"From the Gulf Coast of Mississippi to the Last
Frontier, Alaska, on July 2000"
A special thanks to The Moens and Karen Gortmaker for sharing
their excitement with us and the lovely Alaskan pictures.
Congratulations to the proud
family, Karen and Tink Gortmaker of Alaska, on
the purchase of Delightful Masterpiece and Golden
Cadet. A very special congratulations to
Delightful Masterpiece on the birth of her
gorgeous black and white filly born in Alaska on
September 22, 2000. Golden Cadet proudly gave birth to
a tri-color filly on May 23, 2001. The proud sire Ebony's Top
Threat.
Update: 8/16/2001
Macy with her Alaskan owners enjoying the trails Click
Here
Thunder Valley Walkers, would like
to share with you some breathtaking photographs,
emails of the very happy owners, and the
crossing of over 4300 miles to Delta Junction, Alaska
from Poplarville, Ms.. The journey that
Delightful Masterpiece (aka Macy) endured being 9
months in foal to Ebony's Top Threat, along with her pasture friend Golden
Cadet (aka Goldie) who was bred to Ebony's Top Threat
the morning of departure. That morning of July 6, 2000
I then realized the distance they would travel to reach their
new home. The only comfort was in our hearts and minds,
and with no doubts, the new family would treasure
owning Macy and Goldie as we did. Two of the best trusting and
loving mares we could have owned. They gave our family some of
the happiest memories, whether showing or just fun on the
trails. They were
transported to Raymond, Alberta by Mr. David
Lee of Picayune, Ms., a very responsible
shipper. The trip to Canada was over 2000
miles, with another 2300 to go. They arrived safe and
very sound and would spend the night with a lovely
family in Raymond, Alberta where two other Tennessee
Walking Horses would be joining Macy and
Goldie. Cathie Sole of Prince George, B.C.,
would be traveling with the four horses on the
remaining 2300 miles to Delta Junction. Finally after
7 days of traveling on July 13, 2000 they were
delivered SAFE and SOUND.
Please be
patient, these breathtaking Alaska photographs will take
a moment to load.
Update: Delightful
Masterpiece and Golden Cadet gave birth in
Alaska to the two fillies pictured below,
sired by "Ebony's
Top Threat".
Both mares were bred and sold by Thunder
Valley Walkers, they traveled 4300 miles in
foal. The happy results were two wonderful
and healthy fillies.
Below are some emails from Karen, sharing her
excitement..!! .
The birth of Macy's foal, born September 22, 2000
YIPPEE HURRAHHHHH! WE
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BLACK AND WHITE FILLY, BORN THIS
MORNING AT 6:10 A.M. I WAS SLEEPING WITH
MY WINDOW OPEN AND WOKE UP AND HEARD THIS GRUNT AND
SHOT UP OUT OF BED AND TOLD TINK SHE'S FOALING AND
RAN OUT THE DOOR AND MACY WAS DOWN AND THE FILLY WAS
JUST STARTING TO SHOW. WE GOT HER ALL CLEANED
UP AND MACY LET US DO EVERYTHING WITH THE BABY.
THE BABY HAS NURSED AND IS WALKING AROUND. SHE
GOT UP ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. WE DRIED HER OFF AND
SHE IS SO GORGEOUS. LOOKS JUST LIKE
TOPPER. WE ARE SO HAPPY. WILL WRITE MORE
LATER. WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW CAUSE YOU WERE
ANXIOUS TOO. THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL MORNING
IN THE WHOLE WORLD SUSAN. LOVE KAREN!!!!!!!!
Update September 22, 2000
afternoon Our baby 's name
is TOPPER'S CHINOOK. The ch in Chinook is pronounced like
sh and the double oo's are pronounced like in look. Chinook means like a
warm south wind. For the last couple of days the wind
has been blowing like crazy and it warmed everything
up for us so nice, so we thought the name
fitting for her. She is 10 1/2 hands
tall, quite big and gorgeous legs so straight
and long. Her coloration is so pretty and so
are her patterns, she is perfectly proportioned, she
is so wonderful and curious. I hope you told Topper
Boy that he is a daddy and his daughter is far away
into Alaska. Tink said, we are going to
keep her and I am so glad cause that was my plan
anyways! he is in love with her too. Macy
is being very protective but lets us pet the baby and
get near her. I think its cause I spent every
night with her just about for the last two weeks and
most of the day and I was there during
delivery. Last night she had this great blob of
wax hanging on one teat and a little on another and I
told Tink it would be anytime, and she was
biting at her sides and stomping her rear legs and
just pacing all night. I feel so blessed to
have been there during the foaling and Tink and Robin
were too and Brandon came out before Chinook got
up. I think she is almost the spitting
image of Topper. I will make sure I get some
pictures to send you. I thought at first when I
saw her color that it couldn't be right. I was
expecting the foal to be tri color like Macy and when
I saw Chinook was black and white I was just so
thrilled. Standing together Chinook and Macy
look so awesome. The colors from them both are
just so outstanding and they set each other
off. I am glad she looks like Topper cause now
I have one that is like him and one that is like
mom. If Goldie is pregnant, it will be so
neat to see what that little girl throws too.
Tink is so excited Susan, I wanted him to see a
foal born as he never has and I have seen them born
before. He is so happy and satisfied with
her. He said, no one better come around
trying to buy her cause she is ours for
life. Macy and Chinook are eating good and Macy
drank lots of water and had her mash and baby slept
and drank and slept and drank. Chinook got up
so fast and got nursing and she is so strong and she
already has quite the character. Well better
go, now the fun begins. I have a baby
winter coat for her I ordered and it came in the
other day and I have two different sizes of halters
for Chinook. Tell Topper he is a proud
daddy and give him a carrot for us and tell him we
sure love his little girl, she is so beautiful.
"Life is
Wonderful"
Butch, Susan and Candace thank you for making our dreams
come true way up here in the frozen north land, the last
frontier!
Update September 23, 2000,
she has one blue eye! Her right eye is just as
blue as can be! seemed like yesterday morning
it was only about half way blue but by the evening it
had turned all blue. We had a pile of fresh hay
out there for Macy and Chinook to lay down on. Robin
and I laid down with her and petted her and looked in
her mouth and saw two little teeth under the skin
getting ready to break out and she was so sweet and
just laid there and let us pet her and talk to
her. She would just stretch her little legs out
and acted like she just loved to be petted.
Macy is letting us love the baby and pet her but
won't tolerate her pasture friend Goldie and the
other horses around the fence etc.
Love, Karen
Dear Karen and
Family,
A new
friend with many miles apart who now treasures a part
of us, now in the mind and in the heart. We will
never forget Macy and Goldie.
Susan, Butch and Candace Blake
A special thank you goes to Mr. David Lee
for all of the help with the International shipping,
USDA Inspector Of Mississippi, and the most
important part the transporting of Delightful
Masterpiece and Golden Cadet to Alberta, Canada.
A special thanks to Cathie Sole
for sharing her lovely photographs taken on the trip
from Canada to Delta Junction, Alaska and
safely delivering our two horses from Alberta, Canada
to Delta, Junction Alaska.
