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#795 "Buffy," now known as "Chantal"

Hi Virginia,

Buffy (or Chantal, as Ian renamed her) did very well on our trip. What a wonderful, calm horse she is. She is adjusting well but wants badly to join with our herd. She is very sweet and really smart - we're very impressed with her. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to have her in our family.

Gigi

"Annie" with her new colt, "Charlie!"

I want to thank you for the opportunity to acquire one of your versatile horses. We selected a flashy draft cross pregnant mare with a gorgeous mane and an unfortunate neck brand (#666) hidden beneath. We immediately named her Annie (bought on our anniversary) and made her part of our family. She has been such an easy keeper with a friendly and cooperative disposition. It has been so rewarding to give her a home and spend time bonding with her. Her deep throated whinny is awesome and she nickers at every sight of me. She will make an excellent pleasure horse and we are looking forward to many mountain trail rides when she completes her maternity leave. Her colt has added even more joy to our life. It is impossible to describe the pleasure of sharing those first days with a mare and her new foal. We plan to keep both for many, many years.

Thanks again for making these horses available. They really do have special qualities as well as being such amazing physical specimens. We get lots of compliments. I offer my most enthusiastic recommendation and wish you all the best in every aspect of your business. It is obvious that much of what you do is a labor of love.

Roger Austin
Bend, Oregon

Charlie's First Birthday Party

Hi Virginia,

We just helped Charlie (foaled by Annie #666) celebrate his first birthday and I thought I should send you a photo of this beautiful colt. I have never bonded so completely to a horse as Charlie. We are practically inseparable. He is already taller than Country, so he is destined to be a big boy. He loves to play and we have a lot of fun kicking a jolly ball around the corral. He is a great listener to my monologues as I sit in his hay manger. He walks without a halter at my shoulder now and we go for long walks just before dark. Then I sing him to sleep :-) I am starting to pony and trailer him. He is so cooperative and full of life. I am 62 and so glad to have Charlie in my life during this chapter. I hope we can grow old together.

Roger Austin

Vicki and Virginia,

I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to buy such a wonderful filly. You know we never wanted a female horse, but Destry is incredible. She was foaled by Annie, the 666 horse in the testimonials above, and she certainly takes after her mom, disposition-wise. By one year she was leading and following voice commands to the letter..........she was walking, stopping, backing, dropping her head, and lifting her feet all by voice command. She would move over just by a slight touch. By 1 and a half years I had her saddled and her response to the saddle was.......oh, is this something for me to play with?

We also have two Saddlebreds and when I introduce a "horse monster" to them, such as a shiny Mylar windstreamer........the 'saddlesnorts' run out of the paddocks in panic. Destry, Dezi, just ignores the stuff until she wants to play and then she will bat them around with her nose.

Last week I bought another horse from you, Jasmine. I thank you for understanding what we wanted in a second filly and directing us to the right choice in a companion horse for Dezi and Gordon and me. I can't believe how well you know your animals, and how much care and love you give them, and the people who buy them. Dezi and Jasmine will have long, loving homes with us as we keep horses until they drop from old age. We realize a commitment to a horse is lifelong. Congratulations on finding and caring for the wonderful Canadian Versatile. We will never ride another type horse!

Suzi and Gordon Sheward

Willow, 2 years old.

Willow plays in water, 3 years old.

Willow is an amazing filly! She is polite, friendly, affectionate, obedient, healthy, and gets along well with the other mares. She is quite curious and likes to investigate. Willow loves to visit with humans! My little girls can throw their arms around her neck and give her big hugs, and she puts her head down and lays it against them, as if hugging them back. They all handle her easily and she obeys them. She nickers or whinnies to people who walk past the pasture, and hangs out at the fence while we are in the yard, waiting for us to come and pay her some attention. We call her our "Big Black Lab" now!

2007: Willow is being trained for riding and is doing well under saddle. She has a very smooth type of movement and learns very quickly. She tries very hard to please her rider! She is going to be great both in dressage and as a trail mount. She also is a fabulous kids' horse; she seeks kids out and is very quiet with them.

Virginia and her sister, Vickie, are skilled at helping people choose the specific horse that will meet their needs. They will take the time you need to decide on an animal, and if you need it, they will give you advice on how to handle your horse. If you have questions or problems after getting your choice home, they are very helpful. I highly recommend these horses!

They still have many nice horses available. Take a look and find one to make your own! You won't be sorry!

Jery Good, Scappoose, Oregon

August 2006, A Happy Horse and Her Girl

Miss Lucia Latte, "Lucy"
Formerly #875

I must tell you that Lucy is so much more than I dreamed! She was a little naughty on the ride home. She stomped her feet and shook the whole trailer and truck most of the way home, till she tuckered out. We got home with little concerns. She unloaded like a dream. I sweet talked her and she just went right back with a steady unhurried pace.

She was very interested in her little private field and stall but not frightened. Lucy and I bonded during that time, she let me touch and pick up all of her feet. She let me pet her everywhere and touch all over her face, the whole time just munching away. She never flinched when I touched her nor acted afraid. I am just so pleased with her. She is so much better than I imagined. I spent a couple of hours with her and my little donkey (but not together yet) tonight after I got home. She let me walk right up to her both this morning and this evening without a halter or lead rope. She even followed me without a lead all around her field. I just love her demeanor. She is more sweet and gentle natured than one could possibly hope for definitely more than I wished for. Thank you for the sweet girl.

I have genuinely fallen in love with this mare. Tonight she let me lean against her and lay my arm around her neck and just hug her. She enjoyed a full body brushing and even leaned against me when I slowed down.

Well in closing I could go on and on, it may even appear I have done just that, but take heart knowing this mare went to someone who will cherish her and give her a happy home as long as she wishes.

Sandra and family


"Tense," formerly known as #79

Hello to all at the ranch!!!

We just want to say THANK YOU a million times for our little #79!!!
She is a very smart little girl and sooooooo sweet and patient. Once she was in the trailer and figured out that it was safe....she wouldn't come out when we got her home. So we just backed the trailer up to her stall, opened the door, put some panels on each side so she couldn't go anywhere else and we went to bed.
This morning she was happily eating in her stall and already bonded to our
Grandma horse.

She had her fist leading lesson, from her stall to the round pen, about 150 yards, and after she figured out she couldn't lose me she did great. Grandma helped out too by leading the way. Going back to the stall was even better. She is so quick to learn to give to the pressure!! Although she did balk a little at going back into her stall when we got there. Easy fix on that though....just a little alfalfa did the trick.

We are just totally in love with her.

Thanks so much to you all for helping these wonderful horses.

Mark and Sheral Du Bry and the former #79 now known as Tense.

2005 -- Tense calmly wears her saddle!

Hi Virginia,
I just wanted to send you this picture of Tense with her saddle on for the first time.
We have had the sircingle on quite a bit and of course sacked her out with the blanket and all but today is the first time she had the saddle on. She was perfect...didn't really care at all.
Of course she won't be having anyone riding till she is around 4 but its fun to play around with the saddle and let her know its no big deal. :)
I am teaching her to pull a travois and perhaps this spring will be able to get a training cart and get her started with that.

Have a great weekend!

Sheral Du Bry and Tense


Mare #888, "Jumba"

I've been meaning to email you for a while now. 888, now know as Jumba, is doing fine. She has turned out to be a very sweet girl and lets me do just about anything with her. I can't wait until after the baby is weaned and start driving her. She has gotten a little fat, my fault, but doesn't look like she's close to foaling anytime soon.

"Tanquerey"
One of Our 2002 Fillies!
This not-even-2-y/o, "range filly", has just accepted saddle (cinched tight), and then passenger with little more than ears focused on said rider, and no concern whatsoever about the tightly cinched saddle.

"Breaking a horse" is supposed to have some excitement to it, right? I was not surprised when Sage so willingly accepted these additional requests from her human leaders, but we had hands on her before she was even completely delivered.............

She's going to be an incredible equine - no doubt about it (never were any doubts, just had to share the day's confirmations of that fact!)

We just can't help but do anything but shake our heads in amazement at her. It's like she's a bigger version of our home-grown dream (Sage) incarnate. WE are the ones grateful to you and Bob for determining she should be offered to US.

~Anita & Don

"Lakota," formerly known as "Flurry"

Bridgett

3-8-04
This is the owners of Bridgett and Flurry (aka Lakota). Bridgett is so awesome!!!!!! She is just a big love. She will let us just about hang all over her, and to think that she was not even the one we went there to get. She is going to be great, she is great. Lakota (Flurry) Will come right up to us now. Just in the past couple days has become less head sensitive. She still does not want any part of picking up the legs or feet. I just want you to know that you both were terrific!! I very much enjoyed my whole buying experience. I was sick when you delivered them to us a couple of months ago and remember you telling us that the baby had something that it could never get again. What was it? My husband keeps wanting to get another one. I keep telling him we have enough. It is like a running joke at our house, as we check the website all the time to see if the one he has picked is reserved or sold. Thanks again. You two make me want to come and just visit you and your farm. A fun day that would be.......And yes we have talked about it. What do ya think? If there is anything else you would like to add, maybe some ideas about the feet, please include them with your response.

4-8-04
Bridgett got her first riders last weekend. We put all the kids on her, one at a time, and led her around. I have a 7 year old niece that got to be first and she will always have the stories of breaking in the new horse, I can almost hear them now. When I was 7..............! Lakota will let us do almost anything to her now. The legs are good, but she still does not want us to pick them up. Just a little more time.
Sincerely,

Bridgett and Lakota's (Flurry) People
Steve and Hylah Moncy

#607, now known as "Skittles"

Hey Virginia,
Ok.....here's your testimonial......lol. I brought "Skittles"... aka 607 home on Saturday. I started working with her as soon as I got her home as I don't live that far from you. I start my horses the old fashioned way. Getting them used to a surcingle and a snaffle. Within two days we had graduated to a saddle and draw lines. I let her "soak" for about an half hour. We did this for a couple of days, but she was so willing that I went ahead and started ground driving her. Amazingly she took to it right off the bat! Are you sure these horses haven't been broke before?.....lol. Well... on her third saddling I went ahead and had my 14 yr old daughter get on. The picture that I am sending is of her first ride.
Both Skittles and Cassie are now enjoying going on trail rides. This has been the easiest horse that I have ever had the pleasure of starting.......and I have started quite a bunch in my time. Thank you for shipping these wonderful, sound, gentle mares here. Anyone that is reluctant to start an "older" mare should contact me. Its a piece of cake as they don't have the foolishness in them that the younger ones have.....lol. Thanks again......and I am looking forward to starting "Tatonka" after she has foaled. Yes people......I have two of these wonderful mares.
Dolores Nielsen
Terrebonne,Oregon
doloresnielsen@netzero.net

Mare #647, now known as "Roxy!"

Hey Virginia and friends at the ranch-
I wanted to tell you that Roxy (#647) had her feet trimmed yesterday. She was hesitant, but eventually gave in. My shoer is pretty awesome with a challenge. I am convinced she will be fine next time. Believe it or not-he got her up on her toes so nice that she is not standing like a parked out Saddlebred any more!!!! It has made a difference in her posture and she seems so much more comfortable. She is such a sweetie.
Not one peep from her all the way home in the trailer (2 1/2 hours). When we got home she hopped right out and started eating grass. She is loving her alone time in her pasture. I have yet to hear a whinny out of her. She is so quiet. I introduced her to the barn yesterday so she could see her stall (this is where I am hoping she will foal). I was petting her 2 days ago and saw her baby rolling around, I put my hand on her belly and the baby actually kicked my hand. It was amazing. What a treat-not to mention she is so beautiful. All my neighbors think I am a nut case for taking her on-Oh well.
I sent some photos for you, so you can see where she is now! I think she is pretty happy-what do you think?
Hope all is well and as calm as possible for all of you!!!!!!
Sincerely,

Kayrene Kelley

Mare #787, "Minnie"

2-1-04
Virginia! She's wonderful! Troy and I are both so excited about her attitude. She trailered great. She was obviously tired, but turned around, walked right out of the trailer and into her pen at our gentle direction - w/out a lead rope! She went straight to the water trough and after deciding it wouldn't hurt her, drank quite a bit and then ate a bit too. This morning she was waiting for me along w/my girls expecting their breakfast! I was hesitant to believe that she could be so cautious, yet curious, with ears always forward, lips constantly moving and relaxed hips. Unlike my girls, she didn't mug me when I fed her :) I let her eat in peace and relax for a few hours before spending the rest of the afternoon w/her. Normally I would have given her 3 or 4 days to settle in, but she seemed so calm and curious that I just stood by her pen and she sniffed and snorted all over me, then put her head down for scratches! I've had my hands all over her, but stopped short of testing how she'd pick up her feet. I need to save something for day two! I took her halter off, so I'll let you know what it takes to get it back on! She had quite a tangle in her mane, and she let me clip a little and then brush her mane out. She's wonderful... did I say that already! We are very, very pleased and want to thank you for all your help on behalf of these mares and for bringing us this one. She will be well loved and cared for here. I think she will be my special girl - she has such a gentle eye. All our very best! -Debra and Troy

3-1-04
Hello Virginia. Thought I'd let you know how great Minnie is doing! Our farrier was out today and did both of her front feet and once she got used to him, she was perfect. He'll be out next week and try her back feet. With the exception of not liking her head touched, I've had my hands all over her, and she enjoys her daily grooming (overkill, but I want her to get used to and to enjoy being touched). I washed her tail last weekend, she was perfect. She's established herself as the dominant mare, so the funny thing that has happened is that since her arrival, my anwry-nippy mare (who lost her status) has turned totally sweet! What a bonus! Attached is a picture of us that Troy took on Valentine's Day. Should anyone at the ranch ever inquire about her, please let them know how happy we are with her and that she's well loved and cared for. She's my big baby :)
All our best,
Debra and Troy

4-9-04
We are so happy with Minnie we love to show her off! I think I mentioned before that I'd like another dozen just like her. She's still doing really well; halters, ties, clips, leads and trailers like a pro and her ground manners are perfect. She follows me around the pasture like a puppy would and always welcomes me with very loud nickers and some hoof-stomping, especially if she thinks I'm running late with her flakes or oats! I've been lucky enough to get to take the month of May off so that I can be at home during foaling time, but we'll see how the timing works! I hope everything is still going well for you at the ranch :)
-Debra

"Dulce," formerly known as #95

Hi Virginia!
Things went very smoothly with "Dulce" (formerly #95) last night. I couldn't get my sister up and going fast enough to her workshop so I could get back her and work with her. I tried closing off her area so I could round pen her, but she was not afraid of me nor the dressage whip. So I got out the saddle blanket and halter and sacked her out..."big deal," she said. I had the halter on her after 15 minutes! She let me brush her all over, comb her mane out AND spray her down with fly spray. Next order of business is to teach her to lead so I can get her moved down to the barn where she can hang out with the goats. I also want to work with her feet ASAP so I can get the farrier out for a trim. She's an awesome horse...neither task is going to be too hard. I'm going to put her pictures up on my main website and I will provide a link back to your website from there www.geocities.com/baileconcaballos.
Thank you so much for my girl....she everything I've been looking for!
Julie

Mare #309 and her 2004 foal.

Just wanted to thank you again for helping us select the horses for our family!

What we enjoy most about the draft cross horses, is their temperament. They are extremely willing and and so docile. Niether Ron or myself had ridden in years, yet we were able to back these horses ourselves without any trouble. Under saddle they surprised us by being lively and energetic but so much more sensible then the light breed we have ridden in the past.

The mares all foaled without complication and we now have 3 gorgeous foals. Our farrier had given us his thumbs up for great feet and he was impressed with the straight legs of the foals.

We look forward to exploring some of the Central Oregon trails with our new mounts.

Attached is a photo of our 4 year old daughter and her favorite filly, out of mare #309

The Kooistra's, Seattle, WA

Virginia, it was so nice visiting with you today. I love how you seem to remember every single horse that you ever meet.

Wy is doing super, I couldn't ask for better. (she's spoiled rotten!) She hangs out in the pasture with my daughter Amber's little buckskin and they torture my little mini stallion thru the fence!

She qualified as an American Warmblood and has real papers to say she is one; her first class ever she scored 75.5% (6th highest score of the day, YIPPEE). Her requirement for registry was to score 62%. In the in-hand dressage Tyler shows her because I'm not much of a runner. We have one more show coming up on Aug 8th and then in September it will be time for the finals, it is very exciting.

Out of the 11 horses we have here, she is one of my favorites. (I try not to pick a favorite, kind of like kids they all get jealous of each other.) Her new registered name is Y-Don't-ya, sticking with your Wynonna idea and then changing it to fit her personality, which most of the time it is Y-don't-ya brush me, Y-don't-ya get me a couple of those berry good treats, Y-don't-ya scratch my belly.... (told you she was spoiled).

Thank you again, we love her very much. Audra & Tyler & Amber.

Virginia Loomis and Vickie Herring ¤ Equine Management, Inc. ¤ P.O. Box 387 ¤ Sisters, Oregon 97759

¤ 541-280-4892 ¤ 541-480-4394 ¤ 541-280-4891
We are in the Pacific Time Zone.


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