2008 Christmas Gift

Here is our fabulous Christmas gift - a grandson! both baby and mom are doing well. He arrived at 5:06 PM, December 23. His name is Arthur (for my dad)Joseph (for his daddy) and will be called AJ. It is wonderful to have a baby around again...

2008 Weanlings

The babies are doing great! Weaning is such a tough experience.

Winter Has Arrived!

Much as I don't like winter - sure does make for some pretty pictures!

Morning Mist

A lovely morning at Starmyri Appaloosas.

Stars Magic Moment

Thanks Annette for sending me such great pictures and updates on Stars Magic Moment, aka "Sultan"! He is growing into a very handsome fellow. So, here is a sample of one of our produce as he matures. Sultan is by Starwalker out of the great mare, Magic Snow Flake. He is strongly gaited (Indian Shuffle) and it is his gait of choice even at liberty. Annette plans to start riding him later this winter. Good job, Annette and Greg!

DREA Kemosfancyeagle

Here are some shots of our new mare, DREA Kemosfancyeagle. She was feeling pretty frisky this day! We are very excited about this new addition and can't wait to see how she produces for us.

Starmyri's Newest Addition

Introducing DREA Kemosfancyeagle to our breeding program at Starmyri Appaloosas. She is a very lovely mare and we have great hopes for her here. Thank you to STJ Acres for the opportunity to purchase her.

Two Old Girls

I was just sorting through pictures and came across this one - us two old girls sharing a moment! Babe is my 24 year old Indian Shuffle mare that I love dearly. She really loves to hug and is so affectionate, gives me great massages too with her big ole floppy lips!

New Pics of 2008 Foals

Here are new photos of the 2008 foals. Top is Stars Dark Angel, then Stars High Time, then Stars Little Spot, finally Stars Sleepy Kitty. All names are pending ApHCC approval at this time. They are a fine looking bunch.

Indian Shuffle

Here is a short video of my mare, Magic Snowflake, displaying the Indian Shuffle gait. It is so smooth to ride, can go all day and never get tired.

Another Great Clinic with Josh Nichol

We had another super clinic with Josh! Unfortunately he brought rain with him ....again!...so we had to move indoors. But we all had a good time and learned tons more. Can't wait till the next clinic comes!!!

HSRAC Trail Ride

Our Hot Spots Regional Trail Ride on the August long weekend was "lightly" attended, but we had a great time! The weather turned out to be perfect! Here is Fiona Plunkie and myself after we got back.

August is Here!

We are into a new month again - where is the summer going!? The foals are growing very quickly - isn't this little guys awesome? They are all leading not badly with the neck string, picking up their feet etc. etc. Very friendly. The training continues on the young horses - have been working on trailer loading with Little Bear and Silver Flame, they think it is fun! Teaching Horsemanship Lessons almost full-time (approx. 34 hours per week) so am keeping busy. The horse flies seem to be slowing down some too, thank goodness. They make life so miserable for everyone!

What's Happening at Starmyri

Well, my big travelling is done for now! The Cypress Hills trail ride was so great again and Josh's clinic last week was as awesome as usual. My head is full of new information and have lots to work on in the next few months. Am teaching about as many students as I can manage at the moment - all are progessing so nicely it is wonderful to see. The weather has made some of our horse work a bit challenging lately, some pretty wild storms have come through over the last couple of weeks. Plan on a quiet weekend coming up, need a time out to rest some. Perfect day out today so am going outside to work with the young stock. Need pictures of babies for registration applications too. All is a bit difficult at the moment as the horse flies are peaking and are very nasty. Chase the horses around a lot even with using sprays. Sultan (colt sold to Annette Dionne) is coming to visit for a few days at the end of the month - horsey sitting for Annette and Greg while they go on a pack trip holiday. It will great to see the little guy again.

Nez perce Ride to Freedom

The Nez Perce Ride to Freedom 2008 was blessed with incredible weather and good folks! We had wonderful rides, great food and excellent evening presentations. Wally performed his lovely music again - very enjoyable. The scenery is spectacular and well worth the drive down to see. The Reesor Ranch always provides us with the most gracious hosts. It was a pleasure to meet our special guests from Idaho - Sandi & Mike McFarland, and Rosa Yearout. They provided us great insight into Nez Perce history with very interesting stories. Good time!

The Introduction

Catherine meeting foals for the first time! She is 2 years old and is crazy about the horses.

2008 Foals

We have 4 babies so far this year, 2 boys and 2 girls! One left to go and is expected about mid-June. We couldn't be more pleased with everyone. I apologize for not getting them posted sooner, but there was a problem with the blog site which seems to be fixed now. top left is Dolly's colt, top right is Ladyhawke's filly, bottom left Honor's colt, bottom right is Feather's filly. I will post new pics soon as I have the time to download from my camera. They are growing so fast it is amazing.

Stars Red Hawk

Here is recent picture of Red in Greece. He is really starting to color out, getting white spots everywhere. Helena says he has grown a lot this spring.

The Mane Event

Well, here is a shot of Totie and I in the demo ring chatting it up with some interested folk. What a weekend we had! Busy, Busy, Busy and so much fun. Totally exhausted. Now into foaling season and our first is due any day now. Momma is having a hard time walking anymore, she resembles a waddling duck! Will try to get photos of the new babies posted as quickly as I can once they arrive.

Typical Starmyri Morning

A typical Starmyri morning scene - definite funny farm!

A Poem for this Week

I See Only Your Heart

A person got lost and afraid.

Not knowing what to do, she sat down, folded her arms around her legs and tucked her head down.

Fear covered her like a dark, cold blanket.

Slowly a shell, like a seed covering, grew around the person folded up inside.

But as hard as the seed was, the person inside still felt afraid and lost and cold.

The person began to grow tired and cramped inside the seed, but the seed shell had grown so hard and thick it could not be broken open.

The person inside shivered and frost appeared on the outside of the seed.

A horse came by and saw the large frosty seed glittering in the sun.The horse was curious, and came closer, and put out its nose to sniff the hard seed.

The horse's breath was warm and melted the frost.

The horse breathed again and the shell began to thaw and fall away.

Inside was the folded-up person, blinking in the sudden light, not moving.

"Why don't you unfold?" asked the horse.

"I have been cramped so long I forgot how to use my legs.

I am small and weak," the person replied.

Horse said, "I am large and strong. I will carry you."

"I can hardly breathe," said the person.

Horse said, "I will hold you up to drink the wind."

"I must be bad," said the person. "I displease others."

Horse said, "You please me with your voice, and with the touch of your hand gentle on my neck."

"I am ugly."

Horse said, "I see only your heart."

"I am afraid."

Horse said, "I trust you."

"I have nothing to offer," said the person. "I am stupid."

Horse said, "Scratch my back. Talk to me. Take the stone from my hoof, and show me the good grass.These are precious gifts to me. You know how to free my foot from the fence and brush the straw from my eye. When you come it means relief from these troubles. You have much power and wisdom."

"I cry; I am ashamed," said the person.

Horse said, "When you are with me I am content, and I will stand with you while you cry."

As they talked the person had begun to unfold, reach out an arm to the horse and slowly stand beside it.

The person smoothed the horse's mane and the horse nosed the person's hand. Horse's breath chased the last cold from the person's fingers. Without speaking, they moved on from there together.

~Nancy B. Marshall~

GRANT MacEWAN DESIGN STUDIES SHOW

We attended the Grant MacEwan Design Studies Grad Show in Edmonton last night. The work was very impressive! Enjoyed meeting some of my daughter's friends - finally some faces to go with the names! Brought back a load of her things so she hasn't very much left in residence to move home next weekend. Am looking forward to having her home again for awhile. She'll be here when I get back from the Mane Event in Red Deer.

The weather was horrid last night - the wind was icy cold, snowing. But, the roads were not really bad at all. Got home around 3 A.M. so a bit tired this morning, that was WAY past my bedtime! LOL

Great Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was great! The weather was awesome and the company was fine. We all ate far too much for dinner, but that homegrown turkey is sooo good. Krissie was home and we all went for a ride - horses were feeling frisky! It was fun. The sun feels so wonderful on my face and the snow is melting away. Puppies got spayed today, so are feeling a bit low and sleepy. They are fine. One less thing to worry about.

I was hoping to trailer to the arena and do some schooling with Totie in preparation for the Mane Event in Red Deer, but I hear that there is a nasty virus going around again for the horses. So, will not take him to the arena and chance him getting sick when I need him very healthy! Will to school as best I can at home. It is disappointing, but it is a very bad virus again and not worth exposing him.

Hope everyone had a good Easter as well.

March News

Here is a picture of my farmstay girl, Nina. She is from Germany and has been a great help to me. She is doing very well learning to ride Western too. Went for her first trail ride yesterday, it was a lovely day but it is very icy and slippery in places. Cannot wait for green grass and leaves again even though we have had a fairly easy winter. Nina will be with us until mid-April.

Nez Perce Ride on Cowboy Country Television

As far as I can figure, the Cowboy Country Television coverage of the Nez Perce Ride to Freedom 2007 should air on CityTV Saturday, March 15. It will also air on Access Saturday March 22. I can't wait to see what they put together.

Frolicking in the Sun

It was a gorgeous day on Wednesday. Kristin got some good pics of the horses having fun out in the field. Foxy and Beamer seem to be enjoying it out with the field bunch and are fitting in just fine. Naira really wants to play with her little sister again but Foxy is not too sure about that yet. Even old Babe is feeling frisky these days.

I am totally enjoying this milder weather! Even did a bit of riding. It has melted a lot and there is now a bunch of ice to deal with, but it is not too terrible. If it stays mild I will start hauling to the arena again and get some schooling done on these geldings. Lots of feet to trim too. My farmstay girl arrives tomorrow so will have some help again - looking forward to that for sure. I am also starting two mares under saddle so we should have enough to do for awhile.

Hope everyone is having a good time now in this nice weather! Spring really is just around the corner.

BRRRRRRRRRRR!

Well, winter has hit with a vengeance! It was a good thing that we cancelled our meeting on the 27th, terrible blizzard conditions and now we have plunged into the deep freeze big time. It was -42 C here this morning and warmed up to a balmy -28 C, woo hoo!!! Lynn had to go back north this morning too, kinda had me worried but he made it no problems, said the roads were great. It is now snowing and is -32 C and they are forecasting wind and that will be terribly miserable. We put out round bales on Saturday just to give me a break and boy was that a fortuitous decision. All the criiters are doing fine, all have good shelter and lots of bedding. The horses have been frisking around lots, maybe it warms them up some! But they are feeling good. By the time I am dressed to go outside to do chores, I look and feel like the Michelen tire guy. Boy, I cannot wait till spring again. Thank goodness we had such a mild winter up to this point.

Hot Spots Regional Appaloosa Club News

I have the Membership Application Forms made up and also membership cards! We will look so "official" at our next meeting, January 27. The Application for Incorporation has been sent away and I hope it doesn't take too long to hear back. It takes a lot of work and time to set up a club, but we are certainly getting there step-by-step! I am looking forward to spring and being able to get together for a trail ride!

Real January!

Well, we finally got "real" January weather! It started snowing just before dark on Friday night and by Saturday afternoon we had about 10" of fresh, new snow on the ground. It is so pretty, but so hard to deal with. Just walking from one bale to the next is a challenge. My son came over after he got off work, started the quad and did some plowing for me. I sure do thank him for that. I was pretty tired from shoveling the deck off! It is -30 C this morning, a bit on the chilly side. The sky is so clear and the sun shining on the new snow and frost is beautiful. All the animals are just fine, throw them some extra hay and they are happy. The cold doesn't seem to even register with the puppies at all. The broodmares are feeling VERY good, having a great time running around and kicking and bucking - sillies! The snow was welcome, need a good packed base before the spring snows come and everything looks so clean again. Pictures to follow.

2008 ALBERTA HORSE BREEDERS AND OWNERS CONFERENCE

Well the conference has come and gone again! It was awesome as usual and I learned a lot. Here is a picture of the CHA booth, forgot to get one of the ApHCC booth! I rode down with Lynda Flato, met up with Gail Praharenka, Charlene Wheale, Mary Anne Finley and the girls from the vet clinic caught up to us later Friday evening. We saw so many people from the 2007 Nez Perce Ride to Freedom, it was like a reunion! Nils and his wife were at the mounted shooters booth. We also met a lot of new people and had a good time. The weather was nice and roads were bare and dry, always a bonus this time of year. We also managed to get our signatures for applying for our Hot Spots Regional Appaloosa Club incorporation. Hope it doesn't take too long to come back! I always look forward to this conference, it is a great learning opportunity, a great way to network and a super winter break. I am already looking forward to next year and the Mane Event coming up in April.

UPDATES TO WEBSITE

Check out the updates to our website! Go to www.starmyriappaloosas.ca and see all the new pictures that were loaded today! I think it looks really great!

2008 has arrived

Welcome to 2008! The year has started out with very nice weather, hope it stays awhile. Krissie goes back to college in the morning - boy did her break go by fast as per usual but she will be a graduate in 4 short months! So far, the pregnant mares are all doing well and the tummies are growing. Old Babe is in excellent condition this winter and feeling good. Now that Christmas is over with I hope to do some riding (as long as it doesn't get too cold). We have the perfect amount of snow on the ground.

I would like to introduce everyone to Starmyri's newest additions - on the left is Molly and the right is Maxi. They are Great Pyrenese X Maremma and hopefully will be taking over guard duties with Pluto within the next couple of months or so. Aren't they just the cutest things? A neighbor lost a miniature donkey to a cougar a couple of weeks ago (within 100 yards of the house) so we definitely need the stock protection. Pluto is working too hard - the old girls are mostly decoration these days. Have had lots of wolf activity this winter already too. And the coyotes are a story themselves, way too bold.

Our injured mare is nearly healed and is a great companion to the weanling, they get along really well. Should work good for when it is time to put the weanling to pasture as she will have a good companion already. Beamer will likely have a stiffness to her leg for a long time but it is not too bad anymore. They love to race around the pen together a lot!

Best wishes to all in the New Year!