Whippoorwill Ridge Hunters & Jumpers

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Kirksville, MO
Whippoorwill Ridge Hunters & Jumpers

Whippoorwill Ridge, located in the rolling green hills of northern MIssouri, specializes in the breeding and training of hunters & jumpers

Located in the rolling green hills of northern Missouri, Whippoorwill Ridge Farm is owned by Melissa and Anthony Mihalevich. These 80 acres have lush pastures and woods and include a 10-stall private barn with indoor and individual paddocks plus a virtually all-weather outdoor ring. Melissa began riding at an early age during her childhood in Las Vegas. Born Melissa Cardenas, she was coached by

Jimmy Williams and Gene Lewis, eventually competing at Mexico City and Cocoyoc in 1972, where she was named leading international rider and won the silver medal in the 1.60 meter class. Melissa competed across the west on High Barbaree, a 15.3 hand Standardbred gelding and other jumpers, including Power Play, a Canadian Sport Horse. The next phase of life brought Melissa to Watsonville, CA where as Melissa Johnson she successfully competed on both hunters and jumpers. She first worked out of Rancho Loma Prieta, owned by Dirk and Jan Reed, where she rode with Richard Keller . Later, from her own Sea Breeze farm, Melissa continued to compete successfully at the Grand Prix level, including World Cup qualifiers, from Arizona to Spruce Meadows. The Reed horses included Halcyon and Buenes Aires, and she also competed her own Manolete. Melissa's marriage to first love Tony Mihalevich brough about her relocation to Missouri, where they have developed Whippoorwill Ridge Farm as a breeding and training facility for select hunters and jumpers. Her foundation sire Dark Hyacinth (TB) was the beginning of a program of top hunter breeding horses and show ring hunters and jumpers. Melissa continues to evolve her breeding program, with guidance from breeding consultant Matt Davis, to include modern European bloodlines to develop the highest caliber of American sport horse.

04/07/2024

Last lesson before Happenstance Farms April Show 😁 great fun today with Jane Walters Thanks Alex McCool !

01/08/2024

Last class of the last day of the last show of a great series! Prime Time Horse Shows 👏👏👏 thanks Alex McCool for your awesome help ! With Melissa Mihalevich Wiley Hibbard Jane Walters photo credit Jess McPherson

10/27/2022

Whippoorwill Ridge Hunters & Jumpers congratulates Rebecca Balboni on her purchase of the lovely Heirloom HF! We expect great things of this pair!

10/24/2022

Look at this stunning 17+ hand 7 year old Holsteiner mare, a jumper or event prospect. By Cunningham. Located in Kirksville, MO. Photos from her first (only) show, in August 2022. PM for info.

08/10/2022

Kismet HF - 2015 KWPN mare (Sandreo/Quicksilber) , or Pearl, was to be our next fancy hunter. In March 2021, she suffered what seemed a fairly minor paddock incident. We treated and rehabbed her injury appropriately but by that July she was still not sound. So, hoping that another year off would resolve things for her, we bred her to Casallco; she took first try with frozen and delivered a big, beautiful, athletic c**t mid-June this year. However she is still not quite sound enough for a performance career at this time. As much as we'd like to keep her as a broodmare, or even see if she returns to soundness, we are both of an age that brought us to the hard decision to let her go make beautiful babies for someone else.

Pearl is a lovely mare with excellent conformation. She is a very good mover, either as a hunter or dressage type. She is easy to be around, kind, cooperative and friendly. Raised to be a show horse, she's been handled extensively, good for farrier, shipping, vet etc. She was started under saddle as a late four year old and was starting to be developed over fences when the injury happened. She showed very good jumping instincts and has plenty of step for the big time. She has a natural lead change at liberty and under saddle, also exhibited by her 2022 c**t. As well, she has proven herself to be a very good mother with excellent instincts from the beginning.

She was site champion mare at her recent Westfalen inspection. Judge’s comments:
Good type/Feminine/Size and frame /Elegant
Trot uphill/Uphill canter
Her c**t Cardenas HF was awarded 8s across the board and premium foal although only 5 weeks old at the time.

Pearl is open at this time, for breeding to stallion of your choice, either early next year, or we can assist with getting her in foal prior to weaning if that is desired. We have two good repro clinics locally, EMS in Columbia MO and MidRivers in Wentzville.

Pictured:

Pearl in April 2022, in foal to Casallco
Sire Sandreo
Dam Ava (imported Hannoverian)
Pearl as a weanling

WFFS untested.

07/09/2022

3 Days, 3 weeks, 3 months…. We sure hope the old saying holds true with this one! Introducing Cardenas HF, known around the barn as Carter. Named for Melissa’s father Rudy Cardenas, we can only hope he grows up to be as handsome, talented and athletic as his namesake!

06/20/2022

We’re so pleased with this c**t foaled early Thursday morning! Casallco/Sandreo/Quicksilber. Pearl is handling her job as first time mom like a champion. 🏆. Thanks Matt Davis for this breeding recommendation! Matt Davis

04/17/2022

Our lovely Pearl (HF Kismet),
nine months in foal to Casallco. We're so excited!

10/19/2021

Sneak peak - Heirloom HF, 6 year old branded Holsteiner mare by Cunningham. 17+ hands Just started this year. More coming soon.

11/18/2020

Beautiful grey 2020 c**t available, Dutch/Thoroughbred cross.
Dam is a lovely grey OTTB mare. Sire has produced jumpers and event horses. Full sibling to this c**t is currently with event trainer.
Contact Melissa @ 660-341-2468

Address

Kirksville, MO
63501

Website

http://www.whippoorwillridge.com/

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