We are blessed to have wonderful clients and very happy to have some lifetime bonds!

Here’s what some of them have to say….

Driving through Seattle, I saw a man with the most intriguing dog. So I chased him downtown, where we stood in an alley and chatted about his pup, a Cirneco dell’Etna. And he told me a fascinating story about a place called Rockin’ Heart Ranch and Nancy Wight.   It had been 6 months since my beloved German Shorthaired Pointer passed away, and I was in search of another hound. It surprised me that I felt connected to this one – a breed I’d never seen or heard of.

So I called this recommended stranger, Nancy. And we talked for an hour. She invited us to lodge at her home, a lovely Arabian Horse ranch in Potlatch, Idaho. And strangely enough, we went. We saw. We stayed. We played. And we met our next forever dog on that visit with Nancy.

Obtaining our Cirneco has been a wonderful experience. Because Nancy is an expert breeder, handler, trainer, caregiver, educator extraordinaire. Her accessibility is par to none as she goes out of her way to communicate by phone/email/text whenever we have a question. She does the same when thoughts come to mind of something we should consider. Which means you’ll talk to her almost daily! She is patient with questions, whether silly or basic. She allows for a range of reasonable approaches and she studiously avoids giving judgmental advice. Her knowledge about dogs (horses, goats and other animals) – is remarkable.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the process was spending time with her family and dogs on the ranch. The Wights are warm and welcoming hosts. Watching Nancy interact with her Cirnechi assured us that her dog wisdom and practices were spot on. Her love for animals is obvious as you see her respect their different attitudes and personalities which ultimately brings out the best in them. With Nancy, the dogs were clearly full of joy, easily coached, easily redirected, and steeped in positive behaviors. Nancy understands the motivational and instinctual drivers of Cirneco behavior. She helps you plainly appreciate these roots and instills in you a sense that you can be a successful owner, too.

Nancy gets to know your own style and how to nimbly accentuate your strengths. She is open to a range of preferences and is anything but rigid in her advice. Yet she is remarkably thorough in helping owners attain every resource they require to lovingly attend to their dog. She thinks of every scenario, resource, tool, toy and anticipates any situation.

When we reluctantly returned home to wait for our singleton pup to come of age, Nancy regularly sent fun updates, videos and pics. Watching our pup learn and grow in real time was a treasure. And she kept us apprised of her progress in early leash training, crating, and many other training issues.

Hospitality, friendliness, wise advice, deep behavioral understanding, helpful responsiveness, comprehensive preparation and a willingness to meet you where you are. I never could have imagined getting so much support in this process. Nancy is the kind of experience everyone wishes to access with a breeder. Best of all, I know that I can always call on her for ongoing advice or for help with hard decisions. What more could you ask for?

Thank you for your love, kindness and support Nancy. You truly are a breeder best.

Cirneco co-parents of “CeCe” and friends,

 Kim + Ben, Seattle WA

  Cecilia (Celia) Almes

I was a Masters Student, at the University of Idaho studying Equine Reproduction when I learned about Nancy Wight at Rockin’ Heart Ranch.   I wanted more hands on equine reproduction experience on a horse breeding farm, which I received at Rockin’ Heart Ranch.

Nancy, taught me her methods of ultrasounding the horses.  Nancy and  the Rockin’ Heart Ranch crew provided a fun, educational, and exciting  environment.  I enjoyed my hands-on experience gaining further  knowledge about equine reproduction in the horse industry through  Nancy and her wonderful horses.  I would recommend anyone who wanted  to learn about breeding horses, whether they are first timers or been  working with breeding horses for many years to learn the ways of horse breeding at Rockin’ Heart Ranch.

Through Nancy’s patience, kindness, love of horses and people, I learned many new things, but even better I made a true friend.

Desiree Rasmussen

Nancy is someone I have come to admire and call a good friend over more than a dozen years. It takes a special person to deal with those of us who are unsure and lacking confidence in their own ablities and knowledge (such as myself). Even though I’m comfortable around horses because of Nancy’s teaching, help and friendship I find I would rather call Rockin’ Heart Ranch home over my own at times.

Under a request to helpme expand my own breeding program, Nancy was nice enough to take me under her wing and helped me combine practical experience with the knowledge I gained in college but never had a chance to explore beyond the text books. She was kind, encouraging, and completely willing to explain the same thing over .. and over .. and over in several dozen ways. I’m pretty sure she was ready to take the route of a second language, until something clicked and I was able to understand what I was looking at. With Nancy’s careful instruction in ultrasound techniques I got my 3 mares settled via A-I last summer by myself!

Not only has she been kind in regards to my breeding program, but also my personal riding skills. I have been off a young horse for more than 5 years and, needless to say, the year I spent falling off did nothing for my confidence. If you can say nothing else about Nancy and her family or ranch hands, you will find you can say it’s a comfortable, confidence-building experience with everyone willing to lend you a hand.

I’ve truly been blessed in getting to know this extraordinary woman and her family.

Evelyn Mount
Gold Mount’n

My experiences in Potlatch 2011

Last summer a dream came true and I could spend three months on Rockin‘ Heart Ranch in Potlatch. When I arrived I just fell in love with the ranch, the horses and the family. Even I didn’t know anybody I felt home. First I was very shy, but Nancy and the family were so kind and funny that I started to open myself.

Summertime is a very busy time on the ranch but there was still enough time to talk together and have fun. Nancy also managed to show and teach me several things. So I could start to work two fillies and bring one of them under saddle. I could always call Nancy when I had a question. She took time to explain me everything and helped me when there was a problem. Sometimes she just came out to ask if everything was ok. It’s something I regarded about her.

Spring /summer is also breeding season. So I could learn a lot about this. Nancy explained me all around how to ultrasound a mare, how to collect a stallion and how to deliver a foal. When Nancy asked me if I’d like to learn how to ultrasound a mare I was very surprised. But Nancy taught me everything and I learned fast. So I could put the ultrasound on and start ultrasounding by myself. I understood everything she explained and showed me. This kind of horse breeding was new for me. Because in Switzerland it is still usual to breed the mares by natural mating. So it was very interesting to learn things about this horse breeding technique.

Nancy didn’t only teach me things about the horse breeding and training, but she impressed me with her patience and her lovely character. I am happy to say that I am coming back the summer of 2012!

Nadine Lombardo,

Egerkingen, Switzerland

Our association with Loren and Nancy Wright and RocknHeart Ranch began about 13 years ago and continued to the present. We have maintained a friendship on both a personal and professional level. RocknHeart Ranch is a first class Arabian breeding facility that has some of the finest Egyptian Arabian stock in the United States. Nancy and her staff strive to make their clients need of utmost importance. Going for a visit to RocknHeart , one is gathered into the folds of a loving family.
We have personally used their senior stallion, RHR Safar on more than one occasion and have been overjoyed with the resulting foal.

Probably the most precious friend I have is my Belgian Tervuren, Skye. We purchased him from Loren and Nancy in 2000. I can’t say enough great things not only for the breed but also for the breeders. Skye has been a true ambassador for the breed and as a greeter here at SkyHaven Egyptian Arabians.

Summing it up, whether you are interested in their high quality dogs or horses, you definitely will be very glad you contacted RocknHeart Ranch and meant the wonderful family behind the scenes.

Bud & Rhea Gilbert
SkyHaven Egyptian Arabians

In 2004 I went to Rockin Heart Ranch to meet Loran and Nancy Lee Wight and especially my dream Black Stallion RHR Safar. The Wight’s took me into their household and treated me as if I was family. Then came the introduction to the stallion I admired so much….Oh my he was spectacular….On the spot when he came out of his stall, he was magnificent but yet so gentle. His conformation and personality… a dream come true. In 2004 I bred 2 more mares to RHR Safar and Nancy made sure I got everything needed, I had 2 beautiful foals in 2005.

Then it struck…I knew this Lifetime Breeding agreement was going to be one of the hardest things I ever had to complete. That is if I could complete it. It just seemed like everything from my son’s death to pipeline’s bursting in my house to my husband losing his job…you name it, it happened. Something was trying it’s best to make me lose this one thing I really cared about, my special dream.

I called Nancy numerous times literally crying on her shoulder. I was worried about losing the chance to own the breedings. Each time I called, Nancy was there to settle me down and reassure me with God’s help things would work out. Never once did either Nancy or Loren turn their backs on me, they were always behind me on everything it took for me to own my little piece of heaven, RHR Safar’s breedings.

I really believe if I had not attained this contract I would have been out of the horse business a very long time ago because I would have just lost heart. It took me 5 years to get this Lifetime Breeding paid off. Nancy and Loren trusted and supported me through all of this trying to keep my confidence up. I am so grateful to Nancy and Loren and Rockin Heart Ranch for their trust in me. Just talk to them and you will find out they are as trustworthy in God as they are in people that need a break once in a while. I will love them forever and would do anything for them if they need me. I am very proud to call them my friends.

Thundering Hooves Arabians
Brenda Brown

To my complete shock, I got an e–mail from a very compassionate lady named Nancy Wight, owner of the Rockin’ Heart. In my wildest imagination I never expected a reply to my soggy e-mail. She was very moved by my story and we started talking to each other, by phone and e-mail. I found out she was also a Christian and shared my love of the Arabian horse. She wasn’t just a business woman; she had a huge heart. She told me she wanted to help me find another horse. I confessed that on my budget I couldn’t even afford a ride on one of her horses, but she said she would think of something. A few weeks later, to my surprise, she called to tell me about a little gray gelding that she thought would melt my heart. His name was Kammar and she sent pictures. Yes, I fell in love with his lovely face and perfect little body. She made me a deal I could afford and I couldn’t believe it – I had just bought a horse sight-unseen, based totally on this picture and my trust for this new-found friend.

On July 1st, little Kammar walked out of a big truck, onto a ramp, and into our yard. He is just the most beautiful, sensitive, smart and friendly little guy. Over the months I put all his ground training in, we became bonded and slowly, I began to love him more and let Aces go on to his place in heaven without me. Kammar became King around here very quickly as he moved into Aces’ #1 stall and stole everyone’s hearts.

Now my Kammar, having turned 4 years old and grown a bit, is in “big boy” school with a professional trainer. The trainer comments on how smart and responsive he is, and what a fine job I did with ground training. I will get him back in July and he will be a huge part of my life from then on. He’ll go to all my events, on all day trail rides in the hills, parades, various clinics and formation rides, and my heart will gradually mend from the sorrow of losing Aces.

Nancy Wight is a dear friend and someone I enjoy talking to so much. I have met many, many folks who sell horses, but I’ve never met anyone like her. She helped me find joy again. She is honest and I think she has a talent for marrying a buyer to exactly the right horse he or she needs. And I might add – her horses are simply gorgeous.

Sandy Blair, Nevada

I must also take time to thank you for all of the great memories I have of staying at your ranch. Every time I’m in town I make it a point to get in touch with you. I know how busy you are but you always make time for me. You’ve always treated me like family. And, you are a goddess in the kitchen too!! Every trip to Rockin’ Heart Ranch is
filled with love and laughter, geese, goats, horses, dogs, fabulous conversation and delicious food. Thank you so much for everything!! I am looking forward to my next memorable trip to Rockin Heart!

Tracy Day

I slid the gamut from dorky stranger to dear friend at RHR in five minutes. Thanks to no charm of mine. Such is the generous-hearted hospitality of the Wights (among whom I include their full-time staff, Cristy and Bryony) that you feel you can do nothing wrong.

The kitchen always cackles with cheery conversation, and on every side, there are ears that hear and mouths that answer and laugh. Good humor fills the air like the steam from the food that covers the table. The warmth and vigor of the family infects not only you, but even the animals act like their human keepers, vibrant, responsive, and affectionate. More beautiful and gentler creatures — or more energetic — I’ve never seen.

And should you need a quiet hour, climb a staircase to the bedroom window, or stand outside beside a gentle horse and watch the clouds’ shadows glide over the hills. Here, contentment and harmony reign. RHR is perhaps at once the most lively and the most peaceful place I’ve ever stayed.

Ben Zedek Smith–First class hippophile,
Tokyo, Japan

As part of the Equine Sports Performance course I was studying in Southern England , I was to undertake 6-8 weeks work experience at a placement in the Equine industry. Nancy kindly offered me a place at RHR over the summer, and invited me to join her and the farm staff at the annual Egyptian event in Lexington , Kentucky .

My time in Kentucky was more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. Not only was I surrounded by some of Gods most beautiful and exquisite creatures, but each and every person I met made me feel so happy and welcome. During the week in Kentucky I learnt so much about the Arabian horse and the different showing classes in which the Arabian horse is presented.

At the end of the week we traveled up to Seattle and spent a couple of days in the city visiting friends, and on my birthday going to an International rare breeds dog show with the familie’s two Egyptian Pharaoh hounds and a very rare Cirneco dell’Etna. The following day we traveled over to the ranch which is situated in the beautiful landscapes of Northern Idaho.

My time at RHR was spent during the breeding season, and whilst much of the breeding work is done here on the ranch, the embryo transfer work is done over in the veterinary hospital at Washington State University. The facilities and staff at the University are awesome, with much of the work being done by world famous Theriogenologist, Dr Ahmed Tibary. Between the staff at RHR and the staff at the university I now have a wider understanding and knowledge of all aspects of breeding including collection and shipping of the semen, Artificial insemination, internal examinations of the mares and general care and handling of Mares, foals and Stallions on the ranch. During the summer I also had the opportunity to ride and start training some of the Arabians to be ridden English hunt seat. Having mostly ridden warmbloods and thoroughbreds before, I was surprised at how willing and accepting these horses are under saddle and found each of the horses on the ranch a pleasure to ride.

The three months I was at the ranch over the summer was just not long enough, so Nancy kindly invited me back to stay for the following year. I am presently staying at the ranch helping Cristy with day to day care and training of the horses, and hope to accompany them to Scottsdale , Arizona and the Egyptian Event in Kentucky next year. The family and staff at RHR have made me feel so welcome and at home on the ranch. Staying here has been a life changing experience, and it has helped me focus on the career path I wish to take.

Bryony Hatt, England

My experience at Rockin’ Heart Ranch was a truly lovely one. And I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to learn more about the Egyptian Arabian horse and how to run a horse farm in general.

In the short time that I was there I learned more about the Egyptian Arabian horse than I could have learned from anybody else. The staff, both Cristy and Bryony where especially nice to me going out of there way to show me things that I did not know about the Egyptian Arabian horse and horse breeding practices in overall. I also got to watch the breeding and collecting of the stallion which was very well organized by Nancy and her team.

Although all of the horses where lovely, my two all time favorites as I am sure Nancy her family and staff were aware of were: Cowboy and little Almaas. I just got so attached to them like I did to the dogs that at the end of my stay I wanted to take them home with me.

My favorite part of the day besides getting to work with the horses and ride them were the meals which Nancy or her staff prepared. Since I am a vegatarian one of my favorite meals
was Vegetable Lasagna. Nancy was kind enough to make sure that I ate lovely vegetarian meals.

The farm altogether has a lovely friendly and hardworking atmosphere. And as you can see I really enjoyed my stay and learned so much.

Faye Huxham, South Africa

In the summer of 2000 I happened on to the Rockin’ Heart Ranch web site and decided to call.  I had become interested in Straight Egyptian Arabians and wanted to learn more.  The person I talked to (Nancy Wight) was very kind and energetic as well as enthusiastic about her horses.

Nancy took me through Straight Egyptian Arabians 101 and has continued to school me and bring me along in the industry.  She helped me find a lease mare that delivered a wonderful colt.  I also now own one of her beautiful fillies out of Safar.   In all our associations, which have been considerable, I have found her to be honest and forthright even in difficult times.

In addition to being a breeder of excellent horses, she is a wonderful mentor.  Nancy and Loren Wight have become much more than business associates, they are my friends.  I recommend them to anyone who is interested in being involved in the Arabian Horse industry.

Rick Juber, Mountain Star Arabians
Hyrum , Utah