December 30, 2022

Lesley Johnson sent me this picture of Fred (Classically) a few years ago and I thought it is appropriate for this New Years. As I sit here thinking about all the things that have happened this year----several sad ones and then some happy ones, I just want to thank all of you, my Face Book Friends for being there for me. You do not realize how much you brighten my life through your posts. Let's hope 2023 is a great year for all of us.

December 29, 2022

Owning horses is not for the faint of heart. On Monday during the bitter cold spell, my right hand man, Bob Luebker, found Janie (Kids Classic Style) down in the shelter. I gave her banamine and Bob and I tried to get her up but to no avail. Finally I called my good friend, Katie Samuelson and she suggested I call my neighbors, Jack and Joey Cowling. They came right down and then Katie arrived and brought two strong guys with her. My wonderful veterinarian. Dr Katherine Fox had spent Christmas with her mother and was on her way back. She stopped and I was able to find some "cold weather boots and clothes for her to wear. We tried with ropes and finally resorted to the tractor to get her up. She was a bit unsteady in her gait but they were able to get her in the barn. Dr Fox did not have her vet truck with her so she called Dr Sarah Peters and she brought fluids over. Finally Janie's temperature came up to normal. Dr Fox has been here the last 4 days giving her fluids and her blood work is almost back to normal. You don't know how I appreciate my wonderful friends, neighbors and veterinarian. Janie is 18 years old now and the thought of losing her especially after just putting Rebecca down is almost hard to bear. But thanks to a "community effort" everything turned out fine.

December 27, 2022

If you are wondering what happened to Gabriel after we put Rebecca down, I am happy to report that we found him a new "buddy" Nicky, the NN yearling filly by My Intention out of Wilma (Classically Kool) who is by Fred (Classically) out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) loves him. But then as handsome as Gabriel is, who wouldn't love him?

December 25, 2022

Christmas, 2022. Looking outside at the "frozen tundra" this morning, I think back to yesterday and all the wonderful Christmas' I have had over the years. From getting my pony when I was a child, to my family's Christmas traditions, to Mike's wonderful family and all the celebrations of the birth of our Lord. This morning I received my "yearly Christmas call" from Ronnie Salmons. Ronnie is from Missouri and back in 1984, when we were standing Impressivist , he called and told me he wanted to breed his black mare to him but when he got her here, if he didn't like the stud, he was taking her back home. Well, Ronnie bred to Impressivist many years after that and we became good friends. Every year he calls to wish me a Merry Christmas. Talking to him this morning he told me that he almost died this year He had open heart surgery and while in the hospital, he contacted Covid. They didn't think he would make it but you know how strong us horse people are and Ronnie is going to therapy and planning to play golf this summer. That phone call made me think about the many good friends I have lost this year. When we are young, we think life will go on forever but I have come to realize that we must enjoy each day and give thanks for friends and family and all the blessings we have. May you all have a wonderful Christmas and may the new year bring joy and happiness to you.

Santa Claus has finished delivering Christmas presents and has changed his clothes so he can cheer on the Green Bay Packers today in sunny Florida.

December 10, 2022

Well---guess what popped up on memories this morning. This "stylish" picture of me wearing my fashionable (for back then) bell bottom jeans. I originally posted it because I saw this picture of Cindy Buchanan in her fashionable jeans. I would love to see some of my friend's pictures so we can have a "beauty contest"

November 27, 2022

I feel as though I am one of the luckiest people in the World. The overwhelming support from all of you, my Face Book friends consoling me after the loss of Rebecca really means so much to me. I know that life goes on and both Gabriel and I will be fine. I will find him another buddy, perhaps Pebbles as she was with him as a weanling. I can't express my thankfulness and love I have for all of you.

November 23, 2022

Almost 23 years ago I pulled Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) out of her mother, Miss Bunny Tardee. I still remember the spot in the stall I was standing when she first stood and I was in disbelief at what I was looking at. I had never raised a baby with so much muscle---she looked like a miniature copy of the statue on the AQHA trophy. Over the years she has brought me so much joy, both by her and the foals I was able to get out of her. Well, as we all know, age gets the best of us and as hard as it was for me, yesterday I put my dear old mare to sleep. About 6 weeks ago overnight one side of her face became paralyzed---she could not move her ear or blink her eye and had trouble eating. That was the problem. For those of you who have dry eyes you know how much they hurt and imagine not being able to blink. If it had been the other eye the vet could have sewn the eye shut but the other eye is blind and we tried with a patch and Rebecca would not do good blind. After many tests and sending the results to Rood and Riddle, it became clear to me that the humane thing to do was to put her down before the eye ulcerated and she experienced excruciating pain. You do not know how hard this is for me-----Rebecca was my "heart horse" and it will be hard for me to continue without her. I took a few pictures of her last week and will post them. You can see that she lost weight and you can also see the drooping of her face on the head shot.

November 13, 2022

Throughout the years, I have received many beautiful paintings and drawings of my horses from my Facebook friends. Sam Burridge from Australia messaged me a while ago and offered to paint a picture for me. He selected Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) as his subject. Seeing this rough graph of the painting, I can tell he really has the ability to capture a subject. Now, I have two wonderful friends and outstanding artists from Australia, Sam Burridge and Rosie Hayson who have painted my horses.

November 12, 2022

A Note from Joe St Clair:  CYNDERELLA. BY VERY COOL AND OUT OF A FANCY CLASSIC YELLOW. (By Classically ). With over $20.000 in futurity earnings from the BHF, WCHA and Bradshaw money.

A great big thank you to Kathi Lawrence for Having her ready for the WCHA shows and Jim McKillips for getting her weaned and ready for the BHF. Without you guys I couldn't have done this. And a great big thank you to my longest and dear friend Sandy Ellis without you non of this would have happened. Thank you Diane Miller and Mary Mancini Debbie Jowett for being part of the wardrobe dept. It definitely takes a village. Thanks everyone.

November 6, 2022

This afternoon as I was watching my Green Bay Packers get beaten by the Lions, I received the nicest message from Dr John Tan. It read "Your mare-line is still making an effect today! Oh So So Good, great granddaughter of Rebecca just won the Select 2 year old mare class at the World" Now if that didn't brighten my spirits I don't know what else could. My first experience with John Tan was in 2005 (17 years ago) He called me interested in buying a filly. I had a beautiful filly by Im Kiddin out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) I don't know how many times we talked on the phone and how many questions I answered but a few months later, John and his brother James flew to Wisconsin to look at the filly. We had lunch and they decided that they would buy her. This was the first of many horses the Tans bought. They had met Lonn and Kathy Smallwood and were really impressed with their program. In fact, Kathy still is fitting their horses. I don't think you could meet nicer people than the Tans and our horse world needs more people like them. John is a cardiologist and I remember when Mike was having heart issues, we called him and his recommendation resulted in Mike getting stints put in his heart. And the filly they bought from us and named Fancy Me a Cool Kid raised 3 World Champions for them. So you can imagine my joy when I received this message today.

November 4, 2022

Yesterday I told you one of the many ways I have met new friends on Facebook. Well, it has also enabled me to reconnect with old friends. Yesterday I received a friend request from Rex Kennard and of course accepted it. Before I was seriously involved with quarter horses, I thought seriously about raising Appaloosas. Mike and I flew to Oklahoma to see Dreamfinder and met his owners, the Kennards. Wonderful people and I loved the horse but never sent a mare to breed to him. I also flew to Missouri and saw Impressive Andrew at the Laurie's. They had some big time mares and at the same time met and became friends with Jim Wild. But way before that time, when I was probably just out of high school, my friend, Mary Simons and I took a road trip in her car to see Bright Eyes Brother. I can still remember the gorgeous buckskin horse in the outdoor arena. Mike and I did have one appaloosa mare and she was a great producer for us---in fact I have several trophies from the Solid Gold Futurity that she won and also that Impressivist won for being the sire of the winner. Many of my past and current friends are Appaloosa owners and I feel bad that I am not going to be attending the Quarter Horse World Show so that I could meet Mal Farr in person. He is from Australia and I love the horses he raises.

November 3, 2022

Isn't it amazing how you can meet new friends on Facebook? I am a "marketplace shopper" and a while ago I found and bought a horse statue from Keith Thompson. He and his wife don't live far from me and when I went to pick it up, we had the most wonderful conversation about horses and horse showing. Keith grew up in Minnesota and showed quarter horses at the highest level. He said his dad was a big influence on him and they had some great horses. We stayed in touch and this summer Keith came out to visit and see my horses. He then told me that when he was younger, he had his dad buy a set of horns in Mexico. To Keith's surprise he bought a huge pair with gorgeous leather work separating them. They had been in storage as the horns did not go with the decor of their house. Well, guess what----Keith gave them to me and they definitely go with my decor. I love them and am so thankful to find another great friend in Keith Thompson.

November 1, 2022

This is Penny (It Had to be U) in her new home in Germany. Judith Kaiser sent me some pictures. It is hard to believe that 5 days ago she was standing in my barn in Wisconsin. As you can imagine, I was very nervous about how they would like her as the Kaisers had never seen her in person. What a relief it was to hear from Marko that they are extremely pleased with her.

October 29, 2022

Beautiful end of October day in Wisconsin, 57 degrees, sun is shining and no wind. The mares are certainly enjoying sleeping in the sun, knowing that winter is not far behind. Three NN mares-----Janie (Kids Classic Gal) Heather (TF Kids Cover Girl) who is owned by Marko and Judith Kaiser, and Patty (Tickytackypattywacky)

October 27, 2022

Thinking about some of my favorite horses and I have to put Cooleah (Olivia) on that list. She was a 1996 NN daughter of Ima Cool Skip and out of The Magnolia Kid by Kidnap Bar by Magnolia Bar. Olivia was a modern looking Cool Skip mare----she stood 15.3, had a long neck, beautiful head and of course a great back. Funny thing, the old Kidnap Bar mare had 3 fillies by Ima Cool Skip and they were all NN. I bred Cooleah to Kids Classic Style and got A Classic Edition, An Obsession, and Cool to be Classic. A Classic Edition, as you know went on to win many World Championships and Year End Quarter Horse awards. We sold An Obsession to a group in Australia and he sired some great horses there. Cool to be Classic was sold as a yearling to Russell Ellis and he sent me pictures of her produce who are winning a lot for the Ellis'. It shows that just because a mare doesn't have a show record, doesn't mean she can't be a producer. I am posting pictures of A Classic Edition and An Obsession as weanings and Cool to be Classic as a yearling. Cooleah also crossed very well with My Intention as she had Remarkable by him and he became a World Champion. And, of course, Lesley Johnson has the beautiful mare by My Intention out of Cooleah, A Cool Intention who has won many awards and if she were in the US I bet she would be a World Champion too.

October 26, 2022

When you sell a horse, you have no control over what the new owner does with it. I have been so lucky to have such wonderful caring friends, Marko and Judith Kaiser from Germany who have bought 4 horses from me over the last few years. I hate to part with my "babies" but knowing the kind of home and opportunity the Kaisers give them, sure makes it a lot easier to let them go. This morning, Penny who they named It Had To Be U, left for quarantine and then on to Amsterdam where the Kaisers will pick her up on Friday. Penny is sired by My Intention and out of Wilma (Classically Kool) who is by Fred (Classically) and she is 5 panel NN. I tried to take pictures of her but with my shoulder surgery, it did not go that well as you can see by the profile picture I took. Leah Gloudemans took the rest of the pictures and she is a much better photographer than I am.

October 3, 2022

You know how I believe in the "mares side" of a pedigree. Well, today let me tell you about a mare that Terry and Tammy Bradshaw own. Her name is Shanes Lady Romantic and it is hard to believe but she is now 21 years old. Romantic is an NN daughter of Skips Shane and out of How D Romantic, who was a full sister to How D Poco Lynn and How D Billie Jack. They were sired by Tee Jay Roman and out of How D Jacklynn who was a granddaughter of Poco Lynn, a great mare. I remember when Dudley Pillow bought How D Romantic from Howard Dahloff and he was so excited to get her. Many of us remember her full sister, How D Poco Lynn and Dudley liked Romantic better because she had a pretty head. Dudley had to leave How D Romantic at Dahloffs as Howard kept the foal she was carrying. That foal was How D Nifty Dude and he accumulated 255 points and became a World Champion. Dudley loved Romantic and Donna Davis showed and won a lot of futurities with a colt out of her by Ima Cool Skip. When Dudley died, Lanis Noble and I bought two gray mares from the estate, one of them being Shanes Lady Romantic who was sired by Skips Shane and out of How D Romantic. We did an embryo transfer on the mare and recovered an embryo. I was supposed to give the mare a prosto shot to bring her back in heat but it was late and we didn't plan to breed her again anyway. Eleven months later, Bob Luebker came running to tell me that there was a baby in the stall with Romantic. Evidently she had an additional embryo that we didn't recover with the flush and the mare was so deep hearted, she did not show her pregnancy. The filly was huge and I traded Lanis out of her. Lanis named the filly Malibukini as she was sired by Malibu Ken. "Juliet" as we called her produced 3 beautiful foals for us---Exceptionalee, a double registered by TD Kid, Sterrling by Ima Cool Skip , and Move Over Darling (Cookie) by Fred (Classically). Shanes Lady Romantic also produced Twice the Romance by Shanes Bake who in turn produced Telorah Lu by RF Telestar. Telorah Lu is the dam of the World Champion stallion, Whoisit. What a great producing line of mares. Malibukini's last foal, Move Over Darling (Cookie) is now in Germany and is a Superior Halter mare in both Amateur and Open besides garnering many International Grand Championships. She is owned by my good friends, Marko and Judith Kaiser.

September 17, 2022

The Breeders Halter Futurity had a wonderful tribute to Linda Gordon and I am happy that I was there for it. People spoke of their relationship with Linda and I almost got up to tell my relationship with her. Many years ago when I raised foals by Ima Cool Skip, I had a filly that had a white spot on her belly. At that time the Gordons were mostly involved with paint horses. Gary called me and was interested in her. I told him that I did not think she had pink skin under that white and we let it go at that. A few weeks later, Wayne Halvorson came and bought Cool Miss Tardee and also bought the filly with the white spot. Evidently Gary was upset as Linda called me and told me that Gary rode the golf cart around all night sulking over not getting the filly. That was my only contact with Linda until Mike died and she sent me a beautiful message about cardinals and death and told me that when I saw a cardinal it was as though Mike was looking after me. From that time on, Linda and I became friends, sharing messages and Christmas gifts. I supported her when her dog, Tasha had problems and we always promised to get together for dinner and drinks at the Breeders Halter Futurity or the World. That never happened but I truly miss Linda Gordon and know that when I see a cardinal, it will remind me of her. She was a great lady and loved by so many.

September 16, 2022

I am home from the Breeders Halter Futurity. I had to come home early as I am having shoulder replacement surgury next Tuesday and need to get things in order. How wonderful it was to see old friends and look at some great horses. This show and the WCHA have done so much to revitalize our halter industry. Joe St Clair and I drove out together and I was so happy to see him get a bronze globe with his filly, Cynderella. By the way, I only got lost 3 times driving home alone yesterday. Joe's filly is sired by Very Cool and out of a daughter of Fred (Classically) Jim McKillips did a fantastic job of fitting her in a short period of time. It has been two years since I have been to a show and just reuniting with old friends and making new ones meant a lot to me. Two of my dear friends, showed Amateur weanling stallions and Harry Knight'colt won the senior division and a colt that Larry and Anne Lemke raised and sold to Josh and Kayleena Weakly won the junior division. I love it that the Lemkes named their colt, Aaron Rodgers. When they picked the Grand and Reserve Champions from all ages of stallions that won their classes and Harry's colt was Grand and Aaron Rodgers was Reserve it was really quite an accomplishment for two babies to beat the older horses. I am hoping that Aaron Rodgers, our Packer quarterback can do as well as his name sake. After Monday I will not be posting much as I can hardly do anything with my left arm and the surgery is going to be on my right one. Perhaps I will learn to use the left one more.

September 8, 2022

I think we are having a disagreement. Penny (It Had To Be U) wants her mane to be on the right and I know that Marko and Judith Kaiser, her owners would like it to be on the left side. I am betting that they win and she will have a "left side mane"

September 7, 2022

My "Girls" tonight. I feel so lucky to have 2 mares both sired by Fred (Classically) and out of full sisters by Ima Cool Skip and out of Miss Bunny Tardee. Wilma, (Classically Kool) the sorrel is out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) and is NN. Pebbles (Cool to be Classic) the palomino is out of Bonnie (CJ Miss Cool Tardee) and is NH.

September 5, 2022

Look at the beautiful sunset over our place last night. Kimmy Biggar sent it to me and her husband, Mo took it. They are good friends and neighbors who live on Lake Winnebago across from me. When I look at this picture I realize that sometimes we need to forget all of our worldly problems and appreciate the beautiful world that God has created for us.

August 7, 2022

European Championship 2022.  Today Cookie (Move Over Darling) and Betty (My Secret Luv) were at the start.  Betty won her classes unanimously under all judges and therefore also won the European Championship title in Halter 3yo Mares Open and Amateur.  Cookie did the same and won her classes in Halter Aged Mares Open and Amateur under all judges. The Grand and Grand Reserve titles were shared between the two half sisters.

Isn't it amazing how things happen in your life that result in bringing so much happiness and enjoyment to it? Well, in 2016 we raised a filly by Fred (Classically) out of Malibukini who was by Malibu Ken and out of Shanes Lady Romantic. One day I received a phone call from Marko Kaiser from Germany and he wanted to buy her. That started a wonderful relationship between me and Marko and Judith Kaiser. "Cookie" as we called her left for her new home in Germany as a yearling and started her fabulous show career. Judith named her Move Over Darling and I love that name. Then in 2019, we raised the last foal out of Bonnie (CJ Miss Cool Tardee) and she was sired by Fred (Classically) She is a full sister to Pebbles (Cool To Be Classic) Marko called when she was less then two weeks old and wanted to buy her. I told him that I would sell her to him if she tested NN, as they cannot have HYPP positive horses in Germany. Well, she did and off "Betty" went to join her half sister in Germany. I posted pictures of her loading the plane for her trip. Again Judith came up with a fabulous name for her which is My Secret Luv. Yesterday the girls made me so proud. At the European Championship Show both girls were unanimous winners under all the judges in Open and Amateur and the "sisters" shared the Grands and Reserves. They better get their "game on" though because another relative, Penny (It Had To Be U) will be joining them in Germany and she is going to be tough to beat. She is sired by My Intention and out of Wilma (Classically Kool) who is also by Fred (Classically) Today I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to have found such a wonderful home for my horses with Marko and Judith Kaiser as they truly love their horses and treat them like queens.

July 31, 2022

Not a very clear picture of Fred's (Classically) daughters. They are full sisters in blood as Wilma, the chestnut is NN and out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) and Pebbles the palomino is NH and is out of Bonnie (CJ Miss Cool Tardee). Both Rebecca and Bonnie are sired by Ima Cool Skip and out of Miss Bunny Tardee by Tardee Impressive. I love these girls.

July 31, 2022

Today is the last day of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) week long event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This year they had some beautiful weather with low humidity and temperatures in the 70's. For those of you who aren't familiar with it it is similar to our Quarter Horse Association or any breed association World Show. This year more than 608,000 people attended from 66 countries. During the week they have air shows and forums, workshops and presentations. The air shows are fabulous. Of course, during the week, I don't know near Oshkosh which is about 6 miles from me----too many people. But I do enjoy watching the planes flew over. I will post a few pictures so that you can get an indication of what it is all about.

July 25, 2022

Well, I probably should have waited more than a week after weaning to take a picture of Penny but I thought it was time that I announced that she is going to join her relatives in Germany. Marko and Judith Kaiser bought this beautiful 4 month old NN filly a few weeks after she was born and she will be going to Germany. I would love to keep her but at my age, I realize I can only handle so much. Penny is by My Intention and out of Wilma (Classically Kool) I know she will have an awesome home with the Kaisers and she will be loved and given every opportunity to reach her full potential. Judith Kaiser is one of the best at naming horses and Penny's registered name will be It Had To Be U.

Penny has been weaned 2 weeks now. And, she is now weaned from being with her sister. It always amazes me that foals tend to get a belly about this time. It must be the transition from mare's milk to grain. Hopefully she will "tighten up" before she goes to Germany to live with Marko and Judith Kaiser. Penny is sired by My Intention and out of Wilma (Classically Kool) who is by Fred (Classically) and out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) I guess it is "all in the family"

July 24, 2022

Sometimes a picture on Facebook makes you think your breeding program is successful. Well, today James Jeffrey Short posted a picture of a weanling filly sired by "Charlie" If you remember he was the 5 panel NN colt by Heza Secret Agent out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) that the recipient disowned. So he is the reason we got Gabriel, the donkey. This filly is from his first foal crop and James pasture breeds him. I think this picture "made my day" as I absolutely love this filly. Her dam is by JMK Supernatural out of a daughter of Ima Tru Skip. And, as you can see, she has not been fit on---just running in the pasture with her mother. I am posting a picture of Charlie as a foal and also of the filly from his first foal crop and see if you don't agree with me.

July 20, 2022

Yesterday I had the honor of a visit from an old and dear friend, Russell Ellis. We are not related and the way we became friends is quite unusual. Clint Fullerton was looking for a cremello stallion for Russ and my friend, Lanis Noble had one born in 2008. At that time another friend, named Clint was also looking for a cremello and I sent pictures to Clint Fullerton by mistake. Well, Russ ended up buying the colt and he named him Supernatural Fella as he was by JMK Supernatural and our of JMK Fantasia. Russ and his wife Felisha built a whole program around the horse that they called "White Boy" Unfortunately they lost him but their program is continuing to thrive under his son, Supernatural Magnum. Back to our visit yesterday-----I had an opinion of the Palomino World Show so Russ and I talked about it. As I thought from the Facebook posts, it is a show that the exhibitors and spectators really seem to enjoy. Russ said it is a whole different atmosphere than the World Show. I think it reminds me of the "old times" when people had fun and enjoyed each other. Since I have some palominos, perhaps I should consider going next year. I am posting a picture that shows me and Russ (actually he superimposed his face on my friend Lanis Noble.

July 18, 2022

Two full sisters enjoying each other on a hot Wisconsin day. Both are NN and sired by My Intention out of Wilma (Classically Kool)

July 17, 2022

I thought today would be a good day to post a picture of my foal statue that my good friend, Richard Kaufmann mounted on a cement base. It is located behind the gravestones of Molly, our dog and Miss Bunny Tardee, the foundation mare of our place. In front of it is "Polly Peony" that Roseann Albert sent me when we lost our Kid Clu filly due to a broken leg, years ago. This is a beautiful area of our place where Mike loved to sit and watch the sunset and sunrise. Today would have been our wedding anniversary and it is hard to believe that he has been gone for almost 4 years now. I am so thankful for my wonderful friends who have stepped in to help me since he has been gone. I don't know if I could have done it without the support of them and I also appreciate you, my Facebook friends, many of you who I don't know in person, but believe me., you are a big part of my life.

July 4, 2022

I don't know if Rebecca is that thrilled with her 4th of July attire.

June 30, 2022

Fred (Classically) looking at his girlfriends.  He is no longer the pretty boy that we fussed over so his beautiful mane and tail don't look like they used to---but I think he s happy.

June 28, 2022

It has been quite a while since I told you about some of my old "horse friends" so today I thought I would tell you about Warren Ploeger. For those of you who knew him, he not only was a great horseman but he was a great person. I first met him when he came to our place with Homer Danielson in 1977. At that time we had our first foal crop of 3 fillies by Royal Tailwind. Warren was so impressed with them that he offered to buy the stallion. We had never considered selling him but----Warren's offer of giving us 8 breedings a year and $5.00 a day mare care (back then there was no shipped semen) sounded pretty appealing, especially since the amount was the most money we were ever offered for a horse. At that time we were living on a "shoestring" and that money enabled us to add to our property and do some improvements. I spent years hauling mares to Schaller, Iowa to be bred, sometimes making 2 trips a week by myself. I got to become very familiar with the Early Motel and Warren and Nancy and I would watch television and eat ice cream at night before I started on my return journey. After Royal Tailwind, Warren bought a young gray stallion named How D Roman. He was by Tee Jay Roman and out of Skipper Jean by Sea Skip. He became a great horse and a great producer of horses. Unfortunately Warren passed away in 2020. Earlier that his father had recorded of How D Roman and I thought that you would enjoy seeing them.

June 27, 2022

Today I said good-bye to Righteous Indulgence as she left for her new home with Margorie Gallardo in Florida. I didn't tell her that she is leaving 62 degree weather today and headed to a much warmer climate. Marjorie bought this beautiful NN mare in December but I kept her here and bred her to Hes So That for her. I know this will be an awesome cross and Marjorie is going to love this mare. What a wonderful man picked her up for MJK Quarter Horses and Horse Transport owned by Mike and Ashley Koeller. I had to compliment him as he was able to back the big rig down my driveway. I hope Marjorie and Bill enjoy the cheese curds I sent for them. After all, everyone needs some Wisconsin cheese curds.

June 25, 2022

Yesterday, we gave Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) and Gabriel, her trustworthy companion a ball to play with. If you notice, Gabriel has his new fly boots on as the flies were biting his legs and making them bleed. Well, after awhile I noticed that Rebecca was running (not real fast as she doesn't do that) and there was Gabriel herding her with his ears back. Evidently she did something to irritate him. I have never seen that before as they are always buddies. Rebecca stood at one end of the pen and Gabriel at the other until I brought them in the barn later. Well, today they have decided to "make up" and are inseparable again. Rebecca is showing her age but I guess at 22, she has a right to lose her girly figure.

June 23, 2022

I was sitting in my office and noticed that Wilma's filly, Penny, was running around like a race horse. I couldn't figure out why so I walked out to find her carrying a twig with a leaf on it. I guess horses are just like kids when they find something new to play with.

June 13, 2022

I guess my filly by My Intention out of Wilma (Classically Kool) thought I was going to wean her this month but I decided to wait until she is 4 months old instead. For those of you who are interested in the weaning dates, I contacted Ann Lanning and she informed me that this month the dates are June 16 through the 19 and in July they are July 14 through 17. Since I have been weaning by the "moon signs" I have had no trouble with either the mare or foal And boy I had some horrible experiences before I started doing this.

June 11, 2022

Yesterday my wonderful farrier, Scott Bruecker was here and he brought his daughter Hope with him. Hope took this awesome picture of the beautiful Gabriel. Don't you think he could be a model for an ad for weight loss?

June 1, 2022

Those of you who have horses know how important good bedding is for them. Well, I think I have the best shavings provider and his name is Blake Clary and the company is Agri-Bedding. They have been so dependable and I am so pleased with the pine shavings they bring me---sometimes they even have a little cedar in them which makes the barn smell so good. Yesterday, Mike brought us a semi load and he hadn't been here for several years. He mentioned that my Mike always brought him McDonalds to eat so I told him the next time he com

May 25, 2022

Those of you who have horses know how important good bedding is for them. Well, I think I have the best shavings provider and his name is Blake Clary and the company is Agri-Bedding. They have been so dependable and I am so pleased with the pine shavings they bring me---sometimes they even have a little cedar in them which makes the barn smell so good. Yesterday, Mike brought us a semi load and he hadn't been here for several years. He mentioned that my Mike always brought him McDonalds to eat so I told him the next time he comes, I will do the same.

May 16, 2022

I just had to take advantage of this beautiful Wisconsin day and snap a few pictures of the "old girl" Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) She is still the most heavily muscled NN mare I have seen at 22 years of age. Her sire is Ima Cool Skip and her dam is Miss Bunny Tardee by Tardee Impressive. I love this old girl and am keeping 2 of her daughters, Wilma (Classically Kool) who is NN by Fred (Classically) and Ellie (Elara) who is NH by My Intention. I sure wish I could get another embryo out of her but I think she has decided she is too old to get pregnant.

May 15, 2022

Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) and Gabriel enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin weather.

May 14, 2022

We all know the outcome from last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby - but I love the way the story is told here!!

Copied from a friend…

"Last year, a two-year-old colt finished dead last in his first race. Disappointed, his owners placed him in a “claiming” race where anyone could take the ownership for a fee. An older man purchased the colt after missing the chance to claim another horse he wanted. He said it was his last attempt to find some success in the racing industry.

The colt won by 17 lengths, and his new owner was encouraged. But, in the races that followed, he finished third twice, fourth once, and fifth once. His owner, however, still believed in him.

2022 was the colt's only chance to race in major thoroughbred races, which are limited to three-year-olds. The day before the Kentucky Derby, the field of horses was already full, but then, at the last moment, a famous trainer scratched (withdrew) his horse. The colt took that place in a field of twenty horses, just 30 seconds before the entry deadline. Suddenly, he was in the game. He had a chance.

All the metrics and predictors were against him. Neither his owner, his trainer, nor his jockey had ever been associated with any horse in the Kentucky Derby. His jockey had never even won a major event. They were decidedly outsiders and newbies in an extremely elite arena. On the morning of the race, his odds of winning were set at 80 to 1, the second longest odds in Derby history.

Halfway around the track, the colt was 16 horses back from the lead. He couldn’t even be seen in the field of view of the drone camera flying above the race. He was a nobody, a throw-away, an inconsequential participant.

But then, he made his move.

He began working his way through the crowded pack, finding a few narrow, fleeting opportunities to improve his position. As they headed toward the finish line, he had miraculously moved up to fifth, then fourth, but still, no one had noticed him. Everyone’s attention was firmly focused on the battle between the two famous front-runners.

Only seconds before the finish, he suddenly, almost magically passed the two front-runners. The announcer struggled to identify him and say his name in time. He said, almost in a single breath, “Rich Strike is coming up on the inside ... Oh my goodness! The longest shot has won the Kentucky Derby!”

Where there is life, there is hope.

Anything is possible.

Don’t let anyone count you out.

Persistence and determination beat the odds."

Well done Rich Strike !!!

May 13, 2022

Nothing prettier than a palomino mare on a warm sunny day in Wisconsin. This is Pebbles (Cool to be Classic) who is a 16 plus NH mare by Fred (Classically) out of Bonnie (CJ Miss Cool Tardee) She is a full sister in blood to Wilma (Classically Kool) I was going to breed her this year but decided that I just can't handle more than one baby a year.

May 12, 2022

I am realizing that as I get older, I cannot own many horses---and that is hard to admit. It wasn't 10 minutes after I posted pictures of Penny, she was sold. I feel so good knowing that I couldn't have found a better home for her and she will be loved and taken care of better than I even could. She is a gorgeous NN filly by My Intention out of Wilma (Classically Kool) and I still have her full yearling sister, Nikki.

May 10, 2022

Finally some warm and dry weather in Wisconsin and I was able to take pictures of Elara (Ellie as I call her) She is the last foal I was able to get out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) She is an NH yearling by My Intention and she will have a permanent home with me. But being a "horse nut" and looking at my two mares out of Rebecca---Wilma (Classically Kool) and this filly, I really am tempted to try to get another embryo out of the "old girl."

May 8, 2022

Mother's Day, 2022 and I am sitting here alone thinking about all the wonderful Mother's Days I had as a child---how we would go out to eat at the Rainbow Supper Club with the family. Now, since I have no children, I enjoy it with my horses. The only mother horse I have this year is Wilma (Classically Kool) She is one that has a permanent home with me as she is NN and out of Rebecca (You Bet Im Cool) and by Fred (Classically) both parents are out of my old foundation mare, Miss Bunny Tardee. I hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day and I am so happy that you are a big part of my life.

May 7, 2022

Finally a beautiful day in Wisconsin. Yesterday was the first day I was able to get Wilma (Classically Kool) and her My Intention filly Penny outside. Of course, Wilma was feeling good and the baby staying too close got kicked in the head. Fortunately the hoof did not hit her eyeball and she will be okay. You can see the mark around her eye., Today I gave Wilma a little ace and things are much better.  Penny is 7 weeks old.

April 17, 2022

Happy Easter to all my wonderful friends. Our weather in Wisconsin has been so cold and blustery and it has been impossible to get my filly outside. And of course, Wilma (Classically Kool) her mother is a baby herself so I can't get away from them to take pictures in the stall. Needless to say, I love this little My Intention filly and she is the sweetest thing in the World. Penny is what I call her and she is 5 weeks old today. She is NN for both HYPP and PSSM.

April 7, 2022

This morning my good friend, Joe St Clair is having back surgery. Joe is one who is always willing to help others and I feel terrible that I am not able to do anything for him. Evidently he ruptured some discs in his back (could have been pulling a foal) and ended up in the emergency room of the hospital. It is about killing him that he is not able to see his newborn foals but he has great friends in Isaiah Schultz and Al who have taken over for him. This morning they even sent him a picture of his newborn filly by Secret Gunfighter that was born last night. He is naming her Theda as he is in Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah, Wisconsin. Please wish him a speedy recovery.

April 4, 2022

I don't think I ever told you that I sold Righteous Indulgence to Marjorie

Gallardo. At my age, I decided that I need to cut down on my work. Marjorie loved this NN mare by Righteous Mister out of a daughter of Mr Conclusion but she was in the process of moving from California to Florida. I told her that I would keep the mare here and breed her for her. Yesterday I had the pleasure of telling her that her mare is in foal to Hes So That, owned by Terry and Tammy Bradshaw. I have found a great friend in Marjorie and she is going to love this mare when she gets her. Besides that the mare is going to love leaving this cold wet weather and move to sunny Florida.

March 30, 2022

What a pleasant surprise I received yesterday. Tammy Bradshaw sent me a video of Shanes Lady Romantic and her beautiful filly by Speechless. What a great cross that was. Romantic is 22 years old this year and I have a lot of good memories with this mare. She was raised by my great friend, Dudley Pillow and is by his stallion, Skips Shane and out of How D Romantic by Tee Jay Roman. Lanis Noble and I bought her from Dudley's estate when he passed away and eventually sold her to the Bradshaws. They have taken such great care of the "old girl" and I wish Rebecca, who is also 22 would take lessons from Romantic and give me one more foal. The question is whether or not the filly will turn gray. What do you think? Dr Bob Story was at Bradshaws today and he told me she is an absolute beautiful filly but he can't see any white hairs around her eyes. I guess time will tell.

March 28, 2022

Many of you know Vicki Livasy and for those who don't know her, I suggest you get to know her. She not only stands two stallions and has several foals of her own, but she also finds time to keep my website up to date. Last night she sent me this picture and by golly, maybe after my "cooking experience" I need to open my own restaurant. Wonder if anyone would come.

March 27, 2022

Yesterday was another cold, bitter, windy day in Wisconsin so the horses had to stay in the barn. As you can imagine, I am watching the NCCA basketball tournament and since I had picked up a box of Bradshaw burgers at Sams Club, I thought I would try one. Those of you who know me, know that I don't cook---never have and honestly don't think I ever will. Since Mike and I didn't have any children it was always easier to pick something up and bring it home. My oven has never been used. I store empty dishes in it that my wonderful friends bring me food in. So, I got out my frozen Bradshaw burger and read the instructions and it said to put the frozen burger in a pan on medium high heat. I did that and turned on the fan on the stove. However, smoke filled the house and I had to open the outside door because I was afraid the smoke alarm would go off. I was amazed at how great the burger was---it was so juicy and had a great taste to it. And, believe me, I am a "connoisseur" of hamburgers after all these years and this was as good as any I have eaten. Now I just have to perfect my cooking procedure as I definitely want to eat more of them.

March 26, 2022

Fred (Classically) relaxing in his outside shelter. He doesn't even venture out in this terrible cold windy, snowy weather.

March 17, 2022

So hard to believe that 52 years ago I met Mike and also that this July it will be 4 years since he died. We had a lot of wonderful years together and knowing Mike the way I do, I don't think he could handle the "world today" Things have changed so much over the years.

From March 17, 2017:

I met my husband, Michael G Ellis in 1970 on St Patricks’s Day. I had returned to my hometown of New London, Wisconsin after teaching high school in Fort Benton, Montana. Two of my girlfriends had been asking me to go out with them and finally I decided that I would do that. We went to the Left Guard in Appleton, Wisconsin and it was St Patrick’s Day. The Left Guard was owned by Fuzzy Thurston, a Green Bay Packer football player. Mike was there because he was friends with the Thurstons. He was going to give Fuzzy’s wife and boys a ride to the state basketball tournament in Madison to meet Fuzzy and he was trying to find out what time to pick them up. The Packer players would hang out at the Left Guard and there were several of them there that night. I was sitting across the bar from them with my 2 girlfriends and Mike kept looking at me. He then threw his St Patty’s hat at me. I got up to dance with another fella, and Mike started dancing with Susie Thurston. He told me later that he told her to forget it, I was “too tall” for him. Well, after that dance, I went to the restroom and when I came out, Max McGee, another Packer player was waiting for me and he took me over to meet Mike. We visited and he asked me if I wanted to go to the high school basketball tournament with him and the Thurstons and I agreed to go. He picked me up on Friday and he tells me all the time what my mother said as we left. “What do I tell them if anyone calls about the horses?” That was the first but not the last time he heard the word “horses” Those were the ‘good old days” and we had separate rooms and stayed overnight in Madison. The next day, we drove back and stopped at the Dairy Queen for some ice cream. We began dating after that and got married the following year. It is funny how chance meetings can turn into a lifetime commitment. What a life we have had together, a first marriage for both of us and we are still together. Someday soon, I will tell you about Mike’s career in politics and how the horses have been such a big part of our lives.

March 16, 2022

I have not posted pictures of my horses for quite some time due to the crappy weather. And I had no intention of taking any today but snapped a couple phone shots of Ellie, Rebecca's yearling filly by My Intention. Her registered name is Elara which means moon as she has that "moon marking" on her face.

March 15, 2022

Today I was sitting here waiting for semen to arrive and a UPS truck pulled into my driveway. I thought it was strange as my semen was coming Fed Ex. Well, it wasn't semen, it was an awesome box from Linda Becker containing her home made turtles and chocolate chip cookies. Now, you haven't lived until you try these goodies. For those of you who don't know Linda, she is one of the most talented and generous people I know. She renovates carrousel horses and rocking horses and donates what she gets for them to charities. I have several of her horses in my house. Linda also has a pet skunk, Olivia and a pet raccoon. I have only met her once and she is definitely now a "villager" You will probably be meeting her at the futurities with the rest of us. By the way, I am still waiting "patiently" for the semen to arrive and my weight is going up hourly from eating my gift.

March 14, 2022

Guess what----I have a new foal!!!! I am sure all the trainers will want to buy him as he has a gorgeous head, long neck, board back and a lot of heart girth. Seriously, let me tell you how "Mel" found a new home at Ellis Quarter Horses. M Schettle Sales is down the road from us and if you ever want to see "lots of things" you need to shop at his place. He has 5 acres full of horses, wagons , civil war guns, etc. Last fall I went there and found a beautiful chestnut foal but my friend, Richard Kaufmann told me to wait until spring to buy it. Evidently someone else wanted it too and it was sold. So, Dickie called Mel, the owner and told him to find another one and lo and behold he got a phone call over the weekend, that another foal had been found and we could come and see it. I was not going to let this one get away as not only is it beautiful but it is also a palomino. So, now to find a good place outside to put it as it is aluminum and will be able to withstand the weather. I will take a picture when "Mel" is in his new setting.

March 11, 2022

In all my years of foaling mares, never have I had an experience like Wilma (Classically Kool) foaling last night. I realized that I had no oxytocin so I met Dr Fox to pick some up. Looking at my phone at the meeting place, Wilma was foaling. So I called my good friend and neighbor Katie Samuelson and she came and sat with Wilma until I get could home. By that time, two legs were out and Katie pulled a little and out came this beautiful filly. She is not a big girl but then either Wilma is huge or it is because she is a first foal. But I love her. Of course, Wilma didn't know what to do so we had to sedate her and Katie called Jasmine Brown who came and helped get the baby to nurse. Unfortunately I had to get up during the night and hold Wilma so the little one could nurse. But this morning, all is good and I have a beautiful filly by My Intention.

March 10, 2022

Well, I guess I finally feel like a "mother to be" My little Wilma (Classically Kool) has wax this morning. This will be the first she is carrying and believe me, I am a nervous wreck. I am hoping her "motherly instincts" kick into gear and she will love her baby. She loves to chew on ropes so I am hoping she doesn't decide to chew her baby's tail off. Note the pink tail wrap as an incentive to have a girl.

March 9, 2022

Well, I guess I had quite an exciting birthday celebration at my front gates. Or maybe it was because it was my friend, Sandy Schreiner's birthday yesterday. I had just come in the house and was relaxing when my neighbor Jack Cowling called to tell me that there was a fire at my front gates. Evidently some varmint ate through the wires to the gate lights and the post started on fire. Thank heaven the Vinland Volunteer Fire Department came and put it out. And, I am also thankful for my good friend, Richard Kaufmann who said he would come out and "fix" it so that the lights that I have in my outside shelters to make the mares cycle early will work.

March 6, 2022

Well, once again I wasn't able to keep my birthday a secret. It started with my good friend, Donna Davis messaging me Friday night saying "You are going to kill Vicki Livasy" I knew immediately that Vicki had "let the cat out of the bag" And, I have been thinking about it and decided that in the future I am going to be happy just to have birthdays. I have so many wonderful friends, both in my Neenah area and also my Face Book friends from all over the world. I just want you all to know that I truly do appreciate you and enjoy spending time with you and sharing our experiences on Face Book. By the way, wasn't I a cute cowgirl wearing my favorite cowhide vest and riding on beautiful Butterscotch, my horse?

March 1, 2022

Every once in a while, a horse comes along that is so beautifully conformed, so talented and, yet, so tragic, that it tugs at the heart of even the most rough and tumble horsemen. Such was the case of Poco Lena.

The bay mare was foaled in 1949 on E. Paul Waggoner’s Three D Stock Farm in Arlington, Texas. Poco Lena was by Poco Bueno and out of Sheilwin by Pretty Boy.

Poco Lena was 26 months old when she competed in her first cutting in Stamford, Texas, where she placed second. Johnson continued showing the mare throughout the year and Poco Lena kept winning in halter and cutting.

Don Dodge bought Poco Lena from the Three D in 1953, and showed the mare through 1958. The duo racked up awards and titles in both AQHA and NCHA. Dodge sold the mare to B.A. Skipper of Longview, Texas, in 1959.

The Texan showed Poco Lena from 1959 through 1961, and Poco Lena won the AQHA Honor Roll and was reserve in the NCHA’s world standings all three years.

The road took its toll on the 12-year-old mare and she foundered badly. She recovered to show again, but foundered again on the way from Arizona to Skipper’s ranch. The driver abandoned Poco Lena after hearing of Skipper’s death. The mare was found days later, and the mare’s founder was much worse.

Dodge heard about the incident and contacted Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Jensen in California. The couple was standing the young Doc Bar, and decided to buy Poco Lena.

With the help of two veterinarians, Poco Lena was nursed back to health. It took three years, and the mare lived in the front yard because it was the softest spot on the ranch.

The couple bred the bay mare to Doc Bar in 1966 and Poco Lena foaled Doc O’ Lena. She was rebred to Doc Bar, and in 1968, the 19-year-old mare foaled Dry Doc.

“She went downhill after foaling Dry Doc,” recalled Charlie Ward, the Jensen’s ranch manager. “It was just too much for her.”

Poco Lena was the first horse inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame and the first mare in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Poco Lena died in 1968 at 19, and was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 1991.

February 28, 2022

Today marks another birthday for one of my great friends, Donna Davis. I don't even know how long we have been friends. I consider her one of the most talented horse women I know. She can fit a horse as well as anyone and her World Show and futurity winnings prove that. If you notice several futurity winners and World Champions were bred by her as she has a talent for matching her mares with various stallions. It is a good thing that phone calls are free as I think we both would be broke by now. When I write my "story of Donna" it will probably have to be a series as we have been through so much together.

February 23, 2022

Not much to do due with the icy weather in Wisconsin so thought perhaps I would tell you about "my saddle" I bought it when I was teaching school in Fort Benton, Montana and I think I paid $350 for it. It is a Circle Y saddle, made in Yoakum, Texas. If this saddle could only talk it would have so many stories to tell. I rode in it driving horses to the Montana pastures in Montana, match racing on the track at the Fort Benton race track, roping calves, barrel racing and showing in western pleasure to make 2 AQHA champions. Those were good ole days---days of drinking out of mountain streams by cupping water with your hands, driving from Montana to Canada to show horses, branding calves, etc. I have so many memories with this saddle and haven't ridden in it for many years. I could have sold it but it is a part of my past and it gives me pleasure remembering the many good times I had riding in it.

February 5, 2022

I thought I would share this as I find the post from Cindy Buchanan and the comments very educational. Just click on the original post and you will be able to read the comments.

Cindy wrote: Cool pict from the 1946 Fort Worth Stock Show!! Pretty Buck 1942 stallion by Pretty Boy by Dodger out of a mare by Buck Thomas by Peter McCue. Bred and owned by the Waggoner Ranch, Pretty Buck sired many AQHA Champions, Superior Halter and Performance Horses and was an NCHA Hall of Fame sire. Pretty Buck daughters proved to be the perfect cross on Poco Bueno, also owned by the Waggoner Ranch. Judy Burton Armstrong sitting aboard Pretty Buck in this photo was daughter of Bob Burton, whom had trained many Champions for Waggoner’s 3D Stock Farm. Judy went on to be an accomplished competitor in the National Cutting Horse Assoc joining her dad Bob Burton in the NCHA Hall Of Fame in 2010.

January 30, 2022

This is about Dudley Pillow and Skips Shane.

I remember when Skips Shane was born. It was 1991 and Dudley was so proud of this colt. He was by Ima Cool Skip and out of Regers Kitty who was by Leo Goldseeker by Goldseeker Bars and Regers Kitty was out of Regers Lady Skip by Skip Em Bar out of Excuse Bay Lady. Dudley named him Shane after his favorite movie, Shane. This stallion became the center of his breeding program. Dudley always told me that Shane was more like his dam than he was Ima Cool Skip. Kitty was an awesome mare. I had her here in Wisconsin for several years. She was very short backed, huge hip, tremendous heart girth, high clean but not a long neck and a gorgeous head. She stood around 14.2-14-3. Skips Shane was not a big horse either. Dudley would say that Doug Tallent referred to him as "Dudley's little horse" Dudley build his program around this horse and he did as Hank Wiescamp did by breeding half brother and sisters and then breeding the resulting foals back to Shane. You can see the results of his program in the mare, Twice the Romance as she was intensely bred Ima Cool Skip. By doing this, Dudley established a very uniform group of horses. Most of them were not big but had gorgeous heads, good backs and huge hips. Dudley loved the cherry red sorrel color that most of them had. He believed that if a foal was born sorrel out of a mare of any other color but sorrel, the foal would resemble Shane more than the mare. Mike and I went to Dudley's one time when there were 3 newborn foals on the ground and I remember that I had never seen such baby doll heads and big hips on foals. I also remember when our good friend, Dale Hempel who hauled our horses hauled Impressivista, a daughter of Impressivist to Mississippi to be bred to Shane. She was in heat when he got there and Dudley had Dale hold her while he bred her to Shane. The resulting foal is still owned by Erin Matte. The way Dudley handled his horses was that he would have mares with foals in one pasture and the open mares in the adjoining one. He would move Shane back and forth every other day so that he could cover the mares that were in heat. Shane was a very good natured stallion. Dudley did not care when his foals were born----in fact he didn't care if they were bred in September or October, just so that they got in foal. I remember the call when he lost Shane. He just found him dead in the pasture one day. It was a devastating blow to his program but he carried on with sons of Shane, basically Shanes Bake and Shanes Gray Bake. Shanes Bake is still "going strong" and my good friend, Rita Bangs has a mare bred to him for this year. Jeffery Webb now owns Shanes Bake and I think he is still standing him at stud.

Dudley was never pleased with breeding to outside stallions and believe me, he bred to just about all of them before he started his own program. He also did not believe that NH horses had more muscle than NN ones did. Shane was NH and he was a heavy muscled horse. Every time I would mention it, he would remind me that he had an HH filly by Sonnys Securitee. He would say "look at her---she is HH and doesn't have a muscle on her" and he was right about that mare. Dudley would send me videos which I still have of his horses and it was like being there looking at them. He would point out the good and the bad points and I learned so much about conformation from him. One of the last things he told me was that he didn't think we were paying enough attention to croups on horses and since then I have made that one of my requisites of good conformation. When shipped semen came about, Dudley never used it. I remember him telling me that I should breed my mares to Shane and I asked him how would I do that as he didn't collect him. He told me he would send me semen in its "original container" meaning that he would send me the stallion. In looking back, I regret that I never took him up on the offer but then I never could have forgiven myself. Those were great days talking to Dudley Pillow and I miss them so much. Even today I find myself thinking of something we discussed about horses, bloodlines and conformation. Dudley told me that of the mares we owned at the time, I only had two mares capable of raising a great stud colt. That the rest of them could only have fillies as he believed it took a great individual with a great pedigree to raise a stallion. Those two mares were Miss Bunny Tardee and Cooleah (Olivia) He was probably right as we had lost Miss Impressive Step by that time. I could go on and on about Dudley Pillow and one of these days I will tell you about some of our "horse escapades" Those of you who knew him personally, in my opinion were very lucky people.

January 27, 2022

As all these new foals are being born, maybe we need a reminder just how important the mare is in this equation,. One that comes to mind is Spanish Joy. She was a 1954 palomino mare by Spanish Nick by Nick Shoemaker out of Joy Ann by Gold Mount. Hank Wiescamp raised her and sold her as a 3 year old to Edna McKee of Norwood, Colorado. She races and earned her ROM and then in 1960 Denver Davis bought her. Spanish Joy was the dam of 2 Supreme Champions, Mach I and Goldseeker Bars and 5 AQHA Champions---Leo Spanish, Mr Spanish Lee, Mach I, Goldseeker Bars and Rochesters Star. Dr Don Vezina in River Falls, Wisconsin owned Rochesters Star and we bred to him. He was a massive palomino stallion and through him, I met Jerry Erickson, who helped Dr Vezina with his horse program. A cute side note is that Jerry was judging an open horse show close to me and stopped to see the horses on the way. I remember being so nervous that he would be late but Jerry didn't seem to mind. I followed him to the show and lo and behold they started without him. They found a judge to take his place until he got there. Great memories and Jerry Erickson evolved into one of the great riders and trainers in our industry.

January 21, 2022

Well---this is the newspaper picture of Liz and me in my "costume" As I told you, it is a bit crumbled and torn but I think you can still see the amount of time I spent planning this big event.

January 13, 2022

I received a message from Marko Kaiser this morning that Cookie (Move Over Darling) is 5th in the nation in Senior Halter Mares. And, she only went to 2 shows in Germany. If you remember Cookie, we sold her to Marko and Judith Kaiser as a yearling and she has been a "star" in Germany. What makes me feel really good is that she is the result of my breeding program. She is sired by Fred (Classically) and out of Malibukini who was by Malibu Ken. Her granddam is Shanes Lady Romantic who is now 22 years old and owned by Terry and Tammy Bradshaw. Romantic is by Skips Shane and out of How D Romantic by Tee Jay Roman. I am excited to see the foal this year out of Shanes Lady Romantic and Speechless. I am betting it will be a good one---hoping for a filly of course.

January 3, 2022

Winter at Ellis Quarter Horses.

January 2, 2022

A few days ago, Heather Olson posted a picture of a beautiful mare that she and Wade bought from Terry and Tammy Bradshaw. I told Heather that I bet she would like to come to Wisconsin and be a "Packer Backer" Heather said that she would put a green blanket on her when the Packers played. Well, I talked to another good friend, Vicki Livasy and she provided this Packer blanket. Now don't you all think the mare looks great in it?

January 1, 2022

Happy New Year to all my wonderful Face Book friends. This beautiful picture was sent to me by my friend, Lesley Johnson several years ago.