Meet the family of One Iron Horse Farm!

Indio -- "Indiglo Blues"

Indio is a 13.2 hand, 15-year old Spanish Mustang gelding. Indio is a million dollar pony. He is a big puppy dog disguised as a pony, and in fact, he licks you when he greets you! He was daughter Amanda's confidence builder when she was 10 years old. Then he carried mom Karen when she started riding and jumping at age 42. Indio is safe and sweet as pie, with just enough laziness to make you work but you always feel secure. He is smooth as silk, we think he has some Paso Fino in him but he is not gaited and is a nice, solid hunter pony. He knows what is expected of him as a lesson horse and while he can test the rider ever so slightly when you first get on him, all he needs is a firm and gentle reminder and he'll carry you safely the rest of the way.

Indio was just recently diagnosed with navicular disease. He is the "flagship horse" of One Iron Horse Farm and still has many valuable years left for carrying beginner riders on his back, as long as he is comfortable and willing to do so. We are dedicated to making him as comfortable, happy and pain-free as possible. We invite anyone who is afraid of riding to come out and let Indio wash your fears and uncertainties away. We guarantee that he is the one to do it.

Rojo Berry II
Rojo is a a 7-year old, 15.1 h AQHA (#3982437), a Blue Valentine descendant. He was the second horse to join our farm, after Indio, in March 2005. Karen was trying some gentle, bottom-of-the-pecking-order horses at a horse trader's, and kept looking at this mean horse picking on everyone in his roundpen. She pointed him out and said, "What about that one?" The ol' trader relucantly brought him over (knowing she hadn't really ridden a horse in about 30 years!). It took two men to catch him -- even in a round pen -- but eventually Karen got on him and clumsily asked him to move forward. He tried to do everything she asked, threatening to buck a time or two but never actually doing it. Inexplicably something clicked with these two, and he was hers. He would be her George.

We soon discovered Rojo was not only somewhat wild, but scared to death of everything in sight, like shadows and garden hoses and blowing grass, oh my! There was a lot of work ahead. He wouldn't pick up his feet, and he tried to run from the saddle being lifted onto his back. Ah, the perfect horse.

Before long, though, Rojo realized that Karen was his safe haven, and the relationship quickly cemented. A few months later we discovered Rojo has navicular disease. Suddenly, so many things made sense -- why he was always on the offensive with other horses; why he associated being ridden with pain (because it hurt, and then he was hit or spurred, which hurt even more ...); why he never really became accustomed to being handled (we later discovered he had about 6 different owners in 3 years). We've had to make some adaptations and he's had a few difficult months the end of 2007, so we can only take him into 2008 as comfortably as possible and move on from there. Meanwhile, he has been sound enough to enjoy a few trail rides with Karen and clear some more scary moments from his head, and has become much more relaxed. Karen is very grateful she had what she did with Rojo and wouldn't change him coming here for the soundest horse in the pasture. Rojo continues to amaze us with his determination. He definitely thinks he is the stallion of the farm. 


My Speeding Ticket
With all of the work that came with Rojo, Karen set out to find a horse she could enjoy while she was bringing Rojo along. Tom came home one day with a phone number, mumbling something about Secretariat. Karen kept it, but didn't call. She didn't throw it away, either. Two weeks later, when she saw the ad was still in the paper, she picked up the phone. The young woman said she was selling him because she was moving and going back to school. She said "Comanche" was a very "goo-ey" horse and would probably take an advanced rider. She also said that she hunted off of him. Well, Karen knew she wasn't an advanced rider, but when she found out that guns were shot off this horse, she knew she would probably buy him. She arranged to take Amanda to meet Comanche the next day.

Ticket at his first show; photo courtesy of Cindi Wallace.

Amanda had no trouble at all "controlling" Comanche. He liked to go, but he was safe. Some months later, at his first show, he took 5th and 2nd place in his two jumping classes! It exceeded our expecations. Ticket is now 16 so we want to continue his show career for as long as we can and move into the jumper classes. He is sweet, docile and a complete Eeyore on the ground. With a rider on his back it's completely different; he still wants to go, but he's learning that the fun will come in other ways if he's patient. He'll take you to the jump and clear it by -- well, let's just say there's lots of air between him and that fence! He loves it.


Scarlett -- "My Daughter's Tuition"

Scarlett (registered as Regal Ruler, Jockey Club #0135428) is Karen's partner for life and she has fun with her geriatric rider under the show name "My Daughter's Tuition." Scarlett is as elegant and graceful as they come, and at age 7, is showing amazing form over the bigger jumps. She is about 16.2 hands and goes all the way back to Barb's Slew out of Seattle Slew. Karen stuck with her even after some serious ovarian issues that kept Scarlett out of the arena for several months, and she is rewarding her owner with energy and enthusiasm ... and ribbons. Scarlett took 3rd place in Green Hunter on the CTHJA circuit for 2007 and we look forward to a lot of fun and challenging shows for many more years. She is everything Karen could ask in a horse in this phase of her new childhood.  


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Photo courtesy of Cindi Wallace







Roscoe
Roscoe was Tom's 59th surprise birthday present from Karen. She set out to find another Indio, but slightly larger. During this 2-week venture, it became even more apparent what a special horse Indio is -- no other horse in Central Texas can hold a candle to him! Finally, Karen met Roscoe. He is 11 years old, and has lots of pep but is a very sweet, safe, trail and Western pleasure horse. He has a nice low headset and a wonderful jog and lope. We were told he's a quarterhorse, but because of his build, we suspect he may be an Appendix -- we say that because Roscoe is about 1400 lbs and 17.2 h high! So we hit a bullseye on the attitude but got a bit off the mark on the size ... which proves at least two things: first, that great things come in all package sizes; and second, that all guys really do have something in common: although Tom was a bit intimdated by Roscoe's size at first, within 2 hours he was on the phone to all of his friends, bragging about the size of his horse! Roscoe and Tom have definitely teamed up together, on the ground and under saddle.

Roscoe was recently diagnosed with navicular disease, but is responding well to supplemental treatment. We are confident he and Tom will have many wonderful trail-riding years ahead.

                                                    

Whatta Return ("Ret")
How can we have a Scarlett with a Rhett? Ret is a wonderful registered Appaloosa with very interesting coloring; not what you typically think of when you hear Appaloosa, but I was told if you "know" Appaloosas, you recognize the coloring. Oh well ... tells you what I know about Appaloosas! Ret was donated to us by a wonderful woman who was leaving the country and no longer had a place to put him. He is only 7 years old, and is bred and trained Western Pleasure. He just needs some more miles on him so both Tom and Karen are working on that -- he has a wonderful temperament and Tom just loves him, so whenever Roscoe is laid up or his little feet need a rest from his big ol' body, in comes Ret to help Tom stay in top riding form. Karen has been bringing him to the weekly Western lessons to keep him in learning mode, and he will probably become one of our lesson horses (in an English saddle, no doubt!) -- he is that gentle. His canter can get a bit fast and he needs more work in engaging his hindquarters, but he is very smart and very much a pleaser. He has become Indio's best friend and pasturemate, they are both definitely real gentlemen. Look for more updates as we begin to show Ret this summer in Western Pleasure classes at playdays!







Star

Star - 14-year old black Quarterhorse, New Mother of Nova!! Back in training as Scarlett's back-up for Karen.


Flame ('Flaming Mata Hari") - white thoroughbred mare (Raja Baba, Nijinsky II). Dam of Aliant's Flame (Allie). Flame will remain as our broodmare and all around love.



Linger Lea - flea-bitten gray (Secretariat). Dam of Fancy Lea's Folly and Miss Madyson Avenue (Maddie). We will be riding Linger but likely keeping her as a broodmare. (photo coming soon!)


Kiwi -- Hanoverian Warmblood, and new mom to Kalypso's Hot Koco (Coco). We will be riding Kiwi (shown as a jumper) but likely breed her again in 2008.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Disco - In Memory, 1960???? - October 11, 2007

Disco passed away peacefluly Thursday, October 11, 2007, in his stall. We think he had a stroke about a week prior as he suddenly lost most of his vision and remained in his stall where he felt the most secure. We actually scheduled him to be put down Thursday afternoon, but that morning we found him down. He seemed scared but determined to wait until we got to him. Amanda and Karen began brushing him and rubbing him while we waited for Dr. Pruitt to arrive, but Disco relaxed peacefully and took his final 3 breaths. He will be deeply missed but we feel so fortunate to have taken in his many gifts and knew he was carefully watching the farm as he strolled up and down the driveway day and night.


Raymond - "Ray-Ray"

Raymond came as part of the deal with Rojo. We got him as a 2-year old, and he was slightly more wild than his horse counterpart. Rojo could care less about Raymond, but boy was Indio glad to see him! They have been "pair-bonded" ever since. Raymond is definitely a family pet, is very affectionate and doesn't mind when Amanda and her friends hop on him. He also takes his pasture protection very seriously, as new or stray dogs are quick to discover -- and every once in a while he likes to give a "fun" reminder to the farm dogs, as well!







NON-EQUINE FAMILY MEMBERS
Other species of our farm family:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Belle and Lucy
Belle and Lucy were awarded to us at a charity auction benefitting Kidsave, which finds long-term families or mentors for orphans or children in foster care. Belle is a registered Alpine dairy goat, and Lucy is her Alpine/Nubian daughter. Check back for information on little kids and fun with goat milk products!



MacKenzie, Shadow, Nevada, and Cooper

One Iron Horse Farm has a 5-star security system -- and the stars are the 5 dogs who warn of us all things coming or going! MacKenzie is a German Shepherd/Beagle mix who is always at Karen's side. MacKenzie was obtained from the Austin Humane Society shelter in Austin.

Shadow was found and rescued by a gentlemen out near Decker Lake (around Austin) where he was dumped. He was only 6 weeks old. He is a lab/chow mix (and something else), and is the Great Loyal Protector. Once Shadow decides he likes someone, he'll do anything for you.

Nevada is sweet and weird and is enjoying being Cooper's playmate. She usually stays out at night as the farm sentry.

Finally there's Cooper, or Coop. He lived in the chicken coop the first few days while we were deciding what to do with him. It was a "detachment strategy" since we were determined not to keep him. Well, he just kind of fit in! Coop is a chow mixed with Corgie (of all things) mixed with something else. He is extremely smart for his age and a fast learner. He also barks at the horses but is wise enough not to chase them (although he still hasn't figured out that Raymond's job is to chase new dogs away!).