LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
MEAD'S DAKOTAH DEAUCE

Mead's Dakotah Deauce ABCR# 2387. 1998 Leopard Curly Stallion, 14.2HH.   Deauce possesed the " indian shuffle " gait.  Beautiful, smooth gait.  Deauce was bred by Joseph Mead, born a twin hence the name.  We would like to think of it as fate how Deauce came to us.  It was shortly after Deauce's arrival in Alaska that Bret saw him for the first time, unaware that he was an American Curly Horse.  He was walking alongside the highway with 3 young girls on his back, Bret had to stop and meet him, his first thoughts were "WOW, now that's a stallion".  He felt a connection with this amazing animal and thought to himself that he would be his one day.  Bret and I met a few years later and a few years after that we met Deauce again together.  He was then owned by wonderful friends of ours and we expressed our interest in Deauce.  In 2006 the dream and honor of owning "Mead's Dakotah Deauce"  became a reality.  With great happiness we welcomed Deauce to our property and decided on "Promise Land Curly Ranch" so named for the promises this property held for Bret and his family. Deauce was the gem of our ranch and we had many more years with him.  He was a gentleman in every way whether it be with our children or with a mare he was about to breed with.  I believe with all my heart Deauce was one of a kind and we trusted him completely.  We trusted him to look out for our children and he was always ever so careful not to touch them whenever they were around him.  He was a horse I could leave my children with and know they were safe.  We have watched him take great care in not stepping on or even bumping them while he checked them out.  One of many great examples of his gentleness and awareness was when our grandchildren would come to visit and we would take them out to feed and love on the horses.  Even though Deauce was with mare and foal he was always well aware of where the children were at all times and his need to be extremely cautious, when it was safe for him to move or if needed to stand still.  Due to a few falls, I used to be afraid to ride the horses but never on Deauce because I knew he would do all in his power to keep me safe.  I know some people would say that is stupid careless and niave but he was that way and it was just different with him, it was special, a beautiful bond he developed with his people.  He was very intuitive.  He seemed to sense the needs of those around him.  He was even gentle with his mares.  Always asking the mares for permission and never getting rough with them never biting or such.  He actually seemed to "coo" to them as he would approach them.   He also did an amazing job of raising his foals.  When possible we would leave him with mare and foal as did the previous owner and it was great fun to watch him play and teach them. 

At his previous owners  home he actually charged through the electric fence after a grizzly bear to defend his mare and foal and drove the bear away.  Bret rode him into moose camp 14 miles over river crossings and such and he did wonderful.  He was very clever and would think his way through a situation or problem, a great Curly Horse trait.  He would do pretty much anything asked of him and then some.  We showed Deauce for the first time at the local Mothers day parade of Stallions in Palmer Alaska.  Not sure how he would react to the crowd we just ran him around the arena in hand.  A bit shy at first but when he realized it was all for him you could see him puff right up and almost prance!  He loved it!   He was also very patient and forgiving as we learned.  I could go on and on about how wonderful he was but there is not enough space for it.  All I can say is Bret, myself and our family feel so blessed to have been a part of his life!  Mead's Dakotah Deauce decided it was time to go Janruary 28, 2022.  He will forever be greatly missed.  He was without a doubt the best horse ever!  Gone but never forgotten.  He will forever hold a place in our hearts!