In the rolling hills of southeastern South Dakota, between the Big Sioux and the Missouri rivers and centrally located between the cities of Sioux Falls South Dakota and Sioux City Iowa, Darkstar Farm sprang into exsistance in the spring of 1998 with the purchase of our first two mares. Our mission was the same then as it is now. To created small, refined, colorful horses that can compete and win at the highest levels of competition. Early in our research, and wanting to breed appaloosa patterned horses, we realized that this was not going to be an easy task. With that in mind, we have spent many hours of research and scrutiny on every horse in our heard and literally thousands of hours researching horses that might fit into our program here. We have alway focused on conformation and movement over color. We believe that the easiest thing to change in a horse is color. It is much more difficult to change conformation, movement and disposition. We have alway focused on conformation, movement and disposition over color. We believe that the easiest thing to change in a horse is color. It is much more difficult to change conformation, movement and disposition. While many horse farms seem to put most of the emphesis on their stallion or stallions, we have chosen to put equal emphesis on the brood mares. We feel this is were the real strength of a breeding program is. We have chosen our mares not only for what they look like on the outside, but more importantly what they have on the inside. What I mean by this is what their genetic potential and potency is. Instead of following the current trends in the show ring, or the trend of breeding for color or any other single quality, we have taken a "back to the basics" approach with our breeding program. Not only do we focus on the over all form and balance of the horse, we are focused on natural athleticism and disposition also. A good attitude, heart, and confidence are critical for the horse to fully utilize it's potential. Due to other commitments, we have not had the time to exibit our horses on the AMHA or AMHR show circuits in the past. We are very much looking forward to the 2009 show season and a chance to prove our horses in the show ring. I am confident that our horses can compete at the highest levels of competition. Though we are a comparitively young farm, I believe we have a very strong foundation and have the ability to make a big contribution to the miniature horse world. Watch for Darkstar horses to be wining in the 2009 show ring. Ron Kurtz (605) 214-0916 Dale Hein (605) 214-0917 Darkstar Farm Alcester, South Dakota E-mail