Scrapbook of Memories


Clipped Gold, chestnut Tennessee Walker mare, by Clipper o/o Golden Nirvana
I nearly sold this filly at birth, just because I didn't want a chestnut horse. Fortunately, I changed my mind, and "Goldie" grew up with a Welsh pony colt named Salt of the Earth and then lived out every day of her 30 years with me. The horse loved sugar cubes, people, foals, and cats. She had three female kitties whom she particularly liked: first Fantasy, then Jenna for almost 20 years, and in the end, Aramaic. She was an easy keeper, a trustworthy and capable mare who rode English and was trained to drive a cart, but who just as easily loped about bareback. Although she never had a baby of her own, she took delight in being the nanny for dozens of other mares' foals. By the end of her life, she had risen in rank to the lead mare of over 30 horses in the pasture, as her mother was before her. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in July 2002, Aramaic curled up on her shoulder.


WCh. Celestial Heaven, black Friesian mare, 16hh, Zeriath o/o Orlanda (3155 pts)
Known better as Nadalor (her mother's name scrambled), this mare was one of the sweetest horses I ever owned -- and I had her from birth to death (age 30). She was a beautiful dressage and driving horse, despite being blind in one eye, caused when she spooked on the trail and stuck it with a twig as a young mare. She was also a lovely broodmare, delivering 6 foals (Dark Side of the Moon, Celestial Arrow, Winter Celeste, Pretty Colors, Night Orison, Heaven's Breath), the last two being twins at age 26. She unfortunately rejected Night Orison, but he was raised by Briar Rose. Nad loved people and cats as much as she loved her foals, and a kitty could often be found sleeping on her back. In the pasture she was close to Spirit Mountain, Clipped Gold, and Briar Rose. Nadalor was incredibly sweet and friendly and never laid back her ears at anyone.


CCh. Thunder Warrior, red roan medicine hat Mustang stallion, 14.2hh (2465)
Thunder Warrior was a magnificent stallion from Thunder Ridge, one I grew to love almost as much as my dear Thunderwith. I first caught him at age 6, but kept him for only a few months before releasing him again, in an attempt to reduce my horse count. At age 15, he returned to me, bruised and bleeding, driven out of his herd. For the next 18 years, he was my treasured horse, though wary of all people except me. He was my friend, and greeted me with pricked ears and a nuzzle. He was gentle with familiar faces, but never lost his proud wild stallion personality. I used a saddle only for shows (he excelled in all things Western), and never rode him with a bridle -- he couldn't stand the bit. I always used a hackamore. We would go on long treks through the woods and fields, and his little legs had incredible stamina. He was also a wonderful stud, siring 11 foals (only 3 without medicine hats), 4 of which I kept: Rosebud Warrior, Thunderstorm, Winter Storm Warrior, and Warrior Princess. The others were Thunder Rose, Angel Warrior, Flame Warrior, Starry Eyed Warrior, Ghost Warrior, Moonshadow Warrior, and Awohali Giga. He died in his sleep at age 33, my oldest horse ever.


NCh. Clipped Image, chestnut Tennessee Walker gelding, 15.3hh, Clipper o/o Golden Nirvana (1790 pts.) Clipped Image got his name because he looked exactly like his sire -- except that his chestnut coat was clipped of his sire's pretty black. Because of this he was gelded, but he served me well as a trail horse. Whenever a horse escaped, I rode off on Image to find it, because he could navigate any terrain and had a ton of stamina. He was a friendly, gentle horse who loved being groomed and petted and got along with everyone. He was trained Western, and his best events were keyhole races and calf roping. He died in his sleep at age 32.


NCh. Briar Rose, red roan Mustang mare, 14.3hh, Thunderwith o/o Tiara (1720 pts)
Briar Rose was "my little baby mare," who never seemed to grow up. When she was a weanling, she escaped and was attacked by stray dogs. Her father drove them off until I arrived, at which point she rushed into my arms and buried her face, a habit she kept to the end of her life whenever she was scared or worried. She was a very sweet, unimposing mare who loved everyone, especially her foals -- she raised Rosebud Warrior, Thunder Rose, Maltese Falcon, Briar Patch and Sleeping Beauty, and also adopted Night Orison (rejected Friesian colt) right after Briar Patch was weaned. She was closest to her half sister, Spirit Mountain, as well as her niece (whom she was raised with), Black Fire. Like her mother, she excelled in both English and Western show classes, although the first time she wore a saddle my quiet filly reared straight up in protest, crashed backwards and broke the saddle. Briar Rose was named after a book, the retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story. Coincidentally, she loved berries and would wade into the middle of a large patch and nibble off the fruit without getting a scratch.


NCh. Black Fire, black Mustang mare, 15hh, Crown of Fire o/o Silver Hawk (1820 pts)
In her youth, Black Fire was a very feisty mare, who excelled in barrel racing but was prone to fighting the bit and once bucked me off so hard that I got a concussion. By age 16, however (she was sold at 6 and bought back 10 years later), she had calmed down and turned into a good riding horse, though she remained spirited enough to need an intermediate rider. In that case, she was a great trail horse, willing to go anywhere and able to stay out a long time. She also had several foals, for she was a splendid broodmare: Mountain Fire, Thunder Fire, Clouds of Fire (biological twins; Clouds of Fire was born to Princess Starr), Blacki and Flame Warrior.


CCh. Chieftain, buckskin Mustang gelding, 14.3hh, Thunderwith o/o Pebbles (2035 pts)

Chieftain was one of Thuderwith's early foals, but was nearly left in DAA when it closed. I bought him around the age of 20 as a rescue, and gelded him to lower the import cost, not realizing he had already sired four foals: Steal the Spotlight, Blacki, Chief Entado, and Immortal Thunder. Fortunately, he proved to be a very gentle and extremely trustworthy trail horse. He never acted up and carried himself like royalty. Chieftain was a spectacular horse who shall be greatly missed. Lost to old age July 17, 2003, at age 32.


NCh. Mountain Fire, bay Mustang mare, 14.2hh, Mountain Eagle o/o Black Fire (1850 pts)
Mountain Fire was bred by me, but I was coaxed/blackmailed into selling her to Nat as a weanling in order to get the job I wanted in a science class project. So, while I really loved the filly, then known as "Star" for her marking, I let her go. She lived there until she was nearly 20, when Nat planned to leave her in DAA. I quickly rescued her, where she proved to be a beautiful broodmare and trail horse. She was sweet and even-tempered and a joy to be around. Mountain Fire loved raising and being around foals, despite having only three in her life -- Skyfire, Fire Within, and Starfire. Lost to old age July 17, 2003, at age 30.


UCh. Little Frosty, red roan w/ blanket Appaloosa mare, 14.2hh, Little Eagle o/o Frosty Blue (5110 pts)
Little Frosty was one of the best horses I ever owned. Since her mother was known as "Frosty," she needed a different barn name, and I hit upon "Robin" because her sire was "Eagle," and her coat was a red roan. She was my most talented show horse and one of the most intelligent as well. As a filly, she learned all sorts of useful tricks, like unlocking stall and pasture gates, sliding under the fence to go off on adventures, flipping lights on and off, and lifting hats and wallets off of guests. It was these that led to her training in every discipline save driving and saddleseat (Robin hated all the straps that came with it). Throughout her long life, she bore six foals: Red Eagle early on, then Little Crow, and towards the end of her life, Frosted Dawn, Little Redbird, Little Bluebell, and Red Hawk. Redbird and Bluebell were naturally born twins, and she raised them both in perfect health. Even though she made a fine mother, she had too much joy in life to spend it all in the pasture. When it was time to wean the foals, she let them go, for she was ready to get back to the show ring, out on the trails, and catch up on everything she had missed. Robin loved people and was gentle to everyone. Her prescence on the farm is sorely missed, for Robin was one of a kind, irreplacable even by her offspring. Lost to old age at 30 on 9/11/03.


MCh. Dark Side of the Moon, black Friesian stallion, 16.2hh, Merlin's Black Magic o/o Celestial Heaven (4155 pts)
Dark Side of the Moon was one of the Backbarn Gang stallions, my first Friesian stud. He was a beautiful carriage horse but more importantly he was very kind. Darkie had a noble carriage and liked to stride around the pasture when cars went by, showing off his action. He was easy to control under saddle, never pulling at the bit or spooking. Darkie even let the cats sleep on his back in the stable. He sired three black fillies, two of the Warlanders named Forget the Sun and Bold Vision, and a purebred Friesian, Evening Song. He was my companion for all 30 years of his life, and it's hard to believe I'll never spend time in his company again. Lost to old age at 31 on 9/11/03.


CCh. Deep Dreamer, dark chestnut Thoroughbred stallion, 15.3hh, Recurring Dream o/o Day Dreamer (2915 pts)
I fell in love with Dreamer at first sight, bringing him home at age 2. He was already well-mannered by that time, an indication of his future easy manner. Even though he joined his group of friends later on, he was inseparable from them and was especially close to Dark Side of the Moon, with whom he briefly shared a pasture even back in DAA. Dreamer was livlier than his name suggests, being a splendid hunter/jumper before his knees gave out at age 20. He remained a pleasant and gentle mount, his favorite habit being to nibble on your hair when pleased. He sired one colt, Dreamstar, but there the line ends as the colt was gelded. Dreamer was another of the bunch that I'm sorry to see go. Lost at age 31 on 9/11/03.


CCh. Crowning Thunder, buckskin Mustang stallion, 14.3hh, Thunderwith o/o Tiara (2730 pts)
The parents of Crowning Thunder, better known as King, were two of my first and favorite horses of all time. This guy was much like his sire, though his coat was several shades lighter. King was one of my top stallions, because of his wonderful personality. He loved to be petted and talked to. He was a beautiful sight to see in the pasture, and few horses have ever matched him in cow sense. Darting, spinning and wheeling, he worked cows like an oversized sheep dog, anticipating their every move. He was also a fantastic reining horse, his strong muscles winning many a class with that impressive sliding stop. A ham in his youth, snatching hats and waving them around, he was really gentle and soon safe enough for anyone to ride, even bareback. He and I went for many rides in just a hackamore, his ears flicked back for the slightest command. He's a tough horse to replicate, but seven colts without a filly among them are his legacy: Avalon Myst, Free Thunder, Flyaway Thunder, Sovereign Spirit, Silver Pendragon, Golden Sovereign, and Odin. He died at age 30 on 9/11/03.


MCh. Unclipped Perfection, palomino Tennessee Walker stallion, 15.3hh, Clipper o/o Golden Nirvana (4530 pts)

What can one say about a horse like Dandy? He was special from the moment he was born, a splended palomino after his two chestnut siblings, hence his name. "Dandy" came from a comment on his color and personality within minutes of standing up: "He's jim-dandy!" Occasionally, he would jokingly be referred to as "Dandy-lion," though his temperament was anything but fierce. His sister was trained English like their father, his brother trained Western like their mother. Unable to decide, I started him Western and ended up training him in everything. He was one of our champion all-around show horses, excelling at every discipline (including driving, which he did quite well) except jumping. He inherited a lanky body from his sire, and so was clumsy while leaping, but that didn't detract from his other successes. On the ground, he was sweet and gentle, underscored by his kissing trick (licking your cheek). He loved to be petted and never so much as laid his ears back. Dandy grew up with his four buddies, the other stallions in the Backbarn Gang, and they all died within a month of one another. Dandy lived on for two more years, and because he was miserable by himself (and was sterile the last few years of his life anyway) he went to the main mare/gelding pasture, which lifted his spirits. Though Tennessee Walkers are not a prevalent breed, there were a few unrelated horses and he ended up with 3 foals: A spotted palomino, half Appaloosa filly named Frosted Dawn, and 2 purebred chestnut colts, Perfect Star and Clipped Cadet. He died at age 32 on 10/18/03.


WCh. Last Princess, buckskin Mustang mare, 14.2hh, Thunderwith o/o Tiara (3110 pts)
Full sister to King and just a year younger, Last Princess was a very quiet little horse. As we already owned a mare named Princess Starr, I couldn't call this filly Princess, and so her name instantly became Diadem (a synonym for tiara). Her three great loves in life were apples, sugar, and kids. Her mane was long and wavy, though her coat became incredibly shaggy in the winter, like a pony of the moors. She liked being petted more than being ridden, and tended to be lazy in the show ring. However, she liked to show off her particular trick: "Bang-You're-Dead." If you pointed your hand like a gun and yelled "Bang!" she would turn and run a short distance, then stop, fall to her knees, and drop on her side. She lay perfectly still for a few seconds, then scrambled to her feet and trotted back, very pleased with herself. Diadem never missed an opportunity to perform. She was also quite content to be a broodmare and spend time with the foals, five of which were her own: First Moon Thunder, Starcrossed, Kachina, Warrior Princess, and Naabesim. She died at age 30 on 10/18/03.


WCh. Rosebud Warrior, red roan medicine hat Mustang mare, 15hh, Thunder Warrior o/o Briar Rose (3390 pts)
Rosebud was the first of Thunder Warrior's many foals, but I sold her as a newborn along with her mother because I was trying to keep my number of horses under 30. I bought her back at age 10, and kept her the rest of her life. Though inclined to be shy, she was easily ridden with a halter and lead rope bareback, for she was very gentle. I always loved her perfect medicine hat coloring, something not many of our horses had, which made her stand out in the herd. She was an exceptional broodmare, and though half of her foals were carried by surrogates, she had six total: Overcast, Zafiro Corazon, Thunder Warcry, Dreamer's Requiem, Wild Rose, and Warrior Quest. Lost to old age on 11/23/03 at age 31.


CCh. Thunder Lady, palomino Mustang mare, 15hh, Thunderwith o/o Lady Barrister (2215 pts)
I bought TL as a newborn filly, because she was a brilliantly colored Thunderwith baby. I had no idea how much I would grow to love her -- she was one of the best horses I ever owned. A tragic trailer accident broke her front leg at age 2, but she mended and survived, though I had to give up on turning her into a cow horse. To avoid the stress that Western work would have put on her leg, she stuck to pleasure and trail classes, but she did well there too. Best friends with Silver Thunder, her half sister of the same age, I referred to the two as my silver and gold horses. She was both sweet and beautiful, and losing her was a terrible blow. Despite being one of the best, she had only one foal, a palomino filly named Twilight Gold who was sold and later tragically killed in a barn fire -- but not before she bore two of her own colts, MidKnight Twilight and Spotted Gold, to carry on the legacy. Lost to old age at age 30, 2/6/03.


WCh. Silver Thunder, dapple gray w/ black points Mustang mare, 14.3hh, Thunderwith o/o Silver Hawk (3210 pts)
As mentioned above, Silver Thunder was inseparable from Thunder Lady. "ST and TL" were their nicknames, some of the last horses to go by initials alone, and she was also friends with her baby half-sister, Final Thunder, making the trio "ST, FT and TL." ST was one of my best show horses, my youngest IAB, hitting the title at only 2 years of age (in DAA). Losing her was just as hard, perhaps harder because when TL had died the year before she seemed lost. For most of her life, though, she was bright-eyed and friendly, adored cats and working cattle. She also loved to go out on the trail, striding jauntily and tossing her head to hear the tack jingle. She loved being groomed and would nuzzle her groomer if their mind wandered from the task. She too had only one foal, the chestnut colt Copper Storm (quite unexpected, as his sire was a grulla pinto), who unfortunately was gelded early on. Lost to old age at age 31, 3/13/03.


CCh. Fire of Courage, palomino 1/4 Mustang/Missouri Foxtrotter gelding, 15hh, Quiet Courage o/o Care to Dance (2940 pts)
I bought him from Jo because he was one of the only two existing grandchildren of Spirit Mountain -- though here the line ends because he was gelded and his sister was spayed in order to cut costs on the move from DAA to HV. Nonetheless, within short order I grew to love the bold, adventurous palomino. Although he proved to be a good Western horse, he was best on the trail. A steadier mount could not be found for climbing the steep trails, and he had the stamina to go all day. Once Image died, he became my primary search-and-rescue mount to go look for missing horses. He loved people playing with his mane and forelock and always wanted cats lifted up to his level so he could nuzzle them. Fire will be greatly missed. Lost to old age at age 30 on 2/6/04.


RCh. Golden Hope, dark palomino Morgan mare, 15hh (1020 pts)
Hope came to me later in life, in her 20's, to save her from being exported. The beautiful and talented mare had accomplished a lot since she was one of the first Morgans in the club, originally owned by Jo. She was tolerant and patient of all riders, even little toddlers yanking on her mane and thumping her sides. She was an excellent broodmare. Mother to not only Indigo Gold (my first baby Morgan) but also Golden Suprise, Black Gold, Beyond Hope, and Hope in Indigo, she spent the last years of her life as a nursemaid to young foals and later nanny to the weanlings. Hope was a beautiful example of the Morgan breed, which she has passed down to her numerous descendants. Lost to old age at age 31, 3/13/04.


WCh. King's Spanish Lady, black Andalusian mare, 15hh (3235 pts), King o/o Amiga
I bought her, along with her mother, as a 2 y/o filly in order to keep some of my favorite Andalusians in the club. I had no idea how much I would come to appreciate her prescence, but she ended up being one of my most-loved horses. Lady was always easy to catch and loved to be ridden, and she developed her dressage skills excellently, rivaling my Friesians and surpassing the Thoroughbreds. Spirited in her youth, she quieted down with age though she could never quite give up the habit of picking up grooming tools and throwing them into the aisle to torment unsuspecting grooms. She did like grooming, and looked gorgeous with her long mane and tail braided up. Her one foal, carried by a surrogate mare and born after her death, was the bay colt Spanish Winds. Lost to old age at age 30 on 3/13/04.


WCh. Dreamstar, black Thoroughbred gelding, 16.1hh (3150 pts), Deep Dreamer o/o Princess Starr
Dreamstar, a beautiful black gelding, had one slight quirk -- he refused to be parted from his best friend since birth, Spooky Fox. The two shared a pasture until Dream's death, rarely separated for longer than it took to finish a few classes at a show. Fox was less attached, but still tolerated the gelding. Dream had a beautiful arch to his neck and a trot that was like floating on air. He had a soft and glossy coat, and loved getting attention from passing admirers...although he also liked to rub his forehead against you, leaving white hairs all over your shirt from his star. Also, unlike most of our Thoroughbreds, he was a great horse to take out on the trail. Lost at age 31 on April 19, 2004.


WCh. Blacki, black Mustang gelding, 15.1hh (3385 pts), Chieftain o/o Black Fire
Poor Blacki was born sightless, blind throughout his life. This never stopped him from becoming a riding horse, though -- he just relied on his other senses, especially his extremely sensitive, cat-like whiskers. He was ridden on trails as well as Western pleasure classes. Blacki loved people and relished attention -- whenever he sensed someone nearby in the pasture, he would push his way over to nuzzle them for a pat. Lost at age 30 on April 19, 2004.


MCh. Krycek, chestnut Thoroughbred gelding, 16.2hh (3800 pts), Oscar o/o Outermost Galaxy
Krycek was a sometimes-stubborn, strong and willful horse who generally needed a firm hand to keep him under control. He had a particular grudge against Spooky fox -- as a colt, he arbitrarily snapped viciously at him one day while walking past Fox's stall, and so now Fox responds in kind whenever he sees Krycek. Gelding Krycek did not solve the problem, so they were just kept as far apart as possible.
Even on his own, Kry had the bad habit of snapping when worked too long and gotten tired of repetition. Krycek didn't like the trail either, preferring the sturdy dirt of the arena under his hooves and the familiarity of the ring. Since he would toss his head back, gnaw at the bit, and spook for no reason, he usually gots his wish to stay out of the woods. He was a great show horse, though, because he loved to travel. He was a beautiful showjumper and dressage horse, movements tight and sharp, and put on a very good performance every time. Lost at age 30 on April 19, 2004.


WCh. Das Marchen, strawberry roan 1/4Mustang/Missouri Foxtrotter mare, 15hh (3900 pts), Quiet Courage o/o Fairy Dust
March was a sweet and dreamy old mare. She never had a foal, being spayed early on to reduce importing costs (she was a grade, after all), but she loved the little babies. In the pasture she liked to nibble flowers (or have them braided into her mane), and would wander along the fenceline gazing into the distance as if reading stories in the clouds. She also enjoyed lying down to sleep on her side in the grass. Simply adorable, March was easy to handle and very, very gentle with everyone. Lost to old age on May 30, 2004, age 33.


MCh. Spooky Fox, red chestnut Thoroughbred stallion, 16.2hh (4735 pts), Moonchaser o/o Robin
Spooky Fox, named after Mulder on the X-Files, was a beautiful jumper. With gleaming red coat, he flew over poles and brush fences alike, all with ease. He had a strange penchant for sunflower seeds, and though he didn't like other horses (except for the gelding he tolerated, Dreamstar), or being petted, he did like getting rigorous exercise, especially over jumps. Fox was a freeze-baby, always needing a blanket, but he was my second Thoroughbred stallion (after Deep Dreamer), and a joy to own. He sired two colts in his last year, the chestnut Forest Fox and black Midnight Fox. Lost at age 32 on May 30, 2004.


UCh. Starbuck, chestnut Thoroughbred mare, 16.2hh (5765 pts), Oscar o/o Outermost Galaxy
Named after Scully on the X-Files, Starbuck was an excellent hunter/jumper. She had only one foal, chestnut colt named Forest Fox. Sometimes she was flighty, but she calmed down after listening to classical music, and she loved cats. Starbuck also loved standing under a spray of water from the hose. She was a sweet-tempered, beautiful specimen of a Thoroughbred. Lost at age 31 on July 6, 2004.


WCh. Final Thunder, buckskin tobiano Mustang mare, 15hh (3755pts), Thunderwith o/o Spanish Sky
It was a sad day when we lost her -- pretty FT, the last horse directly sired by Thunderwith. She was a beautiful mare, very sweet. Sometimes she was inclined to be lazy, preferring to laze in the pasture than be ridden or petted, but in general she was well-behaved. She served as lead mare of the pasture for the last few years of her life, sweet and willing. She loved being handwalked down the trail to play in the water of the small lake therein. FT would plod along after you quiet as could be. She never raised her own foal, but she liked fostering the babies during weaning time -- including the one she never knew was her own. With help from a surrogate mare (Ghostly Echo), she finally had one foal, Thunder Quest. Lost at age 33 on July 6, 2004.


Nostalgia, white curly-coated donkey gelding, Harlequim o/o Bermuda Triangle
Nostalgia was a wonderfully sweet old donkey. He loved people and being petted, and would stand with his head hanging in your arms. He especially loved little kids, and since he was too small for adults to ride, he was often turned over to kids. He tolerated everything, including having his ears pulled down and whispered into as well as feet thumping into his sides to make him run (he was ridden with just a halter and lead rope). Nostalgia (or "Noss") was also trained as a pack animal for camping trips, and did a splendid job. He was raised with Little Birdie, and treated her colt Little Devil like his own.


Little Birdie, brown curly coated burro jenny, Harlequim o/o Rosa
Little Birdie (LB) was named on a whim, after a quote on TV show Zoom ("He's a lit'le birdie..."). She was a sweet little donkey, somewhat shy, who nonetheless made an excellent pack animal. She had one little brown colt, by Damaging Devil: Little Devil. Although she wasn't very affectionate with people, she loved the other donkeys in the pasture, preferring their company to that of the horses.


Little Devil, brown curly coated burro gelding, 11.3hh, Damaging Devil o/o Little Birdie
Little Devil was a funny character, almost as entertaining as old Nostalgia once was. LD would take up a large ball in his teeth and carry it around like a trophy for several minutes before he put it down to play. He was an easy-going donkey, with never a care in the world other than to show up to have his withers and forelock scratched and munch on a carrot every so often. Too small to ride, he was only green-broke and never trained to wear anything beyond a halter. However, he was friendlier than his pal Jezebel, with a peculiar grunt all his own, something between a pig and a dog, to let you know when he was really pleased with himself. If he felt he wasn't getting enough attention, he would sneak up behind you and gently administer a headbutt, then push his head beneath your hand in hopes of receiving a solid rubdown. He was a cute little pet, and will be remembered as the last donkey on the farm after owning two generations more than 40 years. He died at age 30 on 9/11/03.


Jezebel, brown curly coated burro jenny, 12hh, Damaging Devil o/o Rosa
Jezebel wasn't really a bad donkey, she was merely named with her sire's characteristics in mind. Her mother was cranky, though, and very strict, so that Jezebel grew up timid and trying extremely hard to please. Some of her shyness was tempered by Little Devil, with whom she grew up, enough to let her come up to me, but crowds always unnerved and made her retreat to the back of the stall or a corner of the paddock, head down and ears drooping. "Jez" was more of a pet than anything else, too small to ride, though she was trained to pack. Jezebel liked to play in the snow and chase the birds that dared land on the ground. Her quirk: a love/hate relationship with her stall. She wanted to go in every night, but had to be let out early in the morning to keep her from braying her head off. My little Jezebel died at age 30 on 9/11/03.


Crash and Burn, black Mule gelding, 13hh, Damaging Devil o/o No Sin To Win
Crash and Burn was one of three mules I bought from DQ when they were around 3 years old -- the only mules in the history of the club, until Jo got Eva. Dark Devil, the chestnut, was killed in a trailer accident soon afterwards, leaving me with 2 black mules, quite different in appearances but best friends. Crash was the bigger of the two, defying logic since his mother was a Gotland pony. Crash loved to eat thistles, but definitely deserved his name, being a bit of a clumsy oaf. Nevertheless, he earned his keep for a number of years as a plow animal, sowing hay crops at Willow Wind. He had a kindly disposition and could handle pretty much anything that came his way. Despite a generally coarse conformation, his homeliness made him endearing, and he had a way of bobbing his head up and down that made him seem as if he agreed with everything being said. He was trained to ride under saddle, and though he was only pony sized he made a pretty good trail horse, and even entered in show classes for a number of years (placing pretty regularly). Lost to old age July 17, 2003, at age 30.


Auster, black Mule gelding, Damaging Devil o/o 007, 12hh
Auster was always my favorite of the three mules, because he was close-coupled (despite being half draft) and reserved, unlike Crash. With a mealy muzzle offsetting his black coat, he was a very handsome animal, and went well under saddle, although he retired from the show ring after he took IAB in DAA. He was an excellent pack animal, very agile and sure footed, and since he didn't really get ridden he found ways of amusing himself in the pasture, like racing the dogs and chasing butterflies, plus having a daily roll in the grass. When he did get special attention, he liked having his long ears stroked, after which he would whinny appreciatively and jauntily shake his head.


Abby, black/white female Llama, Cornado o/o Nakia
Abby, the first llama I'd owned for quite some time, fit very well into the pasture. She had thick, beautiful fur, and loved to have it brushed and stroked. She loved little foals, craning her long neck down to greet them, or going out on the trail, ponyed behind loose or carrying packs. Llamas really do make great pets -- Abby was always friendly, inquisitive and charming, and never even dreamed of spitting at anyone. Lost at age 12 on April 19, 2004.


Ragamuffin, black/tan female (s) Airedale Terrier (30 pts)
When I ran the shelter in DAA, poor Ragamuffin lived there for 3 years, unwanted. I named her for her street-dog attitude and her tousled fur. Finally, I couldn't resist any longer and brought her home to live with me, where she fit right in with the Collie brothers, Dollar and Lira. She loved to play and dance about, and she was forever sticking her head underneath your hands, forcing you to pet her unique, wiry fur or else rub her belly. Outdoors, she spent her days in the woods, usually by herself, before coming in at night to chew on her rope toys. She was a great friend and a sweet little dog.


Dollar, red merle male Collie, Mack o/o Peso (45 pts), and Lira, blue merle male Collie, Mack o/o Peso (25 pts)
Dollar and Lira were littermates whom I got free from qh_person when they were little puppies, to replace Bumblee when he died. Bumblee took delight in playing with them and raising them as if they were his own, and he helped train them in the ways of horse-herding. They formed a working team and were rarely found apart. When not working, Dollar was the sillier one, and since he was only about 40 pounds he liked to climb into your lap and curl up with his head under your chin. Lira preferred to play games, especially fetch with a tennis ball, and loved to tumble through the snowdrifts.


Ch. Yen, blue merle female Collie, Mack o/o Peso (105 pts)
Although I didn't get Yen until she was 16, I was fortunate enough to own her until she was 23. Yen was reserved at first, and spent more time with her brother Franc (who arrived with her), she turned into a fantastic herding dog as well as a great obstacle course. She loved to be petted and have her ears scratched as much as she loved to pay fetch. I was never extremely attached to her, but she was a very pretty dog.


Ch. Franc, red merle male Collie, Mack o/o Peso (115 pts)
Franc came in with Yen at age 16. Out of the four siblings, Franc was always my least favorite because he was so set in his ways. It took him nearly a year before he would consent to come inside, and he was set in his ways and didn't take kindly to being uprooted from his former home. Fortunately, he came around...because he lived to be almost twice that age. He was 30 when he finally died in his sleep. Not only did he live as long as many of my horses, twice the normal lifespan for a dog, he broke the Guiness World Record. Franc was a good dog, at any rate, very well trained. After Yen died, he struck up a working partnership with Shep, but was never really close to any of the other dogs. At that point, he decided he might as well consider me his ally, and made a habit of greeting me whenever I walked through the door. In old age he spent a great deal of time by the fire, like a cat, where he learned the beauty of the belly scratch. Lost 10/18/03.


September Winds, red male Irish Setter, Red October o/o Oceana (80 pts), and Ch. Sweet November, red female Irish Setter, Red October o/o Oceana (100 pts)
September and November were an easily recognizable duo, their long red fur sticking out in the woods. I got them as puppies and kept them their whole lives, until they were 20 years old. September was rambunctious and earned the "winds" part of his name because of the way he never stopped moving. He was always racing about, sniffing around and exploring the forest and taking dips in the pond. At home, he loved belly rubs, and even a pat on the head sent him down on his side, tail thumping in hopes of a tummy scratch. November preferred to have her silky face stroked, and then go outside to play soccer. The dainty dog was very talented and could dribble it with her paws as well as headbutt it forward if it was kicked toward her. She was a good partner for practice, because she loved to race after stray balls and bring them back.


GCh. Shep, sable and white male Rough Collie (355 pts)
Shep was the third generation of farm Collies; I found him in the shelter back in DAA and knew he'd be the perfect replacement for Dollar and Lira. He didn't disappoint me -- he was extremely intuitive, almost better than the brothers had been. Although he wasn't as friendly with the horses as Bumblee had been -- he looked upon them as charges rather than playmates -- he did his work excellently and was protective of them all. He came to every horse show and lay in front of the stalls, wagging his tail and panting happily, though secretly always on guard. He was the first of my dogs to sire his own pups, and with Natalie's coltriever Goldenrod, he sired eight beautiful puppies, three of which we kept -- he was only 10 at the time, and so had plenty of years to work alongside them. They helped to ease the burden of his passing. Lost to old age at 20, on 2/6/04


Kitomi, grey female Oriental Longhair/Japanese Bobtail, Chizaar o/o Chibi (75 pts) Kitomi was a very strange, unfriendly cat. The rest of her family were pleasant cats, but she was aloof and strictly solitary. She drove away any other felines that came near her and darted away from human hands. She carried a profound disdain for all life on earth, except for a Friesian mare, Celestial Arrow, an equally strange horse. Horse and cat were an inseperable item. Along with stalking and killing field mice (and leaving them where they fell), another of Kitomi's odd habits was lying on the windowsill and looking at the stars for hours.


Ch. Maneki, red/white male OLH/Japanese Bobtail, Chizaar o/o Chibi (145 pts) Maneki means "good luck" in Japanese, but his name was often changed to "Monkey" because of his dexterious paws, which he used to open up cupboards and take food when he was hungry. He looked up to Pumpkin, and though he was afraid of the horses he sometimes ventured down to the barn if Pumpkin was there. Maneki was a fluffy, teddy-bear cat who just loved people and often climbed into your lap, pushing aside books and newspapers to press against your chest so that you could not ignore him. He loved to be petted and praised.


Kitty, pale silvery grey female OLH/Japanese Bobtail, Chizaar o/o Chibi (30 pts) and Tigra, calico female OLH/Japanese Bobtail, Chizaar o/o Chibi (30 pts)
Tigra and Kitty were always found together. The two sisters were never apart until Tigra died at age 20, leaving Kitty on her own for a year. They were usually found curled up on the coach in a pile of fur that appeared to have 8 legs sticking out in all directions. They were very close to their mother, who affectionately washed their faces on a daily basis. They also liked to chase a yarn ball and their stuffed mouse, holding races to see who could catch it first. Kitty was the snugglepuss who loved to be cuddled and talked to like a baby, while Tigra was more adventurous. She liked to follow grooms around the barn, batting loose hay in the aisles. She was otherwise known as "Otter Cat," because she not only liked splashing in water, she would jump into the horses' water tank on hot summer days and swim around in it!


Ch. Aramaic, black female (s) Turkish Angora (140 pts)
Aramaic showed up at the shelter one day as a young cat, dirty and homeless, but with an undeniable amount of self-esteem. She was down on her luck, but she pretended not to know that, and acted as if she had ever luxury she could want. Seeing her natural beauty, I adopted her, and she quickly became one of my most memorable cats. She was one of those special horse favorites, like Fantasy and Jenna, and spent a considerable amount of time in the barn and stables, visiting the horses. She knew them all, and took afternoon naps in the sun on the backs of her favorite mares. Somehow, she managed to fit in time at the house, where she led the group of cats like a queen, making newcomers welcome and keeping peace and order among the existing members. Aram would sit on my lap for hours when I was sick, purring away, to make me feel better. She was the first purebred cat to live on my farm, and she left a deep impression on me. Many cats have come and gone, but Aram sticks out as one of the best all-around companion cats.


Caprona, white female (s) Oriental Shorthair (10 pts)
Caprona, named after an Italian city, was found as a stray at about 2 years of age. She sat unwanted in the pet center (with the two cats below) for a very long time, unwanted, until it came time to go to Hidden Valley. Then I took home all of the unwanted cats in the shelter, including her. At first she was aloof and stand-offish, but as time went by she warmed up to me. She was afraid of shadows overhead (they sent her streaking for cover), but otherwise she liked to be outside. Avoiding the barn, she preferred to climb the trees just outside the house and demanded attention indoors. She was a sterotypical cat -- she sat on your lap and stood on top of newspapers and craftily knocked books out of your hands in order to free you up to pet her. She had an extremely loud purr, one of the rumbling variety that you could feel when she sat on your lap. Caprona was also very agile, and liked walking along the mantle, winding through the plates on display there. Lost at age 21 on 2/6/04.


Casper, white male (n) DSH (60 pts)
Casper was adopted from the shelter after quite some time, but he fit right into his new home. Bold, adventurous, and unafraid of the dogs, he liked to stalk them and pounce on their tails, a game of which he never tired. However, they tolerated him and allowed him to sleep beside them...even when he groomed their faces, washing their apparently dirty muzzles with his tiny pink tongue. He also loved to bound out into fresh snow with his buddy, Blackbear, and then come inside for chin scratching and other forms of attention. Lost at age 20 on 2/6/04.


Blackbear, black and white male (s) DSH (75 pts)
Blackbear was so named (by his first owner) because he was playful and clumsy like a bear cub. Since he grew up with perpetual winter in northern Minnesota, he loved winter days. He would sit by the window and watch snow fall for hours, bounding out into the snowdrifts as soon as he was allowed. He was very independent and thought nothing of leaving the property for a whole day to go exploring and climbing trees in the woods, but he always returned in time for dinner. Finally, he was an attention hog -- and vocal about it. He had to be picked up and cuddled every night, or he got rather grumpy and apt to take a swipe at your ankle to remind you he still existed, but he was really a love bug. He especially loved to have his meticulous groomed, silky fur brushed. Lost at age 20 on 2/6/04.

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