy Czech breeds. The animal was first developed to be a galakarosier; a heavy type of carriage horse used to pull the imperial coach, usually in a four- or six-in-hand, at ceremonies and funerals. It originally came in a variety of colors, including palomino and appaloosa, although today the breed is strictly gray or black, due to a breeding program requiring 18 “white” (i.e. fully mature grays) and 18 black stallions for various ceremonies of the court.”
Joan shares her favorite memory about Solo, “Shortly after Solo and Faroan came to live at my farm in Aiken SC, I offered to take a guest from India for a carriage drive into Hitchcock woods. As I chatted with my guest I neglected to keep track of my route and I was lost in no time at all. Having made a turn up a trail not ideal for carriages, Solo patiently manuved the carriage to the next trail, but at the next opportunity insisted that he make the direction decisions. I was happy to oblige. He promptly took us out of the woods by way of his original home and set us back on schedule to be on time for dinner.”
