Ghostwind Starfall- "Legend"

01/06/2026

Barn proof of life ✔️

01/06/2026

Going forward I will no longer be using the IPSHR (International Pattern Sport Horse Registry) to register Raine and Pneuma's foals out of Legend after all the trouble I've had getting Mack and Skyler's papers. The people running it are also running another registry and are not capable of keeping things straight and moving smoothly anymore.
There are very few registries the do Appaloosa/Paint crosses (the Appaloosa Horse Club only registers Pintaloosas under their "hardship" program that are gelded or spayed and spaying a mare is just not worth the risk of that major of a surgery just for papers) but I am looking into using The International Spotted Horse Registry Association (ISHR). It is an organization that registers spotted horses (like Pintaloosas) and ponies, offering programs for recognition, shows, and maintaining bloodlines, allowing registration for horses with various pinto/Appaloosa patterns. They aim to give "recognition, prestige, and belonging" to owners of these colorful equines.
I will, however, register Tahnee's foals with the ApHC as she is an Appaloosa. If anyone wishes to register their Pneuma or Raine baby with ApHC, you'll have all the info you need to do so.

01/01/2026

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01/01/2026

12/24/2025

12/20/2025

Unless they are taken over by a new owner, I will NOT be registering future foals with the International Pattern Sporthorse Registry (IPSHR). I have yet to receive the papers for Mack and Skyler that I sent for in Sept! I have contacted them and, apparently the owner who is in charge of putting together the registration papers, has not been doing it. From what the co-owner told me, she has taken on too much in her personal life and the registry is suffering for it. I tried calling her but it went to voicemail which is not set up (not very professional). So I'm stuck with emailing as she is also not answering or returning calls from the co-owner either.
So, although geldings and spayed mares (like who's going to spay a mare??!) CAN be registered under the hardship registry with the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), I'm still trying to find a registry that is still active for intact mares and stallions out of Raine and Pneuma.

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12/11/2025

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. . .

If I had a dollar for every time someone pulled out this tired argument, I could finally build that new barn I have been dreaming about.

So I am here to set the record straight. Comparing domestic horses to wild horses is not the slam-dunk some people think it is. Rather, it falls apart once you get past the surface because it was never solid logic to begin with.

Yes, ‘wild’ horses, moose, elk, antelope, and whatever other critters people like to use in this argument don’t wear blankets. But here’s the part that is conveniently left out: they survive by paying a price. There is no safety net. Nature is not kind. And when a wild horse isn’t thriving, nature removes it. And it can be a painful and drawn out process.

Thankfully, domestic horses don’t live this way. But the trade off is that they are required to live within the constraints of human expectations.

They live in limited space, depend entirely on what we provide, and do not have the ability to roam miles to find shelter, better forage, or protection from the elements. Some drop weight dramatically in winter. Some have metabolic disorders, clipped coats, low body conditions, or age-related problems. We groom them, ride them, and many have been bred for refinement and traits that excel in the show pen, not rugged survival.

And here’s the biggest difference: our responsibility to domestic horses is not to simply allow them to survive but rather we have a responsibility to help them thrive.

I am a huge advocate for letting a horse be a horse. But it is not always that simple. Humans domesticated them so it has become our duty to manage them.

Blanketing is not about pampering. It’s not about fashion. It’s not about treating horses like fragile glass figurines. It’s about understanding the individual needs of the animal in front of you. Some horses will be perfectly fine naked all winter. Others will burn calories they don’t have, shiver for hours, lose weight, or struggle quietly.

Will they survive without a blanket?
Most likely.

But will they thrive?
That depends on the horse. And as their caretakers, it’s our job to know the difference.

So stop using that lazy “wild horses don’t need blankets” line.

We’re in the 21st century. We have knowledge, tools, and compassion. Use them. Do what’s best for your horse, not what a wild animal has no choice but to endure solely based on principle.

And I want to be clear. I think MANY horses do just fine without blankets, just not ALL horses. And that is the distinction I am trying to make here.

Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer

I am also super grateful for Untamed Souls Photography (link to their page in the comments!) for letting me use their picture in this post. While I pride myself in creating my own visuals, I didn’t have anything I loved for this post and her picture captured my vision perfectly!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Cmm3YCV3q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/05/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Xy3q6v1V/

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11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for every single one of my horses that God has blessed me with. He has made it possible for me to live my childhood dream. When I was in sixth grade my art teacher asked us to draw a picture of what we wanted to do when we grew up. I drew a horse farm with baby horses running around and me leading a very pregnant mare. Well, here I am, living my dream! Although the farm in my dream was a much bigger property with much bigger, fancier barns, I am so grateful for what I have and the blessing my foals have been to others! In fact, before every single foal leaves for their new homes, I give them a kiss on their forehead and ask God to bless them and make them a blessing to new owners.

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11/26/2025