Buell Ranch displays fine horses

"Confetti Dreamer" -- Arabian.

Lovers of fine horses and those who just want to view a new equine facility in Sisters will want to be sure to visit the Buell Arabian Ranch, located on Cloverdale Road, on Saturday, September 21.

Jerry and Nancy Buell are hosting their first annual private treaty sale of purebred and half-Arabians and National Show Horse pintos. There will also be a presentation of stallions whose 2003 breeding services will be offered at a discount if purchased on the day.

The Buells emphasize that the event is open to anyone with an interest in horses.

With a flair for hospitality, Nancy has arranged for refreshments and for Roland White and Company to provide live music.

While the ranch has hosted open days in the past, the Buells are particularly excited about this one.

"For the first time we have an indoor arena and selling center," said Nancy. "We are just finishing phase one and can now have nice events without worrying about the weather."

The construction of the facility has been a marathon effort by Jerry Buell, who has done almost all of the work himself.

Future plans involve a focus on training and showing young horses. There will also be a limited number of stalls available for full-service boarding.

"Animal health care is one of our strong points," said Nancy. "We want to be able to share our health and maintenance expertise with our boarders.

"We are particularly interested in serving absentee owners; those people who may live in the Sisters area for only part of the year or who want to go out of the area for extended periods, and want to know that their horses are receiving the best of care."

Some of the horses that will be available at the sale have been bred by the Buells, while others are being consigned by their clients. There are several that are suitable for intermediate riders.

"We are blessed in Central Oregon to have available many horses which are the result of top national breeding programs that were active in the 80s," Nancy Buell said.

Since those golden days of purebred Arabian horse breeding, the market has created an equally strong demand for half-Arabian horses.

A popular cross is with the American Saddlebred, a breed renowned for its showiness and size, and also obtainable in solid or pinto coloring. The resulting cross created a breed which has become the National Show Horse.

In 1990 the Buells began to breed only half-Arabs, and purchased a pinto Saddlebred stallion, "Strikes Megabucks," as the foundation sire for their program.