Making History Once Again !

Here is OYY Elektra's  certificate and gorgeous ribbon from the Curly Sporthorse International registry for her show efforts in 2010 !!  She is Reserve champion ... beat out by who ?
Her DAD !!  As a breeder trying to find time to compete,  I am up against my own kids ...

OYY The Mighty Quinn - sired by Mead's Chocolate Chip and out of our tried and true mare - Lilly scored better than Zoe and Elektra did , earning the 2010 Champ Title

This is definitely a record setter in the Curly Horse world -- Sire and Daughter competing and Sire and Daughter winning !!




Stefanie is Quinn's third owner (counting Top O' The Hill Farm). Before his sale, Quinn bred 3 mares - he has 2 sons and 1 daughter.. Elektra.  I am SO proud of Stefanie and Quinn - they put forth a lot of effort and attending quite a few shows. As those who do it -- it's a lot of work !  What a beautiful couple they make. You can see his score history here -



The Curly Sporthorse International has done a superb job helping us as breeders track our wins and there by helping to prove our breeding goals, furthering the future of the Curly Sporthorse, earning credibility and supporting quality and enhancing the over all image of the Curly haired sporthorse.  I love it !!

Top O' The Hill Farm is always the trend setter in the American Curly Horse breeding game. Proving bloodlines since our start in 1985 - we have continually trained our horses and entered as many shows and local riding competitions possible while maintaining the farm.  When it was the norm to have herds of broodmares and stallions running in pastures producing foals - untouched and wild..... it was our goal to imprint every foal from the start and have most, or all, our stallions and broodmares under saddle or in harness.  After all -- these were originally touted as the USING horse -- how else to illustrate that but to USE them ?

Here on the farm we have used the horses to pull logs, sleds full of hay at feeding time, pleasure trail rides with friends and family, countless judged trail rides (and not to brag but BOXES of ribbons ! ) along with the annual Battle of the Breeds - where one horse does every class, with change of tack each time and change of rider outfit too -- along with driving. We always had at least 2 horses entered every year.  Our horses rode many miles raising money for various charities -- and we annually hosted ride-a-thons here at the farm as well, saddling up a dozen or more of our own Curlies for those wanting to ride but had no mount.

I am proud of my herd of generations of using Curly horses - over the years foals and grand-foals and even some great grand foals out there performing - in the show ring, hacking around for pleasure on trail and roads, driving and somewhat new to the mix - therapy horses. Top O' The Hill Farm has third generation therapeutic lesson horses currently being used in programs. Mom, daughter and grand-daughter giving lessons !

Sometimes I think- perhaps my web site is a bit confusing.. so many links to follow. But I love to be able to show the families and relatives... what they have done, where they are, etc. When choosing out a horse for whatever discipline, for whatever goal you might have in mind for yourself and/or your family -- full knowledge of  the horses in the pedigree is important and useful. The horses at Top O' The Hill Farm have been selectively bred so that each foal's strengths, disposition and potential can be fairly well predicted.  Horses are only used as breeding stock if they demonstrate trainability, tractability, basic soundness and perfect health.  For me -- the family history of my Curly horse herd is paramount. When I sell a horse - I sell the story of a group of genes that have been personally worked with,  trained, ridden or at least in the case of foals sold at weaning -- first hand news and knowledge of that off spring. We know what it feels like to ride the gaits of the related horses, have had the pleasure of seeing and experiencing the potential of each one being reached and perhaps exceeded.

Top O' The Hill Farm hosted the ICHO convention in  2004 and was the site of the first ICHO Curly horse inspection - providing 7 of my own horses for a trial run of an inspection.

Top O' The Hill Farm hosted the First Annual Curly get Together on the east coast (Tall Trees Curlies does one in the western part of the country). We all had a blast and it will definitely be an annual affair from now on. At the Get Together we saddled up 15 Curly horses and harnessed two Curlies -- perhaps the largest group of Curly horses at one time carrying riders and passengers on a trail ride !

This year - 2011 - in July Top O' The Hill Farm will be the site of the ABC convention.

It's been a very gratifying 26 years of breeding American Curly horses.. We began with some quality horses and continue to make quality horses.  The game is a bit more competitive now - but we are keeping up.

 Our pony program is the best  in the 12.2 hh - 13.2 hh range - offering ponies with several generations of riding and driving behind their breeding.

Our trail horse focus has always been outstanding - all our horses ride rough trail and complete the challenging obstacle course from a young age on up.  They show the aptitude and the build and the heart for this activity.  We have competed in the past in 15 and 25 mile Competitive trail rides and drives. 

Our Sporthorse program is developing and growing..  both mounted and driven. Top O' The Hill Farm has some really special Sport Curlies competing and coming up in training.









We are especially pleased  with the addition of BCF Splash Dancer bred by Lisa Wytiaz of Bashcurl Farm in Georgia !! He'll be in the show ring this summer along with Elektra again ! And one more candidate for driving -- which we are working on this winter and spring.

 Splash has bred a few mares for 2011.. can't wait !!

(photo courtesy of Lisa Wytiaz )

Top O' The Hill Farm has perhaps the largest population of driving horses and ponies -  Of all my projects - other than riding the trail as often as I can -- driving is my passion.. I love a decent driving horse and it is most definitely genetic -

Lots of hard work is paying off .. and I have enjoyed
every minute of it !



I have been working on my web site - attempting to give it a fresh face -- only half way there.. it's a big job and tedious. for February I am running a small sale - discounting some of my favorite horses..
WHY  you ask???

I believe in my breeding program and the results of that work -- My daughter and I have worked diligently to PROVE our horses and their breeding by USING .....   You - the buyer - can help me with that.  Purchase a horse - stay in touch... train, trail ride, show, harness and drive....  I will pay for registering in curly Sporthorse International if you plan to do serious competition (and I hope you do) and also pay for nomination in Horse of the Year awards.  Your work with one of my horses will help me continue to prove my reputation..

so take a look at the "sale" page ... or for that matter -- the entire sales list -

Now it's been awhile since I have blogged regularly.. I guess it's time to get on track - we've been riding and sleighing so come back for frequent visits.. and I'll try to stay current and entertaining !

 Enjoy ~

Christmas Tour with a side errand or two

Today we woke up to a lovely morning -- excited about our planned Christmas Tour ride to Chester Green. Ended up, I had a few things to do in Chester - so I decided to run those errands on horseback while I was there. We dressed for the holiday --  Gabby transported us to a location from which we started our tour. He snapped a few photo's of us - which is great since there are so few photo's of Zoe and I together as a portrait on horseback. When we went to halter up the horses and bring them to the barn -- when Keri saw she was trotting out with Mister T- she was dancing :)

I have known Gabby for quite awhile and he's so patient with our plans and ideas- no matter how off the wall they might seem.  Once we unloaded, we began to decorate.  Keri wore a Santa hat -- Teasel had antlers.

   We are both pretty well bundled -- I felt a bit like a snowman perched in the saddle.. but I was cozy.

What the heck are these two saying to one another ?

We're off to ride through the Chester Green.... hopefully spreading some holiday cheer.

There goes Gabby - off to his next stop.

Green is coming up.... but wait --
pit stop for a hat fix !!

Mister T sporting his hasidic looking ribbon/garland sideburns.  His antlers are laying too flat -- we'll have to perform a bit of surgery on those when we get home.

even with the decorations - without the snow, it just does not really seem like the holiday yet.

The Inn which was built in 1840's

Misty Valley bookstore

Now you have witnessed most of the Chester Green first hand.



We are off to run an errand.  Trot down Main Street -- cross over past the Jiffy Mart

to the bank -- My Dad sent me money to purchase the GPS that I have had my eyes on.. since I am already in Chester, I figured I may as well make a deposit.  My Dad is so supportive of my rides :)

The far left lane is strictly for drive up ATM... we need to stay in the right lane and use the pneumatic tube... that will take a bit of maneuvering - easier if we could trot up to the window.

But, if Nimue could do it -- Keri should be able to also.

Now I have to twist that little tube open -- all these bulky winter layers are hampering my dexterity.




Meantime -- the tellers are snapping their cameras through the window. 

Here's a good shot of the antlers doing what they are supposed to do.  We are just waiting for our deposit slip.

I can't wait to use the GPS on the trail... it's going to be outrageously awesome :)

One example of how it's going to aid us in our journeys -- one day we were on a long loop.. headed down Baltimore Road. We spotted a little dead end road off to the left - Bemis Road. In Vermont so many dead ends turn into trail. In 2006, the Vermont Legislature passed a law regarding old roads.  Towns had to add the elusive roads to official town maps, ensuring that they remain public, or turn them over to owners of adjoining land.

At any rate - we spent a hour or so traipsing through the woods atop Old Shincracker mountain to find a possible access to somewhere-- I guess there was no old road.. at least that we could find.  With the GPS - we'll know that ahead of time.

OK -- I grab my deposit slip and it's off to the next destination.  Trot up through Chester Depot and off to Stone Village to visit our neighbors at work to wish them some Holiday Greetings.

Probably the most colorful house in Chester.  They have several artificial Christmas trees on the porch -- also in many varying hues.

Some of the garden statues have Christmas hats on

I didn't even remember snapping this photo until I went to edit the pictures..   Is Teasel smiling or grimacing ? Whazzup Mister T ?

Passing by Pinske's -- where there is always something to catch the eye.

Barre Pinske is a local chainsaw carver/artist who is quite famous world wide.

Most days when we trot by, he is out working - perhaps it's too cold today.  He donated a nice piece to the riding center a few years back for a fundraiser.

Trotting down the sidewalk - into the Depot.

Perched directly next to the railroad tracks and the Depot Station -- a handy store that carries nearly anything and everything. If they don't have it - you don't need it.

The Yosemite Fire Station - volunteer fire department of Chester.  It was built in 1879.

We reach Stone Village -- I am surprised there are not more decorations.

I have featured a tour of the Stone Village before on the blog .. it's listed in the National Register of Historic Places. All the houses were built from a near-by quarry. Many of the homes have secret rooms and tunnels which were part of the Underground Railway for slaves.

Their unique construction dates back to 1838, when the cost for a stone house was five dollars a week plus a jug of good rum. 

 All the homes were constructed by two brothers using what's called the “sneckled ashlar” technique which required stones ranging in size from 4 x 6 inches to 3 x 4 feet to be laid end to end, with cross stones placed horizontally every few feet for added stability. The resulting walls, which could be up to 24-inches thick, were then internally reinforced with moss and horsehair.  Pretty neat.

Just outside of the Village - on Route 103 is the Stone Village Farmer's Market owned and operated by my neighbors. We thought it would be fun to drop in to say hi -- but it looks as though no one is here.

For those of you who attended my Curly Horse Get Together this past summer --- this is where Denise and Deb drove to pick up the sweet corn for the grill.  We rode on the long and round-a-bout route to get here so we could include the entire "tour".

Gone Fishin' ??? !!! If you want a tree or a wreath -- you'll have to slip the money under the door, so states the sign.

I guess with the extreme cold we've experience the ice fishing should be a booming venture.

Well - time to head home...  we trot back to Flamstead Road to trot homeward.  Here's someone who procrastinated a bit on the whole lighting thing --  he's just putting them up today.

It's starting to snow now .. a perfect day !

whoops -- fly-away hat SOS.

Here's a few little video snippets of our tour .... ending with a nice canter up the hill of Flamstead Road.  We had loads of fun on our trip... Keri and Teasel make a very special team.

We hope to get out on Christmas Eve for a quick trot out ... but in case we don't -- Happy Holidays from the dynamic duo and their riders.




Enjoy ~