North Star Arabians News and Happenings

’99 was another very busy and fullfilling year. We foaled out ten mares, beginning on March 9 and concluding on May 28, and we experienced our first “synchronized” foaling, where two mares foaled at exactly same time. Foaling season is always such a special time—and highly anticipated.

For the second breeding season in a row, we had the pleasure of standing the true black straight Egyptian, Al Khamsa stallion, Saud El Shataan, truly a grand horse. We also kept busy with our stallions, Mighty Mouse DLI and Ravenwood Gamal.

Spring was also a time to enjoy quite a bit of riding and playing with the horses, as well as starting a three year old gelding who had been purchased from us by a client/friend as a yearling. “Echo” and his owner are great friends, and we enjoyed starting him, then adding his owner to the equation.

In May, we were invited to visit a local ranch for a “safety on the farm” day with 46 first graders and their teachers and chaperones. Khamur was delighted to be the horse demo, he thoroughly soaked up tons of attention, and he was a big hit with the children. While we’ve not advertised riding lessons of late, we did have the pleasure of giving lessons to folks who trailered their horses to our place. We do enjoy teaching, and helping horses and people to develop partnerships.

In June, we audited a Buck Brannaman clinic in Whitefish, MT. It is always a pleasure to watch and learn from this master horseman.

July found us in Hamilton, MT, where we audited a Ray Hunt clinic. Ray is such a wealth of knowledge—and what a pleasure to observe Ray and Buck with their own horses—horses who are so soft, light and supple—truly responsive and ready—to turn on or turn up the life, or to turn the life down, or seemingly, to turn the life off, all as if they and their rider’s are one. “True Harmony.” Watching Buck with his Thoroughbred, Pet, is a special treat---Pet was put into the two-rein at one of the clinics we attended—and he and Buck would be equally at home in the dressage arena—truly poetry in motion.

We landed in Alder, MT at friend Betty Staley’s for a Buck Brannaman clinic in July/Aug. Best friend Khamur, and I, participated in the snaffle bit horsemanship class, as well as the ranch roping, which was a spur of the moment decision. While I had never swung a loop from horseback, nor had Khamur been roped from, we had a grand time. We also had the pleasure of visiting family and friends.

Two of our friends from our local area, traveled to the clinic with us. It was a memorable experience. In late August we ventured to nearby Sandpoint, ID to take part in an Arabian versatility demonstration with our local Emerald Empire Arabian Horse Club at the Bonner County Fair.

Summer and Fall found us working with our horses at home, giving lessons, and taking trail rides into the nearby mountains and enjoying spectacular fall colors. We always enjoy our horse friends—old and new. Some of our horses went on to new homes, and we heard glowing reports of new foals from our customer/friends whose mares foaled to our stallions in ‘99.

Now winter is upon us, and we are busily preparing for the coming year with our horse-filled life. There is so much to do, that the days and weeks keep flying by. A busy training, foaling, and breeding season will soon be upon us. Happy Trails…

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