He was not "just a horse". He was my horse-my "one horse" over all those years-we bought him in Germany when he was 4. I showed him up through the high amateur owner jumpers. He was not hard to ride, but he would "remind me" if I did something really stupid that he did have certain minimum expectations of me in our relationship as horse/rider! This was his farm. The mares were his girls. He was always adamant about that. He had to tell everyone when he came out of his stall in the morning that he was out for the day. However, he was always a gentleman. Rode in the trailer several times up to Spruce Meadows to show with 5 mares on board the trailer with him-his girls. He knew he was going to show, and that was one part of his life. At home when asked to cover a mare, he knew that was another part of his life. And when just hanging out, and knowing I needed someone to talk to and pet and smell and scratch on, he would allow that too.

Everybody has that "one horse". As I said, he was my "one horse". In spite of others who have passed, whom I have fond memories of, he was "the one" who was "the farm". And of course, there are several really nice young horses for me to ride today who are either by him or out of one of his daughters. Will there be another "one" who takes his place? You never know until the next "one" appears. And maybe there won't be another. There are still wonderful daughters of his in the fields and a couple are expecting foals this year. And two years ago, his daughter Flower (mother by Landadel) had a beautiful bay colt by Landfriese II, who we named Lucas. You can see photos of him on the Nursery Page and further down on this News Page at his foal inspection. We have left him a colt for now. Maybe he will be the next "one".

We got lucky 25 years ago when we found Fatalist in Southern Germany. We had been looking for a stallion for over a year when we found this Dutch stallion by Farn out of a Heidelberg mother. A licensed stallion. A beautiful modern bay of medium height and build. Farn, a Holsteiner, the sire of Nimmerdor, who sired Heartbreaker, etc. A big name today still in jumper breeding. The Dutch Heidelberg by Ladykiller xx out of the Holsteiner Heidelberg. Then came two important thoroughbred stallions used successfully in Holland in their evolving breeding programs. A very modern stallion at the time, and still just as relevant today in terms of "blood" proportion and mix of genetics. And a stallion with a super temperament that turned out to be a wonderful amateur horse to compete on. A gentleman. Hard to find all that in one animal. I had always preferred to ride mares. I rode geldings, but there never was the bond with any of the mares or geldings that ultimately formed between me and Fatalist. The relationship just happened.

He was my friend. I hope I was his. I miss him.

David

I know. If you have seen one Canadian goose, you have seen them all. But every year, this one goose with the white head and orange legs/feet is back--so I have to assume it travels with the same group every year. They say 35 Canadian geese eat as much grass in a day as one cow (little known fact.)

No foals in 2011, but lots of baby geese. Here go one of the groups. Every year, the same Canadian geese return and usually have 2 to 3 dozen babies on our pond. It is fun to watch them grow up over a several month period--seeing them take their first flights--they get off the ground pretty easily, get into their V formation, fly out over the neighbors' farms, but the return landings are always a bit something to watch--it is definitely a "learned skill".

We started construction this summer 2010 on an additional 4 stall front breezeway barn. Stall size is 13' by 17', as we intend to use them for our broodmares, or others requiring a larger than normal stall. The barn sits next to our 7 stall older stable. A photo of the older stable is included. It was simply an open pole barn used for the prior property owner's cows. With the addition of a new shed row on the back, and a complete build-out of stalls, tack room and grooming area, it turned into a nice compact Western style 7 stall stable. As our horses are outside all day, the smaller stalls in the older stable are satisfactory for just overnight use.

As construction progresses on the new 4 stall barn, we will include photo updates.

On August 5, we took 3 mares with their foals to the Oregon Oldenburg Verband inspection. See the Nursery Page for the 3 foals born in July this year. All 3 did very well for their first outing-we had practiced loading a couple times before the day of the event, had moms and babies bathed [mom's also got braided for the first time] the day before, so that morning we loaded up quickly and set off for the hour's ride to Cedarwood Equestrian Center in Williams, Oregon. The day was sunny and the morning was not too hot. The foals got to see a brand new place and other foals! But they were very well behaved and stuck to their mom's sides like good kids.

All 3 mothers were inspected and entered into Marebook I of the Oldenburg Springpferdezucht Verband [OS]. And, all 3 foals were awarded OS Premiums. All in all it was a very good day.