Sonitrol Tri-County Sponsors and Protects LWF Sport Horses

We are very happy to have Sonitrol Tri-County as a sponsor again this year.  Because of their help we were able to get out and show off more of Patrick's offspring at Dressage and Hunter/Jumper shows.

They also protect our farm with cameras, access systems, and fire alarm monitoring.  Some of the cameras also monitor the foaling stalls and are connected to the internet so we can watch the mares anywhere.  Our tack rooms are secured with locks that have timers and are opened with "fobs" that are unique to each person. We know if someone went in and who they are during the time the door was scheduled to be locked.  No re-keying the locks when someone leaves - just take their number out of the system and their fob no longer works!

Sonitrol, the leader in verified electronic security, has a program specifically tailored to meet your needs.  Their modular, fully integrated solutions can include:

• Verified Video Surveillance for Foaling and Facility
• Fire and smoke detection for Stables, Barns, and Storage Buildings
• Complete Protection with Audio Intrusion and Access Control
• Guaranteed Satisfaction
• Free Security Analysis  

Contact them at (248) 473-9400.  Tell them Linda Wanstreet recommended them.

For a Fostered Foal, There's Nothing Like a Mother's Love

For a Fostered Foal, There's Nothing Like a Mother's Love

Here is a very interesting article about how to get a mare to accept a foal that is not her own. Hopefully, you don't have to deal with this, but it is good information to file away - just in case!

Conformation of the Young Horse at Inspection or Kuering

Penelope - 2010 Premium Filly

We have been presenting foals at inspection with ISR/Oldenburg N.A. since 2004. The timing of these inspections has gotten later and later in the year and this year it was scheduled for September 11.  Not only did I not like the date (9/11), but one of our foals would be 5 months old, needing to be weaned, and probably starting to go through a growth spurt. Over the years I have noted that frequently the foals score higher if they are 3 months old or younger.  I think this is mainly due to their conformation at that time.  Around 4 to 6 months many foals begin a growth period that puts them on their forehand and affects their gaits negatively.  Since the foals are scored on their Conformation, Gaits, and Overall Impression, I don't think that a big growth period is a good time for them to be presented.  We have had many premium foals over the years and even the one's that did not get a premium score were within .5 or less of achieving that goal.  I've watched them grow and several went through some pretty ugly stages before emerging around 3 -4 years of age with the promise they showed in the first three months.

The judge for these inspections, Christian Schacht, also presents educational clinics on conformation, training, and riding.  I had been talking with him about doing one at our farm this year and when he told me that I could also combine my inspection (we have a private one so that we don't have to transport 6 or more horses every year) with the clinic in June, I was sold.  Our foals would be 1 -2 months old at that time.  The inspection was a success with 2 premium foals (the 3rd was only .10 short) and a premium mare. As a bonus the clinics on Free Jumping and the History of Conformation were so educational that I plan on having him return for more clinics.  He also gave Melissa a lesson on Patrick that was so impressive - I have seldom seen either one of them look so good!

The fillies that had premium scores are definitely wonderful Sport Horse prospects with beautiful gaits and conformation, but I wonder if they could have shown it as well in September as they did in June.  I wonder why ISR/Oldenburg is doing the inspections so late in Michigan.  I am thinking that if this trend continues, I will breed later.  I would like to hear from other breeders - do you think that the conformation and gaits of young horses are better at certain stages, or is a premium foal premium at any age?

News From LWF Sport Horses

Penelope - Premium Filly and her dam, Wienna

We have been very busy this year with new foals, breeding, clinics and shows.  I will be posting on everything over the next few weeks, but right now, here is a quick overview.

We had three new foals in April and May and the ISR/Oldenburg inspection was held in June along with  a clinic on Free Jumping with Christian Schacht.  It was very successful with the two fillies receiving Premium and the colt a score of 7.9.  We now have mares by Patrick that are old enough to be approved for breeding and we got our first Premium Mare with Petite Belle!

We have attended several Hunter/Jumper and Dressage shows starting in March with much success.  We have lots more blue ribbons and Championships that I will talk about in the future.  We have been showing three of Patrick's 3 year olds and it has been going great.  It has been great experience for all of us including the horses.

We have a clinic coming up in August that I am very excited about with Jos Sevriens.  He presented a clinic called "Develop Your Eye" at our farm in May the evening before a USDF Breed Show where he was the judge.  He taught about the conformation of a dressage horse and what the judges are looking for and why.  It was extremely educational and our colt was born during the clinic!

The clinic in August will be a Dressage Clinic for riders.  Mr. Sevriens has a lot of experience riding and training in Dressage as well as Eventing and Jumping.  He is originally from Holland and trained with the top riders in that country and he is now located in Georgia.  Here is a file with more information and an application if you are interested.

Please notice a few changes on this blog - we now have a new page - Horses for Sale - where I have ads for horses at our farm that are for sale.  I will be adding more, so check back often.

The Infinite Potential of Foals

This beautiful picture and prose came from the Spirit of the Horse Art newsletter. It arrived in my inbox last week and I thought it was just beautiful. I wanted to share the picture as well as the words and couldn't find a link, so I hope it it OK to share it with you like this.

"Paradise"

In the soft light of moments that may be either past or future

Remember dreams that once were and may yet come again

Recall an innocence that is precious and rare

And awaken to a new moment alive with wonder.

~Kim McElroy

As winter marches on - the bellies of countless mares are holding precious new lives awaiting Spring. Just as we may hold onto our dreams and await the perfect moment to give life to their potential.

Dreams are precious things, and like any life form they require nurturing and nourishing, faith and protection, and a bit of a nudge now and then. At first our dreams may wobble a bit on unsteady legs, but with the proper encouragement we can lead the way with a purpose and a path, and our dreams will follow along until they find their legs.


In their sweet innocence the precious foals hold infinite potential. They are bright beings alight with curiosity. Like them, may our dreams grow big and strong with fulfillment and promise.