Fall 2015

It has been quite some time since my last post. Life just gets so busy sometimes. There has been some big changes at Starmyri Appaloosas over this past year. We have sold all of our broodmares and will no longer be breeding. It is time to retire and spend more time riding. Once again we are in drought and hay has been very expensive and difficult to get but our supply is in the yard so we are prepared for winter (I hope). We were also fortunate to obtain extra pasture from our neighbour that is adjacent to our big pasture. There are still a few horses that will be for sale, but we have yet to decide which ones! Since some of the riding horses are becoming quite elderly we will need to keep some younger ones to replace them.Hopefully, it will slow down a bit and I will be able to update the blog more often!

Time Flies by

Stars Bold Impression

ApHCC & CRHA registered colt  FOR SALE

Stars Sugar N Spice

ApHCC & CRHA registered filly NFS at this time

Getting Ready for Winter

It has been quite some time since I wrote on this blog! Cannot believe how time goes by so quickly. Summer has come and gone already, winter is just around the corner....It was a very busy year. A great, hot summer and beautiful autumn. I hauled my horse and rode in several places. Had a fabulous holiday in September with my friend, Janelle, to Pennsylvania. We attended the Colorado Ranger Horse Association National Show, met some great people and saw some lovely horses. Had a few days of great sight seeing as well. It is very different country to here, but beautiful. 

As usual, the fall has been super busy getting things ready for winter. Hay is in, wood is split and stacked, foals are weaned, fences are repaired etc. Still have a few fences to fix, but they can wait until spring and not be a problem. Hopefully will get a couple horses delivered to their new homes this coming week, if the weather holds good. 

I am not really looking forward to the snow and cold, but it is inevitable. We are the most prepared we have been for many years which does feel pretty good. Guess it will be time to get some inside housework caught up since I am way behind once again! LOL

Spring is Here!

I have been pretty slack in keeping up with regular posts over the past few months. It was a very long and hard winter here with a LOT of snow shoveling. I found myself very physically exhausted by the time March rolled around. Fabienne came to visit for the month of March which was very nice and I really enjoyed her company again. But the month sure went by fast! April continued to have ugly weather right until the end. The Mane Event was a much needed break and I enjoyed myself very much as usual, love the learning and shopping. May has found us very busy trying to catch up with the spring work. The Edson Playschool children came for their farm visit,  6 classes over three days. They are so much fun. Then I was off to help out instructing a 4H group for a 3 day event. Again, a lot of fun but pooped this old girl out! The rest of the month I will be concentrating on more catch up work - cleaning shelters, pens, fixing more fence, rebuilding the chicken yard etc. Oldest daughter will be visiting for a few days at the end of the month. Am looking forward to that, it has been awhile since we last got together. The leaves are out and the grass is getting green - we are off to another very busy summer! Wonder it would be like to be bored for a day?????

Introducing the 2014 Foals

Stars Bold Impression (Pending)

Starwalker X DREA Kemosfancyeagle

Colt born May 2, 2014

Stars Sugar n Spice (Pending)

Stars Fim Koppur X OK Ripple Hawk

Filly born April 25, 2014

Introducing our new 2014 babies! We are extremely pleased with both of these foals. They are very correct, colourful and have amazing personalities. More pictures will be coming soon. Both are being registered ApHCC and CRHA. We are looking forward to watching these two grow.

We have sold several horses this past year in our preparation for retirement. Arctic Top Spark will be delivered tomorrow to her new home, going to miss her tremendously. She has been with us since a weanling, 15 years ago. Her new owner will provide a super home!

Stars Dusty Secret will also be going to her new home in a few weeks. The geldings, Stars Smokn Hot & Stars Fire Shadow will be staying a few more months before flying to their new home in Switzerland.

November ended and December began on a very, very snowy note! We have had a few big snow storms already and we are still digging out from the last one. Sure am hoping it doesn't do this all winter, won't have anywhere to put the snow. It is a very time of year with Christmas just around the corner. I still have my Green Certificate student weekly until March. One more module and she will be finished the course and has done very well. Have to get to town this week for groceries and some Christmas parcels should be arriving, then it is time to wrap.  The list for what to bake is made, just need ingredients and time in the kitchen (not shovelling or plowing snow). Muscles and joints are a quite sore tonight, need a rest. Horses are all doing well, the weather does not bother them in the least as long as they have hay in front of them. They are all so fuzzy right now and look so cute and cuddly. Hope to get some milder weather so I can ride or at least do some ground work with somebody soon....suffering withdrawal! Gotta love winter :(

Stars Top Joker (pending)

Starwalker X Stars Top Spark

Stars Dusty Secret (pending)

Stars Fim Koppur X Pratt Double Secret

Wow! already to the middle of July, where does the time go? Foals are growing well, both are of excellent quality. Very pleased with them. It has been a very busy month so far. So much for semi-retirement LOL.

Between catching up on farm work (that is a big dream), working with horses, fitting in some recreational riding, attending clinics etc. the summer is flying by. I have been trying to get the weed spraying done as well, weeds are so crazy this year, but the weather is not always cooperative and with the high cost of herbicide one does not want to waste it. Good news is that where I have managed to spray, it is working. Really don't like to use the chemicals, but sometimes there just is no choice. Breeding season is done for us so the long wait for new babies has begun. Stallions are doing well and will soon be back together. They seem to be quite ready for that. The tack door latch on our new horse trailer broke, so thank goodness we still have the old stock trailer for backup! Think the old thing could use a coat of paint......We have grass like we haven't seen in many years this summer. Hay fields are looking pretty good, my winter supply is ordered so just have to be ready for it when he is ready to start hauling. Helped a neighbour move cows to summer pasture yesterday, so much fun and the move went seamlessly. Moving cows with a horse is always a great experience. Hope the summer slows down some, so many things left to do especially riding!

Our new 2013 foals have arrived! Black fewspot filly by Stars Fim Koppur out of Pratt Double Secret on June 2, bay with blanket and spots colt by Starwalker and out of Arctic Top Spark on June 7. Both are excellent quality babies and we are very pleased, once again with our production. Filly is SOLD. Now if only it would stop raining for a bit.....it would be appreciated very much! I think even the ducks are getting tired of it LOL

Winter Babies

Stars Tiger Lily & Stars Dreamwalker

 

The two yearlings playing in the fresh snow - they are quite the pair of munchkins! Very frisky and playful, sweet temperaments. Sure do get running around that pen sometimes. Both are very good quality and cannot wait until they are old enough to ride! I know, at least a two year wait but am still excited........

Mickey & Ozzie

 

Ozzie

Mickey

 

 

We lost our beloved Buster to the wolves in early January, RIP dear friend. Oh how I miss him! But he died doing his job of protecting our farm animals from the predators. Poor Molly was so sad and lonely and beginning to get very tired trying to patrol and protect this large area all alone. She was also in lots of danger being by herself to do this job. We were able to locate a couple of young 8 month old Irish Wolfhound X Komondor pups and picked them up Feb. 2. They have settled in very nicely and are already working! Both have big, deep voices that might make the coyotes think twice at least. Quite a pair of sweeties and I sure hope nothing happens to them! These wolves need to be removed from the area, do not need them around the farm at all.

Goodbye 2012 and Welcome 2013!

What a wonderful way to say adios to the old year and usher in the new! The weather was as perfect as it could be, not too cold and not so warm that ice formed - and riding in a one horse open sleigh! Stars Ladyhawke did fantastic her first time hitched to the sleigh. We found that it does pull somewhat different than the cart for sure, but she had no problems adjusting. The driver on the other hand, took a few minutes to  get used to the different vehicle! It is always so nice to be able to spend time with family and friends. Got to babysit the grandson on New Years Eve, grand daughter had a sleepover with a friend. AJ and I had a great time as always together. Amma tends to play the little tyke out and he slept like a log.....he went sledding, helped split wood, fed horses, went for an adventure walk through very deep snow (thought I might have to dig him out LOL), quad riding.....busy little man. Here is hoping that the rest of 2013 is as great as the beginning has been!

Here we are, past mid-December with Christmas approaching quickly! We have had a LOT of winter already with a long way to go until spring.....temperatures have been somewhat below normal since October, but nothing too serious yet. Still feel like we are playing catchup with winter hitting so early, but we are actually doing just fine. Only a few days left until the shortest day of the year and our daylight hours will begin to increase again, thank goodness. It has been far too gloomy and dark the past couple of months, in desparate need of some sunshine. Horses are all doing great, have sold |Kidd and Foxy, they will go to their new home in the spring once the weather is more suitable for a long haul. Sure am going to miss them but the people are getting two exceptionally nice saddle horses that should do the job they want very well. Looking forward to Christmas with the family, dinner yummmm and just good times together. It is so much fun having little kids around again for the season...they bring much joy. Till next time.....

Wishing all our friends and family all the best for this Holiday Season and in 2013!

UK Was a Great Experience

Kristin and Stars Red Hawk

 

 

Here is a picture of my daughter, Kristin and Stars Red Hawk in his pasture at Blaisdon, Gloucester, UK taken on the second last day of our visit. We had an awesome time. Helena and Kyriako treated us like royalty and were great hosts. Helena purchased Red several years ago from us while living in Athens, Greece. The family made a huge move last winter to England. Of course, Red came along as well as Jojo their big dog. The climate, vegetation etc. are all very different from what we have here in West Central Alberta. The humidity is unbelievable! Nothing gets dry....it even smells like a musty basement outside, everywhere you go. Very different from here with our crisp, clear air. Roads are so narrow, lined by tall hedges and in some places you have to back up if you meet another car. The River Severn is impressive and dangerous. Gloucester Cathedral is a must to see if visiting the area. It is so old, the architecture is beautiful. More a piece of art than a building.....more pictures to come as I get time to download and sort through. London/Heathrow airport is an experience in itself. It was so good to see our little Edmonton International Airport again, much less initimidating.

 

Gloucester Cathedral

Fall is here

 

View from the Bedroom Window

 

Enjoying the sunshine and grass

 

Stars Really Foxy & Me

 

Brothers - we may have a team!

 

 

Just some random pics taken on a gorgeous fall day on the farm. Needed the roundpen mowed so openned the gate for the gang. September was an amazingly warm and sunny month, enjoyed it a lot. October is starting out kinda wet and cool but should get nice again by weeks end. The foals have grown superbly well this summer, the two year olds are much taller and filling out. All are very sweet and kind. Will be weaning the foals as soon as I am back from the UK. Should have lots of pictures of that experience! We leave on Oct. 9 which is coming up very fast. Getting somewhat nervous and very excited, of course. Hopefully we will have our big yard lights up and working when I get home too, that will really be nice on these short and dark winter days. Had one of those black and white smelly critters come visiting a few nights ago - the house finally doesn't smell like a skunk! Little monster didn't like out motion sensor light very much.....

Summer is Over

 

Totie on pedestal

Totie learning to bow

 

One on one with Josh Nichol

 

Well summer is pretty much finished again! The time flies by so quickly it seems. I closed the season with a superb 4 day clinic with Josh Nichol at his facility in Meanook, AB. As usual, learned a lot and now it is to practice it all! We really ended the summer with a two day Trick Horse Training clinic with Jackie Johnson, also a super experience. Horses had a great time learning how to perform some fun tricks. Looking forward to clinics with both of these excellent instructors in 2013.



Stars Dreamwalker and Stars Tiger Lily playing in the daisies! They have grown so much with the nice green grass and mom's with lots of milk. We are very pleased with these two foals, great quality all round.

Summer is Here

                                                 

Stars Satinka



Stars Wildfire (sold)

Stars Fire Shadow

Stars Wildfire

Stars Smokn Hot and Stars Little Spot (for sale)

Stars Bright Eyes (for sale)

Just a few fun summer photos of some of our young stock. Most were taken by my daughter, she is doing some very good work! It is so nice to have summer again although it is a super busy time for us. Everyone looks so plump and shiny. We are working on these young ones training, some are being started under saddle and some are being prepared for the saddle and riding in another year or so. All have great minds and are so trainable....feels pretty good. They also have pretty good conformation too so we can expect longevity as the grandparents have displayed (Babe retired from riding at 27 and Scoot still main riding/lesson horse and going strong at 18). It will be nice though when the horsefly season comes to an end!

Foal #2

Foal #2 has arrived! A stunning black fewspot filly on May 23, 2012. WAR Skylark X Magic Snow Flake. We are very pleased with this five generation girl. More pictures once she unfolds and gets her legs figured out.

All the Little Children

Not bad for a three day old foal! He was fascinated by all the Playschool kids and walked right up to the fence for pats. What a guy.....the kids sure loved him. Momma didn't mind all the attention either!

First foal of 2012

Our first foal of 2012, gorgeous black leopard colt born May 5 at approximately 1:30 AM. He is very special to me - Starwalker X DREA Kemosfancyeagle so is grandson to Scoot and Babe.

Mane Event 2012

The Mane Event was a super great time as always! Got to see so many people that I haven't seen for a year and got caught up on news! The clinics I attended were very well done and learned lots again. Didn't shop a lot but did find a few things. Krissie bought Totie a beautiful hair piece for the WPY ride - he will look so handsome this year. Certainly came back home all pumped and ready to get into working the horses again. Now if only the weather would co-operate just a little bit........