The Story
My great-grandfather, Joe, bought a little piece of land for his wife, Cheri, to start to build her dream. They had just arrived back in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania after a world wide cruise. The trip was not for pleasure though, that is what he did. He sailed the world sourcing and selling products for trade and manufacturing in a small town off the Susquehanna River. The name of this town has long been forgotten by all but a few and they just call it "Home," it was washed away in a flood at some point -- the historical record is muddy on this event -- but what I can gather from reading great-gram's journals it was a booming little town.
Joe planned out the whole farm to best utilize the space he could afford, about 12 acres roughly. Great-gram got to design the barn though, this barn is still standing today. She designed the barn to be suitable for ponies or large horses. The stalls were easily repairable if they should be damaged and it could adjusted if a roomier stall was needed. Joe built the fences in time for them to go get the first occupants of the farm. Oh, whoops! I forgot to mention what they found on that trip that inspired all of this!
While Joe was conducting business at a small shipyard -- these folks did amazing boat repairs -- great-gram was wandering the town purchasing native items. Yes, boring everyday items like; blankets, shoes, hats, tools, etc. whatever was unique to her and standard where she was standing. Since this little sea town was not yet industrialized, nor was it in the sights of countries to be scavenged, she really got a lot for her barter (unclear as to what she traded or used as currency). But, she got two native ponies in one shipment and a few others over the years. Great-gram was not much of a record keeper early on, but from what I can decipher of these first two ponies they primarily showed. I can find no records of offspring that were by her prize stallion bred on the farm. I digress. The first two horses I can determine that came to the Appalachian Mountains were a grey stallion and a chestnut mare with what great-gram called a lace doily. Yes, a doily, one of those round lace things you see under lamps and stuff. She was a character, my great-gram. In all the research I have done on the breed, I am still not sure where that blanket came from.
These first two ponies made themselves at home and hit the show ring hard. The stallion, Dom, made it all the way to World Champion defeating over 1,700 horses in his career. The mare, Copper, went all the way to Grand Champion level defeating over 1,000 horses in her career. No other horse on the farm has equalled Dom's title. Other ponies that I can find records of were a grey mare named Dancer (never shown and no recorded offspring), a bay custom stallion named Prince purchased from a place called SSInc (he reached National Champion level), a grey stallion named Spirit (earned his ICh), a sorrel custom stallion named VIP (earned his BCh), a sorrel custom stallion named Pro (did not like showing), a buckskin custom mare named Della (earned her BCh), and a bay stallion named Chance (never shown and no recorded offspring).
It was probably around this time that great-gram found herself expecting. While she loved her spunky ponies, she brought in some Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses. The Somalis were taking a back burner, no longer achieving in the show ring like they once were. The new horses took to the saddle seat ring and kept the farm alive. The Grand Champions bred by the family are all Racking and Spotted Saddle horses, for now.
Gram showed the first Grand Champion when she was old enough. Dalonigei was a pretty palomino mare and one of the many gaited horses on the farm. The Somalis always hovering in the back ground. When gram found out she was pregnant with mum she had just completed Virtuous Vagabond's Grand Champion quest. The first one in many years, she was so happy she passed out cold. It had been twelve years since "Chickadee" had earned her coveted title. My mother would also ride a Grand Champion out of the ring. The amazing thing is mum planned the breeding that resulted in Iris. There would be three more Grands in the next 4 years and that would be it for the family farm. Now, it should be my turn. I would love for it to be a Somali, that would a fitting circle to Great-gram's dreams.
The farm has been expanded over the years, 300 acres of land for under 100 horses right now. The Somalis are back again some imported and some home bred. I had the foresight to send Pat to the auction in search of imports to add some new blood and he came back with some lovely mares. Local Stock were always prevalent in the lines of the family Somalis and I wanted to stay away from that as long as possible. Now it is time.
Joe planned out the whole farm to best utilize the space he could afford, about 12 acres roughly. Great-gram got to design the barn though, this barn is still standing today. She designed the barn to be suitable for ponies or large horses. The stalls were easily repairable if they should be damaged and it could adjusted if a roomier stall was needed. Joe built the fences in time for them to go get the first occupants of the farm. Oh, whoops! I forgot to mention what they found on that trip that inspired all of this!
While Joe was conducting business at a small shipyard -- these folks did amazing boat repairs -- great-gram was wandering the town purchasing native items. Yes, boring everyday items like; blankets, shoes, hats, tools, etc. whatever was unique to her and standard where she was standing. Since this little sea town was not yet industrialized, nor was it in the sights of countries to be scavenged, she really got a lot for her barter (unclear as to what she traded or used as currency). But, she got two native ponies in one shipment and a few others over the years. Great-gram was not much of a record keeper early on, but from what I can decipher of these first two ponies they primarily showed. I can find no records of offspring that were by her prize stallion bred on the farm. I digress. The first two horses I can determine that came to the Appalachian Mountains were a grey stallion and a chestnut mare with what great-gram called a lace doily. Yes, a doily, one of those round lace things you see under lamps and stuff. She was a character, my great-gram. In all the research I have done on the breed, I am still not sure where that blanket came from.
These first two ponies made themselves at home and hit the show ring hard. The stallion, Dom, made it all the way to World Champion defeating over 1,700 horses in his career. The mare, Copper, went all the way to Grand Champion level defeating over 1,000 horses in her career. No other horse on the farm has equalled Dom's title. Other ponies that I can find records of were a grey mare named Dancer (never shown and no recorded offspring), a bay custom stallion named Prince purchased from a place called SSInc (he reached National Champion level), a grey stallion named Spirit (earned his ICh), a sorrel custom stallion named VIP (earned his BCh), a sorrel custom stallion named Pro (did not like showing), a buckskin custom mare named Della (earned her BCh), and a bay stallion named Chance (never shown and no recorded offspring).
It was probably around this time that great-gram found herself expecting. While she loved her spunky ponies, she brought in some Racking Horses and Spotted Saddle Horses. The Somalis were taking a back burner, no longer achieving in the show ring like they once were. The new horses took to the saddle seat ring and kept the farm alive. The Grand Champions bred by the family are all Racking and Spotted Saddle horses, for now.
Gram showed the first Grand Champion when she was old enough. Dalonigei was a pretty palomino mare and one of the many gaited horses on the farm. The Somalis always hovering in the back ground. When gram found out she was pregnant with mum she had just completed Virtuous Vagabond's Grand Champion quest. The first one in many years, she was so happy she passed out cold. It had been twelve years since "Chickadee" had earned her coveted title. My mother would also ride a Grand Champion out of the ring. The amazing thing is mum planned the breeding that resulted in Iris. There would be three more Grands in the next 4 years and that would be it for the family farm. Now, it should be my turn. I would love for it to be a Somali, that would a fitting circle to Great-gram's dreams.
The farm has been expanded over the years, 300 acres of land for under 100 horses right now. The Somalis are back again some imported and some home bred. I had the foresight to send Pat to the auction in search of imports to add some new blood and he came back with some lovely mares. Local Stock were always prevalent in the lines of the family Somalis and I wanted to stay away from that as long as possible. Now it is time.