No Butts About It....

these girls are FABULOUS!!! :)
(Paula, Bambi, and Baby on 12/7/08)

Welcome Home Fabian!

I just can't thank Linda and Barry Cole enough for giving me the opportunity to own this colt. They could have certainly sold him, with his pedigree, looks, and gorgeous coloring, but instead they chose to allow me the opporunity to raise and show this fine young colt. I also should say this is a welcome home for his momma, Seeker! It is soooo good to have her back home. I've had her for almost 4 years now, and missed her easy-going, quietly dignified personality over the last year or so. The Coles took such outstanding care and saved Seekers life. Without their dedication Fabian would not be here today.

Seeker is being considered for the local 4H program in Peculiar. We are working out the details on a lease to ensure this special mare is well cared for and I'm sure she will enjoy all the attention from the children. When she's done with the program she'll come back to me. Maybe by then the market will have improved and I can breed her to Eddie once again for another fabulous foal like Fabian :)

Fabian is going through a bit of an awkward stage right now, but watch out for this boy come spring! I love his quiet attitude, in addition to his other attributes. He's going to be a very fun boy to show! I can't wait!!

Baby's Progress

Just thought I would update everyone on Baby as well. She is coming along very well. I tell myself I have to be patient--she went through so much in her short life that it's going to take her years to recover fully, if she ever does. Right now she is healthy, steadily gaining and growing, and has the CUTEST personality every. She loves people, but she sure stands her ground against the other horses! Her tendons are still a little tight but so far she's doing well on pasture and we're sure watching her diet closely. It's going to be a tightwalking act for probably another year at least between her growth and watching those front legs, but thankfully the experience I gained down in Texas with leg issues is coming in very handy now, and hopefully Baby will be big and strong when she grows up!

The Transformation

Most anyone who knows me knows the story of Bambi and what a terrible waste it was, that ate away at me constantly, for her to end up all but dead at two months old. If it wasn't for the kindness of my good friend Darlene Worthington, I am sure that Bambi would be dead today. Here is how she looked at two months old:

I was heartbroken that someone, a person who I thought would appreciate this foal maybe more than most, would allow this to happen simply because she lacked the humility to say "I screwed up and I need help feeding my horses." I was angered because my gut had told me not to let this happen, but I traded hope for judgement and let things fall into place. Now looking back, it was a terrible situation, but Bambi was absolutely worth every bit of heartache and B.S. we had to go through to save her. Here she is, pictures taken on 12/7/08, just being her lovely self out in the pasture:

Doesn't even look like the same horse, does it? Amazing what 7 months of just proper basic care will do. Well, that and love. As mad as I was about the situation, now I feel blessed to now own this amazing filly. She has completely blown everyone who knows her away--not only by her amazing recovery but just what a truly outstanding filly she has become. She's gorgeous, and has a very cute, sweet temperament that makes everyone fall in love with her when they meet her. How lucky am I not only have bred but now own such a great filly?!?! The situation surrounding how I came about owning her completely sucked (no other way of describing it) but however it happened, I feel very lucky to be able to now call this filly mine :)

Maybe Baby

I got the most wonderful email yesterday from the lady who, 2 years ago now, had purchased Maybe, Eddie's 2006 filly out of Triples Paintd Chick, a mare I lost when Maybe was only 6 weeks old. Pictured above is Maybe, all grown up. My friend adopted Maybe out to a good friend of hers so she could go on to bigger and better things. She is currently being started under saddle and has been given a new name: "Treasure." Looks like Treasure has certainly been treasured both by her former and present owner. She looks fantastic and it is heartwarming to see that a "little" orphaned filly out of a 14.2H mare (if that) can grow up to be such a big, gorgeous mare. I am very proud of Treasure--her balanced frame, good legs and feet. Most of all, though, it is so nice knowing that a horse I bred is out there being enjoyed, well cared for and loved. Thanks so much to Stephanie and Lucy for taking such good care of Treasure!

With a little help from my friends....

Earlier last year I traded Bambi's dam, Cilla for a gorgeous 21 year old ROM producing broodmare named Crazy (who is now owned and being spoiled rotten by my good friend Vicki Morgan). I also sold Seeker, my deaf splash overo mare whom I've had seemingly forever, to the same wonderful people--Gary and Linda Cole. Well, during the whole chaotic mess with me getting divorced and moved to Texas, someone picked up the wrong horse and Linda thankfully worked it out to get Seeker back. However, when she did get Seeker, she had a huge abscess that eventually took off her entire back hoof! We have no idea where or how this happened, but Linda performed a miracle and brought Seeker through it all! Of course with Seeker in considerable pain she did consider euthanizing her, but when Seeker was checked in foal and evaluated, the decision was made that there was a chance they could save two lives here. In order to pay for all the expensive treatments Seeker needed at K-state Linda was forced to sell Cilla. It was not her fault at all what happened to her and Bambi. I actually knew the person they were sold to and hoping to give her the benefit of the doubt that she would properly care for them I said nothing to Linda. Linda has done nothing but taken amazing care of my girls and I will be forever in her debt for saving not only Seeker's life, but the life of her foal, who, pictured above, is clearly quite a save!! :)

Seeker now has both her back hooves, and is sound thanks to Linda's dedication and hard work! Ever since she sent me pictures of Fabian (Seeker's colt) I just haven't been able to get him out of my mind (much like when I first saw Eddie). I have been pathetically in love with him! Well, Santa came early this year and Fabian will now be mine if I can work everything out! Angela Rhodes has graciously offered to help with setting up a temporary place for him. I truly cannot wait to start fitting both him and JJ for halter and lungeline!! They will be quite a team.

I just can't thank all my friends enough for all their help and keeping my horses all safe. Linda, Darlene, Vicki, Kim, Kristi--all of you have done so much for me, more than I know I deserve! :) I am so honored to call you all friends, and so grateful to you for always doing the right thing for all my "kids."