Orphaned at birth, he was raised by his human parent, Nanner (the goat) & overcame a recurring sickness until 6 months old. Raising an orphan foal can be done, but you must have help from friends & family. You can't do it alone, it is all consuming of your life for that first month of life. You live in the barn & nothing else comes first, that foal is depending on you for it's very existence. You brought this life into the world & it is your responsibility. Vet bills abound, tensions run high & I was lucky enough to have all these & a boss who was very understanding of the situation. First & foremost as all the books tell you, you must establish that you are alpha mare (mom if you wish), what their dam would do you must or you have a spoiled foal on your hands that is harder to correct in later life than early in life. If possible find an older mare or gelding that will be tolerant of your foal & teach it the horsey things it must learn from birth. Not having this I opted for a nanny goat (which also provided milk to supplement the foal formula) until I could find a horse mom for Wisk.

      If you have never raised an orphan foal consider yourself fortunate. I feel the Great Spirit was watching over him when he was born, & I feel great pride that he is with us today.

       Wisky carries the blood lines of Sundance "500", Rustler Charger, Rustler Bill, Little Navajo Joe, Chief Navajo, Dark Shadow, Chief Joseph Rex, Bright Luster, Bright Eyes Bro., Hands Up, Patchy Jr., Patchy, Bright Glow, Star Dream, Eshankonee & Blue Vitrol to name a few.

       I have had horses all my life, but I am just beginning the breeding & showing part of this kind of life. I hoped to have a few quality home grown foals to sell in the future. Wisky's Spirit Wind was the start of this dream.

       Well all dreams have a curve in them it seems. Wisky was gelded on 10/27/98. He just didn't have the temperment for being a stallion, so hopefully he will go on to be a great on riding the trails (& he has been great, taking getting broke in to ride like a trooper). Life goes on, with it's ups and downs. He seems to be haveing a great time being a gelding. Running in the pasture and just being a horse right now! Growing up and filling out. Ahhhhhh, to be a horse with the only thing to worry about is when your "master" *S* will bring your breakfast and supper, to be at your beck and call! During the winter of 2000 & Spring of 2001 we went back to work on our riding (not that Wisky was all that happy about it, after hanging out being a pasture potato) but we're coming along & he is becoming a great trail horse. We enjoy riding the trails in the woods & over coming the trolls that live there. :o) He gives his best & that is all that I ask for.

      If you have never shown on the Open Circuit, take into consideration that in some of the Open classes you are showing against all Breeds & all ages. Wisky was shown 1 season on the Open Circuit as a Yearling in Halter & ended the year with:

      Well, things are always changing. We found a new project for the summer of 2002. With our friend Heidi Dunnewold & her young stallion, Ima Buckking Cool (Wisky's pasture mate) we took on a new adventure, Timed Speed Events! No judge to worry about, just you, your horse, remembering the patterns & the timer. Now, you have to realize that this is something that neither Wisky or I have ever done anything like this before. Heidi used to on her mare (Cool's dam) but had been out of it for a few years. We started out going to Joan Wurst's Horsemanship & Barrel Clinic at Everwind Farms, then started training with Laura Lee Thomas at Valley View Ranch in Union City. What an exciting & demanding sport this is, especially for an pasture potato gelding & his "older" owner! We showed the P.O.N.Y. Assoc. Circuit in the Novice Classes this summer & at the end of the season were very Proud to see our year end achievements!

      Now we are getting geared up for the Winter Series at Everwind Farms to finish the season in the Novice Classes. This is going to be tougher, even tho we will be running in the Novice Classes the competition will be more seasoned riders & horses. But we will give it our best & have fun doing it! Check out some of our pictures HERE. What a great time we had doing these events! Meeting new people & their horses, we gave it our best & had a fun time doing it. That is the point, "having fun" with your horse. If your events don't give your pleasure anymore or you find it a chore to do, it's time for a change. Give yourself & your horse a break, do something else & have FUN!

       Wisky is registered with the ICAA, Sundance '500' and ApHC. I want to remind all who have or buy a new horse of any kind, do your tranfers & register your horse! All horses are important & deserve the registration that they were born with. There are many Registries out there for all Breeds of horses, do a little searching & you will find them. Full Blooded Breed Registries, 1/2 Registries & Color Registries, you never know what you may have in your horse's background!