In the News

The next issue of Virginia Sportsman will include a feature with some great pictures of some of the little riders and the horses that we have trained. The issue will be out in mid September. Mokete, the first pure Corolla born of the Corolla off site breeding, was featured in the regional press with a picture of her at about a week old. This week I learned that the American Indian Horse Registry has honored me with the Keeper of the Flame Award for our efforts to preserve and promote the Corollas. For more information on the off site breeding program see our web site at www.msindianhorses.com

True Horse Professionals

Tim Ware is one of my favorite modern horse care experts. I highly recommend his book. I strongly disagree with his belief that a horse's safe carrying capacity is only 15% of its body weight. Ware is a friendly,yet soft spoken man. I emailed him asking why he believed in such a low weight limit. He very calmly explained that it was not important to him that I agree with him, and went on to explain his position. I was struck by the wisdom of his response (though I still strongly disagree with his 15% rule). I have taken that view to heart.

It certainly is not important to me for "the established horse world" to agree with me. It is of much less concern that "true horse professionals" share my views. In fact, the older I get the more I find that I am only interested in gaining the respect and affection of horses.

I am not writing this to obtain the approval of an established horse world that approves of horse slaughter, sacrifices the legs of young race horses for the entertainment of gamblers, and encourages kids to buy "better" horses so they can "compete at a higher level."

I am not concerned that my views on the unimportance of what ever the fad of the day is for "proper " equine conformation may repel true horse professionals from mustangs.

Though not concerned, I am a bit perplexed as to why I would be found to be "disgusting." Before court today I showered, shaved, put in my new teeth, and even kicked the dust off of my boots. Impressive yes, disgusting, certainly not (well every now and then maybe.)

Some pictures

Medicine Dog, BLM mustang.











Manteo - first Corolla stallion at MSIH.


















Emily, Steve's neice on Croatoan, a stallion from Corolla.














Mokete, first Corolla baby born in the Breeding program.














Corolla speed training for an upcoming clinic.

Our Breeding Goals

In recent years we have spear headed the effort to raise the endangered Corolla Spanish Mustangs in captivity in order to stave off extinction. Prior to doing so I had taken on several BLM mustangs which I bred to a great little Chincoteague, Wind in His Hair. The resulting cross produced a series of incredible horses, small, tough, athletic and affectionate. Two years ago I bred some of those same mares to a Spanish mustang stallion and I produced some beautiful athletes, but they lack the warmth and affection of the 1/2 Chincoteagues.

Recently I have found exactly what I am looking for in a horse in the Corolla Spanish Mustangs. They are the easiest horses to train that I have handled. Most are gaited, but I do not know exactly which gait it is that they display, some are Paso-like, others seem to single foot. They love attention and are great with children.

I am not a stickler for conformation. I am a stickler for affection, willingness to learn, and obedience. Another blog, which I have only read once, emphasizes perceived flaws in a horse's
conformation. I do not see what can be learned by looking at a picture of a horse. What matters never shows up in pictures because what really matters is on the inside.

We will continue to promote and breed Corollas. In doing so I will breed for several characteristics. I want a smoth gaited horse who is smart and affectionate. I want a horse who is glad to see me. I also want a horse who understands how you feel when your mother dies.

Without these characteristics it does not matter to me if a horse is a Triple Crown winner, national reining champion, Olympic jumper, or Tevis cup record holder. Without these characteristics, that horse is merely a shadow of what it could be be.

Why have another horse blog out there?

We come with a point of view that is rarely expressed either in the mainline equine publications or on most horse message boards. I have no interest in pleasing only the incredibly small portion of horse owners who belong to the competitive horse world. Though they are but a fraction of all owners, they consume a disproportionate amount of equibusiness products. As a result, the market caters to those owners. I have one of the largest equine operations in my area yet cost for non feed related items for my horses is nearly nothing. Why would any agribusiness firm be interested in touting the way my horses live? Why would any of the major publications have any such interest if their advertisers do not? Why let the truth get in the way of profit?
The truth is that horses need grass or hay, water, and movement. They did not evolve to eat sugar. They did not evolve to live in stables. They did not evolve drinking the sparklingly clear water that is seen on beer commercials. Horses that live naturally are physically, and equally important, emotionally healthy. They are happier than the pampered horses confined to live in the horse hell of a stable with "limited turnout." And they are affordable. One of the greatest sins of the established horse world is that it has created the myth that horse ownership is beyond the means of working people.