In Memory

The ones we will never forget

Although they are gone, our beloved equine partners will always have a special place in our family. They played a key role in establishing strong foundations for our children, and their memories will always be cherished and loved by us. Each horse is a treasured part of our journey, a legacy that will continue to inspire us.

Page is currently under construction. This one may take a bit longer to get up...the memories are precious.

Straws Mighty Magnum

April 7, 1996 - October 19, 2022

Throughout this website, you have had plenty of introduction to Magnum. He is the cornerstone of our program and a very well accomplished horse in the show ring, on the ranch, as a sire, but most importantly as a member of our family. He wasn't "just a horse". Kristine and her parents partnered on him when she was just a teenager, with Kristine taking over just a couple years later. When people mention a once in a lifetime horse - that is Magnum for Kristine. He was a horse always up for adventure and whatever crazy idea she had. He came to Alaska shortly after Jake and Kristine were married, moved down to Illinois, and then to western North Dakota before his final resting place on their current ranch. He lived the military life - which isn't exactly easy when trying to promote a stallion on a meager budget. Magnum was there for so many milestone moments in Kristine's life. He was able to meet each of the kids - and was typically the first horse they rode. Magnum regularly gave pony rides and loved to stand while they loved on him. He loved people and many people never knew he was a stud until they were told. He would stand stirrup to stirrup with mares and geldings at barrel races, pasture with the herd over winter, and with his sons or geldings over summer. Magnum could and would work with any horse or human.

There are many favorite memories, but one of Kristine's favorite is when she and Magnum were asked to present the Flag at a Chugiak football game while in Alaska. They had to lope the track and open up on the home stretch. The Color Guard was at salute and as they came past, Kristine could feel Magnum ''puff up" like they were saluting him. As they came down the home stretch in front of the home team and their stands, the crowd came to their feet cheering. Magnum was sure it was all for him - ears up and just flew down that stretch - to the point Kristine was a little worried if they'd make the gate! As soon as they were past the crowd, Magnum settled right now and flat-footed walked off the field....to a group of little kids that couldn't wait to pet and love on him. He stood like a saint.

There are hundreds of stories about that big yeller horse...he was loved by one and all, especially in this family. He could read Kristine and they worked great as a team. Magnum gave 110% every. single. time. He didn't know anything else.

He will never be forgotten and left a heck of a legacy behind. ...and a big hole in our family. RIP, Magnum and thank you for the ride. May you have all of the bay mares and rouge cows to keep you busy until we meet again.

Mighty McTax

April 11, 1993 - September 28, 2021

"Mic" as Abby fondly named him came to us from Lisa Feldner as a show and ranch horse primarily for Abby. He fit the bill and then some. Mic was a big boy, but he was gentle, quiet, and well broke - and quickly learned to love all of the extra attention given to him by little kids. From 2014-2017 he was Abby's primary mount. 4-h & ApHC shows, trail riding, clinics, and cattle work, he did it all and kept Abby out of trouble. He knew when to challenge her and made her into an excellent horsewoman. Adam used him as a deadline horse in 2014 while Abby showed walk trot and then from 2015-2017 he packed around a more energetic (and talkative!) Kyle for leadline. He moved on to Katy's walk/trot horse for 2018 and part of 2019, and Kyle's for 2019 and 2020. We all know, though, he was always Abby's horse. He always had a special nicker for her and the rest of us were never good enough. Much to Mic's dismay, we tried to retire him a few times. He wanted nothing of it and would run and buck like crazy when the kids pulled other horses from the pasture. When we finally made it official after the 2020 show season, they still had to bring him out once and a while for a quiet ride. He never did act his age. He was a wonderful babysitter to all of our foals and taught them their herd manners. When Johnnie was born by surprise a couple weeks early (who turned out to be Abby's next horse) Mic was out on pasture and took over care of Johnnie and his mom until we found them to bring to the barn. He and Johnnie always shared a special bond, so it was pretty cool when Johnnie ended up Abby's next horse...and what a pair they made. We will thank Mic for that, too!

We can never thank Lisa and her family enough for letting Mic become part of our family. His memory will always be treasured.

Dial Alice

May 11, 1996 - 2021

Adam fell in love with Alice back in 2014 when he had the opportunity to borrow her for a few months to ride. Her quiet, laid-back demeanor matched Adam perfectly. When the opportunity came up to be Alice's retirement home late in 2016, Adam eagerly accepted. Alice was such a quiet mare and soaked in every minute of attention. Nothing ever really bothered her, and she was 100% Adam's girl. She was an accomplished show horse and wonderful mom. They competed at their first show October of 2016 and Adam was grinning from ear to ear. He was hoping to continue showing her in 2017, but she surprised everyone when she delivered a colt in early June! That gave Adam the opportunity to cross her on Magnum (as her ringbone was starting to bother her more when riding). Adam's filly, Iris, arrived in early June 2018 and they have been a strong pair ever since (even if she wasn't a colt!) You can view Iris on the Mares page. We were planning on fully retiring Alice at that point, but she took things into her own hooves. After a bit of fence crawling, we ended up welcoming a 2nd Magnum x Alice baby the very end of June 2020! After that she was officially retired and returned to Lisa's to keep her out of trouble!

We will always miss her laid back, no worry personality and are so thankful to have a piece of both her and Magnum's legacy in Iris.

Kyloe Miss Fortune

April 25, 1994 - December 6, 2018

Miss Bert came to us very graciously from Crystal Pitkin as a horse for Katy after Katy's beloved Princess passed away in 2015. While Miss Bert was enjoying retired life at Crystal's, she quickly came around to being spoiled by a little girl! Miss Bert and Katy quickly bonded, I mean, maybe the sugar cubes helped, but they were soon a great team. They completed in leadline, halter, and most colorful for most of the 2016 show season before adding some walk/trot classes. They both had a stubborn streak a mile wide, but sure made it work. Katy learned a lot about patience and quickly learned to laugh at Miss Bert's quirks...much to her dismay! They had a great year in 2017 as their final year in the show pen due to Miss Bert's age. She spent the summer of 2018 living leisurely on pasture and as a lawn ornament with plenty of love and sugar cubes. She then retired back to Crystal.

Miss Bert was Katy's first 'full sized' horse and taught her so much in the short time she was with us. Our hearts broke when we heard of her passing.

Straw In Her Jeans

April 1, 1998 - September 9, 2019

Peaches was purchased back in early 2000 by Kristine as a coming 2 year old. Kristine trained her and used her for mostly 4-h and open shows while she was in high school. Her strength was in pleasure, although, if you asked Peaches, she was the fastest horse in any arena. She was always ready for anything Kristine came up with (much like her brother!), even moving to Alaska after Kristine graduated high school in 2003! She had a very limited show career as while in Alaska she sustained a pretty serious injury and was pretty much retired until 2015. It was then we pulled her from the pasture to be Adam's walk/trot and Katy's leadline mount. It was a job she readily...and lazily accepted. She proved to still be the same ol' safe and steady mare she had been as a youngster and toted the kids around the arena (and moving cows). The kids loved her...most of the time, besides when she would have an occasional blonde moment. She was never 100% after her injury and we had to say goodbye to her a bit sooner than we hoped. She did have one foal, My Jeans Are Hot, but we have since lost track of her.

Totally Modest

May 22, 2016 - December 25, 2017

Its never easy to say goodbye, but especially heart-wrenching when you loose one so young, so suddenly, and with so much promise. Hope was a full sister to Pippi/Totally Magnetized (whom Katy later had a ton of show ring success with) and just loaded with talent. We were so excited about her, but sadly she was lost in a tragic pasture accident.

Totally Conspicuous

Sugar was a quiet old mare that gave us Pippi and Hope. Sadly we lost Sugar just a few months prior to tragically loosing Hope. She was a maternal sister to The Hunter and a proven broodmare.

Taris Fury

Monty was an accomplished cutting and all-around show horse before he came to retire with 4 little kids. He was beyond quiet and would happily stand for hours being groomed and spoiled. He never made a wrong move and quietly carried Abby beside Magnum and I and gave her her first taste of working cattle. He was a saint, there is just no other way to describe him.

Princess

Princess was Katy's first pony. She was an aged, adorable little paint marked mini. Not your typical pony - she was sweet and well mannered. Another one that spent hours being groomed (and wore some pretty interesting hair styles!) Katy spent hours doing in hand trail with her (Katy was only about 3 years old) and eventually saved up and bought a bareback pad and rode her. They were a fun pair, but Priness was already quite aged when we got her, so sadly was another we said goodbye to before we were ready.

Hank

~1985-2015

Hank came to us late in life as a accomplished ranch hand...and that is what he was. There wasn't time in his book for arena work or anything that didn't involve checking fences or working cattle. He was as sure footed as they come and he and Jake put on endless miles in the badlands of Grassy Butte. If Hank said no, you didn't challenge it. He knew the territory and he had lived life. He was a good old boy and while we only knew him the last 6 years of his life - and owned him the last 4, he will forever be a special boy to us. We had him aged a few times and closest we could tell he was around 30 when we had to say good bye. May the fencelines be endless and the cattle plenty, Hank.