VONDEENNE DE BLONDEL | 14 YEAR OLD SELLE FRANCAIS | BRENHAM, TX
Von, Vondeenne De Blondel is a Selle Francais Mare. Her sire is Lauterbach. Her dam is Ophelie De Blondel. She was bred by Michel Ruel. She is owned and loved by Avery Swierkowski who trains at Echo Equestrian in Brenham, TX.
Von is a horse with a larger-than-life personality! Known affectionately as “The Duchess” around the barn, Von loves to be the center of attention and commands the spotlight with her commanding presence. If you’re not giving her the attention she deserves, she’ll let you know with a few stomps and knocks on her stall door. But don’t let her demands fool you. Von is a sweet and affectionate horse who loves nothing more than being showered with love and attention. One of her unique quirks is her love for giving “fist bumps,” a playful greeting that’s sure to put a smile on anyone’s face.
Their story began in early 2021 when Avery accompanied her trainer to Ocala to help find a horse for another rider at their barn. Although she wasn’t in the market for a horse, Avery couldn’t help but be drawn to Von. Despite her initial reservations about mares, there was an instant connection between them. Von would hug her and rest her head on her, making Avery feel like they were meant to be together. Even after two days, Von still remembered Avery and their bond only grew stronger. Avery knew she needed to bring Von home as much as Von needed her. Today, they’re inseparable and Avery considers Von her best friend.
The Duchess knows the way to her heart is through her stomach! She is incredibly food motivated and is always on the lookout for her next snack. When it comes to her favorite treat, she doesn’t discriminate – anything edible will do! So, if you want to make Von happy, just bring along some tasty treats, and you’re sure to have a friend for life!
Avery’s love for horses started at a very young age. When she was just 3 years old, her dad bought their first horse, Lilly, to ride around their farm. A few years later, they added two more horses, Shadow and Dakota, to their family. Avery started taking English lessons at the age of 10 to develop a good seat for the Western world. It was during her first show that she was hooked on riding. She loved the challenge, being on a horse, and showing. In 2020, Avery and her family needed to decide whether to stick with English or move to Western. They chose to stick with English and bought a sweet little Thoroughbred named “Miscellaneous Man” a.k.a “Manning.” At 13 years old, Avery had the challenge of not only improving her riding skills but also training Manning how to jump. After Manning, Avery welcomed Von into her life. She has owned and competed on Von for about a year and their adventures have taken them from Pin Oak to Ocala and everywhere in between. Avery’s love for horses has only grown stronger over the years, and she can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.
Avery’s favorite memory with Von was when they went to the World Equestrian Center to compete. When the truck arrived and Avery saw Von’s face peering through the window, she was filled with excitement. Spending a few weeks with Von at the competition was magical, especially since it was Avery’s first out-of-state competition. But what made it even more special was placing in all of their classes. The feeling of accomplishment and pride was amazing, and Avery will always cherish that memory with Von.
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Karinda K. is a Houston, TX based equine photographer that travels around the United States photographing equestrians and their horses. Karinda specializes in Outdoor Horse & Rider Portrait sessions that bring to life the magical relationship equestrians share with their horses, Senior Portraits, and Fine Art Black & White Background Portraits for those that want a piece of art featuring their very own animals.
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Portraits for Charity was an idea Karinda dreamt up to help give back to families impacted by Childhood Cancer in memory of her husband’s sister Jessica. During the 2023 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Karinda photographed around 150 Horses and Dogs and was able to donate just under $15,000 to Candlelighter’s Houston.
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