Check out his runs at US Nationals on You Tube, HERE.

Well it’s been a nice open fall here in Central Alberta. The weather has held nicely for trail rides and training outdoors. I have been out trail riding on a North American Single Footer. ‘Legacy’ is one of the neatest horses I have ever swung a leg over. Lots of attitude and boy can he ever move!
All of Barb Middleton’s horses are for sale and please contact us for more information regarding any of them.

 Hollywood Lights, Mister Mellow and Hollywood Habit are all for sale and reasonable offers are always considered. Hollywood Lights is paid up for the Scottsdale futurity and would be a great horse to make the finals with. Hollywood lights is also nearly finished in the bridle and would be fantastic for a youth or nervous amateur rider.
We have most of the horses moved out to the new land for grazing and have kept Nina and Nicson (2008 babies) home as well as ‘Mel’ or High In Hollywood (No accidental babies from him!). Speaking of Mel, we are very happy with how he has grown and matured. He is really starting to look like a horse (rather than a baby horse!). I was fooling around with him the other day and he takes all his new experiences like a pro!

We are still eyeing around for another good AQHA mare and can’t seem to decide on one in particular, must be a sign to not buy one! (Maybe two instead?). Tis’ the season of NRHA/NRCHA stallion auctions and I am thinking of breeding Jackie to a Smart Chic Olena son. I think the SMC sons have crossed really well with the Peppy San Badger granddaughters. Chris is always eyeing another High Sign Nugget bred horse so who knows what might happen between now and breeding season.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and safe ridding!

PS. Always remember how to make a small fortune in the horse industry:

START WITH A LARGE ONE!

Well another summer is drawn to a close and what a great summer we had!
Please check out our acreage for sale.  We are excited about finding the right people to love our acreage.  It seems silly but a lot of hard work and vision went into our place and we hope who ever buys it will enjoy it as much as we have!
Shoes and blankies are pulled off the two half arab reiners.  Hollywood Lights or LB is for sale and his owner is motivated to see him go to an excellent new home. 
Danya and Pepper and coming along nicely and Chris and I are excited to see how 2009 will shape up for us. 
Texas is starting to work on cattle more and should be a really neat bridle horse.  Anyone looking for a fancy cow/reining bred stallion should think hard about him for next year!

Well here comes fall!  And with fall comes W***** (if you live in the north and have horses you must know what I'm talking about).  The daylight is shorter and shorter and futurity season is upon us.  Chris and I are hurrying home to get the riding done before dark.  We are going to look at getting the arena lit so we can 'cheat' the season a little. 
In other news, the barn is coming along nicely and should be very useful this winter.  We still need to find an arena to ride at once the snow hits.  The leaves this year seem extra vivid with strong yellows, reds and oranges.  Even I can enjoy the fall for the colors!    Stay warm and enjoy the leaves!

Well it has been a busy two months.  Regionals and Nationals are over.  We were disapointed with the quality of judging we recieved at both venues but when you pay for someones opinion sometimes you won't like what they say!  I was pleased with Shadys run at regionals and he got turned out for a month and a half with 'Mel' and 'Nicson'. 
Speaking of Nicson, he came home middle of August and we couldn't be happier with him.   As always it can be nerve racking buying a horse sight unseen but we have had some good luck and bought from some excellent sellers.  Thank you again to Chris and Dale Cox of Cox Ranch.  Chris is already in love with him!
As summer winds down Chris and I decided to go to the new 'Horse Power' open breed horse show in Edmonton.  We both entered the freestyle reining.  Chris rode texas to Big and Rich's 'Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy' and I rode LB bareback with an indian bridle to the Goo Goo Dolls 'I dont want the World to See Me'.  I have some great stops with LB and the crowd liked the bareback bridleless gig.
We are still working on finishing the barn and getting our place ready to sell.  We have to thank all of our friends, family and neighbors for helping us with this huge project.
Fall season meaning the supreme and more reining shows.  I am hoping to have Texas ready to go straight up in the bridle for the Northlands cowhorse event.  I was very pleased with his first cowhorse classes.  He scored a top dry work mark of 73 and the cow work was a respectable 66.  The second day during my run one of my rommels broke during my cattle work.  It occured right after my boxing and after the first turn down the fence.  Texas was a good boy and we decided to carry on with one rein.  It was one of those split second decisions that paid off.  Texas turned the cow back again and we managed two circles.  I was very proud of him.  
'Rosa' is weaned and not impressed and the horses are starting to think about growing their woolies and long johns.  I have started to winter blanket at night.
I have to make a quick mention of 'Dunnit Dance' a two yearold filly that Bill and Heather Deboer bought for me to ride.  'Danya' as she is known has been progressing along great and I am excited to see how she turns out.  What a natural stopper.  I am going to need to put shoes on her soon!  Take care and don't freeze!
 

Well it has been a super busy month. We got Texas back for training after he was done breeding mares. He has sired some very nice foals and we are looking forward to seeing what is foaled out for next year and for the babies to grow up and show! We have the only Texas daughter at our house keeping Nina company. 'Rosa' is her name and is she ever NICE! She is out of a Docs Lynx and Big Step bred mare. Pretty hot bloodlines right now.
Shady went to his first horse show under saddle and scored a 69 first time out. I was very impressed with his attitude and willingness. He is just a 3 year (I have to keep reminding myself!) With the score of 69 I entered him into regionals this year, more for experience and getting him ready for the futurity in Scottsdale.
We (Barb Middleton and I) decided to list 'Hollywood Lights' for sale to a good home only! I think I will wait until regionals are done before I start advertising him.
My forge arrived and I have started to hot shoe the horses myself. It can be very scary and extremely rewarding. I love shaping and fitting the shoes (very artistic). The horses have been good (mostly falling asleep because I take so darn long!). Every set I put on gets better. Being able to put my own shoes on makes a difference with the horses being on pasture 24hrs a day. I seem to have the odd shoe that needs to be straightened or tacked back on. I love having them out and about enjoying the sunshine and grass, I have never been a fan of keeping horses in stalls.
Chris and I are very excited to announce the pending purchase of 145 acres of land closer to Red Deer and our day jobs. Less commute time means more horsy time. We are planning on moving there next year and building an indoor arena! Very exciting. We are really going to miss our neighbors and our vet. The land has the most beautiful creek and meadows with lots of wild flowers.
Chris and Texas went to a horse show on the weekend and had a nice run in cow horse. This was Texas's first cow horse class and I was very proud of him. He had a score of 141.5 combined.
Regionals are a week a way and nationals are just around the corner!
Hope the summer is treating everyone well,
Adrienne and Chris.

On the subject of Mann-Herr…..thanks to Taryn Deboer (Texas’s owner) for pointing this out….(I think). Apparently some people might pronounce our farm name as man hair. It is in fact pronounced ‘Manner’ farms and is a combination of both of our last names (UllMANN and HERRon). It is also a play on words for Man and Herr in English and German. Herr is sir/man in German. My family’s background is mostly British and Chris’s is German. Just thought I’d clear that up!
Adrienne.

Happy June (minus all the rain),
This past Friday LB and I went up to the Aurora Arabian Summer Show in Edmonton, AB and qualified for Regionals and Nationals.  LB was his steady self with excellent runs both times.  We recieved scores of 72 and 74.5.  Way to go LB.  We are happy to be qualified so early and are going to take it easy with some schooling and trail riding until just before regionals. 
Did everyone get their West Nile Vaccinations figured out for the year?  We are going to try the new Prevenile vaccine.  One dose with no need to boost.  This new vaccine is pretty neat.  It is a chimera vaccine.
I have to thank Dr. Zoe Wagenaar of Central Animal Clinic in Ponoka for all her hard work and planning for the AI of Jackie to Cleo.  Thanks of course to Thiago and his vets in Arizona.  We have our fingers crossed that she is caught.  I will keep everyone posted with the breeding updates!
Have fun in the sun (if you have any),
Adrienne.

Hello hello,
May is way too busy, we had our baby (and so did quite a few other friends), we are building our outdoor arena (150 by 80 feet sand), and the BIG news is the sale of High Carat Gemstone or Gemma to Nicola Timmons of Ituna Sask.  We know that Nic and Gemma will do very well together and are excited to see how their partnership develops.

We also got 'Dunnit dance' or 'Danya' a 2 yr old prospect home from Colorado.  Danya is owned by Little Red Ranch of Olds, Alberta.  Chris and Danya are working on getting her caught up with our 2 year olds. 

We are also happy that Nitrous Smart Peppy is confirmed in foal to 'Lenas Smart One'.  The tiny little 20 day old embryo looked like a winning cowhorse for sure!  Lenas Smart One is offered for sale by Pekisko Ranch in Red Deer Alberta.  If you are looking for a great cutter and a good sire.  Here is a great stallion.
More news soon.
A.

Finally Jackie rewarded us with a foal Wednesday morning.  Chris got up to check on her and surprise there was a healthy little filly waiting for him.  Very cute and spunky with a star, stripe, snip and two white socks.  I think that she will turn into a bay or perhaps a dark chestnut.  I will get the new pictures up as soon as I can.  Not even 48hrs old and already working on her sliding stops!  Sadly I am fighting a cold and it makes going out to play with our new filly a little harder.  We are so happy to have a healthy filly!
Cheers,
A.

Check out LB's page below, I have posted a great pic of him and Stacey from Friday.  Mr. Personality himself.  Stacey was fantastic and very informative.  I encourage anyone who gets a chance to ride with her to go for it!  I ordered her videos and am looking forward to enjoying them later on.  The sun is shining so have fun!

Big News!!!! Introducing Stacey Westfall and Hollywood Lights (L.B.), My first clinic with Stacey last night was fantastic.  The stop from start to bridleless.  Fantastic info, entertaining and a great time!  Stacey was a wonderful clinician with great insights and a good balance of basics to advanced help.  We worked on the 300% stop method where each part of your stop must be 100% and be indepenent of the others.  Your horse should stop equally well from your voice, your legs and your reins.  Neat stuff and things to work on.  Lb was his usual charming self with crowd pleasing sliding stops.  Stacey also had some great ideas for improving back ups as well.  Send me an email if you want that info.  Stacey rode all three of the clinic horses and rode Chris's mare Gemma for the rest of the clinic. 

Well the terrible weather has finally broken with just scattered snow flurries and the temperature seems to hang around above zero (c) now!  I had been concerned about the lack of moisture in the area but now with the 30cm of snow covering everything we should do just fine (if not very muddy). 
I am getting very excited to ride with Stacey Westfall on Friday and Sunday at the Mane Event in Red Deer.  As for as I know this is the first time Stacey has come to Alberta, Welcome to the land of snow!  I told L.B. that he had to be a super good boy as he had to show everyone here is QH country that arabs can really rein too!  He sure looks good all slicked off from a month in Arizona.  Here is a link to Stacey Westfall's website.

Congrats to Mara Arabians two new colts (One out of Darkhist and One out of Painted Peppy Doc and half brother to L.B.)  The half brother to L.B. really has a look that reminds me of L.B.  Thank goodness for everything going well with foaling for everyone so far.  Very stressfull time of year for breeders (although the mares dont seem nearly as concerned!). 
I have exciting news I have booked Jackie in to be breed to TA Khalil.  'Cleo' is two time reserve champion at scottsdale in the purebred futurity.  Nice horse with a super quiet disposition and neat stops.  Now I cant wait for next years baby!  We may also be trying a embryo transfer with Cleo out of a money earning/producing duaghter of HWJ 86.  Miss Jasmine Jac is the dam of a reserve NRHA world champion and has produced earners in excess of 10k on the NRHA circuit.  She is also the damn of the stallion prospect that we bought from Cox Ranch in OK.
This would be our first venture into embryo transfers and should be an experience.
Speaking of experiences.....the weather out here in Alberta is NOTHING to write home about.  I am very sad to say that it has been snowing since Friday (straight) and doesn't look to be letting up any time soon.  At least Jackie is smart enough to resist the urge to foal early.  Super gross weather.  Please send better weather ASAP!
A.

I just can't seem to keep up with the births around here!  Congrats to Amin Arabians new colt (half brother to Jackies foal).  Here is a pic of Cortez Kid Amin by Bolero Kid V.


AND a very special welcome to Texas's first foal LR Sheza Smart Lynx!  What a neat little filly.


Congratulations to the Middleton family on their new filly 'Forever Fames'.  This filly was bred by Wunderbar Arabians in Saskatoon, Canada.  She is out of 'Sir Fames' and out of a Couturier daughter.  Good luck in all the halter futurities next year!

Since it is that time of year again, I thought I would send a 'Shout Out' to all the great breeders out there: the people who plan the foals they breed for. Furthermore I would like to thank all of the great stallion owners who have been wonderful to deal with. Breeding is always a stressful time for mare owners (Is she in/ did we miss her heat/will the semen get here in time?). What brings this up is a recent dealing with a breeder who just doesn't seem to want our business that badly. If you don't have room, time or interest to breed outside mares---DONT! You will save everyone some time and hassle.
Sorry about the rant. Cheers to the super warm weather and the excellent 'bit' of green appearing in the pastures!

Adrienne.

Tis the season of foals!  'Jackie' is getting ready to have hers, it is a little early (okay who am I kidding I still have a month to wait).  She is starting to bag up a little more each day and a litttle 'looser' behind.  I sure feel sorry for her she is about as big as the house.  She is much larger this time than with 'Aries' last year.  If she still has another month she will reach beach ball status!  I put up her tail and gave her a good brush with the shedding blade (get all those places she cant reach).    I was reading through the Quarterhorse news and had to skip an article on foal ill.  I know its silly but I just cant bring myself to read more than I already know about what can go wrong.  I still think we will breed her to texas this year.  Not 100% sure just yet. 
I am positive that we are sending 'Nitrous' up to be bred to 'Boonlight Bar' in a week or so.  It should be a nice cross with tons of cow.  Have to get her up there before they turn him out with their broodmares for the year.  'Boonlight Bar' has sired some fairly high selling foals in the area and I had the chance to ride another 'Boonlight Dancer' son and was very impressed with his mind and athleticism.
More exciting news I have found a reining/cowhorse prospect for Chris from Cox Ranch in OK.  The colt is out of the Hollywood Jac 86 mare (Miss Jasmine Jac) that I found for Deboers last fall and by Cox Ranches stallion 'Zann Parr Nic' a son of Reminic and out of a maternal half sister to Shining Spark.  Any name suggestions would be appreciated.  Right now my favourite is 'Mr. JacNic'
Well thats all for now, off to brush more horses (piles and piles of hair!).
Adrienne.
Here is a picture and a Link to Shady Darq Bars page (still working on putting the Show Horse Page together!).

In like a Lamb, Out like a Lion.
March has been very warm in Alberta this year.  We picked up panels from Debors and set up a small round pen for Chris to start the three two year olds.  'Pepper' Chris' AQHA cowhorse prospect has been the 'star' pupil.  He has graduated to outside the round pen already at the walk, jog and lope.  Pepper seems like a nice prospect with a cool level headed approach to being ridden.
'Mister' my 2009/2010 half arab reining prospect has been a little slower to start but shows some great talent with a super soft 'give' and some great sweeping turns over his hocks.
'Brady' is also coming along nicely.  Chris has taken the most time with him as he seems the least physically mature of the crew.
Our neighbors call them 'The three stooges' for all their goofy antics.
The warm weather in March also allowed us to turn two of the 2007 colts into geldings.  'Hollywood Habit' or 'habit' and 'IBSEEKINGSOMEFASTCASH' or 'aries' are now geldings.  Neither one were too thrilled with the aftermath of the surgery but they are both recovering well.  'HighNHollywood' or 'mel' gets to keep his a little longer.
I always joke that colts have to 'earn' their testicles.  So far Mel is easy to handle and no more aggressive than his pasture buddies.  The appaloosa attitude still appears on occasion!
Gemma went back to work (and was not impressed).  Roo (a retired standardbred) went back to live with her family in Edmonton after we trained her to ride.
Time to think about foals, new prospects and selling some of the older, broke horses.
March also had the first fun show of the year.  'Whiskey' went out and had some fun.
L.B. enjoyed his month of semi-vacation.
Cheers and have some fun!
Adrienne