Baby Sydney days old in Canada Spring 2005

I love you Sydney!!! This happy adoption story needed to be posted way back in 2005. It is not that we have forgotten it is just that adopters, Joanne and John are such a big part of our family that well, we forgot to tell everyone else all about the story of Joanne, John and their baby Sydney. Gee we thought you already knew! Ok, so a long long time ago, back in the late summer of 2005, we received a load of horses. On that load was a beautiful bay mare named Two Cute Two Skip, she arrived with her adorable red roan filly, that Vikki, immediately named " Amber". (I never really thought she was an "Amber", but Vikki did, so Amber it was). Cute as a bugs ear, our little Amber. One day new neighbors, Joanne and John heard about our mission and decided to stop in for a visit. Joanne was taking lessons nearby, advancing in her horsemanship skills, she dreamed of owning a horse. They came down to the ranch often and soon Joanne found herself falling in love with Amber. Joanne was nearing a very important birthday and was on her way home to Australia to celebrate with her family. She mentioned to husband John, that she was afraid to leave for fear that Amber was going to be, "snatched up" before she would return. So Joanne talked to John and made plans to adopt Amber, she was to be kept here with us to grow up while Joanne and John built their stable. So Joanne and John adopted Amber and the couple took off to celebrate the big birthday. Upon their return they had decided to name their filly, "Syndey" after Joanne's birthplace, Sydney, Australia. Joanne is the owner of the Acton Beauty Barn where she is gives massages and facials. Husband John is a contractor and he has helped us build fencing and shelters at the ranch in return for boarding Sydney. Joanne is also an equine massage therapist, she is always here when a horse needs extra special attention. Her loving hands have eased much stress and helped to gentle the most frightened of babies. We love Joanne and John and are pleased to know that they found their dream horse here at Canyon Creek. Joanne hopes to someday take Sydney horse camping, but until she is ready to be ridden she is working closely with trainer Jennifer learning natural horsemanship skills. We wish Joanne, John and baby Sydney many happy trails!

Sydney as a yearling!

Oh John! We had been trying to keep this one a big secret but could hardly contain ourselves, with the thought of how wonderful this was going to be! Joanne had been taking riding lessons with us and her choice of horse was always Dusty, our beautiful grey quarter horse mare that came in last December from off the PMU farm in Canada. Goldcreek Dusty a foundation bred quarter horse, became one of our shining stars here at the farm. She was not only a stunningly beautiful, dapple grey, 5 year old, but she was so calm and during all her training she became just a pleasure to ride. Going both English and Western, one of Dusty's riders, Joanne was falling in love and had been thinking of ways to adopt her, we all were aware of that including husband John. Trainer Jennifer noted how wonderful the mare was on the trails and how tolerant Dusty was with even the greenest of riders. Joanne with hopes of riding off into the sunset someday, with her soon to be ready, Sydney, longed for a second horse for her family and of course herself, Dusty was top choice. So, it was about three weeks before the 2006 Christmas holidays, that spurred on the idea of getting Dusty for Joanne as a Christmas gift. Husband John, knew he would be earning huge points and of course, be the envy of all the other women here at the farm, if he were to decide to adopt Joanne's dream horse for her on Christmas day! So it was decided and Dusty was put on hold. John was just like a little kid trying to plan the big surprise. His goal was to keep Joanne away from the ranch on Christmas morning for as long as possible until we could prepare Dusty in a stall and hang up the sign that would give everything away at just the right moment! Like clock work, Joanne was at the barn with Christmas day treats for all the horses. She had even bought a new saddle pad for Dusty, because she wanted her to have something "special". I was running around with my camera, and because I do that often, Joanne was none the wiser, when I mentioned to her that Dusty was in the barn eating and that she could go and say hello to her. So in the barn Joanne went, and John opened the top of the stall door hoping to reveal the handmade sign that read, "I love you Joey, Merry Christmas, John.... ". Joanne had managed to drop her treats on the floor in front of the stall, she totally overlooked the sign and was totally unaware of anything but Dusty. A few grunts and points, and what do I do now, looks from John, who did not want to destroy the moment, Joanne finally looked up and upon seeing the sign was overwhelmed in disbelief. "Oh John!" was all that she could express. That then followed by squealing, tears and huge hugs for John. "Oh John, I love you, and I promise to do everything for you! Even the things I said that I would never do before! And with great enthusaim! (I am not sure that was intended to be heard by all of us, but the look on John's face was absolutely priceless!) The moment went on for quite some time, as Joanne, kept whispering to herself, "I must be dreaming! This is a dream, right?" We all looked up to comment, "Congratulations Joanne, and yes it is a dream! Every horse woman's dream!"