The New Year Begins Featuring our 2011 Stallion Directory January begins the New Year, the time when horse farms all over the country are planning their breeding season and getting ready for new foals. The feature topics of the first three issues of the Mid-South Horse Review coincide with the breeding season. January highlights stallions; February highlights mares; and March highlights foals and foaling. Each issue covers the horses, explores the issues, features breeding farms, and covers the processes of bringing healthy, wanted horses into the world. January also brings New Year’s Resolutions, with many people vowing to lose weight and get fit in the New Year. So we include a book review of Pilates for Riders, an exercise regimen to get riders in balance, muscles toned, and in better tune with their horses. We include information on where people can get instruction in several exercise programs, including Pilates, Yoga, and Jazzercise. This issue includes feature articles on two prominent breeding farms in the mid-south area: White Oak Farm and Masterson Farms. White Oak houses a grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse stallion Silver Express. Champion Quarter Horse Stallions Zippos Sheik, RL Best of Sudden, and Last Detail stand at Masterson Farms. The MSHR researched and compiled a list of more than 80 stallions at stud in the tri-state region. Following is a sampling of those stallions. If color is what you’re after, check out the 1998 APHA Paint stallion Ima Calico Leaguer at Flora Farms near Byhalia, MS. For information, visit: http://florafarms.com/ For colorful Buckskins, check out AQHA Kings Doc Dun owned by Charles & Sharon Lott in Humboldt, TN. South Ridge Farm in Lavinia, TN is home to black Arabian stallion Azzill Halim and to Appaloosa Stallion SRF Southern Comfort. Visit: www.southridgefarm.net. Triple H Quarter Horses, located in Pittsburg, Texas, is home to Zans Two Tone, 1985 AQHA palomino stallion. For more information, visit www.triplehquarterhorses.com. If you want a handsome grey Quarter Horse stallion, there’s Mister Rapt Him Rite at Circle B Quarter Horses in Bells, TN. Milton and Becky Booth also stand 2007 AQHA Buckskin Stallion Mr. Double Straw Dude. See more at: www.boothquarterhorses.com. Plenty more Quarter Horse stallions are available through the Mid-South Quarter Horse Breeders Association. Visit www.midsouthbreeders.com. For Thoroughbreds, 3-year-old bay Big Train A’Comin stands at Mississippi State University. MSU also has several registered Quarter Horse stallions and one Shetland pony stallion available at stud. For more information contact Dr. Peter Ryan, (662) 325-2938.