Our mare Sendi - Tonkaboutsensational - foaled last night in Illinois.  The filly has been christened with the barn name of Lily and she’s adorable.  Judy Glynn’s stallion Arobic Dancer sure colored this one with a big paintbrush! 

Judy says that Sendi was a pretty typical first time mom - a little confused and worried about what this spotted intruder was doing in her stall - but once she got the concept, she was fine with the whole idea, with the exception of the vet check.  She wasn’t crazy about that part of it too much.

Lily and her mother are scheduled to come to GWF sometime in late April, where we hope that Lily will provide some playtime companionship for our orphan filly Java.  Stay tuned.  It promises to be a rocking-hopping spring here on the farm! 

Mocha Java Cheer & Foster Mom, GW Champagne Palida

In spite of losing her mom last Sunday, our new filly Java seems to be making an effort to make the best of things.  She has adapted well to eating from a bucket and is also showing an increasing interest in creep feed.  As you can imagine, the loss of her dam has given her an unhealthy attachment to the humans in her life since we are the ones who bring food.  We are extremely grateful for Palida, who while not mothering Java seems at least willing to let her tag along behind.  Java seems willing to make the best of the situation, and is trying to become a horse and learn the important things that will help her as she navigates the “world equine.” 

Java and Pat have been writing Java’s story, so if you would like to see more of her, please check out the link on the top of the right side of our website, “Java’s Story.”  She has a lot of sparkle and personality and it comes through loud and clear! 

As always, we at GWF would love to hear from you.  We’re currently interested in any information you might have about raising orphan foals!

It’s hard to believe, even now.  Twenty-four hours after presenting us with a healthy baby girl, Cody Impressed Me - our beloved mare Banjo - suffered a prolapsed uterus and was humanely euthanized early this morning. 

She and the filly were fine at 2am when Pat checked on the pair.  But at 6 am morning feeding, Pat found Banjo lying in the stall, shocky, and already beginning to show signs of septicimia.  There was no decision to make - just a matter of waiting for the vet to come.

Banjo’s last day on earth was a happy one.  She and her newborn daughter spent the whole day outside in the sunshine and warm air, wandering the pasture, testing the filly’s legs, and sharing wisdom that all too soon would be gone.  She gave her daughter a good and solid start in life — the filly is strong, healthy, and courageous.  If she grows up to be half the mare her mother was, she will be a tremendous individual.

We buried Banjo in the ravine down by the pond.  It’s a fitting place for her soul to rest, and it gives us comfort to know that her resting place is one of peace, green grass, and blue skies. 

Good speed, girl.  We’ll meet again at the bridge.  Until then, we’ll hold the trust you’ve left us in your daughter with strong and steady hands and hope that you approve of the mare she grows up to be. 

Thank you, Banjo, for sharing your life with us.  Thank you for loving us back.   

Meet Faroh’s second daughter. She arrived sometime around 4 this morning.   Pat checked the mare at 2 a.m. and there was no indication that Banjo had anything but sleep on her mind.  But this morning at six the filly was already up, dry, nursing on her own, and had her legs figured out.

She’s grulla (we hoped), she’s female (either was ok with us), and she’s obviously solid.  But she’s the kind of quality that makes that not matter quite so much.  She’s feminine like her mom and looks like she’s going to be more thoroughbred-y built like her sire.  But she’s a genuine solid.  Her eyes are like liquid pools of dark coffee all the way to the edges, and they’re full of the most open curiosity, genuine friendliness, and cheerful disposition.

We’ve gotten a lot of great suggestions for names, and one of these days we’re going to just figure out that babies name themselves, because this one is obvoiusly “Mocha Java Cheer.” We’re calling her Java as a barn name.

Amazingly, her birthday is the same as her dad’s.  Faroh was a March 30 foal as well.  Quite a impressive first year - one Easter baby and one on his birthday.  Just an odd pair of coincidences or a sign of something bigger?  We’re looking forward to finding out!   

Stay tuned to see how this one grows up. She should be something special.  Her mom certainly thinks so.   She’s not letting anyone within 20 yards of her Sunday surprise.  

Meet Faroh’s daughter, born this Easter morning at Kinsch Show Horses.  Amy tells us that she’s a cute thing, very tolerant, curious, and friendly.  We’re are just so proud that Faroh put such a nice baby on the ground. 

We also think it speaks prophetically about his future as a sire that his very first foal ever was born on this unique and special day.  Easter, the traditional holiday set aside for the celebration of new life, is set by the lunar calendar.  It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the first day of spring.  The next time it will be this early will be the year 2228 - 220 years from now.  The last time we celebrated it this early was 1913. 

So, maybe we’re just looking for a sign from Creator, but we certainly belive that her birthday on this particular Easter is more than just a coincidence.  We think that she just might be the first step on his road to becoming one of the great sport sires of our generation.   

Stay tuned.  His second foal should be arriving any day here at Gentlewood Farms.

We’re at day 306 and counting!  We’ve known all winter this baby was coming, but now that we’re inside the 45 day window, we are getting really REALLY excited. 

Banjo is right on schedule with this foal - her hair coat is coming out by the handful, she’s getting soft in her croup, and she’s beginning to develop a bit of udder in preparation for the new arrival.  She’s also starting to wander away from Palida, her pasture mate, looking for a more quiet and solitary corner to be by herself.

We’ve got a colt name all picked out, but we could use some help if it’s a filly.  We’d like to use the “Cheer” part of her dad’s name if it’s a girl.  Boys will get to carry the “Rah” in their registrations.  So if you have a good idea of what we could call a filly, drop us a note and share it.  We’d love to hear from you!

Here’s what the foal’s pedigree looks like if you want to have a little research help. 

And, as always, we’ll be sure to post the newest arrival as soon as it gets here! 

Gotta Spendit arrived home Sunday morning from her visit to Illinois.  She had been leased to a sport breeder for the year, but unfortunately aborted a big healthy colored foal at 7 months into term.  The vet had no explanation for what appeared to be a completely normal foal out of a completely normal mare.  Echo was current on her vaccines and  rhino boosters, and the pregnancy appeared to be progressing normally, until one day it just wasn’t.

We figure things happen for a reason, and we’re actually kind of happy to have this girl home.  She’s a very special girl, and she’s a lot of fun to have around.  Her pasture antics are always funny, and she’s always the first one at the gate to say hello when you get home from work. 

We’ll be starting her under saddle in 2008.  This past year she went around the corner from being a filly to being a mare, and her mind and body appear to have matured to the point where she’s mentally ready to start a real job.  We’ll keep everyone posted on how that goes. 

Pat & Kris

Faroh is headed to New York.  The plan is for Kris and him to finish his Hunter and Color ROM’s, do a little dressage, possibly some fences, and a little fox hunting.  Kris and he should hit it off well, and she’s almost as excited to get him as Pat is to see him go.  It’s a big step, and a lot of big dreams are riding along with him as he travels across country.  Here’s hoping they all pay off! 

Thanks to McLemore transport for the first class ride! 

Congratulations to Ruth on the purchase of this great mare.  We can’t wait to see the two of them in the show ring, and we expect them to be tremendously competitive. 

The illness which plagued Faroh most of 2007 turned out to be a sinus infection!

It took a long time to diagnose, mostly because he exhibited no symptoms of infection in his blood tests.  They were erratic and inconsistent and did not match the physical evidence when Pat would haul him into the clinic. 

The vets were able to figure out after he began draining junk (the technical term) through his nostrils.  They got it cultured and found an antibiotic that it would respond to, and Faroh did his part to get better by not being a fussy eater.  Months later, he’s back to his 1200 pound normal body weight, with a sparkle in his eye and a spring in his step! 

Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement through what has been an extremely difficult year of frustration.  Faroh has been booked with a shipper to head to New York at the end of this year, where he and Kris will begin his show career in ernest. 

Watch for the two of them.  They’re sure to be sparkling in an arena near you!  

Faroh got sick in April with a low grade viral infection, which put him off his feed and caused a considerable loss in his weight and fitness levels. He is still recovering, but he was too thin this year to be as competitive as we would have liked. Since we had already paid up his national show classes, we took him anyway. We’re very glad that we did!

The photos are grainy and short on technical merit, but the quality of the experience was priceless. Faroh put on his best boy behavior and placed 4th in the Open 2-3 year-old stallion class at the 60th National Appaloosa Show. Shown in hand by Gia Dawn Madole of Easy J Stables, Faroh had a perfectly clean run, and his behavior was absolutely stellar.

This win is especially sweet for us and for him, as it means that his mind is back in the game and he’s ready to enter the world of “big horses.” He had difficulty with his mental focus as a two-year-old, and we kicked him out to live with some elderly broodmares to gain some maturity and self discipline. 

It seems to have worked. We’re excited about having our boy back, and we’re looking forward to seeing the two foals due next March.  We’re also looking forward with happy hearts to the 2008 show season.  Faroh will be starting over fences this next year, and we have hopes of showing him in prelim jumpers and open dressage.

As always, we continue to be grateful to his faithful fan club and thankful for their support!  We’re especially appreciative of the special place he holds in the hearts of the Sooner Appaloosa Horse Club.

What can you say about a life cut too brutally short?  Isaac was with us such a short time, it’s almost like a dream that he was here at all.  He started life with the cards stacked against him — a red bag delivery with a knees first presentation, apoxic at birth, and symptoms of dummy foal syndrome.  He was, however, an incredibly tough little fighter, and he waged a strong battle to overcome the odds.  He was getting up and nursing on his own within 12 hours of delivery. 

We thought he’d done it.  The vet thought he’d done it.  He was out of the woods and headed for a long and strong life ahead.  And then he got a bacterial infection in his gut.  Once again, he battled for his life, but this time the odds were too great, and he just couldn’t fight anymore.  He passed over Rainbow Bridge during the quiet and dark hours of the night, April 25. 

We sent his mother, devoted to the end, to join him later the same day.  She was elderly, in considerable pain with arthritis, and he was to be her last legacy.  Creator had other plans for them, and we are comforted with the thought that the two of them are together — whole and happy – forever at peace.   

Moon had recently been diagnosed with a reproductive abnormality, effectively ending our hopes for her as a broodmare, but she had embarked on a new life with a local adult novice event rider and her future was to be a long, active, and happpy one.  Sadly, Creator had other plans for our redhead, and we wish her Godspeed to Rainbow Bridge where she will be waiting for all those who held her in their hearts.  She will be deeply and truly missed.

Our 2005 Innochi filly received top placing under both judges at the 2006 Sooner ApHC October show.  Innigma — barn name Petra – was presented by Nadia Loden, Sooner member, who had nothing but praise for the filly’s behavior and disposition.  Petra also received first placings under both judges in the yearling filly’s class and a respectable 3rd place in the Hunter-In-Hand mares class.  This was Petra’s first trip away from home, and to come home with not only national points, but two class wins is tremendously gratifying.  Thanks to everyone who helped us get this filly into the show pen! 

2007 UPDATE

Petra has been sold to Leslie Chapman of Nail Farms in Kansas.

She continues to impress the judges in the show pen, taking top honors recently in their halter debut - a large open show.  

Leslie and Petra will be working under saddle this next year, and hopefully Petra will continue to make a great impression in the under saddle classes as she has in the in-hand ones. 

Leslie tells us that she just loves this mare, and we’re so happy that the two of them have found each other and that Petra will be loved for the rest of her life.  We continue to wish the two of them nothing but happiness and success! 

Spend It Quick and Gotta Spendit both made a nice impression on the judge at their recent dressage show at Easy J Stables. 

Shown Sporthorse-In-Hand, both mares came in neck and neck with 73.5% and a second place split decision.  Based on their very similar type, it’s no wonder the judge had a hard time deciding between them.  As far as we’re concerned, they’re both winners! 

We are incredibly pleased to announce that Ichi’s scores were as impressive as we thought they would be — a 67 in test 1, and a 72 in test 2.

Ichi took to the ring as if he were born to it, and completely reaffirmed our faith in his good mind, his great work ethic, and most importantly, his ability to carry himself like the champion we believe him to be.

Meet the newest Appaloosa Sporthorse addition to Gentlewood Farms, who made her surprise arrival during the wee hours of the morning of April 9th.  Mom and daughter are both doing fine, and we’re doing the happy dance over this one.  Barn name is Holiday, because anytime something this nice happens, it just has to be a holiday! 

Our five-year-old Spendthrift daughter took top honors in her recent Sporthorse-In-Hand class at the Easy J Stables spring dressage show.  Chantez received an outstanding score of 77 points, with a score of 9 for her free walk.  We’re so proud of her.  She’s proof to us that our breeding program is heading in the right direction!