M. Jane Shirley said she fell in love with horses at a young age. She showed quarter horses as a child and participated in 4-H. Her sister, who owned and showed Arabians, would tease her about her quarter horses, and Shirley said she would dish it right back with jabs about the Arabians.Shirley lives in Black Forest and now owns five Arabians. “When my sister retired her old (full Arab) show horse, she brought him here. I’m telling you within five days I was converted,” she said.”To me Arabs have a great deal of personality; their endurance is phenomenal – they were bred that way.” Arabians perform beautifully in the show ring and have exceptionally smooth gates, Shirley added.”In my opinion, an Arabian flows when they trot and how they move,” she said. “When you are on their back, they move the same way.”With a desire to share the pleasure of owning a well-bred horse with championship potential, Shirley started her own business – RBK Arabians – as a way to offer less expensive breeding opportunities for families. “It can really be a dream come true,” she said.Now is the perfect time to invest in an Arabian horse. Shirley said the downturn in the economy has created lower stud fees, which is the price paid to the owner of the stallion for impregnating the mare. In the last year, stud fees have fallen by more than 50 percent, she said.The actual cost of breeding her mares and getting a foal vary, she said. The total could range between $2,500 and $4,000, depending on the actual veterinarian fees and the choice of stud.After an initial consultation, Shirley said she reviews all the associated breeding costs with her clients. They pay the stud fee, the veterinarian bills and a small stipend for feed, as the horse is weaned. She also offers payment plans and 1-percent financing during the 11-month gestation period.Another unique aspect of Shirley’s business is found in her tagline “breed by request.” It highlights her goal to ensure the foals have a home before they are even conceived. “I have a strong philosophy of not bringing any animal into this world – from a bird to a horse – that doesn’t have a home,” she said.Shirley said Arabian horses can become the center of family activities and provide children the opportunity to get away from the computer and TV and learn good work ethics. She said she doesn’t like to see kids wasting all their time indoors. That’s the 4-H in me,” Shirley said.In addition to building a relationship with an Arabian horse, Shirley said the horses are also good investments. “These horses (Shirley’s mares) produce horses that can sell for $30,000 to $50,000. If you are lucky enough to get a male, you have great breeding potential,” she said. “A lot of folks’ ears will pop up when they hear the names in these horses’ backgrounds – Padron, Padrons Psyche, Khemosabe and Khemistreetu.”She also encourages her clients to become involved with the foal as soon as it’s born through a process called imprinting.Imprinting can be accomplished within 10 to 15 minutes of the foal’s birth and continues through the foal’s first year. Shirley said imprinting helps desensitize horses from human touch by petting and stroking them, straddling their backs and gently tapping them with a foam swimming noodle.”Some people think that Arabians are too high strung, but if they get imprinting and the right trainer, they are as predictable as any 35-year-old trail horse,” Shirley said.Mike Lehnertz of Saddle Up Training is Shirley’s trainer, and he said imprinting makes his job easier when it’s time to train the horse for riders.Shirley encourages her clients to visit the new foal often. “They are welcome to come to see it every day,” she said.Anyone can become a horse owner, but they should learn basics of horse care and behavior, Shirley said. “I’ve seen a 4-year-old saddle their own horse and ride.”More about Jane ShirleyWhat do you do in your spare time?I’m reading about genetics and what combinations produce color (in horses).What is your favorite food?Pizza, but now I limit my intake. I’ve lost 35 lbs. and counting.Where is your favorite vacation spot?Fireside Inn; Alpena, MichiganWhat is your favorite thing about summer?When fall arrivesWhat do you enjoy about living in Black Forest?Peace, tranquility. Living in an area without road rage and cars cutting you off to go nowhere fast. Where people know my name and almost all folks smile or wave. Those who don’t should learn how to.
