Passages

I learned on Sunday that I lost a friend that I never got the chance to actually meet. Sigrid "Sig" Ricco of Knight Creek Farm, Clayton, NY, passed away in her sleep February 2nd. She was 58.

I met Sig on the Happy Appy Yahoo forum, the same place I met my friend and mentor, Heather. Sig was very active in ApHC and App politics. She always had a kind and encouraging word, sometimes emailing me privately to pass along some of her considerable knowledge or an extra word of encouragement. There were plenty of people early on who told me I should get rid of Poco, but not Sig. She celebrated my small victories and gave me useful advice when I needed it most.

Sig bred foundation Appaloosas with more modern bloodlines, and created some beautiful horses in the process. She strongly believed in responsible breeding, only producing stock that was HYPP or Herda N/N, and she only bred one foal every 1-1.5 years. Before I knew what any of that meant, I knew her horses were special. I've often thought that if money were no object, I'd love to have one of Sig's horses. I have the pleasure of knowing several that live at the farm:

Dream (Olympic Dream)
CFS Olympic Hope x H/W Dream Station)

Dove (Olympics Dove)
(CFS Olympic Hope x SS Sabrina Ria)

Arden (Quagga's Ardent Sun)
(JKS Regal Quagga x SS Sabrina Ria)

There is another lovely mare called Shadow, but I don't know her registered name, and I don't have a photo.

Heather was the one who called to tell me of Sig's passing, and a windfall — Sig left Heather 2 horses:

Quagga (JKS Regal Quagga)
(Regal Contender x Alotta Finesse)

Quagga is a true fewspot.
His show career was cut short
by a breeding accident in which
he broke a stifle.

Station (H/W Dream Station)
(Dreamers Fancy x Bostons Depot Co)

Quagga and Station arrive at the end of the month, and I can't wait to meet them.

Rest in peace, Sig. You know your babies are in good hands.