Philosophy, aim and purpose:
2006: We raise and train trail horses. That's all. Trail horses. We value a good mind above all else. It is the single most important factor. In addition to a good mind, we want a horse that handles spooks head on, without a lot of fuss or jumping around. Face your fear, trust your rider (or your horse). Stay calm what ever you encounter.
2007: Its amazing how much can change in a year. A year ago, we got Cat from Montana and our adventure with Appaloosas began. Then we got Mia. Cat had a baby; Ru. We got Ghost (but didn't bring him home) We got Pebbles. We brought Ghost home and we got Gracie the first week of October. This winter, we have a herd of 10 horses.
I rode Mia for more than 400 miles this summer. We rode the Shore to Shore across Michigan, and we rode in a couple of endurance races. I found no shuffle, no intermediate gait. She is a wonderful horse. She has a great temperament, and is suited for trail riding and endurance. Unless she sells to a good foundation home before spring, she will be bred to Ghost for an 08 baby. Mia may not gait, but that baby ought to.
Ghost gaits, and Pepples gaits. I can't wait to get a saddle on Ghost, and Pebble's training is coming along fine. She'll make a great trail horse, and might make an endurance horse. We'll find out next year.
Vicki is considering adding Reining to our adventure. We feel we need another discipline that will allow us to show our horses in something in addition to endurance riding.
We are expecting a baby in the spring, but she is not of our breeding. (Just like Ru) Wonderful bloodlines, but in the spring, we will finally get to begin on our own RuneStone Farm breeding program. A new form of patience.
The dream has grown and changed, but it is still very much in keeping with the aim stated last year, only this year, to breed, raise and train trail appaloosas is the growth and refinement.
So there you have it. Trail horses that can go the distance and that you can trust. That's what RuneStoneFarm is all about.