"Dallas" is no doubt, my pride and joy! I've always had a BIG passion for Paints, maybe it was due to the fact that the first horse, err...pony, I've ever ridden was a cute little Pinto. Whatever the case, I was bound and bent on having my very own Paint. Initially, it was a Paint I was searching for on my first horse shopping spree but somehow, I got sidetracked and ended up with Murry, as solid in colouring as you can get! Years later I figured it was time to experience breeding and raising my own foal. After getting the "go ahead" from the money providers (aka parents), there was to be no question about the stud, it was to be a Paint, or nothing. Yet again, my implusiveness got in the way but due to summer coming on and it getting a little late in the breeding season, I really didn't have a whole lot of time. Let's just say, I didn't plan wisely! It was kind of a last minute thing and I decided on the second APHA/PtHA stud I went to see, Tybrook Hot Cargo. Alas, 11 months later, my dream of owning my first Paint horse came true on May, 25 of 1999 at approx. 5 AM when this guy made his appearance.
Though the stud owner guaranteed 100% colour, and all offspring I saw of his were indeed coloured, it was still a shock when I first layed eyes on him. Here's this big sorrel mare and a flashy little painted colt, who would of thought? The power of genetics!! I was overjoyed that he had such symmetrical markings - lets face it folks, I do appreciate all the unique Paint patterns but some do end up looking like cows! I like to think of him as my creation...well, at times that is. Sometimes I just plain wanted to disown him when the "bad" side came out. He was actually the sweetest foal/weanling until he became a yearling but we'll discuss that later. He was imprinted at birth, was leading within a few weeks and comfortable with sacking out, ropes, clippers and baths within a month. At a few months old I was ponying him on trail rides and introducing him to all the scary sights and sounds. He was (and remains) a very quiet, easy going boy, comfortable in his surroundings and he actually thought before reacting. Very rarely did he spook if ever. He was weaned at 4 months and put together with the gelding I was boarding at the time, Styla, who soon became his buddy and partner in crime but alas, I haven't the room to tell all their stories, let's just say those were interesting months!
As a yearling, I began lunging Dall for short sessions, ground driving him in first a halter and then progressing to a bridle/bit and saddle. I was also keeping up with his Showmanship skills and at the present time, he still has a better pivot foot than Dee. Unfortunately, due to other commitments (well, okay, "Dee"), I was unable to show him as planned in Halter and Showmanship. At 18 months, in December, I climbed on him bareback for the first time which got a mellow response from him. Throughout January and February I continued our little bareback sessions which consisted of walking, backing and bending, all which he picked up on quickly. I left him until the summer as a newly turned 2 yo. and began lightly riding him 3x a week and at the present time, he's now progressing nicely at the walk/trot/canter. However, he's still fairly downhill and thus, I'm giving him until next Spring to fill out and mature until putting him through more consistent work. At the present time he enjoys lazy trail rides and I do believe I've found my next trail/pleasure horse! He's very much a "boy" in personality, he's got that awful mouth fetish thing going on and whenever I turn around he's got something in his mouth, be it a crosstie, rein, saddle pad, etc. He's the barn clown, ring leader and farm "pet", well known for taking Dee on excursions after "picking" locks, running through fences (jeez, I really didn't see it mom!) and yes, opening gates and doors. Yes, all his antics do get annoying but I'd have it no other way - he's my boy and I love him. Check back for updates as my bratty little boy turns into an even bigger and brattier 4 yr.old! *g* Enjoy the pics.
2003: Dall, like Dee, has been a pasture ornament for the past 8 months while I've been at school. He's a big porker enjoying the easy life and will soon get a rude awakening once the semester is over. He'll be 4 this year and about due for some serious work. I'm hoping to get him off the farm this year and out on the park trails. On the weekends I've been home he's been my hack horse on the trails and has been very well behaved despite the little work I've done with him. He's maturing into quite a gentleman and I can't say enough about how quiet and trusting this horse is.
Dall insists I give Styla is very own page for afterall, he is Dally's bestfriend so here you go:
Styla Bar
Pictures
The Foal/Weanling Album...the "angel"
The Boy's Album...the growing monster
Tybrook Hot Cargo...his sire
Pedigree...4 generation
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