Welcome to Bull Ranch!
Okay, unlike Mary, I've got zippo horse experience. I do know basic things and stuff, as I've been in love with horses since I was a little girl. But yay for me-Sims 3 Pets and this forum! I've already had failed attempts at ranching but now I've got a new idea. (Though I've got no idea if it's even going to work
)
While I do love Arabians, I don't want to do what other people have already done. So I was thinking and I asked myself, "Wouldn't it be cool if they had more horse breeds on Pets to work with? Like Indian horses and, my favorite, Nokotas?" I love Nokotas, and although I didn't expect them in Pets, I still wish EA put some of the more unknown breeds in there for us. But then I though, "Wouldn't it be wicked if you could
create your own horse breeds by carefully breeding different breeds to get the features you want?" And then I had my challenge: To create a ranch that breeds Nokotas.
There are two types of Nokota horses: Traditional and Ranch Stock. The Nokota breed is pretty mixed already, coming from Sitting Bull's released stock. They lived wild and bred with other horses so there is not a "true" Nokota. However, Traditional Nokotas are mainly categorized by their spanish mustang appearance- on the small side but sturdy; delicate, curved in ears; short backs and sloping shoulders; low-set tails and sloped croups. The breed is often characterized by long mane and tails, and even feathering on the fetlocks. Ranch Stock share many of these same qualities, but more mixed with other breeds to excel in sports or competitions. I'm going to aim for Ranch Stock Nokotas, but also try to add as much Traditional features as possible.
I'll first introduce my rancher sim. Fawn Tasunke. She is a down-to-earth, serious young woman who, after coming into great wealth, has dedicated herself to the rehabilitation and preservation of the Nokota breed. She purchased a posh ranch in Appaloosa Plains, as well as four project horses to work with in creating the breed. Here she is in the front pavilion of Bull Ranch:
Bull Ranch is a state of the art facility that includes its own racetrack, five indoor stalls, three pastures, and a three story living quarters. It also has front gardens and a windmill in the back. Here is an aerial view of the ranch:
Miss Fawn Tasunke has four horses in her posession as of the moment and they are to be the foundations of the Sims Nokota breed.
First is a gray thoroughbred stallion named Dasher. While his build is too big and bulky to amount to a Nokota, his muscular strong legs and competitive spirit is what I want to put in my ranch stock.
Second is a black quarter horse mare named Jackie. Quarter horses were commonly bred with Traditional Nokotas and, at least in sims, they have the slender, smaller body type that I want in a Nokota.
Next is a friesan mare named Hannie. Hannie has a great V-shaped chest that I want to incorporate into my horses, though on a smaller scale. Also, as a friesan, Hannie has light feathering, which I want my Nokotas to have.
Last is Soldier, a spanish mix that, in my roleplaying fantasy, has Nokota blood in him. I gave him as much traditional traits that Nokotas have that Sims 3 would allow. Soldier also has the trademark blue roan coat of the Nokota breed, although their spectrum of coat colors could span countries. (Forgive me if it's not the best blue roan colouring, I tried, I really did. I'm horrible at horse colours in Pets)
My first step when I start playing is to breed Jackie and Dasher. I'm expecting to go through a couple of foals before I get what I want, which is a colt with most of the body type being Quarter Horse, but also a smidge of thoroughbred.
I'm really excited to have a working ranch with a immediate and a long term goal. Of course, I may not be able to replicate a Nokota horse, it depends on how much Sims will let me manipulate horses and my mediocre judging of horseflesh. But at least I'll have fun!
