We have added a New Page to our WebSite, “Video Education” which will contain over time, several informative videos on equine health. The first posted video is on Equine Botulism. Please review and we hope these videos will provide invaluable information for your equine herd.  Proceed to the Page listed to the right and entitled “Video Education”.

Technorati Tags: Equine Botulism, Equine Health, Equine Health Videos, Miniature Donkeys

In looking back at 2009, Legendary Farms had a very successful year. Below are a few highlights!!!!

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

2-3 year old jennets -5th Place

NMDA Nationals

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

2 Years & Older Jennets - 1st Place and Grand Champion

Tennessee State Fair

Hill Country’s Lexus

Weanlings/Yearlings Jennets - 1st Place and Reserve Grand Champion

Tennessee State Fair

Designer Donkey’s Macy Lee

Tennessee Donkey Association

Grand Champion - Halter Jennet

Hill Country’s Lexus

Tennessee Donkey Association

Reserve Grand Champion - Halter Jennet

KKR Stroke of Midnight

Tennessee Donkey Association

Tied - Reserve Champion

Halter Jacks

Legendary’s Hearts Wide Open

Shown only twice in “In Hand Trail”

3rd Place - Wilson County Fair

4th Place - Tennessee State Fair

Technorati Tags: Hill Country Miniature Donkeys, KKR Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys in Halter, Tennessee Donkey Association, Tennessee State Fair

By: Katrina Fleener

We live in the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, home of the Stones River Civil War Battlefield. As we begin this new year and new decade take one brief minute to remember the trials and tribulations that make it possible for us to live the lives we do. We, as citizens of this great Country, may not always agree but may we always remember the price that must be paid for freedom.

After General Braxton Bragg’s defeat at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862, he and his Confederate Army of the Mississippi retreated, reorganized, and were redesignated as the Army of Tennessee. They then advanced to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and prepared to go into winter quarters.

Murfreesboro, TN was an important strategic location for both sides. The city is situated on the railroad to Chattanooga, thirty miles southeast of Nashville. Extending from every direction from the town are numerous turnpikes. Stone’s River–named after an early settler flows through the city. The Nashville Railroad crosses the river as well as the Nashville turnpike. Open fields surrounded the town, fringed with dense cedar trees. These afforded excellent cover for approaching infantry.

Major General William S. Rosecrans’s Union Army of the Cumberland followed Bragg from Kentucky with about 45,000 men. On Dec. 31, 1862, the two armies faced each other just west of the Stones River (Murfreesboro, TN). At dawn on the 31st, Bragg’s men attacked the Union right flank and had the upper end of the battle until Union reinforcements arrived and pushed the Confederates back. On New Years Day, both armies marked time. Bragg surmised that Rosecrans would now withdraw, however, the next morning he was still in position. In late afternoon, Bragg hurled a division at a Union division that had crossed the Stones River. With the assistance of artillery, the Federals repulsed the attack. The Confederates claimed the Stones River as a tactical victory. However, from a strategic viewpoint, the campaign was a Confederate failure.

The Union had 41,400 troops engaged, of which they lost 12,906. The Confederates lost 11,739 out of 34,739 engaged ranking this battle #8 as one of the costliest battles of the Civil War. The Rebels retired to their original position. Bragg left the field on January 4-5, retreating to southern Tennessee (Shelbyville and Tullahoma). Rosecrans did not pursue, but as the Confederates retired, he claimed the victory. Stones River boosted Union morale and proved to be a turning point for the Union.

The Stones River Battlefield of Murfreesboro, TN is now a National Park preserving the sacred battlefield grounds and telling the story. Each year, actors recreate the camp for the Union and Confederates, fire off period correct artillery and tell the stories of the Battle of Stones River.

Technorati Tags: battle field, Civil War, General Braxton Bragg, Major General William S. Rosecrans, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Based upon wins in Halter Classes and shows recognized by The Tennessee Donkey Association, Legendary Farms had two jennets tied for Champion Halter Jennet

Designer Donkey Macy Lee

and

Hill Country Lexus

Photos of the two Champions are below:

We are very proud of these two girls!

Our baby jack received Reserve Chmapion Jack

KKR Stroke of Midnight

Technorati Tags: Designer Donkey's Macy Lee, Halter Champion, Hill Country's Lexus, miniature donkey, NMDA, Reserve Halter Champion, Show Winning Donkeys, Tennesse Donkey Association

At one time, Dick and I were very active in Kiwanis and met so many wonderful people. I am a Past-President of the Kiwanis Club of Chino Hills (CA) and Kiwanis Club of Upland. Dick was the Lt. Gov. of Division 15 (encompassed clubs in the Inland Empire area of CA). When we moved to Tennessee, we left behind some terrific Kiwanis friends. Well, Kiwanis just had their International Convention in Nashville (June 25th-June 28th). We had several Kiwanians come out to the farm to visit and see our animals. What a Fun Day!!!

Well, everyone loved our newborn Miniature Donkey, “Buttons”. I hitched up Macy Lee to the easy entry cart and she is just learning to pull. But she really enjoyed showing off in front of our friends. Macy Lee is quite the “Ham”.

It was great to see old friends who work so hard to make thier communities a better place to live!

Technorati Tags: Chino Hills Kiwanis, Division 15, Kiwanis, Kiwanis International Convention, Miniature Donkeys, Upland Kiwanis

We have just added a new Junior Herdsire to our Farm, KKR Stroke of Midnight. “Stroker” is out of Sunset Acres Rowdy Yates (a producer of multiple ADMS Champions) and Heavenly Sydney (a beautiful, drafty brown and white jennet). This little guy is just a “doll” and should blend very well with our jennets. Thank you Kathy Loudamy, We just love this little guy.

More information on Stroker is on our “Jack” page.

Technorati Tags: herd sire, jack, kathy loudamy, kkr miniature donkey, miniature donkey, sunset acres rowdy yates

By: Richard

Katrina and I recently visited the Florida Everglades and had a wonderful time. We were not surprised that there were no miniature donkeys but we were surprised that the area looked nothing like the image we had in our minds. There was no bayou like you see in and around New Orleans, no tropical jungle like you might find in Mexico or else where in the tropics, and there was not even a lot of water.

We visited in February which is a good month to get out of the cold up north and it is the time of year that there are a lot of birds in the Everglades. However, it is also the dry season in southern Florida. That is good from a visitors standpoint but it means that the Everglades are very dry and will be nearly completely dry in just a few weeks.

This year is dryer than usual which means the alligators are very much out in the open. Here are just a few of our photos. We know they aren’t miniature donkeys but if you love animals you should enjoy these images anyway.

Let’s start out with a couple of Love Birds, feathered……

….and not feathered!

Pelican looking for a meal, he found one just seconds later.

How many Pelicans do you see sitting in the tree? There are 3.

The Dolphins were more interested in feeding than entertaining.

This place next to the doc looks just like a movie set.

Mr. Turtle takes a sun bath.

Look closely for the bird.

Ok, here are some alligators. These are babies and only 6″ to 12″ long.

You can see mommy alligator just off to the left and babies on the rock. She will lay eggs with 40 or so hatching. Only 6 to 8 will likely reach a year old.

If you look closely you can see a couple of babies crawling on their mom’s back near her rear leg.

Not everything in the Everglades is camouflaged.

Look closely and you can see the baby bird just to the right of mom.

This is as much water as you will see in the Everglades in the winter. This was taken on a boat headed out into the Gulf of Mexico. You will find a few lakes or ponds in the area that will also resemble this. Most are only inches deep.

This is the most common site we saw in the Everglades whether we were in the north end or south end. During the summer (the wet season) this should be full of water but there will be few birds around and the alligators will be in the water.

This site was astonishing. Each of these alligators is 6′ long or longer! There are even more outside of the picture.

This bird just finished diving into the water for a meal and must now sit in the sun for a half hour to dry its feathers before it can fly again. Some birds have an oily coating on their feathers so they can fly immediately after coming out of the water but not this bird.

Pretty flower but can you find the butterfly?

Technorati Tags: alligator, bird, everglades, florida, miniature donkey, turtule

By Richard

Katrina and I just returned from a week long Spring Break in Florida. When we returned we found several inches of snow on the ground. It was a shocking reminder that winter doesn’t take a break. We did all the usual things you do in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area in the winter.

We will show you more over the next couple of weeks.

The Everglades was nothing like we expected but more than we deserved. If you love little donkeys; you most likely are fond of all animals. I know we are and the Everglades is a place of wonder.

Here are a couple of teasers; we will tell and show you more over the next couple of weeks.

Technorati Tags: donkey, everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, snow, spring break

We are very excited about some wonderful Babies we have planned for 2009:

Due in Late April:

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam: Cobra’s Angel

Pedigree is listed here.

Due in Mid- May.

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam: Cobra’s Rose Petal

Pedigree listed here.

Due in Late August

Sire: Springlake Razmataz

Dam:  Cobra’s Anastasia

In this picture Lucile looks so innocent, that is how she kills so many rolls of toilet paper, they never saw her coming!

Lucile is one of our two cats. Katrina went to the pound and fell in love with a cat. She called and asked if it was ok to bring the little boy cat home. Of course I said wait, I want to see what this animal looks like. My plan was if I give her time to think about it and she thinks I am coming over to give her a hard time she will just go home and forget all about it. Well, I showed up and I fell in love with a little girl cat.

That is how we left the pound with two cats instead of one. Linus the boy was to be hers and Lucy, the girl was to be mine. Surprise, the cats had different ideas. Long story short, Linus (the boy) is my cat and Lucy is now Lucille (the girl) and is Katrina’s cat.

Linus is a little lazy and a lot fat. His story at another time.

I have to admit that Lucille is the most remarkable animal. She has very expressionistic eyes. You can always

(more…)

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