At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter

Hi Reader,

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I hope you're staying cool during this hot summer weather! I have some exciting updates to share with you this week.

🏆 Contest Winner Celebration

First, I'm thrilled to announce that we've had our first winner from the Mini Nubian Wether Giveaway Contest! The lucky winner turned out to be a wonderful client who has already been part of our Prancing Pony Farm family. They had purchased two Maremma puppies from us earlier this year and had already reserved three Nigerian wethers this season. When they came to pick up their three Nigerians, they also took home their prize—a beautiful Mini Nubian wether!

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It was such a joy to see how excited they were, and watching all four goats load up together on their way home to join the two Maremma pups was the perfect ending to this story. This is exactly why I love what we do: connecting high-quality animals with people who truly appreciate them.

🐐 Free Wethers Still Available - First Come, First Served!

Here's where I would appreciate your help. Despite having a wonderful first winner, I unfortunately didn't hear back from any of the subsequent contest winners I selected. Summer is in full swing, people are busy, and the goat market has been challenging this year. I need to find homes for these remaining wethers so I can focus my resources on my Maremma breeding and training program, as well as the goats that will stay here.

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Rather than continue the drawn-out contest format, I'm offering the remaining wethers to my newsletter subscribers on a first-come, first-served basis.

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These are high-quality kids that will make wonderful pets for the right homes. Here's what you need to know:

Requirements:

• Fill out our standard goat application (I'll choose which kid is the best fit for your situation)
• Indicate in the notes section that you're interested in a "free wether"
• Must be able to pick up in Lemoore, California

The Process:

1. Submit your completed application
2. I'll review and contact you if we still have wethers available
3. We'll arrange pickup details

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This is truly first-come, first-served, so if you've been thinking about adding a goat to your homestead, now's the time to act!

🏡 Farm News

It's been a busy week here at Prancing Pony Farm! We celebrated two of our Maremmas heading off to their new working homes. Kavax, a three-year-old neutered male, and Petunia, a one-year-old female, are now settling in with their brand-new flock of sheep and chickens on a farm in Northern California. It's always bittersweet to see our dogs go, but knowing they're doing exactly what they were bred to do and being loved and appreciated by their new families brings such satisfaction.

Looking ahead, we have an exciting few weeks coming up. Electra's litter of 11 puppies will be heading to their new homes in mid-July! That means we're deep into puppy preparation mode - final temperament evaluations, making those crucial puppy-to-family matches, and helping our clients navigate the "going home" process. It's a lot of coordination, but seeing these partnerships come together makes all the work worthwhile.

🎙️ Featured: Kim on "The Dogs of Our Lives" Podcast

I have something special to share this week! A while back, I was interviewed by a fellow dog trainer for her podcast, and the episode just went live. In "Avoid The Warning Signs of Backyard Breeders​," we delve into my journey from breeding Cocker Spaniels to focusing on Maremmas, and I share insights about proper socialization, health testing, and the critical differences between livestock guardian dogs and herding dogs.

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We also tackle some common myths about LGDs and discuss why purchasing from ethical breeders (especially for working dogs) has an important place alongside rescue adoption. If you've ever wondered about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into responsible breeding or want to understand what makes a quality livestock guardian dog program, this 45-minute conversation covers it all.

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I'm excited to share this resource with you. The host did a wonderful job, and you'll find valuable insights whether you're a current LGD owner, considering adding one to your farm, or just interested in responsible breeding practices.

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​Listen to the episode here: "The Dogs of Our Lives" Podcast.

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As always, thank you for being part of our Prancing Pony Farm community. Whether you're here for the Maremmas, the goats, or just enjoy following along with farm life, your support means everything to us.

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Stay cool out there and talk to you next week!

Kim

Prancing Pony Farm | Lemoore, California​
​Ethically Bred Maremma Sheepdogs & Dairy Goats

Questions? Just reply to this email - I read every message personally.

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P.S. - If you know anyone who might be interested in a free wether, feel free to forward this email their way. These kids deserve great homes, and I'd rather they go to people connected to our community than strangers.

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