Visitors to the Farm

Occasionally we get calls from people interested in "seeing" the Arabian breed up close and personal. We are members of the Mentor program and the Discovery Farm program through the Arabian Horse Association. A few days ago a woman who had never owned a horse but has taken lessons off and on for 20 years had started thinking about purchasing her own horse. She was intrigued by Arabians as they were so beautiful and so personable, so she heard. She has also heard that they were hot and difficult to manage and train. She called, almost apologetically, asking if she could come out and "meet" our horses.
After a several hour drive from parts unknown, Rhonda arrived at the farm. She was so excited to meet the horses and just watch me work and be around them. It was feeding time, so it was a bit chaotic at the gate! I told her that after the dust settled we would go in and play with the horses and get to know them a bit. I told her it was going to be up to her to tell me who is the Arab and who isn't! She was very excited and up to the challenge. We went through horse by horse and in true form my Arabs were having an "in your tent" day. Beauty was first up and last at the gate and as usual a constant! She followed us everywhere and helped to introduce Rhonda to everyone and decide who Rhonda was allowed to pet and who she wasn't. It was actually quite comical.
Rhonda asked about the foals and the stallion. She had seen the website and wanted to see KKoi. She said it like he was a movie star and untouchable. Well, that is what she had expected, for him to be untouchable. He is turned out with 6 babies and his “wife” Patience. Once again, in true Arabian form we were very shortly surrounded by foals of all colors and sizes. Rhonda commented that while her knowledge of foals was somewhat limited, she never dreamed she would have all of them vying for her affections and that each and every one of them would have such a distinct personality. KKoi, of course was like one of the foals, asking to be petted here and scratched there. After an hour or so of loving on each and every one of the foals and scratching every itch KKoi may have the sun was going down and it was time for Rhonda to end her visit to our farm and begin her long journey home.

I believe that for Rhonda, like so many others we have seen here “meeting” our horses, they leave with a whole different appreciation of horses in general and Arabians specifically. Below is her note that she sent to thank us for her visit. I touched me and I asked if I could share it so here it is:

Pam,

Thank you so much for your time and advise about Arabians. You truly have an excellent insight into the breed and the important aspects of their character that should be passed on. I am thoroughly impressed with both you and your horses. They are intelligent, friendly, kind-hearted, and beautiful. You are definitely doing the Arabian breed a singular service by passing on KKoi's progeny with such remarkable traits. I do hope that I'll get a chance to come up again and help out around the farm. You run an outstanding operation. I know you will continue to turn the horse world on their heads.
Kudos' Pam,

Rhonda

Back From The Maryland Futurity and the BRAHA Show

What a time we had at the Maryland Futurity and BRAHA fall show. We had three trailers full of horses and a "School of KKoi" attend the event. All of our weanlings were shown to perfection by the various kids from the barn. Our breeding program is centered around two major factors: breeding for correct conformation AND breeding for able-minded, easily manageable, amateur friendly horses. Well guess what? After our results in the classes we entered, our breeding program spoke to us through our placings. Remembering that our babies were shown by kids, we are very proud to report that we had the winner in the Sport Horse In Hand class as well as 3 other places. Then the kids tried their hands at Halter Handling which is basically a trail class in hand where the horses are led over, under, through and around various obstacles at the walk and/or trot. Well, we took 5 of the top places in that class as well. Not to mention the Champion Futurity Halter Handling ribbon as well as the Reserve Champion Futurity Halter Handling ribbon. What a proud day it was for papa KKoi. As I stated earlier, it was mentioned that there was a "School of KKoi" coming!

After running around all morning with a group of weanlings the girls were tired but all geared up to do some riding. With a collection of 23 ribbons under their belts from the morning session they were anxious to see what else they could accomplish. After being near the first to arrive and certainly the last to leave, the girls managed to pull in an additional 18 ribbons on their own horses. Way to go girls!! While it was a very tiring day, the times of camaraderie, showing their favorite foals and winning trunk fulls of ribbons will surly not be forgotten anytime soon. Thanks Girls for a great day!

Last one born

We're very pleased to announce the arrival of Zaheera's baby and our final foal of 2007. After waiting and delaying their departure for the East Coast Championship show for as long as possible, Pam and Debbie finally left on Wednesday morning, without seeing Zaheera foal out. So off they went to the show, the kids went off to play with their own horses, and our dedicated barn mom, Lori, took off to pick up one of her summer charges at camp.

She was quite surprised to get a call from her daughter Megan shortly after she left the farm, announcing that Zaheera had decided to foal, outside, in the middle of the paddock. Lori raced back to the farm as fast as she could, but not before Megan and the other girls helped Zaheera give birth to a tiny, purebred Kkoi baby. Fawn, as I think we're calling her for the moment, is doing just fine, despite her tiny size and should be able to go back out with the rest of the babies soon.

Weaning has already begun, with Harmony, Ben, and Nani being weaned last week. Fortunately, the babies took to it well, and are now living with their Dad, Kkoi, as a babysitter. The mares didn't like weaning so much though, and both Missy and Lacey spent several days worrying over the welfare of their kids.

And finally, East Coast Championships is off to a great start. Pam and EF Kklassique Beauty is now the East Coast Top 5 Junior Sort Horse Under Saddle. Big congrats to Pam and Beauty!

Still waiting...

Zaheera, our last mare to be due, is still pregnant! Although we're sure she'll deliver any day now, we're just dying of anticipation here. She hass lovely old breeding that is hard to find these days, and her foal will be the last Kkoi baby of 2007. So, while we're waiting, we'll share the following poem about Zaheera by Nikki Zuleger...

Zaheera's Soul

If seconds turn into minutes, and minutes into hours
then hours turn into days, then days turn into week's
and week's into months. Months into years.
Imagine what the world would be if everyone
made every second count.

Region 15 Top 5 and Reserve Champion

We’re very pleased to announce that EF KKlassique Beauty was named Region 15 Top 5 and Reserve Champion Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse at Region 15 Championships in Lexington, Virginia. The show was long, hot and tiring, but in the end, the results were worth it. Beauty had qualified in Sport Horse in Hand, Sport Horse Under Saddle and Dressage, and showed well in all three events. But it was in the under saddle class that she really shone.

The class was sizeable and very competitive, with most of the horses having the benefit of a full year over Beauty. The judge clearly saw something special, though, and we all had our hearts in our throats as the Top 5 and finally Reserve Champion was announced. Although Beauty and Pam had shown very well, there were still a few bobbles with the number of horses that were in the ring. The judge clearly loved her though, and we shouted with excitement when her name was announced.

Beauty was one of Kkoi’s first foals and has had all her training, love and attention at Evergreen Farm. Pam selected the stallion, the dam and carefully raised this filly to be the outstanding competitor that she is, and all that work is finally paying off.

Keep your eyes open for Pam and Beauty at their next stop…East Coast Championships!

Summer time is here!

Summer is in full swing here at Evergreen. Pam is off to shows regularly with EF Kklassique Beauty, our dressage show series is chugging along, and we're overrun by barn rats every day! Seriously, we couldn't raise our babies or take care of the other horses on our farm without the help of our dedicated boarders and kids. Everyone is so helpful in handling our current six youngsters and broodmares, that we couldn't be more happy. It really is the early handling that helps make our babies so friendly.

We're also happy to report that after a frightening colic ordeal, Therese Schuler’s filly Zami is back from the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and is now on the road to recovery. After an emergency surgery and a few touch and go days, this lively filly by Cicera's Icewater looks to make a full recovery and we couldn't be more happy. Her dam Kalinka is taking it all in stride, and coping as best she can, being stuck in a stall with a rambunctious two month old at her side.

We're also happy to report that our two mares for next year are confirmed in foal. Sabiyana, a lovely purebred mare by the imported sire Stuyvesant, gave birth to a lovely, typey colt by Kkoi this spring. She is now confirmed in foal to the warmblood Rosenthal. This stallion is a lovely, large, elegant guy who crosses very well with Arabian mares and we have high hopes for this cross.

The other mare we've bred for a 2008 foal is our Alada Baskin daughter, Baskin Sunrise. Patience is confirmed in foal to the purebred stallion Padrons Hudsonbey, who was successful in reining, western pleasure and dressage. Making this cross even more special is the recent passing of the prolific sire Padron. We're expecting a substantial, but typey foal from this cross.

So...as summer rolls along, we're rolling with it. Check back soon for Region 15 results for EF Kklassique Beauty!

Region 16 - Another strong showing at Finger Lakes

Pam and Beauty just returned from another successful show in New York and we all couldn't be more proud of them. Beauty really is proving herself to be a competent, sane, and sensible mare amidst much show craziness. You'd never know she was just four years old.

The competition was fierce, with very deep classes in every division. The plan was to try their hand in the Sport Horse in Hand, Sport Horse Under Saddle, and Hunter Pleasure classes, and they acquitted themselves very well. With hunter pleasure and sport horse classes having more than 20 entries per class, Pam was very happy with not only Beauty's behavior, but also her placing. In a very competitive sport horse under saddle class, she managed to come away with a third place, qualifying her for Region 16 championships. She is also qualified in hand for Region 16, but I think Pam and Beauty will be concentrating their efforts a little closer to home in Region 15.

Look for Beauty in Lexington from July 4-7 as she competes in four divisions - Sport Horse in Hand, Sport Horse Under Saddle, Hunter Pleasure, and Dressage - in the Region 15 Championships!