Sandy B
Well-Known Member
Many of you read about the losses my 11 year old daughter Gracie suffered this year with her first year of her mini mares foaling. One mare and foal were lost to dystocia and the other one foaled unexpectedly and did not make it out of the sac. She was left with just two mini mares and no foal that she dreamed of raising and training herself. Her great grandmother left Gracie a small amount money that she used to buy her minis. They were her investment and even though I had talked about the greater risks involved with breeding minis, I never would have anticipated this her first year. As you can imagine there were many tears and lots of grief, especially after the loss of the second foal. The minis have been such a blessing as Gracie who was once very timid and scared of the large horses developed a load of confidence and skills from her small friends which then has transfered to our large horses and she now rides and shows her quarter horse gelding too. However after the loss of her last foal she was ready to give up the minis, but then her deep sadness turned in to determination to succeed. Gracie's dad and I really wanted to help Gracie out (with buying a new mare or foal) but we are both commission sales people and times have been tough (as they have for most of us) and we just could not manage it. However, we knew God had a plan that we just could not see. Thats when we were contacted by Sandy of Cavallini Farms in Galt, California. Sandy herself had recently lost a foal to dystocia and knew the pain we were experiencing but knowing it was an 11 year old girl who suffered the loss had really touched Sandy's heart. Sandy wanted to give Gracie the next foal she was expecting. Wanting to be careful we agreed to not tell Gracie in case something happened. If something did happen, then Pam from Pee Wee Farms said she would get a foal for Gracie so no matter what happened Gracie would have a foal. The day Gracie and I left for a trip to see family and friends over Easter vacation was the day that Sandy's mare Windermeres Angelfire delivered a tiny, hairy, buckskin filly. The sire is PWF Cowboys Silver Lining. The delivery was not text book as there was a leg over the head but Pam from Pee Wee farms was there to correct the dystocia and deliver the filly. We kept the filly a surprise from Gracie until we got home and were able to go pick up the mom and foal when the baby was 16 days old. We came up with a good story about meeting with a potential customer and getting a load of hay in the trailer the day we went to pick her up. It was the greatest moment for us all- Sandy, her two boys, Pam and my hubby and I, not to mention Gracie's shocked face. Tears were in most of our eyes. Sandy and her boys made Gracie's dream come true! She is now raising and training her very first mini foal. She has named her Cowgirl.
Gracie was also blessed by Katherine and John Morlang of Lonesome Dove Farms who had retired from the mini & work world several years ago and were keeping their stallion and mares as pasture ornaments. Katherine said that when she read about Gracie's loss she knew she had found the perfect home for a few of her mares. She wanted her mares to be well cared for, loved and be used for something other than standing in a field. So she contacted me and when Gracie and I went to pick up two mares, it ended up being three. One of the mares is a AMHA Reserve World Champion- LDR Uno Mas Margarita and the other two mares have many blue ribbons and championships between them- B & WS Fancy and Lonesome Doves Champagne N Pearls. These mares complete & compliment Gracie's mini mare herd. Gracie and I are busy morning and night teasing and breeding mares now. Gracie is learning about everything to do with breeding to keeping records. This is all priceless!
My husband and I are so humbled by the out-pouring of support from this lil beginning forum. The messages on my posts, the private messages and emails were astonishing and so comforting and deeply appreciated. What an amazing group of people who are passionate about the miniature horse world. I know at some point that Gracie will be able to return the blessings she has received from Sandy and her boys and John & Katherine. "Thank you" seems so lacking in times like these, but I hope the smiles you saw on Gracie face speak volumes.
God Bless You All!
Gracie was also blessed by Katherine and John Morlang of Lonesome Dove Farms who had retired from the mini & work world several years ago and were keeping their stallion and mares as pasture ornaments. Katherine said that when she read about Gracie's loss she knew she had found the perfect home for a few of her mares. She wanted her mares to be well cared for, loved and be used for something other than standing in a field. So she contacted me and when Gracie and I went to pick up two mares, it ended up being three. One of the mares is a AMHA Reserve World Champion- LDR Uno Mas Margarita and the other two mares have many blue ribbons and championships between them- B & WS Fancy and Lonesome Doves Champagne N Pearls. These mares complete & compliment Gracie's mini mare herd. Gracie and I are busy morning and night teasing and breeding mares now. Gracie is learning about everything to do with breeding to keeping records. This is all priceless!
My husband and I are so humbled by the out-pouring of support from this lil beginning forum. The messages on my posts, the private messages and emails were astonishing and so comforting and deeply appreciated. What an amazing group of people who are passionate about the miniature horse world. I know at some point that Gracie will be able to return the blessings she has received from Sandy and her boys and John & Katherine. "Thank you" seems so lacking in times like these, but I hope the smiles you saw on Gracie face speak volumes.
God Bless You All!
