The Long Grey Line Farm
The Long Grey Line Farm began
operation early in 1976. Hell Cats' Reveille by Broadlands' Kilarney and
out of Evan's Lula Twigg by Command Attention was selected to head the breeding
program. He was bred by W.W. Evans, Winds Aloft Farm, Louisville,
Kentucky. Soon another stallion, Badge of Gallantry by Gallant Guy
O'Goshen and out of Autumn Twilight by Anderson Aire by Anderson Rex (full
brother to Captain Courageous), was also purchased from Winds Aloft Farm.
Mares who were eighteen to twenty one years of age were purchased to try to
intensify some of the old bloodlines. Today, their sons, daughters,
grandsons and granddaughters are continuing the program to bring back the old
bloodlines of Jack Twigg (for the beauty, very smooth trot and leggy motioned way of going) and
King Barrymore (for the big strong hooves) among others. A special
effort to intensify the Kalarama Rex bloodlines (to ensure stamina and athletic
ability) has been carried out and today some of the most potent Kalarama Rex
blood can be found on our farm. Nearly every world's champion at Louisville each
year traces to Kalarama Rex. In the 1990s, we made the decision to broaden
our minds and our marketing to include sport horses. Saddlebreds are versatile
horses who love to work at different jobs. A good horse is a good horse
who can do several jobs well. Most of our horses free-jump well and show
potential as jumpers or dressage horses. We have proven that they can do
endurance with a Saddlebred Select Bronze Award from the American Saddlebred
Horse Association to Bugle Call Rag, a full brother to breeding stallion, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Several of our horses have competed as jumpers and field hunters and some are
being schooled in dressage. We hope that when you look over our stallion roster and our list of
horses for sale that you will find something that suits your needs. We are always
willing to talk about bloodlines and horses. Give us a call.
Martha and her daughter exhibited fancy poultry on the East Coast and in Alabama, so it was only natural to continue to have unusual poultry and waterfowl. They also competed at horse shows in the early 1970s with Martha driving and riding her five-gaited gelding, Caesar, and the children showing their versatile little Welsh mare, Stormy Day. Martha's family had American Saddle Horses before World War II, so her interest and knowledge goes back a long way.
COMING SOON!
PIGLETS are here!
WELSH SHEEP DOG PUPPIES are here!
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK PUPPIES are here!
POMERANIAN GOSLINGS due in January
BELTED GALLOWAY calves due year around
AMERICAN SADDLEBRED foals due May
Contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com to reserve any of the babies due in the coming months.
THE GREY PRINCE Larry Bush, handling 2010 Arizona Futurity Horse Show - Scottsdale
GRATEFULLY GREEN, FARM PRODUCTS FOR SALE:
We sell eggs from Araucana (blue & green), Cornish Giant (light brown), Cuckoo Maran (dark chocolate), Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, and others (various shades of brown) so that your generous dozen is a lovely rainbow. These chickens are free to graze in the pasture and yard. Eggs are currently $3.00 per dozen. We have a limited number of duck eggs at $5.00 per dozen. We sell Berkshire pork and Belted Galloway beef by the mixed quarter, side or whole. Large turkey gobblers and Pomeranian Geese are usually available. We have heavy breasted chickens, suitable for baking or frying and have recently added Pekin Ducks and Rabbits for meat. Call for current pricing.
The Long Grey Line Farm has participated in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) since 1974. We are inspected annually by a designated USDA inspector.
We have garden produce for sale, hopefully year around. Martha has set up an Aquaponics project and will market under the name, GRATEFULLY GREEN. The three 300 gallon tanks hold Shad, Koi, Goldfish and Minnows plus a few Bream and Catfish. They supply the nutrients in the water to grow Watercress, salad greens, Swiss Chard, herbs, Mints and other delectable plants. This is true organic horticulture. The biggest challenge is to keep the grow house warm enough during the cold nights. If you want a small quantity of any of these plants, give us a call. We offer Fathead Minnows and a few very large Koi and Goldfish for sale at this time. I am happy to say that the new Aquaponics grow house is complete and all tanks are filled. It is better than before. Watercress, lettuce, tomatoes, a few strawberries, mints, herbs and assorted other plants are already growing and we should have limited produce for sale year round now. Call for availability of vegetables. 256-883-9814.
After much research, we decided to switch from Landrace to Berkshire pigs. The meat is generally accepted as the best of all traits in pork for its superior taste, texture and marbling. We have two registered Berkshire sows and two gilts. The pigs are fed a commercial Tucker Milling pellet plus greenery from the garden and yard plus hay - no hormones or antibiotics, just good food. It takes a little longer to reach their desirable weight, but the excellent meat is worth the wait. The return on pork is somewhat higher than beef and is around 60%, so the value is very good. Half or whole pigs are $5.00/pound hanging weight which includes processing and shrink wrapping. Sausage is $6 per pound, sold in 20 pound (half of a quarter) lots.
Call 256-883-9814 or martha@longgreylinefarm.com if you are interested in buying exceptional Berkshire pork or breeding stock. We currently have one proven Boar for sale for $350.
Patsy Pig had eight beautiful piglets. They will be available for pick-up the end of January at $125 each. Only a few are still available. All gilts are sold; two boars are still available. These piglets are pure Berkshire but I do not register them anymore. One two year old sow is available for $400. She has papers but they are not in my name. She doesn't like my boar, so she needs to find a new mate.
BERKSHIRE PIGS
Three hundred years ago, the pigs of Reading, the county seat of the shire of Berks in England, were discovered by Oliver Cromwell's army. After the war the fame of the Berkshire Hog was spread. It was larger than other breeds and the meat was of rare quality and flavor. One of the breed's added qualities is the ability to finish at any age. The original Berkshire was red, sometimes with spots. Japanese blood was introduced to increase gain and to stabilize color to a consistent black with four white legs, white stripe on the face with a white nose. The breed has been pure for over two hundred years. The Japanese call it Kurobuta Pork.
In the past, the excellent quality of the Berkshire pigs made them a favorite of the rich upper class. The Royal Family kept a large Berkshire herd at Windsor Castle for many years. The first Berkshires were brought to the USA in 1823 and the breed registry was established in 1875, making it the oldest swine registry in America. Recently the Berkshire has changed slightly towards producing pigs with more efficient growth, larger litters with improved breed-back time, and less fat with good meat quality. Because Berkshires have been bred for centuries, the breed has been able to meet modern criteria without difficulty. The Berkshire is truly a heritage breed of livestock. Specialty smokehouses feature Berkshire pork and gourmet restaurants frequently offer Berkshire loin. One prominent mail order steak house is offering 8 ounce Berkshire Pork Chops for $17.50 each. Berkshire is the pork connoisseur's choice!
More information may be found: www.americanberkshire.com
Berkshire Piglets, 1 week old Landrace/Yorkshire Piglets
For a Landrace/Yorkshire piglet video click here
Pomeranian Geese - Geese live as a flock, not as a solitary bird so pairs or two or more birds are sold. Pairs are $50-60. Older birds are ready for meat. Call for availability.
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK PUPPIES: Ella and Sunnie had three puppies but they are sold. Sophia and Justa had ten puppies and a few are still available. Photos below. Contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com
Ella Sophie
Check out our horses for sale (updated 23 December 2011)
Martha Aitken became a Certified Breed Judge for The American Warmblood Registry in June 1998 after extensive study and testing in England and in Germany. She was soon certified as an AHSA (now USEF) Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Judge, which sent her to shows all around the United States. This led her to inspecting sport horses for other breed registries. She has made the decision to retire her USEF Judge's License because flying is no longer fun, travel is becoming tedious at her age and she is needed to operate the farm. She has also made the decision to cease riding instruction in the spring of 2009 so that she can devote more time to writing. Several books, one humorous about adventures on the farm, and another on the life of General William Temple Withers, her great grandfather, are currently in the works. Withers fought and was wounded at the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War, fought in the War Between the States, then founded an internationally known Trotting Horse farm, Fairlawn Stock Farm, in Lexington, Ky. He died in 1889 and in 2008, Martha submitted his name and accomplishments to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. He was accepted and Martha, with some other relatives, journeyed to Goshen, N.Y. to attend his induction as an Immortal in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2009. This is such a great honor and we are very proud. See more on this in the PHOTO GALLERY. Extensive research is being done and a book has been started. A target date for publication is set for 2012. If you are interested in procuring a copy, autographed, of course, contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com
In October 1999, Martha was invited to speak at the annual Horse Day Symposium at the University of California, Davis. To see her presentation, "What is a Warmblood ?" Click here
She has also written commentary on The American Saddlebred as a Warmblood Sport Horse. Click here
In July 2009, Martha journeyed to Goshen, NY to attend the induction of her great grandfather, General William Temple Withers, as an Immortal in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame. This honor came one hundred and twenty years after his death. The tribute that appeared in the souvenir journal of the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame can be viewed here.
Click here for pictures of our trip to Germany with the A.R.A.B.S. (American Registry of Arab Bred Sporthorses) in August 2001 to learn about Shagyas.
AMERICAN SADDLEBRED STALLIONS STANDING AT STUD
- All stallions stand with a live foal guarantee with return the next year. A different mare owned or leased by contract may be substituted. Shipped semen may be split and used for multiple mares at no extra charge, but LFG will apply to only one mare.
- Breeding fee at the farm: See each stallion. Boarding at the farm: $10 per day for the mare, $11-13 per day with foal (mare plus $1- 30 day foal, mare plus $2- 60 day foal, mare plus $3- 90day foal etc) , box stall with possible paddock turn-out by day (no pasture board).
- Shipped semen is available for some stallions. Breeding fees are as above. A collection fee of $150, subject to changes in the veterinarian's charges, will be charged for shipment or for local AI use. Disposable shipping containers are available at $35 each, no deposit, no return. Containers are reusable if you have a need for one. They will hold for 48 hours. Charge for collection is determined by the veterinary clinic, but is possibly $150 or more. Ask for current fee before ordering semen.
- Our farm veterinarian's clinic is well qualified in equine reproduction both at our farm and their hospital. We try to keep costs to a minimum yet achieving the goal of pregnancy.
- Our stallions are getting old. I will ship semen as long as it will work, but on site breeding is better. These bloodlines are not to be found today, so if you are a student of lineage, consider these stallions. This blood won't be available much longer.
MOST MARES MUST BE LIVE COVERED AT THE LONG GREY LINE FARM. THE STALLIONS ARE OLD AND THIS MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DROP 50 YEARS OR MORE OFF OF YOUR MARE'S PEDIGREE. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THESE OLD BLOODLINES ARE GREAT, JUST COME AND LOOK FOR YOURSELF. THE FOALS ARE OUTSTANDING....ATHLETIC, VERSATILE, TALENTED, BEAUTIFUL.
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Wingate's
Chindit Full blood brother to Merrill's Marauder So much motion ! First foal arrived 2005- a thrilling grey filly! Two outstanding fillies 2006, a chestnut colt for 2007. High-set necks, extra motion and exciting show horse ways. A 2009 chestnut colt out of Ice Dreamer by Vanilla Ice - very sharp and gifted - will enter training this spring. $700 LFG Sorry, no shipped semen
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Dapple Grey, line-bred Kalarama Rex bloodline, very high head, short back, tiny ears with hooks, gorgeous head, show horse presence and charisma. He is 28 years old, so you waited too long to breed to him! Closed book
Some get for sale |
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We are sad to announce that General Withers died unexpectedly. He was a beautiful stallion with charisma, courage, stamina, excellent conformation, and show horse ways, which he passed on to his get. His bloodlines are exceptionally old and valuable to the American Saddlebred. We will miss him very much. We have a few of his get for sale. General Withers' son, CAISSON, will now stand at stud. His dam is Carolina Waltz, which makes him a full brother to the gorgeous and talented, THE GREY PRINCE. CAISSON is 16.3, dappled grey, with a beautiful large eye. He is handsome, intelligent and kind. He has a long neck and displays much natural motion. This makes a stunning package. $700 LFG, Limited Time Offering Shipped semen available
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Pacific Mist
The power of intense Kalarama Rex bloodlines through both sire and dam, plus in his distant sire line in the 1880's is my great grandfather's trotting stallion, Almont, described as having almost human intelligence and fluid trotting action. Adds motion, refinement, power, elegance, show horse ability, versatility and grey! He only has nine get and is 17 years old. He is one of the best kept secrets in the country. His daughter, Tashi's Mist, is doing well on the show circuit in Texas! His first foal for our farm arrived May 2009 out of Gallantry's Jarmara by Badge of Gallantry - a dainty grey filly, Fairy Mist, who is lovely with show horse looks and ability. Another filly foal arrived in June out of Perpetual Kiss by The Silver Lining. Kiss In The Mist is large, very talented with high set neck, beautiful head, great conformation and she is grey! Pacific Mist produces grey foals and usually fillies. $1000 LFG Shipped semen available |
The Longest Day
Another stallion who traces to my great grandfather's trotting stallion, Almont. His first foals arrive in 2012. Sired by Our Grey Dawn and out of Perpetual Kiss by The Silver Lining, with grey on both sides of the pedigree, he should produce grey foals. He is a full brother to the outstanding mare, Goodbye Kiss. $700 LFG Limited Time Offer |
Click on any stallion for more information
See our breeding information by clicking here
Horses in Snow, January 2011
To visit our Blacksmith Shop Quartet, click here and then click on each horse
A
Rumble of Ridgebacks, Suzi, Wanu, and MasaiAKC Rhodesian Ridgebacks of recently imported African lineage are usually for sale. Our former senior stud dog's dam was imported from Zimbabwe. We mourn Wanu's death in September 2006, just short of his tenth birthday. His son, Justa Nutta Tsu (dam, African Tsu), stepped up to breeding duties in 2007. We imported a pair from South Africa in 2002. Zula and African Tsu have proven to be just what we needed in our breeding program. Puppies are usually $700-800, but occasionally are priced for less. We ship Delta Dash and try to select a puppy that suits you. We are always happy to have the puppies picked up at the farm. We have bred Rhodesian Ridgebacks for more than 35 years. The first two of the four stud dogs that we have used through the years have been sired by imported stock or by sons of imported stock. Add in our recent imported blood from South Africa and Zimbabwe, plus a female from yet another imported line, and you have a very good genetic mix. Our goal has always been to produce good family dogs who could earn their keep by working if needed. Some of our stock has gone on to be working farm dogs and hunting dogs, a few have gone to the show ring, many have completed obedience and service dog programs, but most have ended up being family friends and protectors who were loved and cherished by their owners. We regretfully announce the deaths of Zula and African Tsu, our imported pair. We are continuing the bloodlines through their sons and daughters.
Because of the down-turn in the economy, we have decided to reduce our puppies to $500 until the national situation changes. A non-refundable, but transferable, deposit of $100 will be required at time of notification of the puppies birth. Contact us if you wish to purchase a Ridgeback puppy. We will breed (whenever a female is ready) to our males, Sunnie and Justa.
Contact Martha@longgreylinefarm.com
Contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com or call 256-883-9814 if you are interested in a puppy or would like to be notified when the next litter is expected.
Gypsy and Zoe, owned by Brooke, after a hard day's work
Gypsy and Zoe, guardians, and Joey Lee's Embra
LaTarga comforts Bill's mother Carly and Chi - Nap Time
Alison's Aku shares some sun with Vikki, the Dobe Emma and Mongo taking a break
Austin and friend, Rudo Faith and her new friend, Logan
Andi's herd playing in New Orleans park What a comfy seat!
Ridgeback Desert Hunters Ella cooling off in the Water Tub
Peaceful Coexistence
- Sheridan and Annie
Sebastopol Geese - Two Giggles short of a Gaggle
The entire flock of Sebastopols has been SOLD
We are opening a new chapter in goose breeding. Very nice Pomeranian Geese have been acquired and will be available for sale after the summer of 2010. We do not ship through the post office, only via air with Delta Dash. This breed is also rare and is considered to be a Heritage Breed. They are bred for meat and are large geese and good foragers. We have a few Sebastopol/Pomeranian crosses, which are very interesting because they are loose feathered and lovely to see. Nice pairs of Pomeranians are $60, lesser pairs are available. Meat geese are sold for $20 plus dressing, if needed.
Herd of Heritage Turkeys: Blue Slate, Bourbon Red, Black and Royal Palm
Heritage Turkeys are breeds from the old days when every farm had a flock to provide meat for the table. These turkeys, unlike our modern Broad-Breasted Turkeys, do not require special feed and love to eat grass and bugs. They will breed naturally where the over-sized modern turkeys must be artificially bred. Our turkeys are raised without antibiotics or hormones. Breeding pairs @ $80 or gobblers for breeding or meat @ $40, when available. Sorry, but we are sold out of hens. The coyotes keep our numbers down!
A Batch of Oreos
Registered Belted Galloways - This is considered to be a Heritage Breed.
The breed's first recorded history dates to the 16th Century in the rugged hills of the former Galloway district of Scotland where they were selected for their thriftiness and ability to withstand the adverse conditions. The Belted Galloway has long hair on the back, so that the extra fat is not necessary to keep warm in the winter and biting insects are rarely a problem in the summer. Results of a multi-breed research project conducted by a Canadian Government Experiment Station, reveal that the Galloway ranks second only to the Buffalo in hair density tests. (I don't know if Alabama cattle can make this claim!) Angus also come from Scotland, but were selected for their rapid growth, not thriftiness. It is believed that the belted variety of Galloway cattle evolved from an early Celtic breed and is probably a cross of Black Galloways on Dutch Belted. They are polled, meaning that they have no horns, but they can still lay one on you with their head! This is a good-natured beef breed of medium size, who consume weeds, scrub and rough grass. Our mature bull weighs about 1500 pounds or less and is approximately 47 inches at the hip. The cows are about 900 pounds and produce well into their teens. We have an 18 year old cow who dropped a calf in 2011 and is carrying another now. Babies are very small at birth but quickly grow into fine young animals because their mamas have such good milk. They are thrifty and do not require extra quality forage to attain good growth. Because the animal is a little smaller, steaks are closer to the new guide-lines for portions. Exciting color, good disposition, no horns, good growth rate without pushing with high protein diet and lean flavorful meat. Since the Belted Galloways are free grazers, their meat is high in Omega 3, an essential fatty acid necessary for human growth and development. What a wonderful combination of traits!
Custom beef raised without antibiotics, steroids or hormones is for sale. We feed the entire herd a little commercial cattle feed twice a day, mainly to establish a routine for recovery in case they get out of the field. Shake a bucket with a few pellets and they come running! The herd has free-choice grass and hay available. Hay is raised on our farm with no pesticides or herbicides used. We know what our Belties have eaten and that it is a healthy diet. The meat is flavorful, not like over-the-counter meat, mildly sweet with a light amount of marbling in the muscle plus a layer of fat on the outside. The butcher says that he loves my Beltie Beef because it is pre-trimmed. He doesn't have to trim fat and throw it away. This means money in your pocket through per-pound savings. Call for availability and pricing. Beef is available several times a year and is sold by the mixed quarter, side or whole. Current price: $4.95/lb hanging weight, (usually about 50-100# per quarter) which includes processing and shrink wrap. Hanging weight is determined after the beef is ready to begin the aging process in the cooler. The beef is usually a mid-size miniature who is 47 inches or less at the hip. The steaks and roasts will be boutique size, just the right size for proper portions. The next beef will be available in the late winter. Call now to reserve your mixed quarter or half. For more information on the wonderful Belted Galloway: www.Beltie.org
Our bull, called Cupcake, has a very good disposition and puts it on his calves. They are easy to work around. He is a "heifer bull", meaning that he produces small calves but our cows all have good milk to make them grow out rapidly. In 2007, one of our senior cows died shortly after giving birth. Her daughter had a calf the morning that she died and took on the orphan plus her calf. The two babies, a heifer and a bull, grew out just fine. Our heifers, with their great maternal instinct, would be a grand beginning for a herd.
BELTIES FOR SALE
We sometimes have weaned heifers, as well as several bulls of various ages, for sale. All are registered or are eligible to register with the Belted Galloway Society. Price is $1200-$1500 for heifers. Young bulls are for sale at $1000-1200, depending upon age. The small minis are a little higher. Since we sell custom beef, older bulls are never available because they have gone to someone's freezer. Contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com if you wish to add a Beltie to your life.
Look at the Mini-Moo that was born 30 January 2008. The calf beside her is 18 days older and of normal size. The big calf has been her constant companion, guardian and playmate since birth. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was bigger than she was at birth. The rooster's tail was higher than her shoulder. This tiny heifer was sold to Texas.
Introducing our farm hands
Tan & Bryn, imported Welsh Sheep Dogs
Ella, Rhodesian Ridgeback
Tan, the Welsh Sheepdog
Tan, Bryn and Ella, enjoying the snow Griz Sweetie, Rhodesian Ridgeback
Griz, a McNab Stock Dog, was added to help Martha with the cattle, pigs and the geese. Since we needed specific herding traits, we located the perfect stock dogs in Wales. A pair of Welsh Sheep Dogs has been imported from the finest stock to be found in Wales. They are remarkable dogs, exceptionally intelligent and born with so much natural herding instinct! We needed farm dogs, but they also make outstanding agility dogs and some compete in Frisbee competitions. Tan, the female, is a long hair and Bryn, the male, is a short hair. We have had no problems with Tan collecting burrs in her fur, which was a fear when she first arrived. She has a beautiful soft coat that does not require grooming. Our dogs are very loving companions. A bonus is that they are great at locating possums (and sometimes skunks) in the barn. They don't bother the barn cats. There are only a handful of Welsh Sheep Dogs in the USA at this time. They are wonderful dogs, whether at work or at play or just lounging around the house.
FLASH! Tan, the Welsh Sheep Dog had six beautiful puppies in early December. They are full of energy and personality. Contact martha@longgreylinefarm.com to reserve a puppy. Introductory Price will be $300.
For more information: www.welshsheepdogsociety.com
Pets Direct Award |
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DOG TOYS & |
Call martha@longgreylinefarm.com if you want to know more about our dogs.
Contact us at (256) 883-9814 or by e-mail:
martha@longgreylinefarm.com.See our line of tack and unique gifts at
www.boodleshop.comCurrent stock in The Boodle Shop is being liquidated soon. Watch for the inventory and prices.
We also sponsor www.saddlebredsporthorse.com and
For Saddlebred pedigree research or art work:
For excellent, personal horse transportation:
Steve Merka - 770-778-1300 or quote@haulinghorses.com (box stall and personal care)
For more info: http://www.doubledeuceranch.com
Please visit our daughter's web page for Home Schooling at Home School Christian
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