Current Keystone Farm News

September 2011.  We are getting ready to compete in our second World Show.  We have been doing our own preparations and training and I must say that Dolly is very good at it.  She has been very diligent and detailed.  I am proud of her and what our horses have been doing.  Over the next week we will see how well we have grown and learned our new hobby.  Hope to have great news to post in a couple of weeks. 

August 2011.  We have made new acquisitions of 3 weanlings, a bay filly and colt, and a buckskin filly.  We have high expectations for them and want to thank Stephanie for trusting us with them.  We will do our best to develop them to their full potential.  Watch for pictures of them in "our horses" section.

We also started Diamond and Cooper under saddle this summer.  We have them in training now to finish and get certified.  Really excited to see how they train out.

Having fun in KY at the 2010 World Show, relaxing with Nitro and Luxy.  Then back to work in IL.

September 2010.  We competed in our first World Show.  Getting off of work was almost impossible, but I did and away we went.  We brought Luxy and Nitro. Dolly showed Luxy in two classes and won one ribbon (3rd).  Dolly showed Nitro in 3 classes and he won 3 ribbons (5th and 2-6th).  For a 2 year old stallion, Nitro did very well.  We had a good time in spite of our nerves.  We also got to take a trail ride one afternoon. We definately learned alot and will be better prepared for our next one.  We also earned high point for the region award.  Not to bad for our first year.  Thanks to all our friends for their encouragement and support.         

Now we are back at home and ready for winter.  Our two first foals, Sassy and Cooper, are really developing into very good looking Rockies.  Check out their pictures.  We love all our horses and their individual personalities, but we have to reduce our numbers.  So watch for new friends of Keystone and their new Rocky beginnings.

April 2009.  We had a great month which resulted in two beautiful foals. On the 7th, Heart started her process around 4 pm.  Dolly and I were there to watch and then assist in the birth of Keystone's Venture of the Heart (Sassy), a chocolate filly with a white half heart on her head.  She did not nurse at first and after much worry (our first foal remember), she was nursing on her own by early morning.  She is very friendly and wants to your attention all the time. Then on the 23rd, Harley foaled around 5 am.  Keystone's Sudden Sensation (Cooper) is a chocolate colt, with white mane and tail.  He was all legs!  He is very curious and wants to be "pals" with Sassy, but she tries to outdo him.  He has a high head and tail carriage.

Now we have the tough decisions on who to keep and who to offer for sale.  Unfortunately, we can not keep everyone.

March 2009.  So far this year has been very wet and cold. We have our first two foals due in April and we are a little anxious.  Mares seem to be doing well.

December 2008.  Ending the year, we have Heart and Harley confirmed bred and Coco open.  We are excited in anticipation for our first foals in late April 2009.  We are keeping up with the socializing of the young two (Diamond and Nitro) with the mares, and trying to keep all of them safe on the ice, while still giving them plenty of exercise. It is challenging at times here in Northern Illinois. It is very challenging learning how to care for them, but SOOO rewarding watching them run and play in the pasture.

July 2008.  We are picking up our four girls (Heart, Coco, Luxy, and Harley) the end of the month.  Heart, Harley (Beau's Fashion) and Coco should be bred, and Luxy will be broke and certified to breed.  Heart was bred to Chocolate Venture, Harley to Sudden Impact,  Coco to Venture's Black Fury.  Looking forward to some exciting, high quality babies in 2009.

May 2008.  We took our two girls (Heart and Coco) to Van Berts Farm to be bred and Luxy to be broke and certified. We also attended a local show, cheering on Chris, Stacey ,Vera, and Judy.  We looked at a lot of the foals that were there, learning as much as we could. Larry brought out a nice chocolate mare (Beau's Fashion), that Ashley was riding and Dolly fell in love with her.  So she became Dolly's graduation present (LPN).  We also decided on a chocolate foal out of Ace of Spades and LS Stop the Music. So, Keystone Farms Mountain Horses has added two more to our family. Watch for our first babies in 2009.  We are really excited for these future prospects.

November 2007.  We went to spend a few days with Larry, Vera, Chris and Stacey to learn more about our Mountain Horses, and to have them transported to Illinois, for the start of Keystone Farms Mountain Horses. 

August 2007.  Dolly and I made our first Mountain Horse purchase of 3 fillies after 7 months of research.  We selected the Van Bert Farm because of their reputation, personal service and quality horses.