Over the past 4 years, we had done some pretty serious homework on American horses, and knowing what was already available in Australia, making sure we checked ‘way back’ in pedigrees, we knew what we did and didn’t want, so realising that we didn’t have the years ahead of us to weed out a lot of the undesirable attributes, we homed in on the studs that had already done all of this necessary hard work. With this in mind, the purchase of the horse or horses we wanted couldn’t be based on a video or photos, we had to see our choices in the flesh, so it was early in the morning late September 2002, and the sky was clear as my husband Russell and I flew out of Tamworth to join our international flight to the United States of America.

We were off to stay with friends Joanne and Larry Ross of Scott Creek Farm in Oregon for a week, then fly with them to Fort Worth Texas to enjoy the 10 days of the AMHA National Championships.

A smiling Joanne met us at the airport in Portland Oregon after we had been travelling some 29 hours, drove us back to Salem, got us and bags inside and said ‘you’re family now, make yourselves at home’, with that we dropped to the couch!

After a quick revitalising cuppa, we went on our much-awaited tour of the prestigious Scott Creek Farm. True to it’s reputation, this is one fine property, from the tall impressive welcoming gates at the beginning of the long drive to the house, to the immense barns, and on to the lush green pastures full of the finest examples of miniature horses in the US of A.

We couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with the quality of this farm, and the professionalism that brought it all together. One barn housed a full-sized arena as well as workshop, machinery, stabling for 20 horses, an office, fully fitted out veterinary centre and tack room. You could park 6 semi-trailers in there and still have room for swinging the proverbial cat! There was another barn specifically for their beloved broodmares, with hot and cold running everything. Monitoring systems and closed circuit TV made sure those prized little bundles wouldn’t arrive without the expert help and watchful eye of their ‘mother’ Joanne. And still yet another huge barn just for show preparation, with office, wash bay, vet centre, stabling for 10 horses and home to the float and motor home that takes these treasures around the show circuit.

Two of the finest people you would ever want to meet, Joanne and Larry taught us so much about the finer points of horse breeding, what to look for, what to strive for, and what goals to set for the long-term enjoyment of our horses. Even our new logo on our home page was created one afternoon while Joanne and I sat at the table continuously scribbling out different designs and combinations, and then our final decision was given to Larry for some fine-tuning over the few days we had left before we went to the show.

We felt so proud to be taken under these very experienced wings and nurtured over those long 7 days. We helped feed, train, wash, trim and dress these beautiful horses, all the while hoping the brain wouldn’t run out of room for learning – but thank heavens for video! Joanne taught me a few veterinary procedures as well that will save us a good deal of money in the long run. On returning home, I discussed this with our vet and we have his full support.

By the end of our visit we had been lucky enough to talk Joanne into letting us have 3 of her best, including a brilliant up and coming colt of fine breeding, a triple-bred Little Kings Napoleon boy – Scott Creek Windy Knight – sired by Scott Creek Windwalker – 2 times National Top Three Stallion, Champion Liberty horse, holder of numerous titles as Grands at National and Regional level and Regional High Point Champion in his short show career of 2 years. ‘Windy’ has a minimum of 25 National Achievers/Producers in his pedigree and we have placed him with Sheri Riedel of Meridian’s Training Centre, to be campaigned to qualify for the 2003 US National Show.

One of Joanne’s prized broodmares will also be calling Tamworth home – Scott Creek Sparkling Rose – in foal to another of her superior stallions – Sierra Dawn Unos Monarch, a 3 times National Champion and sire of National Champions, son of Sierra Dawn Uno de Mayo holder of 9 titles in 6 years of showing at National level. ‘Rosie’ was the icing on our cake with 16 National achievers/producers over her top and bottom lines.

And finally, a brilliant homozygous chestnut pinto filly of incredible breeding. Scott Creek Royale China is triple-bred Orion Light vant Huttenest. Her dam is Scott Creek Mystical Fancy, a National Top 10 Champion mare in her own right and her sire is Scott Creek Casino Royale, a 3 times National Top 3 Halter Stallion and sire of many National Champions, his sire being Charles Legacy Royale, Reserve National Grand Champion Senior Stallion, National Champion and sire of multiple Champions and Reserve Grand Champions at National level. The list goes on with China having no fewer than 18 National achievers/producers in her elite pedigree.

The reason we chose Scott Creek, was that Joanne and Larry had already done the hard work – 20 years of selective breeding, weeding out of undesirables and the crossing of better to best. Their continued success in the National show ring made our decision a lot easier.
With our week of total bliss behind us, the Ross’s and the Blinkhorn’s left Scott Creek in the early hours to catch our plane to Fort Worth, anticipating the excitement and adventures of the great National Show.

Our reaction at arriving to one of the greatest horse shows in the world? Gob-smacked!
Nothing could prepare us for what we were about to experience, sure, we had seen the odd video, bits and pieces, and heard people talking about it, but never had we thought we would be so impressed. In one word – opulent.

The displays left us speechless – the quality of some of the horses left us speechless – the professionalism of the perfectly run show left us speechless – and the real genuine hospitality of these wonderful new acquaintances left us humble.

We hung out with people we had only ever read about – Felix and Joyce Covington from MCC Farms (owner’s of Fire and Ice) – Erin and George Haddad of Lakeside Miniatures – Andrea Evans of Dayspring Farm (owner of National Grand Champion Scott Creek Mystic Monique) – Jane Bonner Kelly of Bear Branch Ranch (Stonehenge Painted Feather) she has a few horses in Australia and Jane is a real ‘down home Texas gal’ – Barbara and Steve Mattison from Grandview’s Mini Luxuries (Bond A Toy 4 UC) – Sheri Riedel of Meridian’s Training Centre and last but not least – Roy Brewer, owner of Brewer Family Miniatures and his gracious mother Betty who made us part of their family too by having us as their guests for the days before we had to leave to return to Australia. The name of Brewer on a pedigree still holds quite a bit of power worldwide.

Each of these people had a profound effect on the way we think of miniature horses, and every one of them made us feel like family. It was a great being part of this group during the course of the show.

For the most part, I had Joanne next to me, in my ear, teaching me about the horses being exhibited in the ring. My own experience and knowledge was fine-tuned as I was tutored in size, style, conformation, breeding traits and faults. I must say that it opened my eyes as some of the ‘better known’ prefixes fell increasingly short in quality. I learned about practices that some studs use to breed inferior stock, sell off for big dollars to unsuspecting buyers, and then further down the track these same buyers wondering why their horses aren’t passing on the good points!

Just because a horse looks good – I learned – certainly doesn’t mean he/she IS good! You need to see it's background, need to see the mature parents, make sure they are still as refined as they were in the public eye. Not hussled away where you only get to see their yearling photos year after year after year. If they still look as good as a 15 year old as they did as a 2 year old, you can be confident their offspring is going to look good too.

While for the most part, the horses were exquisite examples of a true miniature horse, there were still the ones that left us thinking how they ever managed to make the cut into this show. Not all studs in the US are marvellous; some really do need to have their breeding programs questioned. Luckily, we had good tutors, and armed with what we had learned and what we already knew, our eyes cast across quite a few horses we would not want to have in Crystal Park’s pedigrees.

It was very evident at the show that several stud farms stood out from other breeders for the refinement, lovely length of neck and slender throat latches and near-perfect proportion that we strive for in our breeding. As with any association, there are those members that stick to strict standards in quality and abide by the rules of the AMHA and those that pretend to. This is something else we learnt.

So, overall, we had a tremendous stiff learning curve rolled into a brilliant holiday. We were successful in buying 3 beautiful horses we know will improve our breeding program and hopefully others in Australia, and we had the support and friendship of the owners of some of the finest miniature horse farms in the United States. Armed with this knowledge now, we feel that Crystal Park Miniature Horses will go from good to better and from better to best over the next few years.

As we will be returning to Texas in 2003 to watch our young colt in the show ring, we may even come back with some more to add to what we already consider a small herd of exceptional horses.