Our Horses

 It was "love at first sight" for Randy and I when two Canadian Horse mares stepped out of the trailer after their long journey from Quebec . It was 11:45 pm on Saturday, May 8th, and trying to get a good look at black horses on a moonless night was not terribly ideal! Nonetheless, we led them into and around the barnyard (or was it the other way round??) making sure they knew the perimeter of the electric fence and the horses in the neighbouring paddock. Yes, we bought the girls sight unseen from an ad on the internet - a risky venture indeed - and couldn't be happier. The mares were heavy in foal (to none other than Bienvenue Lou Heros) and the weather was miserable, so hasty renovations were made to the barn to provide sheltered foaling stalls. Within five weeks of arriving at our farm, Jessy (Beauregard Bienvenue Jessy) and Heidi (Beauregard Bienvenue Heidi) effortlessly delivered two lively colts: Phantom and Phoenix (whose registered name is Phenom).

What a great introduction to these beautiful horses. Randy barely gave my quarter horse mare and appaloosa gelding a second glance, but there was something very special about the Canadians. He was instantly in love and spent all kinds of time fussing over them: grooming, cleaning the barn, playing with the colts. A totally different man from the one I married.

Randy actually got back into the saddle for the first time in over 30 years. His previous equine experience was mainly jumping on the back of some old nag at a friend's farm during his childhood years in Wadena, SK. The start of my horse craze was a gift of riding lessons for my 10th birthday during the year we lived near Cambridge, England. Although many, many years passed before I realised my dream of having my own horse (do I ride English - which I can't remember the likes of anyhow - or western?). I did "go with the flow" and went western.

In May 2006, Jackie went shopping and brought home Ranch Lac G Yukon Betty (below). She's a beautiful mare, standing 15.1hh and is a "happy medium" between the slighter build of the modern, sportier Canadians and the stockier, traditional horses. To date, she has produced 8 fantastic offspring yet remains in awesome shape. On April 7th, Betty delivered a big, beautiful colt, sired by Garoy Heros Nestlé. See the "What's New" page for pictures!

However, what wasn't planned - since the trip to Quebec was with the intent of finding one or two more brood mares - was buying a stallion. Hey, just when it's least expected a great surprise comes along. His name is De La Partouse Figaro Faquyr, and he is a great match to our mares. At 14.3 hh, quiet and well-mannered, he is the sire of several progeny that were "in the money" at the Assocation Québécoise du Cheval Canadien (AQCC) shows in 2005, including a 1st place for weanling filly, and a 2nd place for weanling filly in 2006 (scroll to bottom of linked page). We look forward to many fine Pendennis foals from him. 

Steamer (Pendennis Danny-Boy Steamer; registration pending) is growing up quickly (the little ones always grow too quickly!) and developing into a fine-looking, friendly yearling. What a turn around from the initially shy boy he was. It seemed that once we found his scratching passion spot, plus giving him treats, he's been a true, "in-your-face" Canadien ever since.

Congratulations to Steamer's new "mom", Pat Currie, of Sclater, Manitoba who will have lots of fun with her new equine addition!

The horses are outside at all times, but always have free access to shelter in the barn. The only exception we make when they're brought inside is during particularly nasty blizzards, when temperatures dip below -30 and howling north winds send the windchill plummeting into the -40s.

Our intention is to breed one or two mares per year, raising the foals until they are sold, to prevent "accumulating" more than we can handle. Our foals are given many different experiences at an early age and handled every day, especially until weaning. Since Randy and I also work off the farm, we want to ensure that our horses get the proper attention they need and deserve. That being said, we will be breeding all 3 of our mares this summer to Faquyr, for 2008 foals, since - in a twist of fate - we have no stock for sale at the moment. In the future, the herd will be expanded by the addition of replacement fillies for Betty, Heidi and Jessy.