Evergreen Farm - Enjoying the Horse...From the Hoof Up

2010-03-13T18:01:00.001-05:00

2010-02-12T15:11:00.001-05:00

Last but Not Least...

2009-10-10T16:08:00.001-05:00

Pictures of Mr KKoi From Nats

2009-10-10T15:48:00.004-05:00

Lucky Number 13

2009-10-10T12:43:00.002-05:00

The 2009 Sport Horse National Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show was a show we here at Evergreen Farm, LLC will not soon forget. We brought three horses to this event at the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Of the horses, one is our stallion, KKoi, and the other two are his daughters; EF LLameri (Meri) and EF Epona’s Shenanigans (Nani).

Meri and Nani are sisters by KKoi and share the same dam line. Meri’s dam is Nani’s grand-dam. Tiffany, a Quarter Horse mare my parents got me for Christmas when I was 11 started this common thread. She was a fabulous mare who really didn’t live long enough. When I showed her for the first time, I wore back number 13. The number 13 will prove itself to be the number for me for many, many shows to come!

This story is based mostly around Meri. She is the superstar no one saw coming. Tiffany, the foundation dam for this line was a wonderful all around QH mare who was a true “All-Arounder”. At seven she developed cancer in her eye as well as her hip joint but we wanted this line to stay alive. In an effort to recreate this wonderful mare before she was gone for good, she was bred to a friend’s Thoroughbred racehorse. Out came a beautiful black filly we named Bucephalus (Cephie). She was named after the Alexander the Great’s horse, Bucephalus in the “Black Stallion” movie. This little mare proved to be even more spectacular than her dam Tiffany. She did everything. She rode in every discipline and did it all well. We went to college together; we moved all over the country together and she gave my children their first pony rides. After we acquired our stallion KKoi, we decided to mate our two favorite horses. This was to be Cephie’s last job as she was getting on in years. All I was expecting was a replacement for my heart. I needed another Tiffany, another Cephie; I needed a companion to carry me into my golden years. Out came a beautiful bay filly we named EF LLameri. We decided to carry the tradition of the famous horse names from history and LLameri was the name of King Arthur’s favorite mare.

In February of 2009 we decided to put Meri under saddle to see what we had. I wanted to go trail riding and maybe do some western pleasure riding and this was to be my “All Around The Farm Filly”. She was maturing quite nicely and at 3 she was mentally and physically up for the challenge. The first ride was, well, magical. It was like she was born broke. She was easy and so incredibly willing. A local youth was interested in learning how to start a youngster so she decided to come over and give her a spin. Under careful instruction, Meri was really blossoming as a dressage horse. We decided to put them on the road together. We would, just for giggles mind you, show in some “A” shows. By the time we hit East Coast Champs she was on a roll and earned two Regional Top Fives and a Reserve Championship. We decided to haul her to Nationals just to see.

Meri was entered into 3 classes. AA/HA SHIH ATH where she was one of the youngest competitors. She held her own and ended up mid pack. She went into HA/AA Training Level Junior Horse where she was the YOUNGEST horse to compete. She fell just out of the ribbons in 13th place. Wow, 7 months under saddle and not only was she at Sport Horse Nationals but she was competently competing for the silks. Then we were in the HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse semi-finals. It was in the Indoor Coliseum. It was a very scary place, for both her and me but we went in and did our best. Meri did all that was asked of her and more. We lined up and anxiously awaited the call for the 8 of the 16 who were to move on. When our number was called I had to look at her bridle number because I was sure I was hearing things. We made it!! We made it through to the finals! We, my little three-year-old all around the farm filly and I, made it to the finals of The 2009 Arabian and Half Arabian Sport Horse Nationals! I really had a moment. I was crying so hard I couldn’t see to make my victory pass. It was like soaring through time and space back to being an 11-year-old little girl riding my very first horse ever, my Tiffany. I could have gone home at that moment. I am not the type of person who has to win the ribbon to win the class. Just making the cut was truly enough for me.

A quick check of the judges cards and we were astounded at what we found. She was ranked second in her semi final class. Second! Wow, she is three. She was the ONLY three year old in either of her under saddle classes thus far.

On to the finals we go. Meri was a bit apprehensive in the covered arena. She had been in there to school, but of course, there were not any people in the stands. Now the stands were very full. She was nervous. I chose to put her in the ring second so she could get around a few times before all the horses were in, the gate closed, and judging was underway. It was if she knew what was coming. As soon as they announced the gate had closed she put on her game face, lowered herself to the bit and went on. She had a beautiful round. She sparkled more in the finals then she had in the semis. The ride felt so beautiful, so cadenced, and so rhythmic. We did not make the top ten, but we made it on one of the judge’s cards. We ended up in 13th place. That’s right 13th. That would be the number I first put on all those years ago when I climbed upon her grand dam 30 years ago.

While we have complaints about the show and the grounds and like many of the competitors, we were disappointed with the condition of the barns we were in; I have to say we still left with a smile. No long, maroon ribbon, no neck roses, but a smile indeed. I think that is what so many competitors are missing. The smile. The genuine sense of accomplishment. The fulfillment from within. It should not always be about the ribbon. Was I disappointed about not getting a Top Ten? To a point. Do I wish I had gotten one so I could say she got it when she was three? Of course. However, am I completely fulfilled because of my/our accomplishment? Absolutely. I bred this mare. I bred this mare’s dam. Essentially, I am a beginner to the world of Arabians and certainly to dressage. I am a hunter/jumper by trade in the open world of TB’s and QH’s and took a shine to Arabians long ago after watching “The Black Stallion” movie. Nevertheless, look how much I have accomplished in such a short period with my homebred, home trained and home shown horses. I am on top of the world! Now will I have to go back in 2011 to claim the big prize, a neck full of roses! Of course just to see if it feels any different!

More Pictures!

2009-10-10T12:01:00.012-05:00

First Picture, more to come!!

2009-10-09T07:48:00.000-05:00

Sport Horse Nationals

2009-10-04T10:26:00.003-05:00

Finally got the videos up from the show. Story and pictures to come!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbP3CcwHlMI Sarah tried to get KKoi through his "MOMENT" They were frying hamburgers right NEXT to the dressage arena and with all the smoke and sizzle KKoi was sure it was "horse burgers"! Something new to put in his field a hibachi running with burgers on fire for him.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD-krdTIHmM I'm still riding as a hunter, will I ever get over it? My turn and trying to get him over the Burger Boogies!! No, he did much better but he was still a bit inattentive. After 3 yers off I guess I was figuring he'd fall right back into show mode. I guess he will need more time on the road for his nerves to settle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NALpI2ytZO0 My little Meri. Wow, what a wonderful filly. With only 6 or 7 months under saddle can you imagine in a few years from now? SHe had a slip up at her canter transition, but hey she was the youngest in the class and this was al very stressful for her. We didn't want to school the spunk 100% out of her cause she can get flat, and we didn't want to tire her out, it was a long trip. All in all, a Kodak Moment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pawhXJosm5o Meri's SHUS Jr Horse. Once again the youngest horse in the class. I really wasn't sure they called my number. I had to look at the bridle tag. What a shocker!! I really balled after this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOm1Ot66B8s The finals for SHUS with Meri. I didn't make the top ten, and some said I was robbed, but nonetheless, she was fantastic. I cannot wait to show this filly more next year and in the years to come. Thirteenth, come on that's been my lucky number all of my life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQnaP7FcqwA Meri was ok, but a little freaked out about the stuff on the mezzanine level. She got over it but didn't show to her true potential. No biggie we know she's a star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9nuUCueZzs Nani, Meris younger sister. She wouldn't even get off the trailer when we got there. Now she was 5 days into the show and was not showing off at all. She was so tentative and scared. But overall she behaved. She too, went thirteenth!

Sport Horse Nationals Here We Come!

2009-09-21T20:20:00.003-05:00

So while we are away you can watch us ride! How exciting that that is an available option. Here is the link to Classic Video:
http://www.equinevideo.net/2009_SHN2.asp

You have to register and then there is live streaming. Here are a list of dressage times and classes you may see us in:

Tuesday
Ring 3 4th Level
11:08 172 Sarah Duclos (KKoi's Pro Rider) riding her horse Count Down

Ring 1 3rd Level
4:13 172 Sarah Duclos on Count Down

Wednesday
Ring 3 Training Level
2:30 170 Sarah Duclos on KKoi

Friday
Ring 1 Training Level AAOTR
9:26 170 Pam Dors on KKoi

Ring 2 Training Level HA/AA Junior Horse
11:14 171 Pam Dors on EF LLameri

Ring 3 First Level
12:22 170 Sarah Duclos on KKoi

Covered Arena 1
Class 480 HA/AA SHIH ATH 171 Pam Dors on EF LLameri

Indoor
Class 780 HA/AA SHUS Jr Horse 171 Pam Dors with EF LLameri

Sunday

Annex Arena
Class 1074 HA/AA SHIH Jackpot 2 yo Fillies Christine Reed with 172 EF Epona's Shenanigans

So we will hopefully be smiling at the camera due to the overwhelming joy we will be feeling with our accomplishments. See you on the other side!

Catching Up

2009-08-18T10:35:00.001-05:00

I am again running a bit behind on my posts. However as I sit here on Long Island on my holiday I am trying to catch up. Therefore, here is the first installment...

Achievement Award Ceremony a “Kodak Moment”

Pictures will be forth coming but for now I can give you the highlights and the speech as it was read to the wonderful mass of friends that showed up to offer their support. We had several come to us after the presentation to give us their take on it. “Goosebumps”, “The Best Presentation I Have Ever Attended”. After the ceremony, most followed us back to the stalls to share in the festivities. We had the cake decorated by artist, rider and show friend, Andrea Thornton who rode all the way down from PA to MD to meet up with Debra Peebles and Debbie Lomb who picked up Cathy Stark in VA. These ladies, the four of them, came all the way to Lexington, from points north just to show the support and love they have for Beauty and I. What a generous, loving group of friends I have. I cannot thank them enough for making the trip.

My entire family, including my parents was all on hand to share in my first and hopefully not last Achievement Award Ceremony. Here is the speech that I took months to create:

This dream started way back when, like it does for most little girls. I sat and watched the movie “The Black Stallion” and was mesmerized. For those of you who remember there was that little statue of Bucephalus. The Magic horse of Alexander The Great. The story of how Bucephalus was so crazy that King Philip couldn’t ride him, so he ordered the stallion to be killed. King Philip told Alexander the Great, who was just a boy at the time; if you can ride him, you can have him. Alexander rode Bucephalus, the two flew out of the arena over the crowd, and as they say, the rest is history. Five years later my QH mare had a foal that was a “black”. She wasn’t a stallion or an Arabian, but I named her Bucephalus anyway. The story of Bucephalus plagued my mind for many years after the movie came out. After graduating college, with a degree in Equine Science, I had the opportunity manage an Arabian breeding farm in White, Georgia. I met and worked for Cynthia Culbertson of El Miladi Arabian Stud. It was there that I fell in love personal level with Arabians. She owned a *Morafic son, Zedann, who was as completely captivating as he was mischievous. I was hooked for life. He still plagues my mind as I search for a daughter of his to incorporate into my breeding program.

Life marched on and I moved to VA, got married, and had a family. Arabians remained in the back of my mind even though I still had Bucephalus, my “black”. But that dream had to wait. We had to have a farm, my kids had to be a little older and things had to be just right. We finally purchased a small farm and the dream moved from a smoldering ember to a roaring fire. I was ready. We were ready.

After a series of unfortunate events, I met Quentin Naylor *Fairview Klassique’s owner. She gave me the opportunity of a lifetime; to start my own breeding program with a quality young stallion. With that, KKoi came into my life. With KKoi came lots and lots of new friends. He was such a fine young stallion that he brought attention to us wherever we went. We purchased a mare we thought would be good for him. She was mostly Polish and gorgeous in the face. The following year an absolutely stunning filly was born, (ENTER BEAUTY) EF KKlassique Beauty++.

This filly is the epitome of what an Arabian is supposed to be. “In your tent” personality—how about in your pocket? Big dark eyes on a wide set forehead—this filly has won many most classic head classes. A willingness to be a partner—how about being in the upper echelon of Arabian history in being one of the youngest horses to earn her Legion of Honor and Legion of Merit at the same time as reaching her 5th birthday. This feat Beauty has done with class, style and grace. She earned the final points she needed at the 2008 East Coast Championship show. In the past 4 years that she has been showing, Beauty has only shown 14 times. In 2005, she only showed once, where she was crowned with a top ten in the Sport Horse Two-year-old Fillies In Hand Jackpot class at the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals. So in the remaining 3 years she only showed an average of 4 shows per year. At each of those shows she averaged only TWO classes per show. TWO classes per show. The average age of a Legion of Merit earner is 8.5 years. Beauty accomplished hers in ½ that time. This filly has a work ethic like no other. This filly has the determination to win as much as I do. This filly is what Arabian ownership is all about.

Our farm, Evergreen Farm, is a very small breeding farm. With an average of 2 or 3 foals born every other year we focus on quality not quantity. We do all our own breeding selection. We do all our own foaling and foal training. We start our own youngsters under saddle and we train and show our own horses. We do all of it. Beauty is a fine example of how with the right horses you can do anything you set your mind to. Beauty’s brothers and sisters carry the same willingness that she does. (ENTER MERI) EF LLameri is a fine example of how true Arabian Breeding can compliment another breed. This filly is just 3 this year and is the daughter of my “black”. She is out of my “Bucephalus”. Her dam’s dam was the fire that ignited my passion for horses.

The cornerstone of this breeding program is our stallion. The absolute love of my life, KKoi. (ENTER KKOI) KKoi has had a rough spot in life. On December 27 of 2005, while playing in his field with a gelding, KKoi fractured his coffin bone in two places. The diagnosis was not good. His pain was pretty substantial and it was suggested that we consider putting him down. After we managed the pain, his team of vets was not sure if he’d ever be sound again. When he was sound, ride ability was the question. Well as you can plainly see, he has made a full recovery. From the literal brink of death, this stallion has made a comeback. After three and a half years recovering from such a painful fracture, he is back in training, back in the ring, and headed to Lexington, KY for Sport Horse Nationals 2009. Once again this epitomizes the strength and heart of the Arabian breed.

This year we have placed KKoi in training with the wonderful Sarah Duclos of New Freedom Riding Academy in New Freedom, PA. As all of you know Arabians are truly the smartest breed and he has picked up the Dressage training so fast he has very quickly out paced me. So it was decided that he go to “Boarding School” to receive a higher education. Sarah says if he is in college, than “he is on the Dean’s List”. “He is bright, willing and so easy to get along with.” These are the characteristics that he passes on to his get. This is why Beauty is who she is.

Beauty is a “first” horse for me. She was the first get of KKoi’s get born. She is the first to have numerous class A wins, the first to win a Regional Top 3,and the first to have won a Regional Reserve Champion. She is the first of KKoi’s get to go Top Ten at Sport Horse Nationals. Two more have followed in her hoof prints. Beauty’s show record is pretty impressive considering her humble beginnings.

As a 6 year old with minimal showing this filly has countless class A wins, 11 regional titles and 1 national title. Not bad for a family run, (ENTER FAMILY) on a shoestring budget, breeding, training and showing and sales facility. Not bad at all.

We would like, at this time, to present EF KKlassique Beauty++ with her Legion of Honor and Legion of Merit.

We would also like to thank our biggest supporters who have been there from our very first walk into the show ring with our Arabians. Without whom we could never have accomplished this goal…our friends. (Enter FRIENDS)

We would like at this time to invite all of you back to our stalls for a small celebration in Beauty’s honor. We also invite you to come and get to know Beauty and her siblings; you never know she or one of them might be your next partner.

Rain Again!

2009-07-19T21:23:00.004-05:00

Region 15 horse show was an incredible success. Despite the rain. AGAIN. We are now 4 shows and 4 rains. This show was extra special as it was KKoi’s first Regional show doing Dressage. Or should I say qualifying and showing dressage. While he was well on his way in 2005, breaking his coffin bone sort of put a damper on things. So here we are 3.5 years later and we are setting the ring on fire. We came home with 3 Top Fives between the two horses. KKoi got a Top Five in SHIH stallions and Top Five in First Level Test 4. WOW! A performance Top Five. I have been waiting for this for a long time. The victory pass was so sweet. The ribbons and all the pomp and circumstance made me a bit weepy. As many of my show friends know this was a long time coming and it was truly a memorable occasion. He was not lame, he was not broken, he was perfect. It was a Kodak Moment for sure. Thank you Gary Hooghkirk and Rachel for sharing the ribbon photo with me!! And the biggest thanks to Sarah Duclos of New Freedom Riding Academy in New Freedom, PA for taking what I started in KKoi and making it all work right!

EF KKlassique Beauty++ also did me proud by earning a Top Five ribbon in SHIH Mares 2 and over. Unfortunately she had a rather large laceration in her mouth which caused us to scratch out of our performance classes, but that’s ok, her willingness to please still shone through! She is still an incredibly well put together mare and was duly rewarded for it! Next up is East Coast Championships and East Coast Youth Championships! With the way Rachel is cleaning up with Blossom she should do very well at East Coast. Meri is coming along as well. We shall see how the contingent does. We are all very excited!!

KKoi in New Jersey

2009-07-19T21:20:00.003-05:00

Wow it was hard to see my boy being ridden by someone else!! Even though he and I both adore Sarah it was tough. He was not at all confused though. When I saw him in his stall for the first timer in 4 weeks at the New Jersey Horse Park he quietly nickered to me as if to say where have you been. When Sarah came over he looked at her a not wanting to be interrupted so she discretely stepped away so we could have our moment. Thank you Sarah!

All in all a great show was has, except for the cold rain. Again. KKoi rode in an open show and two Arab shows. He did very well all around. He got a 1st in Sport Horse Under Saddle, a 4th in First Level test 2 a 3rd in First Test 1, a 4th in First test 1 and a 2nd in First test 1. This was his first outing doing first Level. The extensions are coming along and this qualified him for Regional’s with Sarah in First Level as well as Nationals. I am very excited I hope I can keep it together enough to continue to WATCH someone else enjoy him. It’s almost as if he’s cheating!!

Raining Ribbons!

2009-06-04T07:54:00.002-05:00

We are back from another long weekend show. We left on Thursday to head down to Culpeper, VA for the VAHA Arabian Show and Futurity. Amongst the rain showers, the rigs began to arrive. It was, as per usual, a show filled with fun, excitement and friends, both old and new. We stalled with Wendy Spangler and Fireproof Number One, aka Gem, and met up with Dona Hoffman and Future Image while there. We had another jaw dropping performance from all of our horses and our stall drapes were filled with ribbons. We brought EF Llameri, our just turned three last week filly, EF KKlassique Beauty++ and East of Eden, aka Blossom.

We spent all of Thursday afternoon unpacking and getting the horses settled into their temporary living arrangements. Friday morning arrived and so did the in hand classes. Meri was a winner in her class with me at the end of the reins and Blossom won her class as well. Friday night was the SHUS classes. This would prove to be the best showing yet for all the girls, both equine and human. We rocked! We were going in and out of class after class; it was reminiscent of my old hunter days, standing around the ring, meeting the other competitors and making friends along the way. Quite frequently after each class, we were walking out with the top spots. If we weren’t first and second we were second and third. In one class, we took a clean sweep of Blossom-1st, Meri-2nd and Gem-3rd. Beauty could not show in these classes, as she was the only purebred of the bunch. She and I stepped in and out of the purebred classes with blues as well!

Saturday morning brought the first dressage classes of the show. It was a bit daunting for me as I was riding my first First Level test off the farm. While we are building a full size dressage arena on the farm, it is nowhere near completion so I have not had the opportunity to ride it in a full size arena yet. I managed my way through and got a second in the class. The score was a very respectable 60.6%. I’ll take it. I rode Meri in Training Level Test One for Junior Horses and got a first with a 64.8%. Once again, I’ll take that! Rachel, after the past year and a half of hard work and dedication to Blossom rode a beautiful Training One test to a score of 60.0%. Saturday night brought the Sport Horse Under Saddle Championship classes.

After a brief encounter with a suspected funnel cloud, the stage was set for the Championship classes. We entered four and brought home a third, two reserves and champion. We were very proud of the accomplishments of our young riders and young horses.

More rain and then finally a bit of sun ushered in Sunday morning’s dressage classes. We all had a repeat of Saturday’s line-up. We each had two classes. Once again the ribbons came. The horses were a bit tired as were most of the horses on the grounds that weekend. The storms were huge and the rain was plentiful. Overall, we had a fabulous time. We rekindled friendships with people we haven’t seen in a while and made a whole host of new ones. Christine commented that the people at Arab shows were all so friendly and the atmosphere was so relaxed and friendly. “It wasn’t even like being at an “A” show”. Welcome to the Arabian Sport Horse Show Arena, Christine, welcome!

Another Show Behind Us

2009-04-14T14:37:00.002-05:00

Here at Evergreen Farm we are rockin’ and rollin’. We just came back from Bel Air, Maryland for the BRAHA spring show. The contingent wasn’t as big as in recent years but we were still a force to be reckoned with! We brought Rachel Dors to show her project pony, EF KKoi’s Braveheart, aka Ben, Kristen Thorpe to show EF She’s Our Legacy aka, Lacey, Emily Estep and her mount Tex, and Christine Reed brought her new horse, Rory Hills, aka Boris. Also in attendance was Ian Dors.

Ian, who was one of the very smallest competitors, rode Boris the largest horse on the property. Boris is a staggering 18hh and Ian decided to take him into the walk race. They won!

Rachel took Ben into four Halter Handling classes where she received a 1st, a 2nd, and two 3rd s and ended up Open Grand Champion High Scoring Horse of the day. Not bad for a not quite 2 year old pony and a 13 year old girl. Gotta love those KKoi genes!!

Christine pretty much got a blue ribbon in every class she entered. I would list them but there are too many!!

Kristen, this being her first show as was Lacey’s, pulled a 2nd and a 6th in classes that were 12 and 8 deep. Very impressive for a pair of first timers.

Emily, also a first timer, pulled a 2nd in halter handling and a 3rd in the Western Pleasure class.

All in all the kids had a great time and all went home with smiles abound. We were a bit soaked as it rained all day long but we were still in good spirits! Our 4-H club, the Rebel Riders, utilize the Spring BRAHA show as a fundraiser for future outings. We held a bake sale and Ian walked the grounds all day long selling the baked goods the kids had made. Once again even though the weather was down right ugly the good folks who attended the BRAHA show made our day with generous donations to the kids. Thanks to all who supported us.

Emotions Run High

2009-03-31T10:24:00.008-05:00

Emotionally charged, that is the best way to describe the Shenandoah Valley Spring Classic Show. Let me explain why this was such an incredible show. On December 27,2005 KKoi fractured his right rear coffin bone in two places. He was instantly lame and it was advised that we should strongly consider putting him down as this type of injury could render a horse in serious pain for the rest of its life. We were truly heartbroken. KKoi however was not going to give up. We found a vet who works almost solely in podiatry and we began our long journey into the unknown. Fast-forward three years, and three months to the day and we had a blue ribbon in hand! While we never thought he’d be sound again, then we thought we’d never be able ride him, then we thought he’d never be able to keep his mind clear after 3 years of only breeding mares, he proved us wrong on every count. Our first ride back was Training Level test 3, my least favorite of all the Training Level tests. I went in, under Marian Cunningham an “S” judge, and did the best I could. I asked KKoi for all he had and he gave it to me. Every ounce. My daughter came running up to me just after my next class with my score sheet. I read it over and wow; a 63.5% from this judge was an awesome score. It was a great feeling to be back in the ring and not totally tank. Then she pulled the ribbon out of her pocket. IT WAS BLUE!!!! I actually won the class. It began to rain and I began to cry. I was so overjoyed and full of emotion just to be there, but then to win, oh my gosh, I was beyond words. I am sure that the people standing around me that didn’t know my story were wondering about the middle aged lady sobbing in her horses neck, but those who knew me and my horse cheered with laughing voices for me. We made it back, back from the brink, back to a place where we can all be happy and now look to the future, the very, very bright future.

If that wasn’t enough of an emotional upswing, Rachel had been riding her heart out all weekend long coming to fourths and fifths. I tried to explain that it takes a lot more time to be a great dressage rider when you have already been a great hunter rider, but that she’d make it. Having faith in her pony and being grateful for the ribbons she did earn was important at this juncture. Well when she finally accepted that it would take more work and maybe she wasn’t as prepared as she thought she was, it came, the elusive blue ribbon. She finally had a blue ribbon from an “A” show. She was stoked now. She was ready to move on. It was another moment of sheer joy. Joy in the accomplishments of the younger ones coming down the line. Joy in the innocence of the kids just riding to get the ribbon and not worrying about who is in the ring or who they are competing against, just them and their pony reaching for greatness!

On a different emotional note, this time of pride in a breeding program and the loss of a beloved second generation broodmare for us…EF Llameri a coming 3yo filly by KKoi and out of our recently departed grand old TB/QH mare, Cephie, went to the show as well and was an amazing competitor. She did SHIH and ended up winning her class and then moving on to be the Reserve Champion high score for the HA/AA Mare division. How exciting for Christine her handler. Then she rode in several SHUS classes and behaved far better than any other coming 3yo should or could. She moved on to Dressage over the weekend and had amazing scores: 62%, 62.5%, and a 65%. For any horse those scores are, well qualifying, but for a coming 3yo, they are truly outstanding. Once again kudos to her rider/handler Christine for a job well done. It was a bit emotional as Meri’s dam, Cephie, was my show horse as a teenager and college student and the daughter of my first horse as a child and she had just recently passed away. She too would be proud of her last daughter in the ring.

All in all what a show, it had the feeling of a season wrap up not a season opener! We have a lot to live up to now, a blue ribbon for each of us at all shows, it’s tiring just thinking about it!

First Show of the Season Already Behind Us!

2009-03-09T16:29:00.003-05:00

Well Evergreen Farm’s first show of the season is already behind us. It was an exhilarating show as the weather was perfect, 70 and breezy, and the show was very well attended. For us personally it was a bit of a milestone as well. KKoi was back in the show ring after three and a half years off. Back in December ’05 he fractured his right rear coffin bone in two places and we weren’t even sure if he’d make it out the other side. Well, he made it through, but we are starting all over again in the training process. Even though he was a strong contender in Training level back during the ’05 show season he has had so much time off that it was as if we were barely out of Intro. We decided to throw caution to the wind and try Training 3 and 4 at the show. He held his own in T4 and did remarkably well in T3. I am very excited for his return to the show ring and his complete comeback as a riding horse. It has been a slow and tedious process, but the vets feel like he is as good as new and we were given the green light to proceed at 100%. With a score of 62.8% right out of the gate in T3, we are hoping for Sport Horse National qualifying scores this season. Only time will tell.

Additionally a KKoi daughter, EF LLameri competed for the first time under saddle. Meri and Christine have been working very hard this winter to see if they have what it takes to be a dressage pair to be reckoned with. Well it seems as though they are a pair made in heaven. With Meri being a coming three-year-old and Christine never riding Dressage before this winter it was a surprise clean up. Starting with Intro A and a score of 61.5%, landing them in 6th place, the scores for these two just kept going up. Training 2 earned them a 64.64% and a 2nd place and in Training 1 they really shined with a 67.83% and the blue to go with it. What an amazing ride it was. The goal for this pair is the inaugural East Coast Youth Championships in August.

Rachel Dors on her ½ Arabian mare, east of Eden, aka Blossom, dished it out and brought in very nice ribbons as well. With a 62.61% in T1 earning a 5th place she went on to Intro A with a very nice score of 65% and the first place ribbon. Her eye is on East Coast Youth Championships as well. Looks like we will have a full trailer going to Lexington in August!!

It was a beautiful day all around. The weather was good, the company was good, the competition was excellent and the ribbons were fabulous. We could not have asked for a better start to show season.

The Gallery and The Painter

2009-02-18T22:18:00.003-05:00

The Gallery
It was a very hot August day. We were invited to a gallery in a small but very upscale city. This was Main Street, USA. Cobblestone streets and beautiful storefronts. This particular gallery was an equine only gallery owned by a friend of a friend. She had contacted me the previous spring about my stallion, KKoi coming to the gallery for “Arabian” day. She mentioned that she does different breeds as often as possible and likes to get the best representations of each breed there, in the flesh, for people (non-horsey mostly) to see and touch. She explained that finding an Arabian quiet enough to spend the day in a 12x12 pen in the parking lot all day with kids, cars and all sorts of commotion around was a very daunting task, and one that she had not yet completed. Then she heard of KKoi.

Rolling over and over in my mind were all the e-mail messages that we sent back and forth and the visit to the farm by the owner of the gallery and the surprise visit afterward by the painter who had wanted to photograph him for reference material. As we were driving in the 90+-degree weather with stallion in tow, I began to wonder if I had lost my mind. Could he do it? Could he sit there all day in the heat and deal with kids, and flash pictures, and cars and motorcycles and who knows what else? We brought a tent, one of those party tents that you sit under. Well it was only 10x10 and KKoi’s enclosure was 12x12, would he deal with that too? Only time would tell.

The day started with people streaming out to see KKoi, like he was a celebrity. Well he ate it up. He acted like this was something he does all the time. He stood with kids next to him for photo op after photo op. He would, every hour, as per our contract, come out of his enclosure and walk around for people to get really close. We had one toddler get away from her mom and run and wrap herself around his hind leg. He just stood. Never moving a muscle. After it was over, after what seemed like all of the 2000 invitees came and went KKoi and I trudged home. He now had a new fan base. He now had people outside of his family adoring him. He was on his way to fame.

The Painter
During the apex of the Gallery Day I was approached by the gallery owner and asked if Lesley Harrison, the painter could come out and see KKoi. Apparently Lesley is a close friend of the gallery owner and when I sent my promotional materials ahead for use in the invitation for the gallery, the owner sent them on to Lesley. Lesley was captivated by KKoi’s kind eye and soulful look. I am a bit naïve to the art world so unknowingly I said sure. When I told my friends what was happening, most of them looked at me and said,
“The Lesley Harrison is coming here to see KKoi?” I Googled her. I learned pretty quickly that this was a big deal and I needed to seize it with open arms. Lesley came out very early to catch the morning light and KKoi at his finest. He was bathed, clipped and crimped to the nth degree. He was gorgeous, and she agreed. Over 2000 pictures later she reminded me that this was just for reference work and she had over a year’s worth of commissioned work to complete before she could even think about doing something for herself.

Night after night she said she lay awake in bed thinking about KKoi and one particular picture she took. She dreamed it in her sleep. She just could not push him from her mind. So she began to paint and in less than six months from the time she took the pictures it was completed. This stunningly beautiful portrait of KKoi’s soul. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet a person like Lesley. She is an artist who, like no other I have ever seen, can take a photograph, make it into a pastel painting that looks like a photograph and include the soul of the animal she has painted. The icing on the cake is that I did not commission her to paint KKoi. She did it on her own fruition. AND she continues to do it. She is up to “Blue Halter #4”. Kkoi is in Lesley’s 2009 “Spirit of Horses” calendar, as well as a book jacket and I think there are negotiations for a wine label as well. I guess I really do have my own living art in the barn, and his name is KKoi.

Bad Voju' by Rachel Dors

2008-09-30T22:12:00.002-05:00

It all started off as any trip to Lexington, Virginia would. With Christine texting, me reading, and Nikki writing/listening to her Ipod. Christine’s mom (Barbara) was driving and my mom (Pam) was sick this didn’t stop them from cranking the radio and chatting over it. Just before we hit highway 81 my mom started singing, “On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again…” It was part of a tradition trailering horses to shows. Then the stories flowed like rain…

BANG!!!! The trailer shook, something exploded!
“Holy Cow,” someone shouted, “I think that was the tire!” We pull over and Barbara got out to check on the trailer tires, followed by my mom. Nikki and I stopped what we’re doing and looked at each other. Next thing we know my mom and Barbara have the jack out and the tire was already changed.
“Wow, record timing mom!” I said enthusiastically.
“Look at the tire,” said Barbara, “It lost all its tread!” We all went back to our previous activities as we continued down the road, with mom singing “On the road again…”

12 miles down the road…

BANG!! “Holy schnitzel!” some one cried
“Uh My” I groaned, “we’re only 50 miles from home!!”
“We’re never going to make it,” cried Nikki (who wasn’t even showing at 4-H states, due to lack of time (1 year) in 4-H, but was willing to be my personal slave…(muh-ha-ha-ha))
“911 what’s your emergency?” asked the operator. Mom repeated the story twice. Once to the operator, and once to my father.
“What ever you do, DO NOT. I repeat, DO NOT go the left side” (the side by the highway) Commanded Barbara
Cars zoomed by as I stared incoherently out the window
“Hey, wasn’t that the policeman we passed earlier?” asked mom.
“Yeah,” agreed Nikki, “the undercover one.”
Then suddenly, like a surge the phones started ringing again, even mine.

I got 2 texts:

Hepner Tire- has # will call
From: Dad 1:45p

Tell Mom
From Dad 1:46p

“Alright, guys we’ve found a place, we just have to get there,” Barbara said climbing back into the drivers seat. The 3 miles were the scariest 3 miles in the entire trip. (except when the tires blew up, but that wasn’t 3 miles) The truck was dead silent as we were “limping” along. Christine suddenly shouts out “Look a blue Mustang! Just like the one I want, a convertible!” We were now on the back roads, and it was a gorgeous day, I felt sorry for the driver of that Mustang who was stuck behind us.
“There it is! There it is!” Nikki yelled
“Yeah!” Christine and I said in unison.
We pulled up and the jacks were already setup waiting. We were in and out, thanks to laughs. It was like being at a NASCAR pitstop! Barbara goes walking off talking on the phone and next thing I know she comes back with a piece of grass in her mouth! If that isn’t enough Barbara is saying that the guys that changed our tires are HOT, yes HOT. Just as if on queue, here comes a young guy in a truck that says UNIFORMS, and Christine goes,
“No, that guy is hot!”
“No, he’s not!” said Barbra
“Yes, he is”
“No, he’s not”
“Yes!”
“I’m hungry,” I complained
“We have pop tarts,” said Christine
“OMG look on the box it says ‘pop tarts to the rescue’”
Mmm was all you heard for a while followed by, mom I’m thirsty!
After we found the ‘soder’ machine they all got drinks, (except me because I packed water). We learned that after 5-6 years the tires dry rot (no matter how many miles are on them), but you can’t see it when they’re inflated.
As we were leaveing we all rolled down the windows and yelled “Thank you!”
About 3 miles down the road (back on the highway) Nikki pulls out a book to read, and I gasp
“Nikki!” She had pulled out a book called Jinx,
“Really Nikki are you trying to kill us!”

About 2 more miles down the road…
“My butt’s on fire, my butt’s on fire!” said jumpy Barbara. Oh you must have hit the switch when you got in.
“Wow the window’s down!”
“What!?!”
“The trailer window?”
“What’s all the shouting?”
It was mass chaos, for about 3 minutes then we pulled over at a truck stop and put up the trailer window and continued on our journey. There was drama, yeah there was drama, but we overcame, and we made it back (not without our own set of problems)
“On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again…”

What happens in Lexington stays in Lexington.

Something To Talk About

2008-09-27T12:00:00.014-05:00

Life In the Fast Lane
I have so much good news to report that I am so overwhelmed I don’t even know where to begin! I think going chronologically is probably the easiest. So after we came back from East Coast Championships I was sure I had enough points for Beauty to earn her Legion of Merit but I had to wait. On we trudged to vacation. A much-needed respite from the farm was needed by all of us. We returned rested and ready for action. Next on the docket was a two-phase day. Early in the morning on September 18 we took Sabiyana our Russian bred Arabian mare and her ’08 colt, EF Rafikki to a GOV inspection. This was a new adventure. We have never been to a warmblood inspection before. Sabi is a grey one of those white grays. After about 3 hours and a gallon of Orvis and whitening shampoo she was respectably clean looking and braided to almost perfection. This mare, I am sure, was in shock. She is 21 and hasn’t been in the show ring for many, many years. She knew what we were doing, I could see it in her eyes, but she was definitely in shock. When we were done with her we decided a comprehensive grooming and braid job on Sam was sufficient. They looked fantastic so off we went. We arrived very early as we were instructed to do. We got our paper work in order, hired handlers, and in the ring they went. Sabi got into the GOV Main Mare Book! How exciting, a 21-year-old mare was good enough to get into one of the strictest warmblood mare books we have access to. Sam got good remarks and nice compliments. He was such a good boy, so well behaved. So well behaved in fact they said he was too quiet, we should have him checked out to be sure he is ok. He is fine; he is just a good boy. Unfortunately he was the youngest colt there he was just 3 months old but he made us proud. The old lady and the little boy that could. That’s what we are calling them, yes that’s it.

4-H States, Here We Come!
That same day a few hours later we were back in the truck heading in a different direction. Barbara Schirmacher, my co-leader of the rebel Riders 4-H club, myself and three 4-Hers were heading south down 81 to Lexington to the Virginia Horse Center for the Virginia State 4-H Championship show. There was quite a bit of drama on the ride down which Rachel will write about and post at a later date. The great news is that Rachel, Christine and Nikki had a fabulous time in Lex. They learned a lot about each other, about each other’s horses and about showing on their own. You see at this particular 4-H show the parents and leaders a re not supposed to help. The kids are supposed to minimally help each other. Nikki went down to help out as moral support, gal Friday, and official horse holder, assistant groom, stall mucker and any other job that needed attending to. The girls came away with not only knowledge but some fantastic ribbons. Rachel and Christine both got blue ribbons in stable management. That award was based on tack condition and cleanliness, stall condition including cleanliness, and amount of shavings, bucket height, arrangement and cleanliness, and lastly the overall condition of the horse. They, the three of them, did it all themselves and they were richly rewarded with the blue ribbon, way to go girls! Now on to ring work. This show was Rachel’s “coming out” to dressage. She has never done a test off of the farm. She decided this summer when entries were due that she would ride Blossom to the best of her ability, not as a hunter rider, but as a budding dressage rider. She rode Training Level Test 1 and Training Level Test 4. She received a 63.38% and a 62% respectively. Those scores were good enough to put her right near the top. She is third in the state in Test 1 and second in the state in Test 4. Holy cow, second in the state. I just don’t think things can get any better for us here at the farm. Rachel also entered a dressage equitation class, which quite frankly was foreign to me. She tried her best and came out with a very respectable eighth place in that class. Showmanship, her least favorite, was her last class and she left the ring with a Danish red ribbon. Not great but it ended putting her in 11th place. All in all Rachel proved herself as a force to be reckoned with in the saddle. I am so proud of her. Christine came away with a seventh place and an eighth place. Considering most every class had over 20 entries, she too took home very respectable ribbons.

EF KKlassique Beauty++
We are now home for a few days. We are able to catch our breath and chill for a bit. Well here is the mail and here is the letter I have been waiting for. Beauty did it!! Her name is now EF KKlassique Beauty++. She is just five and she accomplished something that to me is so out there that I cannot believe it has happened. Beauty has earned herself enough points to be among the elite in the Arabian world. The elite who have proven themselves not only as beautiful creatures but also as can do horses. The first and only pointed show for her came at Nationals in ’05 where she was in the jackpot 2 year old fillies SHIH class. She went Top Ten. She finished her points off with a double reserve champion in SHIH open and amateur. So in less than 3 years she accomplished two levels of achievements. One + is for earning her points or beating many horses in all conformation and one is for a combination of conformation and performance. I am waiting for AHA to let me know how many five-year-old horses have achieved this goal. The AHA sent me a list of the awards Beauty has won during her short show career. Here it is: 1 National Title, 10 Regional Titles and countless class A wins and placings. Wow 10 Regional Titles, you’d think she was with a big time trainer or something!!

East Coast Championships--What a Trip!

2008-08-23T09:28:00.003-05:00

We did it again!!! EF KKlassique Beauty, our first-born KKoi baby has done it again. She has reached a milestone we are so proud of. She came away from East Coast Championships with 2 reserve Championships and a Second in Dressage. To make a long 5 days short, all tolled we got 8’s and 9’s on our gaits and 7's on rider scores! Wow, 8’s and 9’s on gaits!! There is never such a joy as near perfection. We have been working on our canter depart for 8 months. Balance had been an issue for Beauty in the beginning as she was growing. Then balance was not the problem but rather Miss Beauty decided that the counter canter was much more fun. So the canter departs amounted to counter canters and then flying lead changes as they too were so much fun to do. However, by the time we got to East Coast we had it nailed. We got an 8 for the right lead canter and an 8 for the left. How sweet the victory when you really work for it. If that wasn’t glorious enough we received a 9 for the free walk. A 9!! I wasn’t sure that I was able to read when I saw that. I was sure that I was hallucinating. The comments included things like, "showing nice bend...", "lovely ground cover well into bridle..." , "lovely over stride" and "nice potential". At any rate my chest is full of pride and yes my head is a bit swelled as well. Whose wouldn’t be? This is a clear victory for a small breeder with a clear vision. A vision clear enough that a mare was purchased, a foal was born, and the silks were won! Not bad, not bad at all.

Region 15 Championship Show an Incredible Journey

2008-07-14T11:10:00.002-05:00

Wow is all I can sum up right now. I am still flying high after this past weekend at the Region 15 Championship show. It has been a long time coming for us, our little breeding program. But we did it. I know most of you are thinking well did she win? Well in my mind it is not just the winning that says it all it is the true accomplishment. And accomplish we did. EF KKlassique Beauty with her amateur rider/trainer/handler Pam on board achieved the trifecta. Well at least the trifecta in my mind. I climbed aboard three times and all three times came out with a victory lap and very long silks!!

It started with the Sport Horse Under Saddle Junior Horse class. There were eight vying for the top spots. A very competitive class said the VERY hunter oriented judge. This class seems to be dominated by trainers riding the mounts of their clients. It makes it a very daunting class for an amateur riding her homebred, home-trained, self-ridden horse. Well, when the announcement came, there we were in the top five. The judge’s card put us in third place. Behind two very well respected, high-end trainers. I was the first place amateur. Beauty was perfect, she did her job and did it the best she had ever done it. Tears were flowing and the victory lap was sweet.

The next day we had our Dressage classes. Phew, Dressage has been a true hurdle for us. Beauty, like her sire before her has this thing about the right lead canter. They like to show their joy by kicking out when asked for the canter and then sometimes doing a few flying changes before settling in to the nice forward canter they both know how to do. It makes for a very stressful canter depart. In fact, it makes for a very anxious rider! The first class was the Training Level Jr. Horse class. We have to ride test four at Regionals or higher and the right lead is right in the beginning of the test. With my breath held and my eyes closed, I asked for it and nailed it, Beauty knew just how important this was and she nailed it perfectly. No bobbles, no kicking, no changes, no nothing. Just a perfectly balanced, perfectly executed transition. The rest of the test was a blur! There were 18 in this class and it seemed an eternity before the scores were being posted. Once again mostly top trainers in this class. Holy cow, another Top 5! In fact it was another 3rd place, right behind two top trainers; first amateur again! Judges comments for the canter were prompt and well balanced. Truly a first for us! Another victory lap! Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!

The biggie was last. The Adult Amateur to Ride Training level class. This class can have any age horse, any level horse and usually has the very serious amateur competing. There were some very, very competitive horse/rider combinations. Horses with all the plusses and slashes after their names. Horses that have been there and done that. The 16 rider list was that of a whose who for amateurs. And then there was Beauty and I. We did our thing again. Beauty completed the canter transitions flawlessly. She just flowed into them as if she had been doing them all of her life. She glided on air and was, well Beautiful. Once again the wait was agonizing. It took an eternity for the test scores to be posted. One by one up they went. By the time tw0-thirds of them were posted mine went up. Rachel came to the barn to tell me they were up. She had her phone handy. Why? I had no idea, but I soon found out. I was tied for third place. I was in shock and ecstatic. She wanted to tape the moment!! The score was so amazing that if I had ridden that well in my first class I would have been the Champion with room to spare. The remainder of the scores went up, and there I was firmly placed in third place! A dream come true. A trifecta of sorts. Three rides and three very long, very beautiful, very well deserved, and truly waited for ribbons. The culmination of 6 years of waiting. So as I said winning is not everything to everyone. For me winning is not just the blue ribbon, sometimes it is the true accomplishment of knowing you gave your all and you got justly rewarded in the end. Accomplishment for me is knowing I picked EF KKlassique Beauty’s dam out of a field of mares with one vision in mind. Breeding her to KKoi and producing an award winning combination that would carry the vision. The vision of this little breeder/trainer/owner/rider riding to the top of her game. Taking that victory lap, not once, not twice but three times in one day. What a feeling. What a day. There was an announcement over the loudspeakers on that last day. It was said that the Region 15 Championship Show was the largest in the country. The most competitive with the most horses, 659 competing equines in all. Geeze, that makes it even more astounding…

What’s next, East Coast Championships of course!!

Sun and Fun at BRAHA

2008-04-24T10:01:00.002-05:00

Next up we took our usual gaggle of kids to the BRAHA spring show on April 12th. What an absolutely fabulous day we had. We arrived at the facility in great time with limited traffic. Now that’s an accomplishment considering the distance we had to go! When we arrived the weather was perfect and the kids were geared up to get things going! It is so amazing when we stand back and see how much they have matured over the past year. They were all hands on with no trouble with each other and they were never told more than once that something had to be done. It was a sheer pleasure to be with these kids this year. We brought Rachel Dors and Ian Dors with their pony EF Senor Rojos (Charlie), Megan Santmyer with EC Wayne, and Nikki Zuleger and her horse, Bucephalus (Cephie). Jacob Tumblin rode with his dad and us and step-mom and Rachel and Ian’s dad and brother rode up the next morning with Jacob’s pony River. In another trailer was Christine Reed with her two mounts Sierra and Chessie (very ambitious girl!). So we had quite a crew of kids. They came home with lots of ribbons and lots of fond memories. I am so very proud of how they all helped each other out and how despite some rough spots in the day, they all rode their hearts out!

On a side note to the BRAHA show, our kids decided they wanted to start their own 4-H club. They call themselves the Rebel Riders. Rebel generally has a negative connotation, but the motto they came up with says it all “We have the right not to belong”. Anyhow, thanks to BRAHA for allowing the kids to set up a bake sale at the show. Based on donations only and the honor system the kids raised over $100 for future endeavors. Kudos to them for trying so hard “not to belong”!

Show season has begun!!

2008-04-24T09:00:00.004-05:00

Our first show of the season was at the Spring Arabian Classic held in Lexington, VA. I just love that facility. This time we ventured out with just one other friend, Wendy Spangler. No one else was ready to show yet due to the winter weather. It is times like that when I realize just how spoiled we are with the ability to ride no matter the weather. Yes I am spoiled!! Well the winter riding paid off. Beauty was a superstar and has proven herself yet again. We did Dressage, Sport Horse Under Saddle and Sport Horse In hand. We also took fledgling show horse, EF Perfekkt Harmony. She is a coming yearling by KKoi and out of an Oldenburg mare. She went in two Sport Horse in Hand classes and did very well. All in all we came home with four firsts, one second, two fourths, and two fifths. We even got a qualifying score in Dressage. Woo, hoo! What a way to start the season.

Shawna Miller, another friend, met us down there for the day with her two KKoi babies. She showed CA KKarismatic and He’s a Hoot (Hooch) in Sport Horse in Hand. Hooch is a coming yearling gelding out of a paint mare. This was his first time off the farm and out into the big world. The best part was that Shawna’s significant other, Gary, showed Hooch, so it was a new experience for both. They did very well and came home with a first and a reserve Champion.

KKoi just keeps repeating himself by throwing sane, sound, and trainable foals. Kudos to him and a great thanks to the people who take the time to work with the babies and show them to their best potential!

BRAHA Annual Banquet a Screaming Success!

2007-11-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

WOW, that is all I can say after coming home from the BRAHA annual banquet, wow. Rick, Rachel and I were a bit hesitant about going; ok we hemmed and hawed over the 95-mile one-way drive. We have so much fun, and we have attended for years, so we guilted ourselves into going. Are we glad we did! We had absolutely no idea how our night would become one of the most memorable one we have ever had. The evening started off with a scrumptious dinner of soup, salad, crab cakes “the best in Maryland” and a divine cake for the finish. Of course you could have chosen Chicken Cordon Blue, or steak, but we always get the crab cakes. My lips are smacking just thinking about it! Our usual cronies, Andrea and Dan, Debra and Matt, and Debbie L. surrounded us and we even got to hang out with Holly and her friends, the ladies who bought EF Arion. It was a very nice group of people.

After dinner we moved on to the outgoing President’s speech and her awards. Debra is one of the most dynamic people I have ever met. She is someone I admire and look up to and someone who I look to whenever I have breeding questions or need a question answered. She ALWAYS has the answers. Well she was going through her plethora of awards and the last one was the Walter Farley Award for the most distinguished youth. Here is her speech:
“As I stand on the rail and wander around show grounds there was one individual BRAHA youth that kept standing out. I have watched this young lady grow from a kid learning to ride to a poised, confident horseperson. Handling many situations, becoming a leader, and becoming an accomplished equestrian. She graduated this past year from her pony mounts to her very own Arabian mare. She and her mare have been quite successful in the ring, but it is really her accomplishments outside the ring that impress me the most. I am very proud of this young lady and happy to honor her tonight with the Walter Farley Award for most outstand youth. Congratulations, Rachel Dors.”
As Debra was reading her speech she would go a sentence or two and get so chocked up she’d have to stop. I was thinking to myself, wow she feels so much pride that whoever this is, she just loves them. When I herd Rach’s name it was an unbelievably proud moment. Well, as you can probably tell I was so overwhelmed myself with emotion I cried too. I was so thankful for so many things at that one moment. Thankful for the true friends that were around me, thankful for a very understanding husband (about the horses, that is) and so very thankful for a child that is so very special to everyone around her, not just her family. She got this beautiful little award to have as a keepsake and her name goes on the perpetual plaque, which she gets to keep for a year and then it will go to the new receiver.

The night went on with our babies winning lots of Futurity stuff. Our farm really cleaned up this year. Here is a picture of the two boxes of awards and prizes we brought home that night:

Rach counted, we brought home 26 awards and our “barn brats” brought home an additional 6 awards. Not only did Rachel get the outstanding youth award, but she also got the “Equine Stanley Cup” as we affectionately call it, it is the BRAHA Annual Perpetual Trophy in Memory of MTA Annie’s Jett Frost, donated by Ann and Fred Mack for the Youth High Point Hunter Champion. To go along with that she received two high point awards; one for the ½ Arab Hunter Pleasure division with Blossom, and one for Youth 13 and under. The statues are glass Arabians, signed and numbered and in a limited edition. One is gray and one is chestnut, you had a choice when you received your award, the first one Rachel picked was gray as her mare is gray and for the next one she chose the chestnut and told me it was just in case I didn’t get one of my own I could have hers!! It was the first time ever I wanted something chestnut! For me the icing on the cake was when High Point Stallion of the year for the Maryland Futurity was announced. KKoi was the winner. Sherry Crow, the awards presenter, explained that it was not based on how many babies were representing him or if they won their classes, it was based on points accumulated by how many other babies they had beaten. How exciting, I already was dancing on the clouds and then that announcement! Our little farm. What an evening, what an evening, all I can say is wow!

Visitors to the Farm

2007-10-22T06:01:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-11T11:32:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-04T11:42:00.001-05:00

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...

2007-07-26T16:34:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-07-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

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

2007-06-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

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!

Yet another successful show

2007-06-13T19:10:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, we once again ventured forth with friends to an A-rated show, taking with us EF Kklassique Beauty (Beauty) and EF Fiona's Prince K (Prince). Beauty and Prince are from Kkoi's first foal crop and they really get better with every ride. Our goal was simple - qualify both horses for Region 15 Championships and Sport Horse Nationals, and I'm pleased to report that we did just that.

Friday was dominated by both heat and the in-hand classes. Beauty, the more seasoned campaigner of the two, garnered excellent scores in her Sport Horse In Hand classes. Those scores were good enough to win second place and Reserve Champion Sport Horse in Hand in a very competitive field of horses. For Prince, his time would come on Saturday when Heather Richards, a friend of his owner Katie Winters, would show him in dressage.

Our group, consisting of Jess Howard and Arizona's Wildfire, Becky Sine and Plakat, and Heather and Pam, schooled our horses on Friday evening just before a massive lighting storm, and put the horses away for the night, ready to compete in the morning.

Saturday morning dawned, muggy but clear, and we trudged to the barns to make our preparations. After braiding, grooming, and dressing in our finest, we all prepared for our dressage tests. Before dressage, Pam was able to squeeze in a Hunter Pleasure class with Beauty, pulling second place.

Overall, it was a great show for our horses. Prince was a superstar, and pulled all scores over 62, squarely qualifying him to compete in dressage at Sport Horse Nationals. His highest score was a 65.71 in Training Level 2, and we couldn't be more pleased with his progress. He gets better with every show, and we'll be ready to take the world by storm in September. In four classes, Prince won three second place ribbons and won his Training Level 1 - Junior Horse class on Sunday.

Beauty acquitted herself well in the dressage ring, with respectable scores, but really shone in the Hunter Pleasure classes. She received a third place in her Sunday Hunter pleasure class, and then pulled Reserve Champion Hunter Pleasure Junior Horse. Her placings were enough to qualify for Region 15 Championships.

Our other friends also did well, with Becky Sine and Plakat garnering some of their best scores ever and two sixth place ribbons. Jess Howard won her First Level 1 class, and received excellent scores in her other tests.

We'll post photos as soon as we can, so stay tuned!

Welcome Spidey!

2007-06-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to report the birth of our second purebred Arabian of the year. We're still working on a real name, but are calling him Spidey for the moment, in honor of his long, spider-like legs. He's not what we were expecting from our large-boned Russian-bred mare, but we're thrilled all the same.

Spidey has an incredibly elegant, typey Arabian head with large dark eyes, a teacup muzzle and the tippiest ears we've ever seen. He's nicely put together, with long, long legs and a lovely shoulder. His markings are just as nice, with a little bit of chrome (4 short socks and a star), but not enough to be extravagant.

All in all, we're very pleased with this crossing. We'll be giving Sabi the year off from Kkoi, but plan to breed her to Rosenthal for a 2008 half-Arabian foal. After seeing what she could produce with Kkoi, we're really looking forward to next year.

A moment to breathe...

2007-05-17T18:41:00.000-05:00

We finally have a moment to breathe - between births, horse shows, and other farm business - and wanted to present a fuller picture of our farm.

Evergreen Farm is both a boarding and Arabian breeding operation in Berryville, Virginia. We're very fortunate because our boarders are not just customers, they're friends and we have a very close knit family here. In addition to our own children, we have quite the group of kids that enjoy time here with their horses. Foaling season has been a real blast, with no less than four kids present for every birth! Although we hate staying up to watch the foaling camera, the kids revel in staying up all night, or taking turns in the cold barn aisle, waiting for a pregnant mare to give birth. Its been a very fun season with plenty of expectation, excitement and energy as our mares gave birth to beautiful babies.

Horse shows are just as much fun, with our students, boarders and friends bringing their own horses and ours, to their first horse show ever, their first Arabian show, or their first show with a new horse. The camaraderie makes for a good time, whether we have good rides or bad. At our last "A" rated Arabian show in Lexington, we were even able to bring a good friend into the "Arabian world". She enjoyed herself so much, she has even decided to buy one of Kkoi's 2007 foals!

The season is still young and we have a long summer ahead of us. We still have two more foals due - both purebreds - and have several more big shows planned. Our purebred mare Sabi, by the imported sire Stuyvesant, is the next due to foal...any day now! We're expecting her foal this year to be on the bigger side, since both sire and dam are 15.2 hands, and it should have great athleticism. Zaheera, a Zedann daughter, will be our last to foal in July or August. We're expecting her foal to be a stunning, refined, classic Arabian with all the desert fire and personality you'd expect.

In the meantime, we're pointing our riding efforts towards the VAHA Futurity Show in Culpeper on June 8-10. Once again, we'll be bringing EF Kklassique Beauty, EF Fiona's Prince K, and a slew of friends to compete in the ever-growing sporthorse divisions. If you happen to be there, be sure to look for our string of stalls and say hello!

Complete results from BRAHA

2007-05-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

We now have complete results from Team Evergreen for the BRAHA (Blue Ridge Arabian Horse Association) Spring Show on April 14, 2007 in Bel Air, MD. Evergreen Farm was well represented by seven horses and nine riders/handlers, and came home with more than 50 ribbons - a very successful outing. For many riders, this was their first show, and the group represented good sportsmanship, good horsemanship, and most of all - FUN!

In addition to the results already posted below (see post from April 22), Megan Santmeyer, Alana, Nikki, Heather and McKenna participated in the full range of classes.

Megan Santmeyer on EC Wayne

2nd Place, Hunter Hack 12" fences
2nd Place, English/Hunter Jr. Rider
4th place, Open Sport Horse in Hand
5th Place, Walk-Trot Barrels
5th Place, Walk, Trot Plug

Alana Nappi on Chloe

2nd Place, Beginner Hunter O/F 18"
3rd Place, Open Sport Horse in Hand
4th Place, Beginner Hunter O/F 18"
4th Place, Walk-Trot Barrels
6th Place, English Pleasure, Go as You Please
6th Place, Open Walk-Trot English/Hunter Jr. Rider

Nikki Zuleger on Bucephalus

2nd Place, Open Sport Horse in Hand (This is especially sweet because Cephie is our 24 year old foundation broodmare!)
4th Place, Halter Handling
4th Place, Walk-Trot, Maiden Horse and/or Rider

Heather Webb on Chloe

1st Place, Hunter Walk Race, 12 and under
2nd Place, English/hunter walk
3rd Place, Hunter Hack O/F 12"
6th Place, Walk-Trot barrels

McKenna Hayes on EF Senor Rojos

1st Place, Hunter Walk Race, 12 under
3rd Place, English/hunter walk

McKenna Hayes on Chloe

4th Place, Walk-Trot plug
5th Place, Walk-Trot barrels

New babies and fabulous show results

2007-05-01T18:37:00.000-05:00

Where to start? It was a big weekend for Evergreen Farm in the show ring and on the farm. On Friday, we headed down to the Virginia Horse Center for the very first all sporthorse Arabian show sponsored by the Virginia Arabian Horse Association. EF Kklassique Beauty and EF Fiona's Prince K took to the show ring in their first "A" rated outing of the season, and they were both superstars.

Beauty and Prince both competed in the Novice and Junior Sport Horse Under Saddle classes on Saturday. The competition was stiff, and with 19 horses in the Novice class, the Coliseum was full. Considering their youth, Beauty and Prince were both very well behaved and acquitted themselves well against much more seasoned horses. In the Junior class, with nine horses, Beauty and Prince really let their talent shine, garnering a third place for Prince and a fifth for Beauty. Heather Richards, one of our boarders who rode Prince for his owner (Katie Winters), was so happy with his behavior and performance, she literally cried.

On Saturday afternoon, it was off with the saddles and into the sport horse in hand ring. Prince and Beauty both showed in large, competitive classes, and Beauty came home with a 4th place in her Purebred Mares 3-5 year old Open class.

Sunday was dressage day. Beauty and Prince both tackled Training 1 and 2 tests, and again, really showed their true potential. Despite some youthful misbehavior (both of them were certain the judge was going to eat them), they both managed to put in one great test. Beauty pulled a 59.357 in Training 2, which while not enough to place in a very large class, thrilled us to pieces. In Training 1, Junior Horse, Prince managed a 59.137, which again thrilled Katie and Heather. It was also good enough for second place out of eleven horses.

Team Evergreen was accompanied by several close friends to the VAHA show. Becky Sine brought her seasoned show horse Plakat for their first ever outing to the Horse Center. They both did incredibly well in their three tests, and are looking forward to their next outing in June.

Jessica Howard brought her half-Arabian half-Mustang, Arizona's Wildfire and really cleaned up. Jess and Wildfire have been very successful on the open dressage circuit, but this was the pair's first Arabian show. Not only did they post a second place in Training 3, a score of 66 in First 1, and a score of over 71 in Training 4, they took home the neck garland for high score of the day in Training Level out of more than 70 rides!

All in all, it was a super weekend for Team Evergreen and friends and a great way to start the show season.

Meanwhile, back on the farm, Evergreen's 2007 foal crop added another baby. Cappricio (affectionately known as Eve) gave birth to a lovely half-Arabian foal by Kkoi. Eve is an Oldenburg mare by Contucci out of a Riverman mare, so we have quite high hopes for this cross. The filly is quite a splashy chestnut with a big blaze and four white socks, with lovely conformation. Both mom and baby are doing well and settling into their new lives on the farm.

At long last...introducing EF KKoi's Braveheart

2007-04-22T11:53:00.000-05:00

The stork has finally arrived for Missy. At 4:41 am on April 19 Missy gave us a stunning colt. Ben, as we're calling him, is by far the most unusually colored foals we've had to date. We've known for a while that Kkoi carries the sabino gene, but this is definitely the most apparent its been in his foals. Ben is a bay, but in addition to the ordinary black mane hairs, his mane is also partly red. And his tail, rather than being solidly black, has white hairs on the sides and underside. Although many foals are born with light tails that change color over time, he actually has pink skin in these white areas, leading us to believe that he'll keep his unusual tail color into maturity. He also has three tall stockings that extend above his hocks and knees and several other white patches throughout his body.

As for his conformation (truly the most important thing!), we couldn't have hoped for better. Missy is a wonderful pony, but needed height and refinement - both of which we got in this little colt. He's huge, already 2/3 the height of his dam, and while he clearly has the look of mom, Kkoi added the much needed refinement. His personality is terrific, and he is already the darling of the farm.

Team Evergreen Update

In other news, Team Evergreen had their first outing of the season, heading to the BRAHA Spring Show in Bel Air, MD. The farm sent 8 horses and at least twice that in people to the show, and managed to come home with more than 50 ribbons. We'll update this blog as the full results come in, but for starters, here's the tally:

Rachel Dors with Apple Blossom

1st Place, Halter Handling
1st Place, Western Walk-Trot
2nd Place, Western Jr. Rider
3rd Place, Intermediate O/F
3rd Place, Intermediate O/F
4th Place, Partbred Sporthorse
4th Place, Intermediate Walk-Trot

Taylor Torrance with Snickerdoodle

4th Place, Beginner Hunter U/S
4th Place, Walk/Trot Hunter Hack 12" fences
5th Place, Open Walk/Trot Junior Rider
1st Place, Open Walk Race

Debbie Torrance (in her first show in almost 30 years!) with Grace

3rd Place, Walk/Trot Maiden Horse
3rd Place, Walk/Trot Maiden Rider
5th Place, Walk/Trot Green Horse and Rider

As I said, we'll post more results as they come in, but congrats to all the members of Team Evergreen on a great job. For many of the kids that went to the show, this was their first big show experience, and the team really banded together, pitched in, and showed some great sportsmanship and Evergreen spirit.

Still waiting!

2007-04-15T08:37:00.000-05:00

After the arrivals of Nani and Princess, we have had a long drought with no foals in sight. Our wonderful pony mare, Missy, grows bigger and more unhappy looking by the day. The poor mare is now more than a week overdue, and boy does she look it! She has definitely developed the "mare stare" that says "Please take this thing out of me!" All indications are that Missy will give birth sometime this week, so check back soon for an update.

Nani and Princess continue to grow and keep getting better looking by the day. Nani is very solidly built, displaying her QH and warmblood roots proudly, but she has the personality and curiosity of every Arabian foal born here at Evergreen. Never a shy one, she'll always be there at the gate, ready to play with any passerby. Princess is a bit more reserved, but friendly and curious once she gets to know you. She still has amazingly long legs and the finest head we've seen. Her big, lofty gaits are breathtaking to watch.

And finally, we'll soon have results from the first Team Evergreen event of the year. Pam, Debbie Torrance and Lori Santmeyer took a gaggle of girls and half the horses on the farm to the BRAHA Spring Show where early reports are that the group garnered over 50 ribbons in one day. Check back soon for the full details!

Photos of the new little ones!

2007-04-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

I'm very pleased to be able to post photos of the newest little ones here at Evergreen Farm. Both newborns are doing well. It was a little too chilly to put the babies out to play today, so they amused themselves by frolicking around the foaling stalls.

Nani (EF Epona's Shenanigans) is a lovely bay filly with just a little snip on her nose. Lacey has been a great mom, and we are looking forward to breeding her again in the near future. She'll probably take a year off from motherhood, get going under saddle, and then be bred back to KKoi for a 2009 foal.

EF She's Alada Baskin Kkoi (Princess), Patience's lovely filly, is very flashy with four high whites and a big blaze and we expect her to be a star in the halter ring. Her type-y ears, tiny muzzle, and extraordinary long legs will really stand out.

Our next two foals are due within the next few weeks. Little Miss Heartbreaker (Missy), our wonderful children's pony is in foal to Kkoi and due any day now. Cappricio (Eve), a spectacular Oldenburg by Contucci out of a Riverman mare is also due within the next two weeks. Check back soon for the latest news on our foals and an update on Team Evergreen...

Two down, lots more to come...

2007-03-29T20:14:00.000-05:00

We are very pleased to report another successful birth at Evergreen Farm. At just after 3am this morning, Baskin Sunrise (Alada Baskin x PW Ice Danzer), known affectionately as Patience, gave birth to a very healthy, and VERY leggy chestnut filly. Patience was at least a week overdue, and we were starting to feel like we were in the midst of a hostage crisis. Since the filly was so big, it was a bit of a difficult birth, but mom and daughter are recovering well.

Patience's filly is a stunning, refined purebred by our stallion KKoi (Fairview Klassique x Sequoia Bey) with four high white socks and a big blaze. We think she'll be a tall filly and she is already as tall as Nanni, who was born a whole ten days earlier. Nanni is doing well and enjoying the spring sunshine. She is already living up to her name with her wild shenanigans out in the field.

Two down...five more births to go!

Let the birthing begin!

2007-03-27T20:14:00.000-05:00

Evergreen Farm is pleased to announce the arrival of our first foal of 2007 - EF Epona's Shenanigans, a lovely Arabian-Warmblood cross by our purebred Arabian stallion KKoi. Nanni is a lovely bay filly with good substance from her American warmblood dam, and elegance from her Arabian sire. Lacey, Nanni's dam is a maiden mare and has been a fabulous mother.

With seven mares due to foal between now and July, we're very happy that this first birth went well. We're hoping all seven are as smooth, and are looking forward to our 2007 foal crop. Patience (Baskin Sunrise) is our next due to foal, any day now. After recovering from a life-threatening knee fracture, Patience has been a wonderful pregnant mare, and we anticipate that she'll be a terrific mom. She certianly wants to be - having tried to steal Nanni away from Lacey soon after she was born!

Be sure to check back here often for the most recent updates on Evergreen Farm's foals, mares, stallion and show team. 2007 promises to be the best year yet as we enjoy the horse...from the hoof up.