Horses kick up their heels for Sundance Kisses

SHINGLE SPRINGS — This is straight from the horse's mouth: Put these goodies straight into the horse's mouth.

Julie Vance has come up with a delightful product called Sundance Kisses that has her wonderfully beautiful and gentle Arabian stallion, Dark Shei, dancing in his stall at the Sundance Academy here for a taste of the treats. Hand-made of rolled oats, bran, wheat, molasses and carrots, horses hanker for these treats, called Peppermint Kisses, Goody Gumdrops and Kookie Kisses (licorice flavored).

There's no doubt they're a horse hit, as Dark Shei softly nudged Vance, 49, when she failed to immediately open her palm for him to shuffle the kiss into his velvety mouth as she visited with the Mountain Democrat team. The big, black stallion patiently waited as she told her visitors about the love of her life — well, sure, her 50-year-old husband, John — but the 11-year-old beauty who stamped his hoofs inside his stall obviously has staked a claim on her affections.

"I've had Dark since he was 4, and he's now 11," Vance began, holding Dark Shei (pronounced "shy") by a leather lead, turning to reveal the writing on her jacket: "Have you kissed your horse today?" True to her motto, Vance planted one smack-dab on her stallion's nuzzling nose.

"He's the most kind, amazing animal," Vance continued. "I can take him into the show ring, and he's perfect. On the trails, with other trail riders, he's wonderful. I can even play 'follow the leader' with kids in the ring, and he's perfect."

Vance explained that not only does Sundance Academy specialize in the special horse treats, but currently there are 10 youths who take riding lessons there, under the expert tutelage of Pam Cross, and the ranch recently opened its spacious surroundings to war veterans in need of positive experiences to help them deal with the trauma of wartime rigors.

Dark Shei is the chief taste tester of the Sundance Kisses, a duty the Arabian obviously savors.

"He really is a once-in-a-lifetime horse," Vance said, leading the horse from inside  the barn to an outside pen into the sun-soaked February day. "I absolutely adore him," she added, her eyes misting. "Dark and I were made for each other. I trust him more than anything."

Vance recounted an incident on a trail where a buck spooked from a copse of trees, causing another horse to run away with its rider. She and Dark Shei came to the rescue, with the big stallion performing flawlessly to catch up with the fleeing horse and regain control.

And the gentle side of Dark Shei is such that when children ages 6 to 8 play tag at the big barn on the sprawling ranch, the stallion is "home base," a task he patiently performs. In fact, Vance said, he actually seems to enjoy the shenanigans.

It is because of the love Vance feels for Dark Shei and her other nine horses, as well as others kept at the ranch, that she created Sundance Kisses.

"I've been cooking these treats up in my kitchen at my home in Folsom for about a year now," Vance explained. "I started out just to show my love and appreciation for these amazing animals, and it kind of evolved from there."

Vance sells the kisses at area horse shows, where they often are purchased by organizers to give as prizes.

Sundance ranch hand and "wing man" to Julie Vance, Elsa Manzano of Cameron Park, told the Democrat the treats are quite popular at the horse shows.

"Horses will come right up into our booth, trying to get to them, and it's kind of humorous to watch little girls trying to hold them back," said Manzano, 49.

Sundance Kisses are sold at various northstate outlets, including Lees Feed in Shingle Springs, where they are a popular seller, according to staff there.

"They're a really big seller," said Lees Feed clerk Mary Beth Brown. "Horses love them. As a matter of fact, all animals love them."

Truer words were never spoken, as the Democrat struggled to get a photograph of Vance and Dark Shei that didn't include Chubs, a friendly pit bull who absolutely lives for the treats. Chubs, owned by Sundance ranch manager George Jacobs, proved adept at swiping the kisses at any opportunity. He is joined at the ranch by Sophie, a corgi owned by Vance who is dubbed the official greeter at the beautiful spread off Shingle Springs Drive. Incidentally, Vance also whips up something for her canine buddies, "Smooches for Pooches," also available to the public.

Sundance Kisses are priced to sell, with refillable containers in myriad sizes, ranging in price from $9.99 for a tin full of the horse treats, up to $99.99 for an 18-pound "barn bucket."

Check the Website, Sundancekisses.com, for more information. Vance can be reached at 916-508-4626. The ranch, which is accepting new horseback riding training clients, can be reached at 530-676-7660.

E-mail Pat Lakey at plakey@mtdemocrat.net or call 530-344-5066.