Nacho the Shetland

Nacho is about the cutest pony out there. He is adorable and has a charming personality.

There are quite a few horror stories I've heard concerning the meanest little creatures ever, known as "Shetlands". Well, I'd beg to differ.

Just like with any breed of animal, about 80% of an animal's character comes from training, or lack thereof. To say all Shetlands are the meanest equines is absurd.

Anyway, Nacho is a chestnut pinto Shetland. Somehow his front segment of chestnut was bleached more than on his hind end, and thus he has a very individual look.

Chillin' with his buddies. :)

Stylish

Stylish is a chestnut roan and white mare that came last year. It sounds like we'll be selling her - but she does have the potential to throw nice foals, so perhaps we can keep her.

Caught red-handed! (Yep, Stylish is the boss of Royale.)

Oh hi.

Lol.

Splash - A Frame Overo

Splash is a Pintabian (Paint x Arab) mare that is absolutely stunning. She is a middle-aged horse that is ridden English and is very, very sweet and gentle. The one thing that makes her not the perfect horse? She is in heat. All. The. Time. :P Well, of course except when the vet comes to see why she's in heat all the time.

Anyway, she's a chestnut frame overo. The characteristics for frame overo include a heavily-marked face, at least one solid leg, a solid mane and tail, no white crossing the topline, and lacy, horizontally-orinted patches. Basically, they're wild colored horses. Also, it isn't uncommon for them to have blue eyes. :)

However, there is a risk to this gorgeous mutation as far as breeding. And because the frame allele is hypostatic to a couple other alleles (such as tobiano), it can be even trickier to safely breed horses of this color.

Here is Splash after a schooling show I went to earlier this year. :)

Nom nom nom. Don't we all love hay? 

Pretty blue eye. 

Here ya go - the feminine version of Hidalgo. :)