Dark Horse Farm

03/14/2024

Holy smokes… look at this boy move!!! Excited to see him in person at Black Pearl Friesians on April 6th in Rockford, IL.

03/13/2024

Excited to add this black Arabian beauty to our farm! Her name is Black Pearl CRF. She was the 2018 Unanimous Champion Yearling Medallion Fillies & Champion Medallion Yearling Auction Fillies. She will be trained & shown by Tony and Katie Steiner this year. Excited about her future!
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/black+pearl+crf

07/02/2023

A recent study, conducted in Japan, compared various methods for cooling horses after exercise in hot and humid conditions. Thoroughbreds were exercised until their pulmonary artery temperature reached 108°F. The time until the pulmonary artery temperature returned to

07/01/2023

Average production time for a 24 inch wreath is 5 days. I cut it down to 3. My fingers do hurt, but it does look pretty! The green, pink, and white one from the other day will fit nicely inside.

06/14/2023

Researchers in Spain looked at results from more than 1000 Eventing horses across nearly 9000 participation records.

06/13/2023

I have said this about 5,000 times already, but because it is so important, I will say it some more---

Let's say that you are training a horse to improve in some special skill sets. It might involve jumping, or dressage, or reining patterns, but the training that you are doing involves repetition of some sort.

If you turn training into drilling, where you practice relentlessly, the horse will probably get uncomfortable physically, and at least a little "fried" mentally and emotionally.

What if 2, maybe 3 days a week, you either worked for only 15-20 minutes on the skill set, and then just went for a nice walk in the woods and meadows? Or, better still, did no practice work some days, and only went out for a somewhat long but low stress hack?

The walking does two things. It builds a base of fitness, and it creates an educational atmosphere that is low key and low stress.

It makes no sense to me that so many upper level riders "farm out" all the hacking to others, because it is out on the trail that horses learn to deal with terrain, with footing, with crossing water, with seeing all sorts of weird "stuff."

It is just as educational outside the ring as inside the ring, only about different situations. So, for a better, sounder, fitter, calmer horse, break it up. Less drilling, more quiet hacking.

06/13/2023

IaAHA Summer Spectacular June 24 - 25, 2023

06/13/2023

Check out our Emergency Horse Care Poster!⚕️🐴

The Fenway Foundation Emergency Horse Care Poster is a handy reference guide that provides vital signs to alert you when potential health problems are brewing. PLUS, clinical signs and recommendations for 8 common medical issues: colic, allergic reaction, not eating, nasal discharge, sudden lameness, swollen eye, lacerations, and sudden leg swelling.

Our big glossy poster is laminated on both sides to protect it for years to come, and holes are pre-cut in each corner for easy hanging. Hang it in the tack room, feed room, or barn aisle for your go-to guide when an emergency arises. If you are away and have someone else caring for your horses, this guide will help them quickly assess the situation and gather crucial information to provide your veterinarian.

Size: 36" x 24"
Price: $25.95 w/ FREE shipping in the USA. Contact us directly for international orders.

All proceeds go to support the Fenway Foundation's efforts to preserve and enhance the longevity and quality of life of Friesian horses through Research, Rescue, and Education.❤️

Disclaimer: This guide is in no way intended to be a substitution for advice or care by a licensed veterinarian, nor is it intended to cover every possible illness or eventuality. For the best care of your horse, it is vital to establish and maintain a strong client-patient-veterinarian relationship. Your veterinarian is the best source of medical recommendations for you and your horse.

🛒Shop Link:
https://www.fenwayfoundation.com/product-page/the-fenway-foundation-emergency-horse-care-poster

06/13/2023

06/11/2023

photo credit:

05/30/2023

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Live feed kicks off later this week! Save this link!

https://seehorsevideo.com/2023-region-11-championships/

05/21/2023

The back to back 2023 Region 11 Championship events kick off in less than a week! Let’s play show & tell in the comments! Share your favorite memories of past Region 11 events!

Come visit us in Springfield, IL!

May 25 - Region 11 Sport Horse Pre-show
May 26-28 - Region 11 Sport Horse Championships
May 31 - Illinois Classic AVS
June 1-4 - Region 11 Championships

05/04/2023

May the horse (fourth) be with you🐴

05/03/2023

THAT CRAZY ARABIAN!

Got your attention??

I recently read a letter of response to a potential buyer who was "cautioned" not to buy an Arabian by a non Arab person because they said they are too "spooky"....(Thank you, Holly Anderson....this is so well said.)

"Quarter horse people USUALLY say Arabs are crazy, high strung dangerous etc... but that could not be further from the truth. Arabs "are" very different from other breeds but if anything they are more in tune with human emotions. When u are sad,.. they know and want to comfort you, if you are a child they are ever so gentle and literally 'tippy toe" so as not to let the young treasure on their back fall, they BOND with their owners and get depressed when they don't see them often enough, they also bond with other horses and grieve when they are separated....

Arabians are the closest to psychic of any other breed of animal.. once you've spent a great deal of time with one you can literally "think" what you want the horse to do and it will do it without ANY ques.

Arabians are extremely LOYAL and many many examples where the Arabian gave its life for its beloved owner are written in books and history... they were the original war horse,.. generals and presidents and royalty road the ever endurant fleet and loyal "protector" grey Arabian in battle...

If anything be a possible flaw that QH people could recognize it would be the Arab's arrogance... Just as Arabs treat their humans as treasured "God's" who should be protected at all costs they expect they same appreciation and dignity from their handlers.... mistreatment, abuse and people who treat them like a being beneath them will meet with refusal to perform and a very expressive facial appearance of hate and distrust.

You cannot "beat" an Arab into submission, their spirit is strong, often so strong that they would rather face death than give into abuse and mistreatment.

But this same horse, treated as an "equal" with respect, love and firm patience and "fairness" will WANT to please you as well as it possibly can in every sense of the word. The Arabian horse that has always known love and firm but fair and gentle hands trains so quickly and easily.. they are "genius" in their brilliance,... often learning to walk trot canter and rein back with a rider fearlessly all in the very first day they are saddled... they can even learn from watching other horses much as a hunting dog learns from hunting with other trained dogs.

So, all of that said, once you TRULY know an Arabian and share the bond and meeting of two equally intelligent minds who feel emotions you will understand what amazing creatures they are.

I have loved many other horses who were NOT Arabians but the relationship was totally different..on a totally different level on consciousness... when you talk to an Arabian they look you in the eye and see into your soul into your inner being and they "know" what kind of person you are.. better than you know yourself!

The blood of the Arabian courses through the veins of 90% of the horses in the World... and certainly the higher the percentage of Arabian the more the Arabian attributes they will have.
Arabian's are arrogant, VERY expressive and open and able to convey their every emotion to humans who take the time to see and feel them. If they seem "flighty" it's just that they are more able to express themselves when they are excited. But never fear as they trust their human and will walk thru fire for them if asked to do so. If you are kind and loyal to them that's exactly what you get back. If you are filled with hatred and try to break their spirit and dominate them is what you will get back...FIGHT...but until you have spent some time with an Arabian you wont have a clue what I am talking about... they are meant to be your "partner"- to "live in your tent" as they did with the Bedouins...they are not "beasts of burden" but they TRULY LOVE you so deeply that they strive to please you like NO OTHER BREED.

Once you go Arab.... everything else is "just a horse"...."

05/01/2023

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05/01/2023

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Only 20 horses get to compete in the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. This year, two of the horses come from the same Iowa stable.

03/06/2023

03/05/2023

From what to put in a foaling kit, to what to do immediately post-foaling, we'll fill you in on what we do here at Avalon.

03/03/2023

Looking forward to blue skies and trail rides! Save the date for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation’s Trail Ride on June 3, 2023. We are excited to partner with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club for the spring trail ride. All proceeds will be directed to the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions. https://www.khpfoundation.org/khpf-trail-ride/

02/28/2023

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02/28/2023

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02/27/2023

Can’t wait to welcome MS Amber Afire and Klarion DF’s foal towards the end of next month! Fingers crossed for a big moving, liver chestnut beauty. Then Amber will be bred to Aria Impresario who produced the beautiful, black National Champion, Rasika when bred to Amber’s dam, Marrissah.
https://www.pedegru.com/animals/rasika/photos

02/26/2023

Oh, hello 🤩
credits: Pegasus Dressage Music

02/26/2023

Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome AKA “dummy foal syndrome” occurs in 3- 5% of live foal births. These foals fail to recognize their mares and have no interest in nursing. They often require round the clock intensive care to keep them alive (feeding tube, IV fluids) until they begin nursing on their own. The Madigan Foal Squeeze shown here is a technique developed to reenact the birthing process by applying pressure to the rib cage using ropes. The squeeze triggers biochemical changes in the central nervous system that are critical for transitioning the foal from being asleep in the uterus to awake and conscious at birth. The pressure around their torso causes the foal to go into a sound sleep and the squeeze is held for approximately 20 minutes. Once finished, pressure is released and the foal will awaken themselves. Our goal is they search for their mother and are stimulated to nurse.

02/26/2023

❤️ There truly should be a movie made based on *Witez II’s life story.
Our black mare, Good Knight Irene, has 2 lines to *Witez II on her dam’s side through his black son, Nitez. She is in foal to BA Vyagra Bey with her black foal expected in early October this year. He also has 2 lines to *Witez II through El Tio and Witeza.
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/good+knight+irene2
https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/ba+vyagra+bey

: There was a break in importations to America during World War II, but later, in 1945, the United States Government imported horses from Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bavaria and Poland. Perhaps the most famous war import was the famous stallion Witez II, who became a very influential sire here in America. His remarkable story is told in the fabulous book titled, "And Miles To Go: The Biography Of A Great Arabian Horse, Witez II" by Linell Nash Smith. It is a great read - check it out and you can also learn more by visiting the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries and the International Museum Of The Horse where
history and culture are celebrated. For an entertaining and educational trip, visit the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries.

02/26/2023

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- Always remember, every child needs a best friend...

02/26/2023

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02/18/2023

The world's largest Arabian horse show and Desert Circuit VI are live this weekend on USEF Network! 👀🐴

Scottsdale Live ➡️ http://bit.ly/3Z3m8LF

Desert Circuit Live ➡️ http://bit.ly/3I4m9bm

Learn more: Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show - Arabian Horse Association of Arizona

02/18/2023

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"Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he/she will have to accept that his life will be radically changed.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson