Well, we are off to a terrific start. The response has been amazing. I'd like to take a moment to thank all the stallion owners, breeders and enthusiasts that have made this possible. 

    When I first thought about creating this site, I wondered if anyone shared my vision. This has answered my doubts with a resounding YES! Each of us comes to this breed from different backgrounds. Whether they be disciplines, socioeconomic groups, experience level, and age. One single breed brings so many of us together. It is our love of this breed that created this site. Some may think they are just "pretty ponies". That they may be, but they are so much more. I honestly can't even say how I found the breed. But, I'd like to take the time to describe my journey into falling head over heels for these beautiful creatures.

THE SAGA PART I

After running a large rehabilitation program for Sport horses for 5 yrs, it began to take its toll. Emotionally difficult work, physically demanding, couple that with stress and it is a recipe for burn out, or worse. I felt we needed an outlet. Something to love and enjoy once again. Like I said above, I still have no idea how I stumbled across them. From that moment on I researched and read all I could find. Resources were limited and spread all over the internet. Some were straight forward, others biased toward registry or breeder. I was confused, yet determined to move on with the plan. At that time BFSGH was the main importer. i didn't have the resources or time to shop overseas. I bit the bullet, so to speak, and purchased two mares in foal. One I selected based on her beautiful head, the other based on her color. Yep, I know, not exactly how to go about picking foundation stock for a fledgling breeding program. The excitement built as we awaited their release from quarantine in KY. I spoke to the farm manager and he told me they were close to foaling. OH MY!!! We kicked into over drive and set up the foaling stalls. The two mommas arrived safe and sound. They walked off the trailer and marched into their deeply bedded straw stalls. I took one look at those deep brown eyes on our buckskin mare and knew there was no turning back.
    When I left off, I had just met our two mares. Over the next few days we spent all our time with them. It was like being a kid with their first pony. One week after their arrival Aislen, our black and white mare, foaled a beautiful stout filly by the PO Stallion. She accepted us and her foal as if she had been doing it her whole life. Nobody would ever have guessed she was 3 and a maiden mare. The filly, Amaris, AKA Lulu, stood, nursed and passed the meconium in less than 1 hr. Aislen did her part and passed the placenta within 2 hrs and we went to bed. If only they could all go like that! Lulu was curious and sweet. Because of the heat we body clipped her when she was two weeks old. She stood and loved it. There was no turning back. This breed was like no other I had ever worked with. Sturdy and solid. Kind and intelligent. I can go on and on. If someone had said to me I would like this breed when I was back showing hunters, I would have laughed. These days I almost take for granted the breed and just how wonderful they are. That is, until, I work with one of the other horses in the barn.

    Sorry to get off topic. Our Buckskin mare foaled about 1 month after Aislen. We knew she'd go any day and had the foal alert sutured in. Diane happened to be up and watched her in the front foaling paddock with attached stalls. When her water broke she came to get me. I remember, like it was yesterday, the sound I heard when I walked onto the deck. I was 100 or so feet from Wyn. The sound was somewhere between a gurgle and a raspy gasping. My heart pounded as I hopped over the fence and ran to her. There is the straw outside the barn was a tiny body still enclosed in the sac. Fighting valiantly to breath. I tore the membrane away from its nose. But, no breath came. I rubbed and rubbed as vigorously as I could. It felt like forever. Finally the tiny foal drew a breath. Without a second thought I scooped him up in my arms and said "come on momma" and walked into the foaling stall. Taking into account I am about 5'6. He couldn't have weighed more than 60lbs. Amazingly once inside under lights we saw just how tiny he was. Despite fears over his slight stature and difficult first minutes, he proved us all wrong. He was bouncing and bold from that night on. We departed on a wonderful whirlwind of foals growing to weanlings and on into yearlings. Sadly one of our sweet mommas would not make it to see her offspring reach a year old....

December, of 2006. On a day, no different than any other, our two mares became ill. Not thinking too much of it, we brought them in from their pasture in the barn. We had a new shipment of hay come in early that week. Thinking they were mildly colicky we administered banamine and let them rest. When checked a hour later, both were quiet. No further signs of colic. By that night, it became clear that Aislen was feeling fine, but, Wyn was very dull.  I took her temp and realized then, it wasn't colic. Wyn had a VERY high temp. Actually nearing 106. We spoke with our vet and gave her more meds. I stayed with her and she remained dull all night. By 3 AM it was as if she didn't even know I was in the stall with her. Her temp finally broke. She then appeared unsteady. I spoke with the vets again. They felt due to the high temp that she was developing laminitis. They said to poultice her feet. As I struggled to do this, I figured she was uncomfortable bearing weight on the opposite leg. Later it would become clear why. Our vet arrived at 7AM to exam Wyn. When she did the rectal exam it showed an impaction and that her bladder was massive. She had not voided any urine on her own. She was still very dull. While waiting for the let to gather her supplies Wyn began to become listless and kept leaning on me. She kept pushing forward. Both the vet and I realized at that point she was suffering from a severe neurological problem. We attempted to walk her forward and the ataxia and head pressing became more pronounced. We paused for a moment to evaluate and consider a course of action. She stood in the corner pressing her head. On further exam we found she was blind. The situation deteriorated. I spoke with the insurance company to get consent for euthanasia. It was clear to the vet and I that she was profoundly suffering. With great sadness we put our sweet Wyn to sleep. She became ill at 4PM the evening before. By 10 the next morning we had lost her. Not even 24 hrs had elapsed. You're probably wondering at this point what would cause such a rapid death. We did everything we could. Wyn was released to Cornell University for necropsy. The state of NY tested for rabies. After all the testing, one lesion was found in her brain. Less that 2cm in diameter. There were no answers, only questions....

    After a very lengthy quarantine and testing of all the other horses, we were given an all clear. It was a huge blow for us, our business and our clients. The strict biocontainment precautions took their toll. But, we got through it without losing another horse.

    From there we have tried to move on. There will never again be a sweet momma Wyn. Her colt is now a 2 yr old chunky boy becoming a stallion. I have no regrets. She taught us to love this breed and there is no going back. As I am sure you all know, it is impossible to have just one. As our herd has expanded we have done everything we can to become educated about the breed. I wish I had before embarking on the journey. That is water well under the bridge now. With the start of this site I hoped to create one central location for information about cobs, vanners, tinkers, or any other name which one chooses to call them.

Again, I welcome you to our site. Please visit frequently, updates are done daily.