A little background...

I'm a a life-long horse fanatic but being one of 3 children with a single mom meant horse ownership was only a dream growing up. That changed roughly 5 years ago when I came across an online ad listing an inexpensive horse for sale. Along with reading everything I could, I spoke with a local horse boarding facility owner (Bryan Collins) about the associated expense and ended up boarding at his location the first 2 years I was involved with horses. I have never seen a more close knit, inviting barn. I learned a lot being there and I'm forever grateful. The owner of that facility was and is an incredible horse person whom I have a lot of respect for. He has a traditional style while being firm and fair. I have since apprenticed with a natural horse trainer who I felt privileged to know and who is an extremely gifted teacher.(Mrs. Debbie Lewis) & have taken care of a herd on a daily basis for the majority of a year (also thanks to Debbie) :) I put miles on green-broke horses and have gotten unhandled horses or horses with behavioral issues accepting human interaction and or responding in a positive way to human request. I decided as the saying goes " there will never be a day I'm any younger than I am today" and so, I decided to take on my first full fledged horse to start/finish & do all the training with. I wanted something very people oriented, smart, small in stature with a stout build, and versatile. I was pointed in the direction of a breed called none other than the fell pony. I was instantaneously smitten. I loved the build, the temperament over-all, and the feather! Fell Ponies to me looked like a draft horse in miniature. Small enough to enable me to get on easily bareback, while stout enough to look more like a horse than a pony. September 17th arrangements were made for me to meet up with a breeder. September 25th I signed a contract to take the first fell pony gelding I laid eyes on the day I'd initially visited. I'd met her studs, saw her mares, and was primarily interested and most attentive to the young-stock she had available. October 14th the deposit was put together along with the delivery fee, the boarding fee for the breeder holding him on her property, insurance, and lastly a natural trim which was scheduled the 18th. He was to be delivered before 11am Wed. October 17th. His name was an uncertainty but as he was diamond in the rough... The name Iklean (I-Klee-un) was thought of. It stemmed from the diamond industry term eye-clean which is a diamond whose flaws are invisible to the naked eye. I traded a western saddle (one of 2 that I had) for a harness that I was going to work with him with after much more basic ground-work was complete. He is a 2 year old (coming 3) born March 3,2010. For now, it's pretty surreal. In all the horse books I've read and experiences I've had leading up to this point... I never knew I'd one day be confident enough to take on such a wonderous journey and challenge. I hope he proves to be a very special guy. :)
I own one other gelding whom I got when he was a 6 year old. He's now 8 and the best horse I know in the world to this point. :)




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