Farm Updates/Breeding   There was a time when I used to post my ever-changing breeding decisions every few days. It’s come to my attention that some people actually enjoyed witnessing my frustrations and fickleness.  Sick. Sick people enjoying my pain. But, it has been a long time since I’ve posted a list of where we’re at and to whom we’re breeding, so here goes:   Confirmed in Foal for 2019:   Gaudi x Felicites SSF x Rousseau (ET) Gaudi x Gazania x Bon Bravour (already...

The end of an era at Shooting Star Farm. Carol and I made the decision to euthanize Orchis this week. She injured her back a few years ago, which caused her suspensories to weaken. Over the last couple of years she's had more and more trouble getting up. In the past couple weeks, it could take her as much as an hour to get back onto her feet. For decades, she has been among the 10 highest indexed KWPN dressage-breeding mares worldwide, and the highest ever outside of Holland. She leaves a...

Welcome to our new website! We are really excited about it. Thanks to Tami Johnson from Masterworks for designing and building it. Thanks to Michaela Tolman for working with Tami to flesh out the links, sort through our pictures, and add to the descriptions. And, a big thanks to Joe Tolman for designing and maintaining our original site over the last two decades. It’s so gratifying to see such a collection of incredible horses—and to know just how far our breeding program has come in nearly 30...

Seriously, I'm trying to write more.  I just have too many damn balls in the air. Sorry this entry took a few weeks to see the light of day. The title is "Backing Up the Bitching", but I'm not sure how much "backing up" this will be—it's more of an attempt at conversation. Facebook Thread I've been pleased, and a little concerned, about the conversation my journal has initiated on Facebook. There's definitely a need for conversation, but open up the gateway, and a flood of bitching begins....

By now, I'm sure you've heard our big news: We have purchased the AES approved, KWPN stallion, Gaudi (Totilas x DeNiro x Romancier x Troublemaker xx)! We are beyond excited both about Gaudi and the response the news of his coming to North America has generated. Not including our own girls, we've already booked almost 40 mares! So, a huge thank you for those of you who have already scored a date for your mare with Mr. Gaudi. First and foremost, thank you to the Jansen family for agreeing to...