northernfoundationsfarm.com

Photo Above: My daughter riding a 20 year old Walking Horse, Pepper, through the Keyhole pattern at the

Trempealeau County 4-H Horse show. I can't even tell you what year this was but it was a long time ago.

She won the high point trophy in the Junior Division that year with this old horse who had never shown before.

What Our Customers Are Saying

This is what our buyers and visitors are saying about our Echo foals:

Kathy Grosky, Canton, South Dakota, about her mare, Superman's Blossom: "We just bought a mare from Diane Sczepanski, Superman's Blossom, who is in foal to Diane's junior stud, NFF Wilson's Iceman, and we are very excited! This will be our first time having a mare to foal and we really appreciate Diane's knowledge and willingness to help us in this venture. Diane has patiently made herself available to all my ongoing questions!

I have wanted a Heritage Horse for several years and am fortunate now to have both a mare AND a baby on the way. Diane's horses have impressed me since the first time they were recommended to me. The conformation quality the foals show AT birth is striking compared to others I have have seen. I know some babies can be less beautiful at birth and then blossom to wonderful adults but Diane's babies always struck me as so consistent in quality over and over that I was determined to have one!

The other reason I wanted the Heritage lines is the wonderful, laid back and sensible heads they have...in fact, I'd say this quality is even above great conformation but luckily I see both in Diane's horses! They were very people friendly and that is testament to the consistency of their genes since I see it in all of them!

When we went to pick up Blossom, all of Diane's horses were so very engaging and personable! Even the stallions were hard to get pictures of as they had their faces hanging over the fences....in our faces.

We are so very happy we got this mare and anxiously await our very first Heritage baby in July!"

Kathy and Joe Grosky with Blossom back home in South Dakota

January 2009

Rachel Hill from Ontario, Canada, about her filly, NFF My Echo's Foxxy Lady: "She is the most independent, intelligent little thing I have ever seen. "Where's my grain, where's my hay, talk to me and pet me." I just love that little thing! She also has a grand run-walk in the pasture with head just a bobbin'."

Rachel Hill on Foxxy in 2008

Valerie from Graceville, Florida, about her filly, NFF Wilson's MayFlower: "If someone offered me ten thousand dollars for this filly, I would not take it. When I visited your farm I was not looking to buy a horse. Once I got home, I looked at your website and had to have her. There is something special about her that caught my eye. I see greatness in her. Star Gray is so mellow you would think he was a gelding. He has great nerve and disposition."

MayFlower (center) in Florida

Reprinted with permission from Marjorie Lacy, Editor, Canadian Walking Horse News, from the January/February 2004 issue: Rachel Hill of Fort Frances, Ontario writes "I am excited to report that I have purchased NFF My Echo's Foxxy Lady from Diane Sczepanski of Northern Foundations Farm, Whitehall, WI, a beautiful chestnut sabino filly. This fine little filly is by Diane's wonderful stallion, Echo's Star Gray Wilson and out of a Red Bud's Rascal mare, Rascal's Favorite Lady. I just can't believe how laid back this young thing is. Diane had only recently weaned her and she traveled all the way home just fine. Nothing seems to bother Foxxy, and she just loves people. I am sure part of it is due to her great foundation breeding and the wonderful dispositions of both her dam and sire, but I also think a lot of it has to do with the work Diane commits to her weanlings. Part of the reason I am settled on Diane's program was the package she offered with her babies. She starts them off with a good ground program getting them halter broke, used to obstacles such as ramps, poles, barrels, and tarps.She has them all used to a pony saddle on their backs, loading in trailers, and having their feet handled. They are led and handled on a daily basis and it shows. But above all, it was obvious Diane poured her heart into raising these babies. Walking amongst her many horses in the field, I could have brought any one of them home, they were all beautiful. I know I will enjoy having Foxxy."

Joan Hendricks, Owen, Wisconsin, said, "You are right about educating people about the difference between the "Big Lick" horses and the "real" TWHs. I can't tell you how many horses we looked at when a friend and I were looking for a Walker. That's why I was so impressed with Star Gray when I first saw him (and got to ride him when he wasn't trained)."

Joan on Eek

Sue, from South Dakota, writes, "We are sooooo appreciative of how much you handled Queenie and Melanie, and     although we don’t get to mess with them every single day, they have that loving and caring foundation and they are so smart and learn quickly. You must have lots of patience to teach them. So just think about all the foals you’ve handled in the past and be thankful they turn out so nice. "

Dawna Hanson, Eau Claire, Wisconsin has been working with Laura on some groundwork training with Jewel, the 2003 filly from Williams Annabelle. Dawna writes:"Yes, I have been working with Jewel. Oh I love that little filly!!!! Our plan is for me to work with her once a week. So far I have been trying to take Jewel up to her tolerance level of "work" and then back off. We are accomplishing things in tiny steps, but moving forward. You can tell she has had some prior good training too. I am sooooo impressed with that little horse!!! She has such a wise soul for such a youngster! She listens so closely and has such good attention span she actually tunes in to your intentions!!!   She seems to be very smart and learns fast. If you get that with breeding Anna's sisters to Star Gray, I can't see how   any one elses babies can beat it!!!! I can't explain enough how incredible that little horse is!! I always thought Anna had such a deep soul, something special I sensed inside of her. I hope her sisters have it too!"

Angela Etheridge of Franklin, Virginia says this about Chantilly Lace, better known as "Tilly": "I absolutely can not thank you enough for my little girl. She is absolutely a dream come true. As you know I started working with her some on parking out the day after she arrived, she has been here for 5 days and all ready she will automatically start "parking herself" as soon as I stop walking. She ties wonderfully-doesn't even move a step. She'll stand quietly to be fly sprayed--and even today I introduced her to the clippers--she was a little leery but never got upset and touched the clippers twice with her nose while they were on and allowed me to lightly trim the long hairs under her jaw and chin. We do daily in hand exercises--and she will calmly leave the barn for a walk without getting overly   emotional about being away from the other horses. The work you put into these babies just shines through.......I   have recommended you to a few people who are looking at getting a new walker, and I wouldn't be surprised if we don't  look into getting another one from you in the future. Thank you ever so much for this gal--I love her more every day."

More from Angela:

"Well let me start off by AGAIN, thanking Diane for this marvelous girl. Her first ever show was today and she was an Angel.........We had 2 horses get loose one ran by the trailer and the other actually got loose at the trailer beside us and Tilly handled it GREAT.

4 hours after arrival it was finally time for our class (they were running a tad slow) 9 horses showed up for the Two and    Under class (that includes Tilly and my gal Hope) as more entries showed up around the ring...I turned to hubby,   Ed, who was showing Hope for me--and told him I don't think we will be leaving with a ribbon----there were some NICE horses....QHs, a drop dead gorgeous paint yearling, Warmblood, Friesian, a Welsh Cob..and of course my girls.  I went  in with Tilly before Ed entered with Hope....because I thought Tilly would get upset about Hope walking away  from  her-but Tilly will willingly walk away and left Hope---so I went in first. Tilly was a good girl, she really didn't want  to  pick up speed-but the judge walked a little ways behind her kissing to her to help me urge her on-and we got a few good flat walk strides in. She stood like a dream in line up as the judge made her way to look at us. I was just beaming she stood so well, I was so proud--and kept repeatedly telling her how very proud I was of her---that she was a very special girl--and that Dixie was watching us and how thankful I was for her, and to her for allowing me to come to her in the most hardest times and cry into her mane. As I am saying all this to Tilly I hear the announcer come on and start reading off the results of the class--I'm still telling Tilly all of the above-and listening for Hope's name  to be called (I knew she had a better chance of a ribbon than a TWH in an open breed show) and all of a sudden it hits me what they are saying on the PA--I heard Chantilly Lace--THEY HAD CALLED HER NAME--my jaw just dropped--then I realized they had called her for FIRST place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unconsciously I reached for the necklace  around my neck that holds a small amount of Dixie's cremains and kissed the Celtic heart knot that decorates it...I was in absolute tears.....NFF Wilson Chantilly Lace had won her first ever class at her first ever show. As I lead Tilly from the ring I heard Hope's name called for 6th. We didn't have anyone with us to take pics while we were in the ring...but here are some we took after...........I am SOOOO very proud of this little girl. My mind is still reeling......."

Tilly shows off her blue ribbon

Beth Stephens, Beason, Illinois, bred her mare, Ebony's Miss Shadow to Star Gray in 2004. Here is what she says about her foal:   "Diane, He’s got that head nodding, overstriding walk! He is so easy to work with! I can’t say  enough about how lucky I am to have found you and Star Gray for my colt! The farrier was out for the second time, and he just stood there. He was more interested in checking out the guys pockets than worried about his feet. Leading has come a long way, oh, he’ll still check to see if I REALLY want him to move, but once I turn him to   the side to unlock his feet, then he’ll follow where ever I take him."

Buckshot

Mary Ann from Casey, Illinois says this about NFF Wilson's Lady Scarlet, now known as Rosie: "Yes, she does like the scratches under the chin! She is doing well with her ground training. I use the Clinton Anderson method for weanlings and yearlings. SHE IS A LITTLE GAITER! She takes off across the pasture in the nicest little walk I have ever seen!!! I'm so glad I bought her, my husband has even been out there petting her and thinks she is the sweetest thing."

Rachel Hill, Ontario, Canada says in an email on March 12, 2006:

A while back I had stuck to a schedule with Foxxy, doing just small stuff with her like tacking her up, leading her around a   little and grooming her. She absolutely thrives on the attention. The most I had done riding with her was small training rides in a small ring I made. e would go around a couple of times in each direction and then I would ask her to halt and turn. I have done this maybe 6 times, never really sitting on her back for more than 15 minutes. But the last 6 weeks have been one snow fall after another and the ring is almost impossible to ride in.

This morning I had two friends show up to go riding with me, one beginner rider and one seasoned. I thought what the heck, I need to start doing something with this mare so I saddled Foxxy up keeping in mind the limited training I had done with her and away we went. I put the green rider on Eb and the more experienced rider on Ransom and just hoped he would go nice and easy. She was incredible, Diane. It was like she had been riding for years and was amazing. The trail ranged from deep soft snow and trees she had to walk over to shear ice patches. She did it all like a pro. And.....her gait is marvelous!!!!

She entertained us all too. This time of year there are things popping out of the snow banks with the melting

snow. As a three year old Ransom was kind of freaked by this. Foxxy wanted to check everything out right up

close and taste most of it!   I know I will have a fun season with her this year. Get Star Gray to keep making babies Diane, they are special.

Rachel

Val from Graceville, Florida sent this message on May 7, 2006:

I tell you Diane, Flower was gaiting better BAREFOOT than with a regular keg shoe. Image that? The only

reason I put shoes on her was because her hooves were wearing square in front. Put front shoes on her and

now she moves different. Wish I never put shoes on her. She was GAITING BETTER and FASTER- BARE FOOT than with shoes on? Go Figure?

Now that's what I call GOOD BREEDING..........I think the mares that you are crossing with Star Gray is the perfect combination. he stars in Wisconsin must of been shining a little brighter the night Flower was born. She is a special mare and I Thank God for being the lucky one who called you and bought that little filly. Never dreamed she'd top out at 16 hands. She impresses everyone who sees her. I never dreamed she could rack at over 17 mph and be just as smooth as if I was doing a running walk.

Love my Flower..

Thank you for selling me the BEST HORSE I have ever owned!!

   God Bless,

   Valerie