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 3 September 2012

Looking back and moving forward

Odd title, I guess especially since I am the gal who will tell you that  you need to look where you want to go in order to get there, but stay with me .

In 1983 I bought what was my third horse . Chilleens Catana. (pictured in my side bar, and featured in the blog over the years) For some reason the post about her in honorable Mentions  has not been replaced  after last years hacking  but I will do that soon . Long story short, I rode that mare  for 25 amazing years! She and I were regulars for 13 years running on the Alberta trail riders against  Cancer ride and she was a remarkable horse. So much so that  the odd time I would show up on a ride with a different horse , folks either would not recognize me at all or would panic! Asking where  she was!
Mountain trips, trail rides , moving cows, I never seemed to be able to  set that mare at something that she could not do, and do well!
But alas as the way of the world , even the best horses grow old, and I sadly had to let Catana go at 28 just a few years ago, 4 to be exact.

That year I had a filly born here, no relation to my darling "Tana bear" But a fine image of her all the same.FV Catch a Dream.  Catana played  live in granny to this filly all summer. and  here is where this story  moves out of the past ,and forward .
Cat , has been in training this summer and I went today to ride her for the first time ,
Well all I can say is "color me happy!" I am perfectly OK with going back the anonymous "girl that rides that gorgeous bay appy"

Maybe next spring I should  wander back to see if those folks at ATRA remember me after all these years...
they might think they have seen a ghost! LOL

AV Docs Baby (Andee is also doing well )I did not ride her as she is Martins's mare and I thought he should get the first try, but she too is going beautifully and I hope to get some video on Wednesday with Martin on her.But for now...
 


Also moving forward  will be Cat's little bro, FV A Shocking Comet,


We have a pending sale on him, all looks good and it appears that  at the end of September he will be heading east to Saskatchewan. the folks that are buying him run a big cattle operation there and apparently Mr has been looking for an Appaloosa for himself  for quite some time, just couldn't find the right one  till he saw my golden boy! I am gonna miss him but I am sure he will do himself proud! He is bound to cut a dashing figure , all golden and gorgeous on the open prairies there!
Anyhow all in all a good weekend ,and lots of good things to come . All these  broke horses around I am gonna have to get my but in gear! Still have Johnnie to ride, Annie to get back going  under saddle ,Wilder...
Yeesh!
Stay safe everyone


11 comments:

Christmas-etc... said...

I got goose bumps riding up and down my arms and back!! So amazing! Do go to ATRA with Cat... These kinds of ghost are nice! :)

Paint Girl said...

Wow! Cat is gorgeous!! Love.
That's so great that Comet is going to a great home! We will all miss his pretty face here!!

Anonymous said...

You and Cat look great together - can't wait to hear about your further adventures!

Shirley said...

It's all good, isn't it? Cat is just gorgeous, and you are going to make a great pair. Johnnie might get jealous though....Andee is going to be a good one too, hope Martin really enjoys her. And Comet has always been my fave, glad he is going to a good home- he's going to shine up those prairies!

WishIHadAHorsey said...

Love the title - she is beautiful!

Crystal said...

Will be lots of work with all them broke horses around, but no better kind of work! They sure are looking good, and I do love a bay, and Cat is a good one :)

C-ingspots said...

Congratulations on the sale of Comet. That sounds like a wonderful place to go and call home for a horse! But, that Bay Appy is the one that catches my eye...oh my, be still my heart!! What a beauty, and what a butt!! She can eat hay in my pasture anytime...yep!

Nicole said...

Awe, you're selling him... Yey but so sad too :)

aurora said...

Wow, lots of excitement happening with your beautiful appy's!

Janice said...

What beauties,glad they are all doing well.I will miss that yellow horse....I'm glad he found a home though....cause everytime you showed pics of him I would think how nice he would look over here..hope they send you updates on his progress.

Confessions of a Closet Hoarder but you can call me Judy said...

Your babies are beautiful! It's amazing how much Cat and Catana resemble one another! They are gorgeous!