Our Philosophy
We believe that horses are perfect just the way they are. The way we interact and care for our horses reflects this belief.
Natural Living
Our horses thrive in natural living conditions; in large, safe pens for our studs and open pasture for the herd. None of our horses spend long hours in box stalls. Our horses run unshod, with natural hoof trimming keeping their feet healthy. They enjoy clover, orchard grass and timothy from our pastures, and a high-quality grain feed for balanced protein. Mineral blocks are available to all horses at all times.
Natural Education
Use of Parelli Natural Horsemanship techniques keeps our horses stimulated, spirited and smart, from the minute they are born. Each foal is lovingly imprinted and desensitized to human contact. Everything we do reinforces the partnership of horse and human, without the use of oppression or domination. Our horses are raised to be both confident and respectful around people. We play educational games with our horses - you can actually see them learn! The result is happy horses with excellent physical and mental fitness.
Our Priorities
We raise horses because we love horses. It's that simple. We are not in this for money or prestige. At Silver Willow Farm, no horse will ever find a show schedule or a stud fee placed before his or her fundamental wellbeing. For us, it's about watching the herd greet the morning sun with a flurry of nickers, or finding a seat on a haybale and drinking coffee while the stallions munch their evening grain. It's to hear the laughter of our kids playing with a month-old foal, or the dusty scent of summer from a comfortably-creaking saddle.
One of the biggest thrills for us is finding the perfect home for a horse. We look for people who are passionate about horses: People who are ready to laugh, learn, sacrifice and sweat for the honor of being a steward of these incredible animals.
"There are only two emotions
that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humour and
the other is patience."
- John Lyons
"A horse doesn't care how much
you know until he knows how much you care."
- Pat Parelli
"All horses deserve, at least
once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl."
- Anon.