Branch River Ranch - Read About Our Ranch News (Feb 07 Issue)

• Articles for Wisconsin Horseman's News by Julie Stammler | June07 | May07 | Feb07 |

Manitowoc / Feb 07 - We have had a great winter so far. In addition to the unseasonably warm winter, we have also added two new Andalusian fillies, which we are very excited about. The first filly, Preciosa Del Sol, is a January 2006 foal that we purchased from Hacienda Del Ranch News

Sol out of Vero Beach, Florida. An impressive black pure Spanish inscribed foal. You can tell she was handled a lot and has made her transition to Wisconsin with ease. It was a joy to work with Maria Mandina, her previous owner. The sire of Preciosa is a black stallion, Fandango Del Sol, international model for several publications including Horse & Rider (England), Cavalier Equestrian (Canada), The Big Book of Horses, Young Rider and Farnam, to name a few.

The second filly, Garbeau, is an April 2005 inscribed pure Spanish foal previously owned by Roy Colwell out of Sarasota, Florida. She is by Totolillo and out of Isabeau. Her dam is closely related to the two horses I lost in 2006 , El Nino and Plateada. Roy has done an outstanding job with Garbeau and we are very excited to add her to our program. We will be introducing the two girls during the 2007 show season.

After we made the decision to purchase Preciosa and Garbeau, the next problem was how we get them from Florida to Wisconsin safely. We needed two box stalls and someone willing to transport the week before Christmas. Our trainer, Jen Bender, found Blake Sie through Wisconsin Horseman's News. Blake advertises in the magazine and after talking to him, the arrangements were made. We would recommend his services to anyone. Communication, reliability and his professionalism are rated A+ with our experience. A week after the girls were here, Blake e-mailed me to see how they were doing.

Even with the warmer weather, the fillies were not used to the colder temperatures. Jen Bender went to Horsey Habit, our local tack store in Manitowoc, and was able to get two winter blankets small enough to fit them. They settled in quickly and are doing great.

:: Jen has started working with dressage instructor, Karen Zoelle this winter. Gentil and Rhianna are both very talented horses and we have added dressage to their training program. Rhianna took Reserve Grand National Champion Dressage Suitability Open in October and we want to expand in that discipline.

:: We started feeding SafeChoice feed by Nutrena this winter. Stacey Schwoerer from Horsey Habit and Brooke Larson, the North Central district rep for Nutrena, stopped in for a tour of the ranch in early January. We have been pleased with the product and with Horsey Habit just a couple of miles from the ranch, it has been very convenient.

:: Congratulations to Ann Poker and her daughter Rachel who purchased Rudy, the paint gelding previously owned by Vicki Flowers. Rachel and Rudy are great together. I am not sure who I am happier for.

Until Next Time...
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel...