Lost Creek Ranger Arikaree
ILR # 290559
female b. 6-23-2016
Lost Creek Troubadour x Lost Creek Ranger Tokatee
Arikaree definitely has the "eye candy" paint job, but it's her sensible, mellow, interactive personality — inherited from both parents — that stands out most. We were also pretty impressed with her substantial bone and muscling, and that "powerbutt" rear end from granddad Ranger Dusty. We weren't really thrilled that she inherited the recessive longer coat — even though it is a true Classic coat and even though Arikaree just LOVES to be groomed. We were definitely not happy when it became clear as Arikaree matured that she wasn't into anything requiring physical exertion.
Arikaree left in early 2022 for a local pet home where she maintained good weight and acquired better fitness as a result of voluntarily taking on guard duty, but her human's circumstances changed and so Arikaree was returned to us per our contract requirements. While we were looking for the right-fit pet or guardian home for Arikaree, we hit on a decent weight maintenance strategy for her. As a result, we now feel good about keeping her here.
We are currently considering breeding Arikaree on a limited basis. She does not have breeding quality gaits, nor does she have the standard Classic coat. However, she does has better bone and feet than full-brother Seedskadee. Arikaree and Seedskadee share a number of positive traits that only she can bring to the table within our options for breeding combinations ... because she's female, and Seedskadee is male. We have undertaken more daunting genetic recovery projects with other peoples' lines; in Arikaree, we have the opportunity to recover and re-work some of our own.
Arikaree Peak is on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains and is visible from the Nederland, Colorado area, where we lived for a short time. Arikaree Peak, in turn, was named for the Arikara tribe of Native Americans. The name "Arikara" may mean "horns", refering to the Arikara tribe's custom of wearing two upright bones in their hair ... and looking kinda like llama ears, perhaps?