All About Oksana

We had 50 degree weather this morning for our walk. It was raining before the walk and looked like the rain would continue but the storm split in two half going to the east and half going to the west of us. Fedi came on the walk with his German Shepard puppy along with Ruth, mom, Joan and me. After the walk I left for Peoria and did a lot of Christmas shopping coming home exhausted. I don't like to shop and that chore is harder than cleaning stalls. When I got home there were a couple messages. One was asking about Joshua the Warlander but it didn't take me long to realize it was a scammer. I should have just ignored the message but felt compelled to answer him back writing, "I don't sell to scammers! Why don't you get a real job instead of trying to cheat people."  He hasn't written back. The next message was asking about Oksana's expected 2020 foal.  We don't sell in-utero but will put them on the list and as soon as she gives birth as long as the foal is healthy the first person on the list for this foal gets first choice to put down a deposit with the balance due at pickup. Oksana was Eliza's first foal by Raven and we were pretty thrilled. Mark and I were up in Chicago for Mark's 40th Africa reunion when Eliza went into labor. Karin sent me the text late at night that Eliza had a filly but the birth was different. Eliza wouldn't lay down and Steven had to catch the foal. They called Mike and he came over to help with the actual birth. Below is a video Karin took.
We sold this filly pretty much right after birth and the owner named her and made payments on her until she was weaned then asked if she could transfer those payments to two other mares we had for sale both in foal to Raven and let us keep Oksana. We were thrilled to say yes as I had always regretting selling her. She was such a beautiful filly and so very friendly. Below she is giving kisses to Rebekah.

 In March, 3 months before her 3rd birthday Emily rode her at the IL Horse Fair. She handled the crowds wonderful. 

 The next year she was also put in the judging at the IL Horse Fair. Karin rode her for that. 

 In 2016 we bred her to Evan, she is pictured below right before she gave birth.

 Sept 12th, 2017 she gave birth to a beautiful curly haired filly we named Darla.

 Oksana was a very good mom to her filly. 

 In 2017 Darla was almost 6 months old and not yet weaned so she got to come to the IL Horse Fair with Eliza.

   We needed a second horse for jousting and Oksana was chosen as she is such a steady mare and with just a few practices figured out what she was suppose to do and by the performance time was practically perfect. She is a large baroque mare and plenty strong to hold a knight in shining armor (not that Hannah her rider weighs much).

 Hannah was her rider and even when Hannah was slammed down she kept her cool and finished the ride with the rider down on her back.

Oksana has been a joy for us. She is expecting her 2nd foal March 20th, 2020 and we are praying for an easy delivery and a healthy foal.