Canadian foals come to Sisters ranch

"Canadian Versatiles" at the Lazy Z. Photo by Vickie Herring

The Lazy Z and Robinson Road Ranch, east of Sisters, has had a recent influx of arrivals from Canada. The 240 weanling colts and fillies are the entire 2002 foal crop from the Griffin Valley Ranch in Alberta.

Dubbed "Canadian Versatiles" by Vickie Herring, who manages the horses for owner David Herman, the weanlings are for sale from $300.

"These horses will go from ranch to recreation," said Herring. "If a person knows what type of horse they want, we'll probably have it."

Herring and Herman have been purchasing horses from Griffin Valley Ranch for a few years now to use at the stables at Black Butte Ranch, Eagle Crest, and Running Y Resort in Klamath Falls.

Usually bought as two- and three-year-olds, the horses are trained in Alberta by young Australians who come to Canada for work experience. "There is a drought in Alberta this year and Al Griffin contacted David to see if we were interested in the whole foal crop," said Herring.

The foals are the byproduct of an interesting operation. Griffin Valley Ranch, owned by Al Griffin and started by his father, is primarily a Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) ranch.

Pregnant mares produce estrogen naturally in their urine, which is used in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.

At Griffin Valley Ranch, some of the foals produced are used in the other ranch operations which vary from guest ranch to day camp for kids, and hourly rides.

The rest are sold and find homes as sport horses, ropers, barrel racers, trail horses, and work horses.

The stallions used are carefully chosen for disposition, durability, versatility, and conformation.

Griffin Valley Ranch started using draft-cross horses in its guest program several years ago. They tend to be more amiable and tolerant of beginner riders. The draft stallions used are Fjord, Belgian, Percheron, Clydesdale, and Suffolk Punch.

Top registered quarter horse stallions are also used, with bloodlines from Poco, Leo, Doc o Lena, and Peppy Sans.

The mares are either quarter horses or heavy (draft) crosses, with some thoroughbreds and Appaloosas.

"We know who the sires are on 90 percent of these foals," said Herring. "And we have information on what breed the mare is."

Already there has been a great response to these horses.

"People are finding out through word of mouth," said Herring. "There is a real shortage of sturdy, easygoing horses around.

For more information, contact Vickie Herring at 280-4892.