South Forty Farms Rocky Mountain Horse Stallions

The answer to all your pedigree needs will soon lie in the barns of South Forty

Amazing bloodlines, incredible conformation, beautiful temperament, the all around horse...and the answer to all your breeding needs!

With such an incredible horse, bringing to the front amazing bloodlines, presence, conformation, and temperament, we're sure the future offspring of this stallion is destined for greatness!

South Forty Farms has put lots of time and love into the training of Big Un' for the show ring, trail riding, and demonstrations of the Mountain Horse breeds. Out of Classic's Sassy and Black Bart, this amazing brother to SF Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is an outstanding representative of the breed. Strong conformation, and an outstanding personality reinforces the fact that this guy is going to put some outstanding foals on the ground as well as earn a nice collection of ribbons from the ring.

Keep an eye out for Big Un in the show ring...Amanda rarely leaves home without him! Having been his main handler since moving to South Forty at 4 months, and being his under saddle trainer, Amanda and Big Un have developed an amazing bond. Amanda can give Big Un a look and he'll drop his toy right away (instead of zinging her in the head) and she can mount up and he settles into his bit, gives a little toss of his forelock, and off they go. Big Un is an amazing demonstration of consistent, natural flowing four beat gait!

Amanda and Big Un work under saddle both in pleasure and western styles, conformation, and are putting the finishing touches on our obstacle course. Amanda also enjoys riding Big Un bareback down by Interstate 65 in the evenings as his reward for hard work. From October 2004 when he was a weanling to now, when he's one of the most incredible horses to ride on the farm...it's been a beautiful journey (photos below of weanling and adult Big Un).

When it comes around to Christmas every year, Amanda is really at a loss for anything she'd ask for. However, come summertime and Amanda is on the road traveling a bit, seeing what horses are out there, you can definitely see what she wants. And this past June, it was Chance. After spotting him on the internet as available, Amanda went into business mode and tried to find a way to get to that farm and see that colt. Nick, her husband, had been making some noises about someday wanting a stallion for he and Amanda to breed with, and once it all clicked, it was as good as hearing the bugle call at the beginning of a race. Chanz is now home, and being handled full time by Nick...his first project in training a horse under saddle.

Presenting SouthFortyRocks Dot Com

Rocky is just a fabulous find as a weanling during the RMHA International Show. Grandson of Buddy Roe, he is a little cowboy that loves all the attention he can get. Showing off his beautiful white mane and tail, he gaits around the pastures, letting everyone know he's the new kid on the farm. He's absolutely stunning in appearance and adorable in traditional conformation. We're excited to see what this colt holds in store for us!

And that truly is the case in the purchase of this chocolate roan colt, as he captured our hearts when we saw that he is a grandson of Cricket's Little Buddy, our own "forever friend" here at South Forty. And what a delight to have such a beautiful specimen. Buddy is such a gentle horse, handling like a gentleman, and helping the other colts adapt with the herd already at South Forty. Buddy is a true diamond in the rough, and we can't wait to polish him up and show him off!

A phenomenal double registered smoky grullo, Gideon is absolutely stunning and capturing attention in the field, at the barn, and in the show ring. At the 2007 RMHA Internationals, he was Champion Weanling Colts B and proved to the viewers that he was truly a special creature. We're thrilled to have him to add to our "specialty" division of the farm, the grullo mountain horses, and are ready to show him to the world!!!

The article below is property of Amanda Cole and copyright material, please do not reproduce.

To have the chance to handle such an incredible creature is an unbelievable gift. When we saw Big Un come around behind his mom and bump the fence with his nose to greet us at just a few weeks of age, I can't say that I would have guessed the impact he would have on our lives.

Recently, I came to understand what it was to work with a horse so much, and bond with them so closely, that you actually become more than trainer or handler, you become a companion. You work so closely, bond so tight in your work, that you actually come to depend on one another to complete the project.

The first day I climbed on Big Un was October 1st, 2005, when he was 18 months old. Many people will say that this is too young for horses, and that it's not good training, but it's hard to explain that he just seemed ready. I had saddled him a time or two, and that day had put on his bridle and walked beside him on the rail, and we decided to take a moment to relax and look around. Mom was on the other end of the arena dusting the fence where people sit and watch us work, and he just turned to look at me and blinked, and I trusted him that much. I stepped into the iron, and climbed on.

I hadn't intended to climb into the saddle that day, but it was just the right time, and it was progress from then on...sort of. Well, to be honest, Big Un backed most everywhere for the first week or two in our ten minute workouts. He understood every command, except how to move forward without me by his side. After mom assisted us, walking alongside a time or two, Big Un was ready to put his best foot forward and move into the world of under saddle work.

He's been a blessing to this family and this farm, and I believe that he's touched many lives along the way. He's been caught tossing empty bleach bottles at unsuspecting cars and lawnmowers, he's stomped his foot many a times in the cross ties - begging to start his workout just a few minutes sooner, and he's been caught pacing the fence row on a night he was ill, listening for the sound of Mom or me walking up to check on him, as he nickered wanting to return to his stall. But never has he shown a moment's displeasure in the life we've laid out for him. Our goals and efforts to provide him a happy home in the barns (for he hates to be outside more than a few hours) did not go unnoticed to him. He has his toys, he has the best view in the barn, and he's the first fed at mealtime...he doesn't seem to ask for much more than that.

He learns so quickly, and is so ready to try to please. His patience is amazing, for when he struggles to learn something new, you can see him try to settle and focus, and try again to meet his goal. His first time in the show ring he was fascinated, and I could feel the energy and animation in his motion. Slowing him down to his slowest speed for his 2 Year Old Stallion and Gelding Class was the hardest thing for me to ask of him, because he had to fit the mold that the other horses had set as a standard for the year. But, by the end of the season, those other horses knew him coming, and the competition had stepped up literally, to allow him to perform at his natural passion.

Holding his reins, and asking him to move in the ring is incredible. I've shown horses that were championed before I stepped in the saddle, I've trained horses that I've been able to work into the ring through the years, but never have I literally sat in the saddle and been able to present a horse so naturally...with a loose set bridle, curb chain barely clipped on, and setting the reins to just stay out of his way. He simply lights up. He draws up his muscle and flexes a little for the mares, shakes his thick flaxen mane and waits for my permission to enter the ring and dazzle. And he dazzles the entire time he's presented. He's a gentleman to the ring masters and ribbon presenters by nature, waiting patiently for whatever they may ask. And then, as any wonderful stallion might do, he fusses and wiggles a bit as he exits the ring, just to make sure he has everyone's attention.

Now, during our workouts at South Forty, he's learning to slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life. Teaching him to side pass, neck rein, pivot, and cross over elevated beams, he's showing just how diverse his talents are. He might not succeed the first time, every time...no horse is that perfect. However, I'm amazed that after a day or two practicing, he'll reach his goal and perform the new task flawlessly.

To see him here, on a lunge line, where I ask him to "Get Out" and he steps out about 8 feet and goes into romp and rear playtime, jumping and striking, running and rearing, one might think he's a handful, as stallions usually are. But I delight in bumping that lead and going to his side, knowing that as we step towards the barn again, he's the quiet, elegant Big Un of the show ring, minding his manners beside me.

As a baby, I don't think anyone really knew what Big Un had in store for us. As mom took a deep breath and mustered the courage to "take a chance" as she said that day we made the call to purchase him, we put our faith wholeheartedly into Big Un to lead us into a new age in the ring, and he hasn't once shown us that he'll fail to deliver anything but his best.

For all that we've accomplished, and all the adventures that lie ahead

To the journey of life that is so rewarding when you finally find that perfect match

To Big Un