Wonder girls

For all of you who have kept me and  Flama in your prayers and thoughts, I am ELATED to report that not only did Flama recover beautifully from her uterine torsion surgery, but she carried her foal to 324 days and had an uncomplicated delivery of this simply lovely filly, Quiela.

After 5 weeks of being couped up in a stall post surgery, Flama has been so patient and as always, is a great mom.  Quiela and Flama are pictured here on Quiela's first morning.   I didn't know I could love Flama any more than I already did, but experiencing the nobility and strength that she handled this whole ordeal, I admire her more than I can even express.   This filly has beaten the odds and besides being a sister to Niza and Otamisia so that we know she will be gorgeous, undoubtedly, Quiela will be special in many other ways, too.

As any of you that know me can imagine, this period of change in my life is stressful and selling any of my horses that I had hoped to keep forever will be excruciating.  I hope all can understand that it makes it even more difficult to have people, all well-intentioned, writing to ask the whys.    I  need the income sales will produce and fewer horses so that when the time is such that I will be looking to move to a small place.  Therefore, please, no more offers of trades that are my initial responses to the new sales information on my website.  

Ibiza should be foaling next and soon.   Talk about a noble mature mare.    Her last two by Gitano were bays and her daughters, Isabelina and Hipolita both had bays by Gitano but for some reason, I feel like this one will be grey.  Is always fun to see if my "feelings/instincts" are correct or way off.   Either grey or bay, I bet I will love him/her!

(Quiela at about 9 hours of age:  grey)

Where did March go?

I was honored to have photographer Charles Hilton visit and take photos of some of the horses. This one of Gitano is my favorite of what Mr. Hilton has posted on facebook so far---we closed the end barn doors and it is hard to believe the result in bringing Gitano to the front light resulted in this that looks like it had to be photoshopped but wasn't! If you go to my facebook page, you can see some of the others that Charles has been kind enough to post and flag with my name.

Quimbara (Karateka x Gitano) and Quantico (Isabelina x Wanapum) are growing like crazy and the end of March, Conesa had a Prisca clone named Quintina. She may have a face prettier than Prisca's with a bigger eye, and the same miles of legs and movement that doesn't seem possible. Gentileza again outdid herself with a giant colt that has a Gitano pretty face with the big eye and who also looks like will be an exceptional mover. His name is Quebracho--thanks to Michele for coming up with that big, bold name that seems like this big boy required. And thanks to all of you who sent some Q choices for my name list.

In addition to the joy of the new arrivals, we had some challenges. It is never a good thing when the water well goes out and that enormous expense was nowhere in my already doomed budget. Poor Dolly had some type of birth complications and her colt died and we had to sedate her to pull as she stopped pushing mid-labor. Two days after that loss, Flama had a uterine torsion so we dashed across town to surgery and thankfully, the amazing Dr. Williams at Lone Star Park vet hospital was able to untwist and put her uterus and 10 month old baby back where they belong. We are sweating out how long Flama can carry and if the foal will be okay when born. How a big midline incision can hold up with the weight of this baby, I'll never know. Flama is bagging up and it isn't looking good to go to term but she has done beautifully since her surgery and adapted well to being stuck in the stall and only hand walked.

One of my friends keeps her mare here and we experienced the unfortunate situation of the mare having twins. After many hours of no sleep, pitching in of many friends, the colt was too weak to survive but the tiny premie twin filly is thriving and the star of the whole property. How that big of a personality fits into her tiny body, we cannot imagine. Her name is Milagra as her making it truly is a miracle. Perhaps next post I can include a photo of her minature self that is so darling, we can hardly stand it.

I am mourning the loss of one of my favorite people, Judy Fuller of Carver Mountain Farms in Arizona who passed in March. Judy was full of life and how she had such passion for her horses. Way back in my "B" years, Judy bought Bonica, and we were instant friends and she later bought Maja and Centello also. We were usually roommates at hotels where we traveled to the IALHA Board meetings back in the day we were active. We shared the aisle at a number of nationals and I visited Judy at her home in Arizona. Each memory reminds me of nothing but laughter and joy. A huge loss to the horse world and to the world.

Speaking of wonderful friends that came into my life through the horses, my unending thanks to Melinda and Tim who are again building a horse paradise and who have purchased Karina and Karateka. To see these gorgeous mares off this summer will be heartbreaking but I will bear it knowing they are going to the best home an animal could have. Also, huge thanks to Deb who bought Petra---Deb has bought or bred to mine so many times I have lost count. What a gift to have a great relationship with repeat buyers and mostly, knowing the horses going to places they will be treated so beautifully.

Ibiza and Flama will be the next two to foal. Will keep everyone posted. Happy spring, happy Easter and may we all have many more weeks of temperate climates and may summer be delayed!

Just for leap day/leap year

Quantico arrived this morning and I got some laughs--zen/calm mamma, Isa, was in no hurry to stand up after her daunting task of foaling this big colt. Even though the birth stall is rather spacious, Quantico decided best to go over mom than around her. Future eventer? Whatever his future, this colt is wondrous--mom's calm, with a hint of humor in his personality, long legs, nice bone and hopefully all that Wanapum is adding to his other offspring.

Being born on leap day, I considered naming Quantum but no, I just know his name is supposed to be Quantico.

Was fun to welome a colt after having 4 fillies in a row. Congrats and thanks to Hernan who bought Hipolita's foal in utero. Boy, talk about hitting the lotto! Hipolita's bay Gitano filly is spectacular. Leggy and looks like will be quite a special mover with lovely neck and head, very upright. A wow filly for sure. The owner chose the name Querendona which I think is lovely.

Next additions should be out of Dolly and Gentileza. Not getting flooded with Q name ideas so you all get to work!

Principe is on the van right now on his way to far into Canada and the Aussie girls leave tomorrow on their big adventure.

A gorgeous day so I am off to delight further in the newest male in my life. Special, special and what we look for in our men: funny!

February, 2012

How fast the last couple of months have gone! The last month complicated with moving mom into an assisted living facility and getting all the transition worked out. Hopefully, as time passes, the home will feel like home and she'll be safer and this move the best thing for her.

Paladin shipped to his forever home and thank you so much Susan for choosing our gentle giant. We are getting the international travelers ready for their journeys: Padma and Odalisca leaving in next two weeks to start quarantine to ship to Australia and Principe to go to Canada. It still boggles my mind how 20 years ago, I just wanted one andalusian and here I am, and with horses heading out all over the country and even to other countries----who would have ever figured?

This morning, our angel, Karateka, had a Gitano filly. Quimbara is her name and she will be tall, grey, big boned and she carries on the Estepa/Karateka/Marengo magic personality. This morning she laid in my lap and was breathing little foal breath like a baby snore. If there is anything better than the first few days of a new baby, I haven't discovered it yet!

Names starting with Q will be challenging this year so any name suggestions will be welcomed!

Thanks to Hector who bought Niagara in utero a few years back and now is buying Pippa to add to his breeding program. That I am honored by so many repeat customers is mind-blowing, too.

And special thanks to Melinda for the amazing and wonderful journey she and her horses and I have been on for many years. When Melinda took a temporary hiatus from horse business, I was fortunate enough to buy Karina. Now Melinda is back to having her own horses and place, and it is only fitting that she have Karina back. So this spring when the new barn is finished, Karina will be heading back to her other mom. To have had this mare over the years and experienced so many births has been a privilege---what a noble mare!

As I continue to figure out a plan to simplify and modify that is best for the horses and I, I am considering giving Dolly, the big belgian draft, away, only to a very special home. My mare page has info about Dolly and videos of her 3 babies so far. Dolly had a horrible start to her life and is NOT an easy mare and NOT for everyone. If someone did not have experience with horses, she would not be a good fit. However, I have enjoyed and had many laughs over her and been VERY happy with the babies she has had. I pretty much rescued her in 2005 so best guess is that she is about 11 years old. She does not have papers.

Dolly's first Gitano colt was Kobe, whose owner reports he is a love and a joy to be riding. Next, she had the gigantic Maghnus, one of the most outgoing colts ever, who looked like would finish over 17 hands. Last year, she had Gitano's Octavia, who is a pasture favorite and purchased by an excellent rider who sees her potential. Of course her foals by Gitano or Chulo have been registered as half-andalusians and eligible to show as such with the IALHA.

My plan is to wait until Dolly foals in March, I will keep and sell the foal. Then I will get Dolly back in foal so that when the March foal is ready to be weaned, she would be ready to go if a perfect new home popped up. If someone that has patience would take in this giant mare who does not want to be caught! We leave a loose neck band on to catch her. We keep her in a routine of coming to the gate to get fed, and then once in the gate, she lets us come up to her to turn her out after she eats. Once caught, her ground manners are fine, she loads and trailers and is easy to breed. She is happy living outside year round with all the other mares.

The foal she would be carrying when she would be ready to leave here in early summer could be the start of a half andalusian breeding program for the person willing to make Dolly a permanent part of their family. The baby would be the "reward" so-to-speak for adopting Dolly. If you know someone who may be like me in terms of getting the most pleasure in taking in horses that are a challenge, have them email me for more details. I honestly do love this mare after her 7 years of being with us. If she is meant to stay here forever, is okay with me and I'll know is what is meant to be if the perfect owner doesn't manifest. But in cutting back the number of producing mares I have, it seems as if she might be one that might be destined to go to a new home?

Hope you all had a happy valentine's day and enjoying the nationwide mild winter. Hipolita's and Isabelina's babies will be coming next. Will post then!

Kairo's arrived

Here is Kairo who arrived two days ago and is so quiet and calm, he is surpassing my wildest hopes for how I expected to receive him after his the long trip from Washington state. For me, a breeding stallion absolutely has to be easy to handle and be around and no doubt, this guy will be very Gitano-like in his sensible, people loving and pleasing way. It doesn't hurt to have this great mind in such a smooth package where all his pieces seem to fit magically together---wide chest, big bones, substance, and a long, long neck in what looks like will be a blue-black package. I am so grateful to Ami MacHugh, Kianto's and Wanapum's breeder, for entrusting me with this wonderful colt.

Ami previously won National Championships with Kairo's full brother, Klickitat and his full sister, Doña and hopefully, we will do the same in coming years with Kairo.

New and charming

Last night, my brother, my niece, Sara and her friend Kristen were spending the night and we were joined by Bielsa's new filly, Pippa. Photo'd here at 8 hours old, she is so gorgeous, calm and outgoing, we all were immediately enchanted. I let the girls choose her name and they chose Pippa, as in sister of Princess Kate. Just as the human Pippa took everyone's breath away when she appeared at the Royal wedding, we believe equine Pippa will also cause people to gasp and draw alot of interest.

Grey and the image of Wanapum, only with a much bigger and prettier eye than her sire has, Pippa has played with the girls, let newish dog, Myrtle, figure out the first foal born since her arrival, and laid in my lap forever in the stall. Bielsa is, as always, a calm and wonderful mother.

If there is something more fun than having foals, I would like to know what it is!

I am all wound up as my new black colt is in a trailer right now en route from Washington state to Denton. I thought nothing would be more exciting than his arrival, but now will be going back and forth between his stall and Pippa's and getting not much else done for the indefinite future.

I hope Habana will give me a few days before she has her Wanapum foal!

Fall update

At long last, it finally seems a little like fall and are we ever enjoying the lovely mornings.

We had great luck at the IALHA National Show. The first class of the show was PRE 2 & under fillies and our Niza, pictured here, won! On Sunday, under a different Spanish judge, Niza again won the 2 & under filly class and best overall young filly competing against the weanling, yearling and 3 year old winners and reserves.

Macanuo also had a good show. 3rd in the PRE 3 year old stallion class but first in the ANCCE 3 year old class and best overall young male against the weanling, yearling and 2 year old winners. He also won the 3 year old futurity class so I won $1,971.00 which sure helps on show expenses.

Wanapum got a mind-blowing 86 on his functionality test which is part of the 4, 5 and 6 year old PRE championship. He was therefore crowned Nat'l PRE Junior Stallion for functionality and ended up Reserve Nat'l Champ of the overall class.

Lots of other happy news, too. Welcome to Lisa and our new boarder, Chistoso. It is amazing that I just asked aloud that the right owners and horses would come for boarding and I've been so fortunate to have several people and horses that blend in beautifully. Perfeita headed last week to New Jersey and her lovely new owner called to describe how after her long trip, Perfeita unloaded to snow such that she must have thought she was arriving on a whole other planet! I am excited that Paladin was chosen by a fun sounding owner and will ultimately be heading to South Dakota, so he'll get to experience snow also!

Great friend Lesley Harrison was here after the show for a few days and then had a short visit with Sherry and Henry from Australia and Malen which I enjoyed.

Big news is that we today had Macanuo gelded. He is related to too many of my mares to justify leaving him a hormonal stallion not being bred often. All of the serious inquiries I have had would want a gelding so perhaps this will aid in his finding his perfect permanent home. He is such a dear personality with so many great conformational attributes that it was a tough decision. I think what tipped the scales was that now we have a few riding boarders, I can just imagine the fun Mac and Valente can have trailering and heading out on trail rides and schooling shows that just seem impossible with the stallions. So hoping to make a much better life for Mac, I took the veterinary step---my vet kept asking me if I was sure as he raves about how great Mac is! So a few weeks to heal and then under saddle he goes resulting in no-doubt a great riding horse.

The other big news is my new weanling colt from Ami MacHugh is heading my way this week. I haven't seen video, only a couple of snapshot photos and haven't met in person but I have no doubt I'll be in love before he even gets down the trailer's ramp. His name is Kairo and he is black, the son of Kianto and Alegria AK. His full siblings are awesome, including IALHA Nat'l champs, Klickitat and Doña. I have huge dreams of what he'll produce with some of my mares, including my Gitano daughters, Niza and Otamisia.

As if I needed anything else to look forward to, we are starting to watch Habana and Bielsa who should be foaling in the next couple of weeks.

Happy halloween to all and best wishes for your fall and beginning of winter to be mild and beautiful.