About Us

We are located in Smith Valley, Nevada.

My interest in the Curly horse developed in 1996 when I found "Cody." I was looking for an endurance and pleasure prospect. Cody started my passion for the curlies and it has never stopped. Curlies are just like peanuts you can't just have one!

I am an active member of the American Bashkir Curly Registry and the Early Curly Breeders Association, both dedicated to the preservation of the American Bashkir Curly.

<--Cody, my first curly.

While in Colorado, we had leased our facility to the therapeutic riding program and some of our curlies are used as well. Curlies are a wonderful addition to the program because of their unique qualities. It's not easy being a therapeutic riding horse as it takes great patience. The picture below is of Cody, patiently waiting while a rider mounts.

I professionally train horses using resistance free methods. We not only train our curlies but we train horses for the general public. Our horses are used with cattle, packed, and trail ridden in both the high desert canyons and the mountains.

This picture is of a curlies' very first trail ride! He was calm and willing! We specialize in matching our horses to the rider's abilities. Please feel free to ask us any questions about curlies, our training methods, or our website. Thank you for visiting our website and remember to read about the history of the breed.

Visitors are always welcome so if you're in our neighborhood please stop by!

**My best friend and riding partner, Cody, died in August, 2005 from colic. I'll miss him forever.** Julie

An Ode to Cody -- August 2005

I remember well when my Mama died
Came home depressed, Julie asked "Do you wanna ride?"
My horses are rusty like buckets of bolts
They'd probably act like a bunch of young colts
"No matter," she said "you can ride Cody, my horse."
My spirit was sore, could he be the source
Of a time for healing and a spirit set free?
I'll go for the ride, the rest was up to he.

And ride we did up at Gawthrop's spread
In the trees and the aspen and where 'er the trail led.
By ponds and criks, over trees that had fallen
Listening to cows as to their calves they were callin'.

Dakota and Julie had my filly on a rope
Ponyin' her through, trying to make her cope
With the water and branches and cows all a bawlin'
Through meadows and pastures all green and a sprawlin'.

I could feel myself focus, not on what had been lost
But on the here and now beauty, no matter the cost.
Ol' Cody rode steady, just followin' Julie's lead
Helpin' my pain disappear, my spirit felt freed.

We rode in the quiet, only hoofbeats to hear
When Cody took a lope, what 'er did he fear?
A swarm of bees we stirred while we continued our trek
Them chasin' Cody, stingin' him on the leg and his neck.
That had to of hurt 'cause it sure caused some swellin'
But Cody strode on as if nothing was worth tellin'.

A heart of gold and always first carin'
'bout the rider on his back and how they were farin'.
He'd stagger to stay right there twixt your knees
His only objective was purely to please.

So here ends my poem, a very short "odey"
To honor a great horse whose name was Cody.

Dianne Milarch 08/16/05