Welcome to Fern Valley

Here in central Alberta prime farm country,my husband Martin and I work together raising beef cattle and Appaloosa horses. Fern valley appaloosas have long been known for their quality of temperament conformation and color.I have recently rediscovered a love of writing and have published 2 collections of poetry. "Telling Tails" and Tails Trails and Campfire stories" . I look forward to a future spreading my wings as an author and as a horse woman .

Monday 12 March 2012

Springing into the year

So its Monday already ! the weekend went by At record speed for me.It was a good one but a quickie. 
Worked late on Friday , then got home , did chores and loaded up my stuff,cleaning tack as I went for Saturdays spring Tack sale in Stony Plain.  
I took, my books, and calenders ,as well as my photos cards. Also had some tack to sell. We had a few saddles that had been purchased over the years as spares when we thought we  had more riders around . one in particular had never even been used , and the tack room was busting at the seams ! So it was clearly time to downsize.
The sale was awesome, huge numbers of people , all there to buy! And not just odds and ends , but saddles,and bridles, using  equipment . Often at the sale we see  people buying ,polo wraps , and spare halters, not things that indicate , new folk into the industry. When people are buying larger items, it is an indicator, at least on some level that there are new people coming in, and needing new tack for  new horses! 
I believe we are starting to see an upswing in the industry! 


I sold all 3 western saddles in the first 90min! and a gal who was also selling , and had expressed an interest in one of my saddles  said the same thing ! Only brought home my Passier, and Argentine close contact  English saddles
Lots of interest in Comets sale flyer, Quinns as well. We are slowly seeing the Appaloosa come out of the shadows in Alberta, and I believe we are converting not just stock horse people , but many others.Finally making the point that a good horse is a good horse ,and Appys are good horses! 




I did get some  interest in my calenders and book. But as I said folk were there for tack, so the only sales I had for that type  of thing were some of my photo cards. I did however receive many compliments on my work, so maybe at the fall sale , closer to Christmas I will try again.


All in all a good day, and the topper is ? the table cost me $25.00!!! Well actually only $12.50  as Deb shared it with me! Not a bad investment at all .


Sunday was a quieter day , chores , housecleaning, the usual . Time to think. 
And I was thinking a lot about the industry , and how far our blogs and Facebook reach, that if we network a bit , we can  catch the industry on the way up and work together  for all.


I will be posting sales adds  for both Comet and Quinn in the next few weeks  


I know Shirley of Ride a Good Horse  has a  gorgeous mare for sale, and I believe in the not too distant future will have  Border Collie pups as well
Also Crystal , of Ranch Riding  is  looking at selling a few 
Starmyri Appaloosas  are reducing the  herd and have some good quality stock for sale 
 And the list goes on ...
We have many talented and creative bloggers who do artwork, photography , creative handmade tack items ...


At Christmas Shirley and Janice , made  "Christmas Shopping lists " of fellow bloggers on their
 sidebars . Just wondering if we could work together to feature , say a blogger a week, to help spread the word?


I will be restarting my "Fridays for sale" posts soon, and would love to feature a for sale item or items for others as well . 
Something to think about .
Stay safe and warm ! 

8 comments:

Crystal said...

I like that idea. I may have to start a friday for sale feature too, with something I have for sale as well as someone elses. Might as well use this internet to its full potential.

GoLightly said...

That sounds like a very worthy weekend, if a bit whirl-windish. Which is so normal for you, so never mind.

Linda said...

Sounds like a good weekend and a good idea on the For Sale Friday's too. What are the close contact English saddles you have for sale.....that's something on my wish list.

Cheyenne said...

You`re always so great. Sounds like an exciting weekend. This post reminds me I need to shoot something off in the mail for you. I seriously, SERIOUSLY have lots my mind.

Do you ever come to the south country...it`d be grand to see you again sometime. :)

sally said...

What a great sale you had and it is always good to move gear onto others who might need it....not to mention make a few $$ as well.
Hope that sunshine is getting up your way and things aren't so cold

IanH said...

I like that Friday for sale bit. I will watch for it as I have a couple of items for sale. The big one is my two stall horse trailer.

Cut-N-Jump said...

Sounds like it was a bloggers weekend. A lot of us had a great time. How cool is that?

Shirley said...

That's a great idea, I think I'll join in. Glad to hear that the tack sale went well for you.And I sure hope you are right about the upswing thing!