Then and Now

"Kelsey" - Dun Kiger Mare with No White

Born:

KMA #166-P

15.2hh 1100 lbs

Kelsey is a buttermilk dun. Besides being a great broodmare, she is also one of our top saddle horses here on the ranch. She is "at home" in the mountains as anywhere else. She's had several foals, out of several different stallions, and so far has never thrown a spot of white. She's the queen of the horses, that is "worth her weight in gold".

In 2006 I pulled her out of being a broodmare to start training for endurance. She loved every minute of the conditioning to the rides themselves. Since Kelsey has been known for her laid back personality, I didn't know what to expect from her. What I got was a horse that wouldn't waste energy needlessly and took very good care of herself. She drank and ate beautifully before, during and after the rides. She would stretch out for an extended trot and kept a steady speed without me having to keep reminding her to slow down or speed up. We were able to ride 105 miles and even came in top 10 on the Limestone Challenge. I am very proud of my broodmare.

In 2008, I decided to ride endurance again as a fund raiser for Cystic Fibrosis and see if I could earn a Kiger Mesteno Medallion for us. The Medallion had never been issued for endurance yet and I was hoping we could be the first to achieve it. By the end of the season, we had rode 160 miles and got the Bronze Medallion for Endurance. An added bonus was tthe KMA issued a High Point Endurance Rider Buckle and Kelsey and I won that! By the end of my second year of endurance riding I had completed 265 competitive miles and recieved the AERC 250 Rider Mileage patch. Once again I am very proud of my mare.

She has since been sold to Sandra in Germany where she will continue the Kiger breed abroad.

These are Kelsey's accomplishments:
3rd Place KMA 2008 Year End High Point Award
KMA High Point Endurance Rider Buckle 2008
KMA Bronze Medallion 2008 for Endurance
3rd Place KMA 2006 Year End High Point Award
4rd Place KMA 2004 Year End High Point Award

AERC #H39511
AERC 250 Mile Limited Distance Patch
Top 10 Redwood II Limited Distance Ride 2008
Top 10 Cuneo Creek Limited Distance Ride 2008
Top 10 Oregon 100/PAC North Fundraiser Elevator Limited Distance Ride 2008
Top 10 Limestone Challenge Limited Distance Ride 2006

2008 Bandit Springs Endurance Ride

Crossing the Rogue River at 2006 Headwaters of the Rogue Endurance Ride

Horsecamping at 2008 Prineville Endurance Ride

Crossing the finish line at 2008 Hat Creek Hustle Endurance Ride

Jade - Grulla Kiger Filly with No White

Born: May 30th, 2007

Jade was one of those horses that just stood out in a crowd. Amongst the buckskins stood this little grulla mare. When we would come to visit the herd, she was the first to approach. She would even leave the herd to be around people. We noticed that she was not spooky in the least. We even brought Keira in a stroller out to pasture. She was the first to come up again and investigate the situation. Our friend noticed her and loved her but didn't need another horse. Eventually she won him over. She was brought to his place, where she follows the tractors and the weedwackers. She is laid back and just wants to be around people. He now has her in training at the -W- Quarter Horse Ranch by Justin Wright (Walter Wright's Son). Currently she is being trained to be a trail and ranch horse plus to do endurance on the side.

Indy - Grulla Kiger Gelding with No White

AERC# H40238

We bought Indy his original name was Snorty as a 4 year old that had been gentled but not broke to ride. We quickly knew why he was named Snorty. He basically talked with his nose. When he looked at anything, he would snort. When he would see you, he would snort. It almost became comical because most horses, a snort means they are scared. For him, it was just saying "hi". The family that bought him, wanted a horse that could keep up with their Arabs at endurance but wasn't so hyper and was safe enough for their eight year old daughter to ride. Brian broke him out and Eric and Jen put the finishing touches on who is now Indy. He is now doing multiday endurance rides in Washington.

The owners Eric and Jen went to a 2 day CMO ride (timed treasure hunt with map and compass on horseback) and Jen was riding Indy. According to Jen, Indy was being about as good as any horse can be, just truckin' along, not sayin' nay to anything, and on day two Jen let Savannah (9 years old daughter) ride him for the last 1/2 of the ride. He carried her just perfectly the rest of the way. Well, Savannah already loved him, (always begging to ride him) but this sealed the deal and wants to ride him all the time now!

Well, they needed to get him through his first endurance ride and get a completion to see if he would hold up and keep up with their Arabs, sooooo................ They went to Mt. Adams Endurance Ride and Savannah rode him, and he got a completion on the 25! Jen thought Savannah weighing the least, easiest for him to carry her instead of Jen. Better chance of finishing. Jen's assessment of him on the ride was he drinks like a fish, literally, all the way up to his eyeballs sometimes! And eats every chance he gets! He was absolutely perfect the whole time. Leads, follows, fits in the middle, wherever you like, he is there. Got all A's on everything, every time! They were tickled.

Then they wanted to see if the horse could do a 50 miler. This ride was a 2 dayer. They thought if they can do 60 miles in 2 days, they can defineatly do 50 in one day, so they did 30 miles on Saturday, and 30 miles on Sunday. Short story, Indy did it! Savannah rode him both days, and even got Best Condition in junior class on Sunday! They ended up riding a total of 11 hours for both days. They really didn't think he would be able to do it, but he surprised them! It was 104 degrees on Saturday, and only slightly less on Sunday, they thougt he would just die, being thick skinned, solidly built and all. Jen says,"What an awesome horse!"

Cairo - 1/2 Arab 1/2 Kiger Dun Gelding

15 hh 900 lbs

Brian had been pushing our friend to breed his sweepstakes nomiated Arabian to our stallion because he knew it was going to be one hell of a cross. Brian was right. Cairo came out with the pluses of both breeds making this gelding just a pleasure to work, trail and ride. Our friend Allen wanted an all around horse that could do ranch work and packing plus be able to compete in endurance. Cairo was born with long legs and a traveling effortless trot, a thicker build for an Arab and a little bit lighter build for a mustang. His mind has always been calm and willing. He was broke out at the -W- Quarter Horse Ranch by Justin Wright (Walter Wright's Son) to herd horses on the range, rope and cut buffalo, and to be an all around stable trail horse. He was able to complete the job. Currently, Cairo is giving lessons to kids once a week and my daughter cannot get enough time in the saddle on his back. He has travelled to California and back doing trails and he has been as calm and stable as when he was first born. Allen says that he just loves Cairo and says that Brian was right in this cross. He can't wait until next year to start him in limited distance endurance.

Cairo at 3 years old riden by my daughter at 2 years old