Funny Face

– the horse that thwarts our holidays or the horse with good nerves

10 days before our holidays in the year 2007, the prominent looking Curly Horse mare Funny Face arrived at our Ranch together with her stallion foal Namaspamoos Canada. Just after we came back to the Ranch after our holiday trip, we realized that Canada developed a "facialisparese" – a paralysis of some facial nerves. This hard time as well as the long therapy is extensively described in the februrary news of the year 2008.

After we went on a holiday trip again in summer 2008, Funny gave birth in a confident way to her wonderful curly stallion foal Goliath on the meadows completely without help and a bit too early.

During our autumn holiday in 2009, Funny was brought to a horse clinic as she had eye irritations and needed help. We were really happy when we could pick her up and bring her home again after our holiday.

In april 2010, we planned to visit the rest of the Wolf family during the easter holidays. After a week of day and night observation of Funny and her pregnancy development, it was clear that the date of brith was really close. Petra wolf – head of the Ranch Wolf – realized one day before the planned departure for the trip (Saturday 27th of march 10 p.m.) that the signs for the brith became quite significant. So it was clear that the birth will start within 48h.

In the evening around 7 p.m., Petra Wolf realized due to Funny´s behaviour that the birth will start within the next 2 hours. This time, we thought, Funny will not surprise us – we are prepared. And this time everything went as planned. The surprise Funny had for us this time was the foal itself: The obstetricians were absolutely delighted and we couldn´t get enough of the wonderfully looking unique Curly Horse mare foal. Until now, we haven´t planned any holiday yet.... .

The spring stallion licensing

at the „Pony- und Pferdezüchter Hessen e.V.“ association in Alsfeld

As in the year 2007 in spring time the association of the „Pony- und Pferdezüchter Hessen e.V.“ invited for the stallion licensing on the 13th of March at the city of Alsfeld. Of course the two Curly Horse stallions *Teoc’s Painted Levi and *Namaspamoos Canada of the Ranch Wolf were invited, too. The two stallions were dressed up for their presentation during the licensing itself but also for the showprogram afterwards.

And off they went in the early morning: the two Curly stallions, their breeder, their carer and their little fan group. After a long journey we finally arrived and the two stallions went in their loose-box to relax. From there they started one after another to the different inspections.

The first inspection was the check by a veterinarian, followed by the check of the papers as well as the measurement of the stick-measure.

Afterwards the stallions had to walk on asphalt where both Curly Horse stallions left a good mark for the others. They presented themselves calm and relaxed to the licensing-judge as well as to the audience. After this program part the stallions were presented on hand which was as well no problem for our two stallions. After all stallions had fulfilled the different tasks, the licensed stallions were announced to the audience which was of course the peak of the whole program. The result for our Curly stallions *Teoc’s Painted Levi and *Namaspamoos Canada was: "Congratulations to the Ranch Wolf, hereby licensed successfully!" *Namaspamoos Canada is now a licensed Curly Horse stallion in the stallion book I, the Curly Horse stallion Levi will be continued in the stallion book I as he was licensed before in 2007.

In the early afternoon there was another program peak of the day: A show-
program had been organized where the different stallions and riders were able to present themselves. The audience was delighted when the Curly-stallion *Teoc’s Painted Levi with his rider Maria Roob entered the arena. Together they presented the art of riding based on the philosophy of Bent Branderup without saddle but with biteless briddle, supple gaits and eager as well as willing movements. This is only possible due to a trusting horse, harmony within horse and rider as well as mutual respect.

Many people in the audience have never seen Curly Horses before and as they were so delighted they asked if they could touch the horses which of course was a great pleasure for Petra Wolf. She didn´t expect so much acceptance and enthusiasm. After a long and exhausting day for both, the two Curlys and their human carer, all of them drove back to the Ranch Wolf. Back on the Rach, the good performance was celebrated with a glas of sparkling wine for the humans and carrots for the satllions. That was how a successful and unforgettable day ended.

The first Curly foal 2010

GW Shakira

The arabic name "Shakira" is translated as charming. This discription fits perfectly to our Curly Horse foal born on the 8th of March on the world women´s day. But we actually did not know about the original meaning of the name when we decided to call her like that. The name was chosen because of her round bum and the great hip movement that reminded us to the popsinger Shakira.

Shakira is the first of a total number of 6 foals that are expected on the Ranch Wolf this year. Her mother the Curly Horse mare Mary's Half Moon (Emmy) came to us in september 2009 from Idaho. Shakira´s father is the the worlwide most beautiful Pinto Curly stallion called “Shadows Hawk Spirit” alias Heartbreaker.

Curly Horse Black Beauty

from Canada

In summer 2009 we visited among others the canadian Curly Horse breeders Florence and Oscar Martin in Ontario. Black Beauty catched our eyes instantly. We already knew her from our last visit and since then she developed wonderfully. As Black Beauty is very friendly and pleasant, she was the darling of all kids in Canada. Besides her outstanding interieur, she will pass on her foals the wonderful black colour (DNA tested as homozygous for black!) and so bring this colour in our breeding program.

We cannot wait to see her first foal that she will give birth to in summer this year. Black Beauty was bred to the stallion TO Shadow's Black Diamond – the son of Hawk's Midnite Shadow – in Canada already.

Thank you so much indeed Oscar for bringing and escorting the curly Horse mare personally on her flight from Toronto to Amsterdam. Dear Florence and Oscar, we are very happy to have Black Beauty here and we will take care of her as good as possible. Here you may find the homepage of the Martin family: FloraLake Curly Horse