| Having been in love with Appaloosas all of Darlene's life,
Gruff purchased an Appaloosa mare by the name of Smoother Move, a 2 yr. old daughter of
Chicaro's Bandit as a birthday present in 1990. That purchase was followed by another for
himself two weeks later with the acquisition of Moon Apogee. Darlene's involvement with
horses started at the age of 8 riding hunter/jumpers on the East Coast Circuit A. While
stationed in Hawaii with the Marine Corps, Gruff was involved with the rodeo circuit,
riding bulls, and assisting at the local stables.
Following the loss of Moon Apogee in 1992, several more mares were acquired and
after a visit to Powell Wyoming, the decision was made to purchase Mighty David from
George and Jaqi Johnson of Johnson's Appaloosas. Mighty David was selected for his strong
bloodlines of Mighty Bright and Prince Plaudit, his already established get record and his
outstanding gentle disposition. Standing at 15.1 hands, 1200 lbs, he currently has a
record of approximately 80 get.
Since that time, Mighty David has proven himself to be a working partner with
Gruff and Darlene. His disposition, color and conformation passes on to his foals making
them compliant with whatever is generally asked of them. Often times, weanlings and
yearlings were shown by teenagers proving the gentle qualities that this great sire passes
on. These combined factors often doesn't keep a foal around the ranch longer than a year.
Already an established sire in Montana, Mighty David is proving to be a broodmare sire. A
recent acquisition of a Mighty David granddaughter stills shows this outstanding
disposition as well as a bright colorful bay leopard coat pattern.
Foals at Hidden Eagle Ranch are often imprinted and handled extensively from
birth. All babies are generally halter broke and lead willing within the first two weeks
as Gruff and Darlene feel that it is important to establish life's lessons early. His
older crops have already earned numerous State and Regional championships and world
qualifications in both Halter and Performance.
From Hidden Eagle Ranch to Vision Quest Ranch:
The decision to relocate the ranch came into being
after a dark period of time within Darlene’s life. She began
experiencing a vision of the mares running freely in green pastures, a
luxury they did not have in California. With that powerful force
guiding her, she began her quest for a property that she could afford
that would allow that vision to be fulfilled, a dream of a better
place with pastures and a barn and being able to work more with the
horses. They had given her life sustaining courage to battle the
cancer known as Lymphoma in 1998 and a reason to keep on living. After
Gruff’s retirement from the Marine Corps in 2002 and subsequent with
employment out of state, now it was time to give back to her faithful
companions.
Through months of searching and time running out for the targeted move
date of 3/15/2003, a 15-acre property was located but contained no
horse amenities. However, the price was right that allowed Darlene to
put in the large pasture and 6-horse barn that will have 4-12’x12’
conditioning stalls and 2-12’ x 16’ foaling stalls with a
monitoring room in between and runs off the stalls. The year of 2003
will see a lot of building as the smaller pastures, loafing sheds,
arena, roundpen and storage facilities are being built. For that
reason, the ranch’s reigning stallion, Mighty David, will not stand
to the outside public since the amenities are not quite in place and
due to age, his book will be opened to only five outside mares
beginning in 2004.
Future expansion plans will be to add an additional 40 acres
that will be turned into part pasture and part hay fields so that the
ranch can grow it’s own hay. Another current feature of the ranch is
a small paved private airstrip located within a short walking distance
and overnight stabling will be available in the summer of 2003.
Darlene would like to give a lot of thanks to the people that she met
along the way for without their support, a move of this size would not
have been possible. From the wonderful people in California, Peggy
Kuta, Angel Rosa, Garrett Helsor who helped pack up the ranch; Kay Cox
of Cox’s QH who kept the majority of the horses while waiting for
Triple H Transport to pick them up and whose friendship kept Darlene
going on an emotional basis; Jeremy and Kelly Herman who made last
minute repairs to the trailer and kept the yearlings overnight for
them to the overnight stabling accommodators along the way to the
great people that was met in Spokane area once they arrived. Gruff’s
uncle and aunt, Paul and Elaine Roberge who diligently helped Darlene
to locate a place, providing transportation and a place to sleep on
the endless number of flights back and forth and came to help unload
along Melissa and Nathan Neisess once Darlene finally arrived
(followed by the horses arriving 12 hours later, what a nightmare).
The biggest thanks is to Nathan Bryant whose love and support
from the beginning to the end made all of this possible along with
Systems Transport’s use of one of their trucks and trailers. Nathan
endured being Darlene’s sounding board and relieved frustrations
with his endless sense of humor. To list everyone would fill pages. In
mid-April, 2003, Darlene was finally able to experience her vision as
she watched the mares race around the new fenced field, kicking up
their heels and perhaps enjoying the room to roam for the first time
ever in their lives. So, hence, the decision came to adeptly re-name
the ranch since the vision has been fulfilled and the quest for good
things to come has begun…
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