Canyon Western Horses

14/07/2026

In case you need another reason to watch the new Little House on the Prairie on Netflix.

I’m talking about the Appaloosa, people! 😂

12/07/2026

I asked ChatGPT, so it must be true.

Why would AI lie to me? 🤷‍♀️

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Thank you Joey, the paddock potato, for being our model.

11/07/2026

Happy 4th Birthday to Oreo, my littlest stud hand 🐾

Although she's not the world's best worker. She lost her horse privileges a long time ago after making it very clear she has no idea she’s 5kg and they’re 500kg!

Send a message to learn more

03/07/2026

Uncomfortable truth: I breed Appaloosas and Paints, which means to some degree I breed for colour.

That’s one of the biggest accusations you can throw at a horse breeder, isn’t it?

It's an insult that buzzes around like flies on p**p. "They breed for colour" really means "Their horses are rubbish."

It’s a way to instantly dismiss someone’s breeding program.

But the paradox is….

Appaloosas and Paints are horse breeds famous for their colour. Yes, they have breed standards and pedigrees, but their coat patterns are what make them instantly recognisable. In fact, both stud books require one parent to be coloured for a foal to be registerable. This means colour isn't an afterthought … it’s part of the breed.

So Appaloosas and Paint breeders don't really have the luxury of pretending colour doesn't matter. Acknowledging that it’s part of these breeds doesn't make me a less responsible breeder.

However, the question is: when does colour start mattering too much?

Let's face it, there's a waiting list backed up like peak hour traffic for a jet black leopard Appaloosa with giant peacock spots, while a solid chestnut without so much as a white sock is much harder to sell ... even if it's the better quality horse.

The same goes for buckskin and blue roan tobianos, or anything with blue eyes.

These horses have buyers reaching for their wallets long before they've looked at the pedigrees.

Because, as much as we don’t like to admit it, people shop with their eyes first. Yes, they may also be looking for temperament, conformation and performance, but colour is often the icing on the cake. When they’re looking for an Appaloosa or Paint, they’re usually imagining a coat pattern.

As breeders, then, we face an ethical tension.

I used to avoid talking about colour because I worried about being judged. But now I believe we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room. When you breed Appaloosas and Paints, colour must be a consideration.

I no longer think there's anything wrong with producing a horse that makes people stop scrolling. That’s probably good marketing for both a stud and a breed.

The challenge is making sure we see desirable colour and pattern as an opportunity, not the objective. The problem starts when the pursuit of those things becomes more important than the horse underneath.

Photo: Tamar Baker (featuring Murphy & Topaz)

27/06/2026

Not bad for a horse who almost died twice as a baby and spent 17 of his first 21 days in hospital.

Joey is my cheeky little “paddock potato”. He spends his time eating, demanding cuddles and reminding everyone the world revolves around him.

His life philosophy is simple:
👑 It's all about me
🍎 Will work for treats

Some days I still can't believe he’s a happy, healthy rising two-year-old.

Stolen Identity x Miss Louisianna

20/06/2026

Starting a stud page seemed easy. Then I realised I actually had to post on it.

There’s so much pressure to create “content”. My feed is full of social media “experts” telling me how to go viral. Apparently, I just need to buy their course.

Meta doesn't help. It sets weekly tasks and goals I never signed up for and constantly pushes me to pay to have my posts seen.

Then you see other pages double their following with posts designed to create drama and division. Thousands of new fans through queen bee tactics.

It’s tempting, but that’s not me.

The funny thing is that being me, showing my authentic self, isn’t easy either.

There’s that little bit of imposter syndrome. Am I a real breeder? Am I good enough to even have my own stud page?

Then there’s the worry about being judged. There are people who don’t follow your page, but definitely watch. They silently gather information and hope you trip over.

There are also the people who should watch, but don’t. The close friends and family who pretend your page doesn’t exist.

And then there are the people who always comment and encourage. Some I've never met. Some I've known for years, but only online. Yet they show up every single time. And I love them for it.

Because they give me hope. Their small acts of kindness help me believe there are still honourable people out there who genuinely want to see other horse breeders succeed.

Do you run a stud page? What's the hardest part for you?

19/06/2026

Most people don't realise I have two yearling Stolen Identity babies.

That's because I'm hopeless at taking photos of my horses!

This is Chola. Her name is inspired by the teddy bear cholla cactus, which I first saw driving through Arizona 11 years ago. Yes, I've been sitting on the name that long! It's a cute, fluffy-looking cactus with pale spines and a darker body that reminds me of a flaxen chestnut.

Chola was conceived with a single straw of frozen semen. Yes, you read that right.

That's what happens when you have great quality semen, a generous stallion contract and vets worth their weight in gold.

Steve and Michelle from Total Equine Genetics got both my mares in foal. They're responsible for a few Stolen Identity foals now and will hopefully create some more this season!

Stolen Identity x Siann Wadda Cool Minnie

12/06/2026

Why is ghosting so common in the horse industry?

I'm researching an article on the topic.

Which professionals or types of people are the worst offenders in your experience?

And how does it make you feel when someone stops replying?

Send a message to learn more

10/06/2026

I’VE BRED 3 FOALS WITH THE CHAMPAGNE GENE … and here’s what I’ve learned about this unusual equine coat colour.

🥂 Foals are born with ice-blue eyes
Their eyes gradually change colour, first to green and then hazel before settling into the amber shade that remains for life. There’s no set timeline for this process — some horses change more quickly than others. Double dilutes break the rule, keeping their ice-blue eyes throughout their lives.

🥂 Foals develop freckles
Freckling starts around a foal’s muzzle, then spreads around the eyes. By the time the horse is two, freckling is on all the “soft” parts of the body … behind the ears, under the elbows and from the a**s to the ge****ls. Again, double dilute horses are different, showing no visible freckling at all.

🥂 Foals are born with pink skin
Champagne foals have a distinctive pink skin tone, especially around the eyes and muzzle. As they mature, the skin develops a peachy or apricot colour. Even white feet have an apricot, almost translucent appearance.

🥂 Sun sensitivity is a myth
Despite what many people believe, champagne horses aren't any more sensitive to the sun. Yet again, double dilutes are the exception. Their two copies of the cream gene make them more prone to sunburn, and the champagne gene appears to add to that sensitivity. The delicate skin around the eyes, lips and nostrils is prone to burning.

🥂 Their coat has a metallic sheen
The champagne gene changes the way the hair reflects light, creating a shimmer that's especially noticeable in a summer coat.

The interesting thing is that you “just know” a foal carries the champagne gene from the moment they're born. None of these characteristics are dramatic on its own, but together they create a foal that looks unmistakably different. As they grow, those little clues become more obvious, until the champagne gene reveals itself in full by the time they’re a couple of years old.

03/06/2026

Just checking in on my friends who might be carrying more than they're letting on.

Whatever you're facing, I hope there's a little sunshine on the horizon for you. Sometimes all you need is to know someone cares, so hang in there 💛