Testimonials
Hello!
My name is Kathryn. I am a college student in Pennsylvania and a few years ago I purchased a yearling by your stallion "Raleighs Full Moon". I recently came across your website with all of the pictures of his offspring and had to e-mail you to tell you how happy I am with what my "Skyla" has turned out to be! Her show name is "Amarillo Sky" (Amarillo because of her color and Sky to connect to Moon) but I haven’t taken her to a show yet because I want her to be absolutely ready! This spring may be the perfect time! She is doing great! Her dam is a chestnut Thoroughbred.
My Skyla is amazing. I want to keep her forever! She is my best friend, my first horse that I could finally afford on my own after years of my dad's promises that never came through. I bought her as a youngster as it was all I could afford and as I knew it would be difficult to raise a young horse I also knew that with the amount of love I had to give her we would always be a team and when I gave she gave right back! She is now the reason why I decided to transfer colleges and pursue a career in Equine studies. And Skyla will be my teammate the whole way through! So thank you again!
Skyla is a great horse and a MAJOR SWEETHEART. We recently moved to a new farm and it was like nothing every happened, she is sooo quiet and willing, she wants to please and has been really smart through her training! I’m just really happy with her and wanted to let you know!
Skyla was a gorgeous baby and at the end of last year she reached 16hh and is now 16.1-16.2!!!! I have just started her over cross rails and we are having so much fun!!
Thanks for the amazing horse. I will keep you updated on our success in the show ring!!
Kathryn Gibson
Hi Catherine,
I just thought I would send you an email to give you an update on Crater. She is currently in training with Edie Lehman and doing wonderfully! She has come so far in such a short time. Right now I am riding her, and we are working at the walk, trot, and canter. I enjoy her so much and she is such a fast learner. She loves to get out of her stall and be ridden and that makes things so much easier. She is the talk of the barn, everybody loves her. I am planning to do Dressage, Western Pleasure, and maybe even some Reining. I truly enjoy working with her and we make such a great pair. The next time I go out to the barn I plan to take some pictures and I will send them to you. Also I should be showing her in riding classes soon. I will let you know if you would like to come out and see her.
P.S. Tell Moon I said “Hi” and give him a hug and a kiss for me. Also, I hope everything is going fine for you.
Sincerely,
Jaimee
Catherine,
OMG - she is beautiful. She is just beautiful and she can trot -- unbelievable! She is soooo pretty, she has an incredible body and awesome movement. She could be a hunter horse she is such a nice mover and she did not get that from her mama! I’ve had two foals by Moon and I am thrilled with both of them. I thought the Palomino was the sweetest horse on earth then this filly came along. I cannot say enough about their sweet personalities; even out of difficult mares!
Jen
Gold Hill Arabians
Catherine McCall,
I have recently purchased one of Raleighs Full Moon's offspring, Rococo Chanel and I have to say we absolutely love her. She has amazing ground manners, and is the sweetest mare with the biggest heart. I keep her at my parents house because I'm in college but I come home to ride her when ever I get the chance. She has a huge turn out to roam in and often takes full advantage of it running around and bucking. Everyone in the family loves her and even though she is my horse everyone fights over who gets to ride her. Even my dad, who was against another getting another horse has opened his heart to her and often rides her. She is a great horse and we really love her here, I just wanted to let you know she is in good hands.
Sincerely
Prestin Persson
Hi Catherine,
Just wanted to wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. I have had so much to be thankful for this year and I owe much of it to you and Moon. Bijou, Bahba, Dani and Sequins are all doing well and seem healthy and happy in their respective places. As this year is coming to a close, I begin to feel the excitement of the new years possibilities. Let's hope all of us continue to enjoy each other and our mutual love of the one and only Moon.
Have a wonderful holiday.
As Always, Lori Woods
Hi Catherine,
Well we got some good photos of Carson yesterday it has been beautiful weather here and he really loves me, he is such a ham and loves the camera. He is getting brushed and having his feet picked up nightly and is very cooperative. He is lonely and will be happier when he can play with the other boys. He gets gelded tomorrow, (I haven’t told him yet) so hopefully that will go smoothly.
I can’t WAIT for you to see him. I still can’t really believe he is mine and this all worked out. It truly is a dream come true. I hope Carson can one day be on Moon’s website as a happy ending and beginning too!!!! He is FABULOUS and I love him to death I am a living reference for your horses!!!! As is everyone that has one, I guess!!! But thanks so much. I hope all is well.
-Lisa Gould, Vermont
Thought you might like some pics I took today. So far neither have gone thru a single day of the "uglies", with Rocky being more friendly and gorgeous each day...and more colorful since he has changed color about 5 times so far! Jack on the other hand is the quintessential "BOY" since he just loves to lay down & roll in the dirtiest places he can find! He is so sweet all he wants to do is come up and hug all the manure he has rolled in onto you! I was trying to take the pics for AQHA and both boys were asleep. When I tried to wake them up, Jack picked up his head looked at me and flopped it back down on my feet. Too bad they are both so damned spooky! I can tell they will be awful to train! J
I'll be taking Rocky with us to the fair the last week of September. he gets weaned that week & since we'll be there, he'll get to spend his time talking to everyone. I'll have the kids walk him around the grounds seeing everything. If you get the chance, stop by & say hello...A big hug and a Thank you again to both you and Mr. Moon for turning a tragic breeding year into a joyous one!
Mindy Sullivan
Dreamor Realty
Dreamor Ranch
Hi Catherine,
Just a few weeks ago, we attended an open schooling show. We did open, junior horse, pleasure, and equitation. She was in classes with broke horses and numbering 30+. At the end, just for kicks I took her in junior horse walk trot canter. I have only cantered her once in the arena. On trails we can pick up both leads with flying changes. We took a second. YEAH! She still gets very stressed at shows, but I am not there to win, just for pure exposure. Naturally she is pretty hot, so sometimes if I don't lounge enough she has a hard time focusing on working. But she is doing fantastic. The photos are absolutely horrible but you can still see. We however, are attending a dressage schooling show April 29th. I decided just to wait for endurance for a year or 2. We were planning on only doing 10 miles anyways. I may however see if she can do a walk jog class at our next show.
Have a great Easter.
Kalia and Maleka
“I am looking forward to breeding one of my Hanoverian mares to your stallion. You have been a good stallion owner and very good at promoting your horse and keeping in touch with me. I see you as a model for how to maintain contact with customers. You are very hopeful; not pushy but very informative. I want to thank you a lot and I will look forward to our future contact. Thanks a million.”
Joanie Wright, New Hampshire
“She is so sweet I never get tired of looking at her, she takes my breath away. I still can't believe she is in my barn and belongs to me! Yesterday, while she was turned out, I went out with her and loved on her, she just follows me around.”
Leanne Todd
Hi Catherine
I love your new website design and the photos are brilliant. I have a paint friend in TX who does photography and she loves your spectacular photos as well. I must continue to compliment and say "Moon" is the single most consistent sire I have seen. Time after time the looks, talent and conformation are unequalled!!! They all look spectacular. I continue to send your website to everyone so they can see what these horses should look like that represent perfection!!
Lisa Gould, VT
From the first moment I met Raleighs Full Moon, I was impressed with his athleticism. He surpasses the stereotypical Quarter Horse and reminds us that all breeds contain those few uniquely talented individuals. His ability to swap leads effortlessly and to self collect joined with his calm but regal demeanor confirmed my belief that he would be an ideal candidate to cross on my Warmblood mare. I had the opportunity to work closely with him and he proved daily that he was easy to handle with an intelligence that responds to the human connection in a way that enables him to learn quickly. I found I looked forward to my sessions with this stallion who was always a pleasure to work with. A few of the qualities that I find necessary for a breeding stallion are exemplified in his impressive back, wonderful topline and gorgeous head. Add to that a degree of elegance, a persistent work ethic resulting in willing trainability. Raleighs Full Moon bettered the mare I chose for him and out produced himself. I would highly recommend him to those breeders who are looking for an outstanding example of versatility and ability.
-Jeanette Arnaout
Trainer & Breeder
Catherine
Back in 2002, when we chose the name Spirit of Moonstar for our 2003 foal, someone commented that it was a powerful name and a lot to live up to. Our Spirit is now 3 years old, and we continue to feel the name could not be more appropriate, correct, and 'lived up to'. With our Star and your Moon as her parents, the filly Spirit had the right start on paper. She was born with a grounded personality and knowingness we have not seen in our previous foals. It is obvious from looking at her that the genetics provided physical correctness, athleticism, and an abundance of beauty packaged in a statuesque form. Now that she is under saddle she proves that even a 3 year old green broke horse can have an innate talent to carry herself well, be responsive and take care of her rider. Our hardest decisions revolve around which discipline do we want to develop now, and how soon can we effectively work on the others. She is so capable, both mentally and physically, to do anything we ask. You know that I have personally been around a lot of Moon's foals, and as much as I would like to think of Spirit as unique and gifted, it is my experience that all of her qualities are so typical of the foals he is producing. It is an honor, and an awesome responsibility, to be the guardian for such a divine Spirit, child of Moon.
Mary Atwood
Blossom Hill Arabians
Hi Catherine
WOW is all I can say, You must be soooo proud of Moon. It takes a lot of work to get nice foals like that on the ground and in the show ring!!! They are just gorgeous. I LOVE this colt!! IS he for sale? Mare is pretty too, I forwarded your website and some of these photos to some QH friends who said it is so nice to see someone breeding QUALITY conformation with nice Cremellos. This colt is gorgeous!!! Well your horses continue to be about perfect, thanks so much.
Catherine,
Just wanted you to know that I love your new web site. It is very well done and informative. Moon looks spectacular and all his foals are beautiful. I feel honored to be a part of it and thank you for using Promiss on your web site. She is truly one of the sweetest, prettiest horses I have ever had! And without feeling to old, I have had horses for over 45 years!!!
Promiss is such a delight to have and I am so thankful and lucky to have her. Had I not been the successful bidder on her at the Addis auction I would never be able to afford her now. At the Addis Great Lakes Sale in August a 1/2 Arab 1/2 Quarter horse 2 year old gelding sold for $16,500!!!! Thank you for owning Moon and making Promiss possible.
You're doing a wonderful job of promoting Moon and when everyone finds out how wonderful his babies are, you won't be able to keep up with the demand.
Promiss gets more beautiful everyday. Sometimes I just watch her and marvel in her beauty and realize how lucky I am to be owned by her. I cannot say enough about Promiss and how much I love her. She is very special and we have a great rapport. I look forward to the future and all that Promiss and I have to look forward to.
Promiss promises to make her daddy proud!!
Pam Smith
Hi Cass,
Well, today was my day to start training Spirit for the ways of old women :} I just want to ride her so much... I think she will take care of me. So, today we made her move over to my mounting bench and tolerate me putting my weight in the stirrup. If we had adjusted it higher I probably could have swung my leg over her. Instead, we spent a good 5-10 minutes of me fumbling around on purpose...kicking her in the belly, up the thigh, in the stifle area, on the top rump, underneath, and so on... both with my knee and my toe. I laid over the top of the saddle and kept moving my weight around like I or anyone with less than good balance or strength will have to do to mount her. She was terrific. Never flinched. Never moved a muscle. Never got impatient or irritated. Only waited and waited and waited, quietly. What a gal!
She also did pole bending today (at a trot). I already have 6-inch PVC drain pipes all around the arena. She has to do whatever Phil is asking her to do and deal with those pipes laying across her path, straight or diagonally, or along side. She is a little lazy about picking up her feet over them... but is learning. It is interesting to see her look at them now... when she looks she picks up her feet. If she is too casual about observing then she hits her feet. She will learn.
Forgive me for feeling like I just have to share this with someone... and you are probably the only person in the world who knows I am not bragging. I am just elated, with what I believe is true justification. Maybe my expectations are so low that she meets them easily... nope, not the case. She has true-gold horseshoes to fill because we have experienced Siera, and Ricci before her. We know what quality is. No one has to explain that to us. As time goes on the rest of the world will hear less and less and less about how enamored we are of Spirit.. and she will become more and more a private treasure to only be glimpsed and remembered by those who cross her trail (like Siera). One day people will make the comments that start with "One day I met this beautiful buckskin Moon baby...and boy was she memorable!"
Did you come home with your own full Moon high?
Love
~Mares
Several Months Later...
Hi Cass,
I have SO MUCH to share with you on our camping trip. Did I ever tell you that Spirit is incredible? Did I ever tell you that incredible is an understatement? Do you have any idea of the charisma she exudes? Do you know that she is every man's horse? She was on display for about 50 people this weekend and even I, I who have shared every breath of her life thus far, I was as impressed as everyone else there. Athena was there too, and that just reinforced the impression people had of the breeding. Were Moon's ears itching? Did he have any itching in unusual places? I wish I had brought up handouts for everyone. It is an awesome responsibility to be the owner, handler, lover of the darling of the horse camp. I'm exhausted and high. Your ears are going to suffer as a captive audience on Sunday. Are you sure you want to pick me up?
Love
~Mares
Hi Catherine -
It was so great speaking with you last week! You're such a special person, and your love comes right through all you do - it has landed in Moon and all his offspring.
Halle came from a whim of Mattie's that I joined in with - to breed her very well constructed AQHA mare for color. We didn't even have a plan for the foal - keep it, sell it..... When Halle was born there was never a thought that she'd ever be sold.
My niece Emily and I are the horse-crazy in the family and we spend every minute together at Mattie's barn when Em's on vacation (where my horse is boarded). She was just 12 when Halle was born, and when they met was told, "Happy Birthday". I have to send you the picture of her face at that moment. Since then, she and Halle have developed an incredible bond, and as you can see, Emily has joined in with Halle 's early ground-training. I believe Halle would do anything for Emily.
This has been the best thing to happen, and just the right time.... A pre-teen's dream comes true! And watching each grow in their independence and confidence has been a gift to us all.
I'll keep in touch. Thanks for everything! - Mary Jane
Hi Catherine,
Well, congratulations are in order! Another excellent entry on Mr. Moon's resumé. As far as we are concerned, the stallion is fine, but it is what he can sire that really is important. Sire of a Reserve National Champion is wonderful. I think that is the kind of thing that accelerates. More quality mares will be booked and more champion babies will be produced. We're happy for you, the breeder, Jennette, and Michelle. You already knew this, but it is more true now than ever: All that work has really paid off! And isn't life something? Pretty spectacular...
Dan Kemp, Citrus Heights , CA
Owner, Writer, Publisher
Equestrian Connection magazine
Catherine,
How wonderful for you and Moon to have one of his babies do so well at the National Level!!! He is an outstanding individual and certainly deserved his awards. I'm sure that he is the first of many Moon babies to get National awards. The word is getting out!!! Soon everyone will know how great these Moon babies are and they will all want one!!! Pam
I LOVE your horses I coudn't take my eyes away from them! My name is Kathryn, I am 9.
Catherine,
Letta is gorgeous. I need to take another pic for you. We are pretty sure she is going to be a golden with snow white mane and tail. She had her first hoof trim and I have started with the sacking out. She has been ponied twice and does really well. We just love her.
Hi Catherine
The fillies are gorgeous! It is interesting to see them moving after the still shots, get to see the real make up of them. They all have great expression and those wonderful gaits. I was laughing at blue moon doing patterns and changing leads around the cones like she had been doing it for years, front and back changes, they are so athletic. It is funny I have been watching a lot of reining baby videos and they are all cute but nothing compares to the Arab crosses!!! You have a wonderful stud and obviously have well bred athletic mares you are breeding too.
Lisa
