First Came Kate

Kate's dam Zoey (Continental Minuette) was purchased as a weanling. We had bred our one broodmare, Misty, to Zoe's sire that year, but I really liked the sire, and just in case the foal was a colt (he was!) we bought Zoe. She grew up to be a TANK! 15.3 hh and 1300 lbs. I started her under saddle at three, and bred her for a 4-year-old foal to Max Tardy, a son of Blue Max, APHA Champion.

Kate started life out on HER time table, sneaking in just before my midnight bed-check. She was up when I got to the barn, but not quite dry, and I don't think she had nursed yet.

Once Kate had some nourishment in her tummy, we did her imprinting--not strictly by the book, but definitly touching and fussing with her all over. First halter, too.

Back tracking

My hope for this blog is to document the training process for my two Paint fillies, Kate (the dun overo) and Maddie (the black and white), over the next months and years. But the process began four years ago, in the spring of 2005, when they were foaled. So, while I wait for the weather to warm up (I'm a fair weather rider!) I will back track to the beginning of the story. Hopefully by March, I will be caught up with "real time" and be able to keep you appraised of our training sessions, clinics and competitions. We're off!