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Strawberry
Banks farm video
produced by Darryl Larson
By Linda White Year 2001
Watching the early
morning sun rise over the pastures of Strawberry Banks Farm, the visitor
is reminded of words written by E.B. White, "I am always humbled by
the infinite ingenuity of the Lord, who can make a red barn cast a blue
shadow." A reviewer once described White as "someone who can
say wise things gracefully".
Strawberry Banks Farm, Arabian
Horses, announces the sign at the main entrance. Once through the gates,
the stately, turreted barns cast blue shadows on the winter snow
blanketing the fields. As you walk into the barns, familiar fragrances
embrace you: sweet alfalfa hay, clean wood shavings, heady oiled
leather, and the irresistible smell of the horses themselves. The barns,
the rising sun, the trees and black fences defining the pastures are
reflected in the pond at the side of the mare barn. There are no horses
in the pastures now, it is breakfast time, but they were there the day
before. The white expanses are crisscrossed with their tracks, large and
small. This truly is a place about which wise things should be said
gracefully.
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Barbara and the late Neil Chur
with multi National Champion stallions A Temptation and Hey Hallelujah |
Neil and Barbara Chur launched Strawberry
Banks Farm more than 30 years ago. "We had many discussions, trying
to decide whether we were going to build a two or three stall barn at
our first farm," remembers Barbara. "We ended up building four
stalls (and we did build it ourselves), but had five horses the first
winter! Twelve more stalls were added, along with a small indoor arena,
and that was home to Strawberry Banks’ horses for over 20 years."
As with everything the Churs have undertaken with Arabians through the
years, the horses’ welfare was a first priority. More pastureland was
needed and they wanted to develop a more modern facility.
In 1997 they moved to the current, state-of-the-art facility. The 200 acres, fenced
and cross-fenced, houses approximately 45 horses. Within the two
barns are a stallion wing, sophisticated breeding lab adjacent
to the collection room, areas for palpating and inseminating
mares, specially lighted bay for the
farrier, grooming bays and tack rooms. In addition to the two barns,
there are two indoor arenas, an outdoor arena, and two round pen
buildings, one housing the walker.
"Sometimes, when people first see our farm,
they may think all of our horses are really expensive," notes Neil.
"We’re not big shots, and we certainly breed horses for every
use, and in every price range. Arabians are the versatile breed, and not
every horse foaled at Strawberry Banks grows up to be a national
champion English pleasure or park horse. The chances are good that we
have a horse with the potential to be whatever you want him to be: a
trail horse, working western horse, a child’s equitation horse, or a
flashy driving horse."
Neil reminds us, "Our goal has always
been to breed handsome, correct, athletic horses with a wonderful work
ethic, and the *Bask and predominantly Polish bloodlines we use give us
those qualities consistently. Consistency is extremely important. The
lines we breed have proven, over and over again, that they can produce
Arabian beauty and charisma, usefulness and trainable
temperaments."
Strawberry
Banks Farm trainer Brian Murch and Ericca
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As the visitor walks through the peaceful,
carefully manicured property, it soon becomes clear that love and
respect for the horses are the universal elements – the common
denominators – at Strawberry Banks. Brian points out, "The Churs
want to create their own product. I have so much respect for what they
want to do with their breeding program. They have always been a ‘class
act’ in everything they do, and they are so educated in the horse
business. They know how to do things right, and they allow you to
do things right. It’s really working." The Churs have the same
respect for Brian. After years of sending their horses out to trainers,
they decided to hire their own.
"Brian has a great reputation as a horseman
and as a man," offers Neil.
"It was of the utmost importance
to us that our trainer not only have great abilities, but also be
ethical and honest. Brian gets five stars in all categories."
Barbara adds, "Melanie and Brian are a great
team! Melanie is responsible for our advertising and marketing – what
a great job she has done."
"We’re an overnight success after 25
years," Neil is often heard to remark wryly, but in fact,
Strawberry Banks Farm and its remarkable horses are the fruition of a
lifetime of love, courage, wisdom, hard work and devotion. Truly,
Strawberry Banks Farm is something beautiful and important about which
wise things can be said gracefully.
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