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In The Barns At South Forty
These amazing horses have helped us
reach amazing goals throughout their career with us at South Forty. These
incredible horses are ones that have joined us in the ring, during playtime, and
through adventures all around the region. Just because they aren't listed
on our "In the Ring" list, they are no less important to us than our show
horses. These horses are the core of what South Forty is. They
helped shape and create us, mold us into the family farm that we are today.
Many of these horses are listed as "In the Barns" because they will always be
here...in our barns, in our fields, growing into happy retirement with us as the
years pass.
"You can travel to a show and see
incredible horses. That happens to us all the time. However, to come
home and walk out and see Cricket's Little Buddy standing at the old sugar maple
tree, watching over his mares...or seeing Choco Two Socks and Doctor Yankee fuss
over an area of pasture they've decided to graze on...to see Lori Darlin' and
her son, Veterans Honor raise their heads in the evening sun to see what's
happening on the rise... The sense of familiarity and belonging just can't
be found in any other way."
These horses are incredible, and we
just can't see South Forty being the special place that it is without them.

Pink-A-Boo
Pinky is our littlest
delight...literally. Pinky is the daughter of our miniature horse, Animal
Crackers, and we are amazed at how tiny she is. Born at the farm October
2005, Pinky has added spice and spunk with her pint sized attitude!
Non-stop sass had followed Crackers around, and we're excited to see how Pinky
settles into her role on the farm as Avery's First Horse.
CRICKET'S LITTLE BUDDY
Bud has shown more times,
with more wins, than we could ever possibly list. This guy has done it
all, and is more than ready to do it again! Bud, a 1988 gelding was shown primarily by
Jason Cole, and you could never ask for a better match. These two have
brought home many awards throughout the past several years and we couldn't be more
thrilled. From the first day we moved Bud home, he's shown us how much
love and passion he has. Bud has a beauty, grace, and definite confidence
that makes him stand out, even if he's just out in the fields. Now retired
from riding/showing, Bud is the model horse on the farm, ready to strike a pose
and gait through the fields if ever the need arises. We were blessed when
we purchased him, to also have purchased his farm friend Socks, and now the two
boys keep watch over the front of the farm, and keep the miniature horses
entertained in the neighboring field.

CHOCO TWO SOCKS
- Socks has definitely been the
one to teach Amanda all about Rockies!
This 1994 gelding and Amanda are each other's very
best friend and Socks has a tendency to pout if he thinks that Amanda is not
spending enough time with him. During their years
together, Amanda and Socks have learned to pleasure drive, driving both a
two-wheel cart and a two-bench surrey. Socks also greatly enjoys letting the tiny tots
in lesson ride anywhere and everywhere on him. He has a personality
like no other, following voice commands from Amanda wherever he is, and
cutting up with riders while doing the obstacle courses. Socks is
slowing moving into "semi-retirement" at the farm, after he got sick in
Spring 2006. A clean bill of health now, Socks is a bit more
reserved, and a bit more protective of Diane and Amanda. He's done so
much, and has found his way into so many childrens' hearts, we just feel
that he's earned some due time off.
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- In 2006 Socks was voted as South Forty's
Favorite Lesson Horse of the Year.

DOCTOR YANKEE
- Doctor Yankee is truly a remarkable
all-around horse that can walk the walk and talk the talk. A 1995 gelding,
he is
absolutely a top-notch conformation champ (placing 3rd in the 2000 Int'l Grand
Champs) and brought home the ribbons with Amanda in the Trail Pleasure
classes. Doctor Yankee has turned into "Momma's Baby"
at South Forty and they feel blessed to have him. Doctor Yankee is the
2000 Champion 5 Year Old Conformation Gelding, the 2001 Champion 6 Year Old
Conformation Gelding, and the 2000 and 2001 International Champion Conformation
Gelding. And yes, Momma's was right, according to Amanda...Doctor Yankee is
one of the most important horses to South Forty, helping in all areas,
even becoming friends with the ponies to help Amanda in training them!
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MOUNTAIN GRANDEUR
- Grandy is absolutely a mean,
green, grandy machine! This 1995 gelding is beautiful under saddle and took Jason
out of the Novice competition by winning an Amateur class during the summer of
2000. He then helped Jason win the Men's Amateur B and place 8th in the
Championships at the International Show 2001 year. Grandy and Jason had an
exceptional show year at the 2001 Internationals winning the Amateur Owned and
Trained Geldings, the Open Amateur Geldings, becoming Reserve Grand Champion
Amateur Owned and Trained horse, and becoming the Grand Champion Ladies and
Men's Amateur pair! Grandy and Jason still spend lots of time together, in
and out of the ring, and perhaps Jason might even let dear Grandy whisper
things to baby Avery...in hopes that someday he might help make her dreams
come true as well.

REBEL RIDGE LORI DARLIN'
Lori was our diamond in the rough, our unexpected
gem. This chocolate mare is one of Amanda's favorite in the lessons, or on
the trail. Being shown previously in conformation, Lori was one of the top
competitors. However, after suffering a severe hock injury as a three year
old, she's decided to keep to lessons, trail, and showing with juveniles.
Lori has become a crowd favorite since recovering so well from her injury (the
vets didn't know if she would ever regain full use, and she's now completely
healed), and is the miracle horse to get to ride in lessons. Lori
works with all levels and areas of riding, but her and Tess have cornered the
lesson market in bareback riding. Pictured above with son Veterans Honor.

SF's
Veteran's Honor
The true foundation and example
of our breeding program at South Forty, Vette is a bona fide "Momma's
Boy". Diane has this little gentleman pegged for her horse and is
putting the miles on him. Laid back, intelligent, and an excellent
combination of his mother, Rebel Ridge Lori Darlin' and father, the late South
Forty's Phantom, he's bound to have exceptional talents around every new
journey.
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