Our Story

In 1912, Mr. & Mrs. von Doeler of Germany, headed for Canada. Initially booked on the great Titanic, they were refused due to their dog, and boarded the President Lincoln instead. They received distress calls from the Titanic, but their ship was too far to help. Despite the tragedy, the von Doeler's made it to Canada, and settled in Northern Ontario, where the Ranch is located to this day.

The von Doelers made their home in Canada and had five children. They all helped, working long days, plowing fields, working the crops & caring for the farm animals. It was in the early 40's, when the youngest of the family, Ulrich, took full responsibility of the farm. He went on to build two new barns & started an egg business aside from his already established crops & livestock. Ulrich also built and sold beautiful wooden boats. 

In the early 50's Ulrich began writing with Brigitte from Germany. Ulrich & Brigitte wrote letters for a year, when she decided to make the journey to Canada & meet Ulrich. Ten long days aboard a ship with scarce food, she made it. They instantly connected & Brigitte decided to stay in Canada and make a life with Ulrich.

Soon came the fourth generation, twin boys, Shane & Dave, and their little sister Elana. They grew up learning how to drive a tractor, build barns & look after the farm animals. Elana was, like every little girl, horse crazy. She begged and begged to get a horse, but with Bruno being allergic to horses, this wasn't an option. It wasn't long before they found Bashkir Curly Horses, a hypo-allergenic breed. 

After much convincing, Bruno & Linda decided to let Elana get a horse. They found a yearling Curly / Quarter Horse Cross, whom Elana named Seastar. She had never been handled before and Elana, with the help of her coach, Hailey, learned to train her first horse. Together, Seastar & Elana competed in every discipline possible, they were inseparable. 

In the early 2000's there was a severe drought in Alberta. Hay was in very short supply. The family decided they could head West and get a couple more horses, to help the breeders in Alberta and so the family could enjoy rides together. Elana & Bruno drove to Alberta and wound up bringing 8 yearlings home. Within a year, they went to Alberta 3 times and brought home 21 young Curly Horses, all of which had not been handled before.