SuzAnne Miller is the owner of Dunrovin Ranch. A fourth-generation Montanan, SuzAnne grew up roaming the mountains and fishing the streams of western Montana. Her love of nature, animals, science, and education prompted her to create the world’s first cyber ranch where live web cameras bring Dunrovin’s wildlife and ranch life to internet users across the globe.
Our Lovely Lady Lonza stands out in any herd. Her apricot champagne coat is much like that of a fawn – golden with a hint of red. She is big and demanding; the entire herd knows when she is present. In fact, on the trail, if Lady Lonza is in the group, the geldings all keep track of her presence, looking over their shoulders to be sure to give her enough room. Her personal bubble is big and she immediately corrects any who dare to violate it.
Lady Lonza’s relationships with people are complex. She sizes up her human companions quickly; and if she senses weaknesses, she can be willful and disrespectful. She is never dangerous; but she can be pushy and uncooperative if she thinks she can get away with it. She likes being in charge; and she can adopt the aloof and superior stance of royalty. However, once you do establish yourself as the leader and as a trusted partner, she turns on her many charms and welcomes you into her world.
Thus far in her life, Lady Lonza has had two beautiful foals: Sona in 2008 and Serena in 2011. Lonza is now 13 years old and is in prime condition to become pregnant and have a third foal. Breeding Lonza is a big and very considered decision. Dunrovin will not contribute to the overstock of unwanted horses that end up in rescue facilities or face worse fates. We must be very confident that Lonza’s foal will enter the world with a certain future of loving care and support. Luckily, we are in a position to make that commitment and we want to again experience the sheer delight and mystery of birthing a foal and welcoming it into our lives and our home – an utterly new being to nurture, know, train, and love.
My good friends Jan and Kate Sousa of the Lazy Sousa Ranch in Montana’s beautiful Nine Mile Valley (about 40 miles north of Missoula, Montana) has the perfect stallion to service Lonza. Dreamin’ of Luxury (Lux for short) is a handsome, well built, and very personable dark palomino Tennessee Walking Horse with a fast and smooth natural gait. Jan and Kate are an incomparable mother/daughter team that have an outstanding breeding and training facility. Dunrovin already owns two “Sousa” horses, including Whiskey and Rocket; and their other stallion, Buddy, serviced Lonza to produce Serena in 2011. It is a great pleasure to enter into this magical process of breeding and raising a foal with the assistance of two such competent and lovely people.
Most importantly, Lux has produced some wonderful, strong, healthy, and beautiful foals. Lux’s offspring are all intelligent, kind, and naturally gaited – all caharactistics that we want to reproduce with Lady Lonza. As you can see from the foals pictured below, he throws foals of many different colors depending on the dame.
Kate Sousa prepared the chart below to outline the probability of different colors for Lux’s offspring. If Lonza does become pregnant with Lux’s foal, Kate has agreed to bring Lux to Dunrovin Ranch for a live web-session regarding horse breeding, the genetics of color in horses, and caring for stallions.
So, today (September 9, 2015), I (SuzAnne) and three Dunrovin Equestrian Club members will load the trailer with Lonza and three other horses for a trail ride in the mountains surrounding that Nine Mile Valley and complete their trip by dropping off Lady Lonza at the Lazy Sousa Ranch to be pastured with Lux and let nature take its course. If we are calculating things correctly, she will come into season within the next ten days and Lux is certain to be more than happy to “do the job.” Let’s keep our finger crossed! Hopefully, we can expect the birth of a foal in August of 2016. Stay with us to watch the story unfold!
See and Read MORE of Suzanne Miller at Days at Dunrovin.