Danish Knabstrupper Shares Appaloosa Roots Ultra Rare Pony
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Money-Making Ideas To Boost Farm Income Small Town Residents Love Her Mobile Grocery Store From toothpaste to pork chops, Jeannine the road tallying up about 400 miles a week Leutenegger brings a wide range of traveling to nearly 50 sites. Among them products into small communities with her are the senior centers and apartments she Fresh Xpress mobile grocery store. In just anticipated. But workers at businesses such a year the 25-year-old Ontario entrepreneur as the Deere and Ford dealerships in Listowel has doubled the number of stops on her shop from her van too on Thursdays and weekly route. Fridays. In addition to groceries, she sells The concept is not new, Leutenegger premade sandwiches from an area business. emphasizes. She remembers grocery trucks “People like convenience, and they like in Switzerland where she was born, and she choosing their own groceries and supporting thought it would work around the Listowel, local growers,” Leutenegger says. Ontario region where many small towns She purchases fresh produce from area don’t have stores any more. growers and for her latest service - weekly “I thought my customers would be mostly CSA-style boxes that she puts together and seniors,” Leutenegger says. “I’m surprised delivers to customers’ homes. Jeannine that my customers are people of all ages. It’s Her schedule has been busy, Leutenegger Leutenegger like bringing the farmers market to people’s says, and she couldn’t keep up without the brings a wide range of products doors.” help of family and friends. But by keeping into small towns Before she drove her fi rst route in July prices competitive her business continues with her Fresh 2015, Leutenegger advertised in local to grow. Town offi cials who once thought Xpress mobile newspapers, spread the word on social she would hurt other local businesses now grocery store. “It’s media, and attended a home show. She had appreciate her service. like bringing a farmers market to an old Purolator delivery van remodeled to One of the most challenging parts of the people’s doors,” include refrigeration, shelving and a freezer job is bad winter weather, Leutenegger says. she says. in the back with a generator. But even on the worst days, it’s been worth “In the beginning there was a lot in it because of the gratitude from customers – fi guring guesswork what to stock. Now I especially senior citizens. Leutenegger says, along with getting to know Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, have it down to a science,” Leutenegger Her website lists her schedule and products, her customers. Jeannine Leutenegger, Fresh Xpress, 9065 says. On Mondays she shops and stocks and customers can sign up for email or cell “It’s lots of work, but I can’t imagine Rd. 167, Gowanstown, Ontario Canada supplies from wholesalers and local farmers. phone text reminders. working for anybody else. I’m very glad I N0G 1Y0 (ph 519 292-1214; www. Tuesdays through Saturdays she is on It’s all about convenience and service, started this business,” she concludes. freshxpress.ca; [email protected]). Ultra Rare Pony Breed Danish Knabstrupper As one of less than 20 Dales Pony breeders Shares Appaloosa Roots in North America, Kelly Davidson Chou is Only 250 registered The Knabstrupper is a Danish performance as rare as her horses. Only 250 registered Dales ponies horse breed so rare in North America that Dales ponies are left in the U.S. and Canada. are left in the largest breeder has only 25 head. While Since the 2008 recession, prices for the the U.S. and few exist outside of Denmark and northern breed have fallen, and fewer animals are Canada, and Germany, they have plenty of relatives among being bred, further endangering the rare there are fewer than North American Appaloosas. The 2 breeds breed. 20 North share ancient Spanish bloodlines. “Before the recession registered numbers American “Genetically, the Knabstrupper and the were up to about 300, and we were getting breeders. Appaloosa have the same origin, but they’ve $5,000 to 8,000 for a weanling and $25,000 been bred for different purposes for the past for a nice mare,” says Davidson Chou. learned how hardy, athletic and smart Dales 300 years,” says Melyni Worth, Cedar Creek “Things are better, but we’re not back to are and what a great temperament they have. Stables. “The Knabstrupper is a good, solid, where we were. A weanling now will go for As a rare breed, I felt I could breed and help old fashioned, working type horse that was $3,000 to 5,000 and a proven broodmare, preserve them.” bred for general farm use in Denmark.” Few Knabstrupper horses exist outside trained to ride and drive, will go for as little Davidson Chou competes with her Dales in of Denmark and northern Germany, The breed originated with a mare purchased as $10,000.” halter, pleasure carriage driving, and jumper but they have plenty of relatives among from a Spanish cavalry offi cer and bred to a The Dales are an old breed, one of classes. The horses also do well in dressage. North American Appaloosas. Fredricksborg stallion on an estate called 9 recognized pony breeds. Known as While she isn’t actively breeding her mares Knabstrupgaard. The mating produced a to get out and do something, no matter how Mountain and Moorland Ponies, they are due to decreased demand, she will consider wildly colored stallion. The mare and her well they have done in the show ring. They strong in relation to their size, sure-footed, breeding a mare if a buyer wants a particular offspring were then bred to other high quality have to demonstrate 3 gaits and a good and thrifty. Initially bred as a pack animal, colt. She also has a few for sale. horses producing similar loudly colored temper.” the Dales found a niche fi rst on small farms. “I am one of a few breeders who does a lot offspring. Knabstruppers became highly While the Knabstruppers are most well With the crossing of a Welsh Cob stallion of competition, so people often contact me sought after. However, breeding of the line known for their spotted color patterns, the in the early 1900’s, they became known about buying a Dales,” says Davidson Chou. was limited, and inbreeding was a problem. breed also includes horses with solid colors. for their trotting and jumping. Although “If I don’t have what they want, I send them In 1971 three American Appaloosa stallions Breeders can submit applications to the an ideal Dales pony stands between 14 and on to other breeders.” were imported to Denmark to introduce new breeding committee. 14.2 hands, they can easily carry an adult She says Dales make wonderful family blood. The breed has expanded in Europe “Stud fees can run between $800 and of 250 lbs. or more. horses as well as work horses. They are great since, most recently expanding to North $1,200,” says Worth. “A fi lly can run from Because of their attributes, they were used for fi rst time riders and jumpers. Dales are America. Worth was among the fi rst breeders $5,000 to $10,000 in Denmark without extensively by the British army in World also ideal for use in woods and on farms. One here when she started with them about 10 a show record, depending on quality of War I and World War II. Numbers were breeder uses them to haul maple sap out of years ago. bloodlines and how it performs.” depleted and have grown only slowly since. the woods when making syrup. “I like their temperament,” she says. “They Mature Knabstruppers can sell for up to A few breeding animals were introduced to “A lot of our breeders are very dedicated are friendly, trainable, intelligent and sound $50,000 or higher. One on her website is North America in the 1980’s and 1990’s, to the breed, and our fi rst priority is to get horses. They do everything you ask of them.” listed for $75,000. Worth also sells fl ushed leading to today’s small numbers. our Dales into good homes,” says Davidson Worth says the horses are popular for embryos from a selected mare bred to a “The Rare Breeder Trust looks at active Chou. “I’ve even been known to reduce the dressage, jumping, fox hunting and other stallion of the buyer’s choice. A retrieved breeding mares and estimates only 300 in price on a fi lly if the new owner agrees to performance events. She says the horses were embryo shipped or implanted can run from the world,” says Davidson Chou. show and breed it.” long selected for viability, temperament and $1,000 to $2,500. She has been a Dales Pony breeder since Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, soundness, as well as a good work ethic. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, 2004. “I always wanted to be an animal Davidson Dales and Dartmoors, 4161 Leon “Before a Knabstrupper can be bred, it Cedar Creek Stables, 2435 Shutterlee Mill breeder, but I am acutely aware of the Dr., Clayton, Calif. 94517 (ph 925 788-0655; has to be evaluated in a ridden or driven test Rd., Pastures, Va. 24401 (ph 540 337- unwanted dogs, cats and even horses that [email protected]; www. before a breeding committee,” says Worth. 5451; www.cedarcreekstables.us; www. are euthanized each year,” she says. “I davidsondales.org). “They may be pretty, but they have to be able knabstruppers4usa.com). 1-800-834-9665 • [email protected] • www.bestfarmbuys.com • www.farmshow.com• vol.