Shades of Blue Ranch

The Story of Shades of Blue Ranch

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Welcome to the Shades of Blue Ranch! We are located in Hebron in northern Illinois. We breed pure Falabella miniature horses whose ancestry dates back to the Falabella farm in Argentina. We also raise American Miniatures. The miniature horses ("minis") are handled every day to ensure a gentle and loving attitude. We focus on training and preparing our horses for activity and therapy work, such as visiting nursing homes, homes for the disabled, schools, hospitals, etc. 

We have a small foal crop each year that are bred for temperament, conformation and color. 

How did we come to call the farm Shades of Blue Ranch? As we acquired more horses, Gary had to build more barns and that blue paint never seemed to be the same shade as the prior shades. Thus, "SHADES OF BLUE RANCH!"

We bought our first pure Falabella stallion by a fluke accidental switch at a miniature horse auction in 1997. That “fluke” is our foundation sire, Toyland El Rio Rey, affectionately known as "Buddy." We were smitten with minis and started breeding and raising select Falabella and American miniature horses.

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Many of our miniature horses are doing therapy work with therapy programs all over the country, including SOUL Harbour Ranch in Barrington IL, SOUL Haven Ranch in Winter Garden Florida, Merciful Minis in Homer Glen IL, Miniature Rays of Sunshine in Green Bay WI, and numerous other therapy homes. We are proud of the amazing temperaments of our miniatures and we love that so many of them are sharing their unconditional love in therapy work. 

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Love, Carol & Gary Swinford

It's a BOY!

Welcome "Shades of Blue Ranch El Rey's Falabella Legacy"

Serebella decided she didn’t want to wait until May 1 to have her baby. He arrived at 8:15am on 4/19/21. We had just put the mares out to eat. Gary saw Serebella lay down, we got her in her stall and 10 minutes later this handsome Medicine Hat colt arrived! He is a full 100% Falabella.

Dam: S Starr Seven Serebella

Sire: S Starr Seven El Rey II

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UPDATE: After lengthy discussions, a decision was made on behalf of “Magic Man’s” future. We decided to sell him to a Falabella breeder, Diane Wolcott. Diane lives in Arcadia, Florida and is the founder and president of FALABELLA INTERNATIONAL PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION. Magic Man will be one of the herd sires breeding pure Falabellas. This mini is very special to her as he is the grandson of Grosshill’s El Rey that she owned and who passed away. Magic Man’s registered name will now be SOBR EL REY’S FALABELLA LEGACY. We are very excited for this colt’s future !

Our Stallions

Our Mares

Our Mares