The Year of the Horse!

Today is the beginning of a new year, which means by AQHA rules, all the horses turn another year older. So I decided to reintroduce the horses that make up our herd. First off we have our old man, Buster also known as Especial Style to the AQHA. He is a now 22 year old Quarter Horse gelding by Especially Vested and out of Red Velvet Zipper. My mom has owned him since his late 3 year old year(2007) and bought him from an auction in Springfield, Oh. Buster is the horse that brought me up through the county 4-H program and many local open shows. We competed at the Ohio State Fair many years together and he’s also taken two others to their county fair’s after I aged out of 4-H. He was the start of my lesson program and was my main lesson horse up until about July of 2025. He has since been retired due to lameness issues from an old knee injury.

Next up, my first addition to the herd, Spunky also known as Cue D Spunky. She is an 18 year old bay Quarter Horse mare by Cue D Stone (TB) and out of Punky Powered, both of which my grandparents bred and raised. She is absolutely my heart horse and the start of my own AQHA breeding endeavors. She has picked up where Buster left off in my lesson program and has been in charge of faithfully carrying my kiddos starting in 2025 and will continue into 2026 year. Now she might not have the fancy show career that Buster had, but she is just as special to me and to my lesson kids.

Finally we have our newest herd member, Fern also known as Cue D Legit Fern by Two Legitt and out of Cue D Spunky. Fern is officially in her 2 year old year and I could not be more excited to start this filly this year. She is already so smart and willing to learn. I think with all the shenanigans I have put her through already she is going to be pretty much broke when I swing a leg over her the first time… or so I hope… She definitely has a solid mind and is naturally inquisitive of things just like her mom is. Thankfully their first reactions to knew things is to stop and look, rather than turn and run. I’m not going to lie, I am afraid she is going to learn what I have to teach her faster than I can come up with new things to keep her educated. She is for sure going to test my knowledge and I am not afraid to admit that.

So here’s to the New Year, 2026, the Year of the Horse!