Friday, March 20, 2015

3/20/15 Dixiana's Spring Cheer (BHF)


3/2/0/15  Spring has finally arrived!  Nothing could be more welcome after the frigid winter we've had, so this week is dedicated to Spring.  In looking at the horses with a spring theme in their name, the pickings were very slim.  However, I do have a nice picture of a very well-known mare who was not only a good show mare, but also a great broodmare.  In fact, she was good enough to make it to the Broodmare Hall of Fame.  This post will look at Dixiana’s Spring Cheer (BHF) and her contributions to the American Saddlebred. 
Dixiana Farms has been in existence near Lexington Kentucky since Civil War times, but in 1928, it was purchased by Charles Fisher of Fisher Body and General Motors’ fame.  He started a Saddlebred nursery and show stable on his 900 acre farm.  One of the horses he owned was Bourbon Genius who was used in a dual purpose in their show string, and also as a breeding stallion.  From his first colt crop in 1939 came a filly named Dixiana’s Spring Cheer.  As a five gaited mare, she had a long and successful career.    She was shown in five-gaited classes as an open horse, and later in ladies, amateur and juvenile exhibitor classes.  She won the ladies' five gaited championship at Lexington in 1944 and 1945, and also won at the Chicago show and Illinois State Fair.  At Louisville, she was a World’s Champion and Reserve World’s Champion as a Junior Exhibitor five gaited horse.  She came in 3rd place in the 5 Gaited Grand Championship class in 1947.  She was still showing at Louisville at age 11, and didn't become a mother until she was 18 years old.  

Bred by Dixiana Farms, she was also owned and shown by Wildwood Farm of Germantown, Tennessee.  Her next owner was J L. Younghusband of Valley View Farm in Barrington, Illinois.  When Valley View Farm held its dispersal sale, Dixiana's Spring Cheer sold for $18,000 to J. Paul Jones of Wichita, Kansas.  Another owner, Joan Callner showed her and later bred her to Cameo's Farewell.  Most of her foals were produced under the ownership of Jim Aikman's Hide-A-Way Farm in Acton, Indiana.  Here is her pedigree, then we can look at her produce. 

1st generation parents:
Bourbon Genius, her sire
Princess Firefly, her dam
2nd generation grandparents:
King's Genius, grandsire
Kate Haines, sire's dam
Bourbon King, dam's sire
Golden Firefly, 2nd dam
3rd generation great grandparents:
Bourbon King, great grandsire
Princess Eugenia, dam of King's Genius

Sunflower, sire of Kate Haines
Kathryn Haines, dam of Kate Haines
Bourbon Chief, sire of Bourbon King
Annie C, dam of Bourbon King
Guided By Love, sire of 2nd dam.
no picture of 3rd dam, Princess Irene

 Now for some of Dixiana's Spring Cheer's descendants and how they trace back to this mare.
Spring Cheer produced five offspring, two colts and three fillies.  Her stallion son was Hide-a-way's Firefly Supreme, the beautiful stallion owned by Jim Aikman who sired some nice futurity colts.
Hide-A-Way's Firefly Supreme
sired by Valley View Supreme
Blazing Fire, sired by Hide-A-Way's Firefly Supreme
The Last Don, sired by Blazing Fire
For The Win, sired by The Last Don

Here is another nice futurity colt by Firefly Supreme
Whatta Fire, sired by Firefly Supreme
It is interesting that her dam was a twin, 
Hide-A-Way's Double Exposure

Dixiana's Spring Cheer also had good producing daughter in her last foal, born when she was 24 years old.  Hide-A-Way's Curtain Call was sired by Genius Bourbon King.  
Hide-A-Way's Rave Reviews
sired by Supreme Sultan out of Hide-A-Way's Curtain Call
Hide-A-Way's Wild Country
sired by Denmark's Bourbon Genius out of Hide-A-Way's Curtain Call
Bourbon Genius was his great grandsire 3 times.
Noble Viking
sired by Hide-A-Way's Wild Country
Callaway's Forecaster
This five gaited WGC was out of a mare by Hide-A-Way's Wild Country

Hurricane Country
sired by Hide-A-Way's Wild Country out of a Firefly Supreme daughter,
he had a double shot of Dixiana's Spring Cheer



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Saturday, March 14, 2015

3/15/15 American Horseman March 1936 issue

The March 1936 issue of The American Horseman magazine contained dozens of advertisements for breeding stallions, as do many Saddlebred magazines at this time of year.  However, the added perspective of nearly 80 years of breeding history shows the importance and huge impact of many of these stallions.  It reads like the Who's Who of the American Saddlebred world.  Published in Lexington, Kentucky by Mat Cohen, trainer of the great show mare Edna May, American Horseman had first been published in 1933 under the name The Kentucky Horseman.  Its 94 pages were packed with ads, pictures, stories and horse show results.  This post will share some of the stallion ads it contained.

Sun Beau
f. 1928  My Own Love X Squirrel Lady by Red Eagle
Glad Acres of Dallas Texas owned this stallion who graced the 
inside front cover of the magazine.  He was sire of Beau Gallant and Beau Fortune,
making him the grand sire of Gallant Guy and My My.
Edna May's King
f. 1918   Bourbon King X Edna May by Rex Peavine
Another Texas stallion graced the very next page.  
The sire of Anacacho Shamrock & Anacacho Denmark may give
him claim to being the most important stallion advertised in this issue.

San Juan and Minton Hickory Stables both had large ads, 
and they have both been subjects of previous posts.  

Stonewall King
f. 1920  My King X Gloriann by Rex Peavine
Owned by Murray Cason of Stephens, MO, here is yet another
breed builder of the modern Saddlebred.  Sire of Stonewall Supreme, 
Starheart Stonewall, Stonewall Premier and Golden Stonewall, 
he continues to make his mark.

Beau Peavine
f. 1929  Jean Val Jean X Fair Acres Vanity Fair by Lord Highland
Owned by Spindletop Farm in Lexington, Ky, he continues
to be an influence through his daughters Marie Bosace,  Rita Le Rose 
and Abie's  Baby, all members of the Broodmare Hall of Fame.

Kentucky Choice
This unflattering photo was used in the ad by Corrigan Brothers of 
Cornell, Illinois.  They owned and stood Kentucky Choice' son, 
My Best Choice, who in turn sired Beau Wolf, the gelding who
won the World's 5 Gaited Grand Championship as a 4 year old.  
The ad was for My Best Choice, although that wasn't apparent at first glance.
In his day, Kentucky Choice was a successful show horse and
here is a more flattering photo where the roof doesn't look like part of his head.  


Cameo Kirby
f. 1929  Edna May's King X Jane Black by San Vicente
This full brother to Anacacho Denmark stood at the Sierra Vista Stock Farm
in Chino California.  He'll be forever remembered for siring 
WGC's The Lemon Drop Kid and Bit O'Chatter.  
His best breeding son was Ensign Kirby.

Gallant Knight
f. 1933  Mercer Rex X Highland Perle by Bourbon King
Only a 3 year old at the time of this ad, he was owned by R. H. Whitten of Los Angeles, CA.
He was later owned by CP Edwards of Ridgefields Farm in Tennessee.


American Born
f. 1921   Guided by Love X Lena Jemison by Highland Denmark
He was the number one ranked sire from 1932 through 1935
and was owned by Nawbeek Farm in Paoli, PA.  

King's Genius
f.  1924  Bourbon King X Princess Eugenia by Chester Peavine
Owned by Selby Stud of Portsmouth, Ohio at the time of this ad.  
Great show horse, great sire of show horses, breeding stallions and
Hall of fame mares, he's my choice for most influential sire.  Ever. 
More info on King's Genius in previous posts.

King Barrymore
f.  1921  Bourbon King X Kate Barrymore by McDonald Chief
Like his sire, he was owned by Allie Jones of N. Middleton, KY. 
Sons Captain Courageous and Anderson Rex carry on his name.

Mercer Rex
No picture included on the ad for this son of Rex Peavine,
so here is one for reference.
Owned by George Gwinn of Gwinn Island Stock Farm in Danville, KY.


American Ace
f. 1929  American Born X Kathryn Haines by Rex Monroe
The ad says, " A better bred Stallion does not live!"
At this time, he stood at Pennypack Stock Farm, Southampton, PA.

Admiral's Peavine
f.  1924  Admiral King X Fanny Fern by Rex Peavine
Owned by Green Valley Farm in Wheaton, Illinois

Barrymore's Masterpiece
f.  1929  King Barrymore X Galli Curci by REx Peavine
Owned by Chestnut Ridge Stables in Ho Ho Kus, New Jersey
Wonderful confirmation! 

Dr. McChord
f.  1929  McDonald Peavine X Margaret Louise by Red Rex
Owned by Ottawa Creek Farm in Berkey Ohio

Dazzling McDonald
f.  1930  Red McDonald X May Tucker by Bourbon Tucker
He was o wned by Charles Doll of Mount Clemens Michigan
and his best offspring was Ottawa's Empress.

Knob Creek Denmark
f. 1923  Red Light 2nd X Celia Peavine by King Vine
Here is a product of the Thompson's Knob Creek breeding program.  
At this time, he was owned by T J Moss of St. Louis, MO.

Proctor's Red Light
f.  1927  Red Light 2nd X Dollie C by Chester Crest
Another son of Red Light 2nd, he was  owned by Pinehurst Stables in Orange, Texas

Silver Mac
f. 1923  McDonald's Majesty X Dapple by Rex Bernard
Best known for his daughter Blessed Event who was
the dam of Genius Bourbon King, he was owned by 
Harris Noland of Richmond, KY


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Sunday, March 8, 2015

3/8/15 March Madness

March is often associated with college basketball playoffs, so here is the blog's version of March Madness.   Check out magazines from Saddlebred publications from March of 1936 through March of 1985.  Each decade features a magazine cover and picture of an American Saddlebred from all across America, some well known and some obscure.  Make your brackets and choose your final four!  Who is your pick to win it all?

March 1936 American Horseman
Gold Cloud
f. 1932 Walnut Grove Chief X Edith M by Easter Cloud
owned by Glad Acres of Dallas TX

Anacacho Denmark
f. 1930  Edna May's King X Jane Black (BHF) by San Vicente
owned by Anacacho Ranch in Spofford, TX

March 1945 Saddle & Bridle
Hallmark Peavine
f. 1934  Moreland Peavine X Blanchita (BHF) by Bourbon King
he wasn't really the cover since it was missing on my magazine
owned by Dr. GR Browne, Hoopeston, IL

Reverie Bourbon
f. 1941  Bourbon Genius X Dixiana Queen by Peavine's Highland Chief
This gelding was owned and shown by Reverie Knoll Farm, Danville KY

March 1955 Saddle & Bridle
Evening Cloud
f. 1943  Gold Cloud X So Rare by Moreland Peavine
owned by Jim Aikman  Acton, IN
Veechland's Surprise
f. 1945 by Winganeek's King of Sport X McDonald's Surprise by Sur McDonald
owned by Kay Kranz of Denver, CO

March 1965 National Horseman
Pinetree Denmark
f. 1953  Delmar's Colonel Valiant by Kalarama Colonel x 
Lucybob's Sunshine by Anacacho Denmark
owned by Irvin Applebaum's Belair Farms in Akron, OH 

Color Print
 f. 1958  Clarma X Parading Princess (BHF) by colonel Sport
owned by Sam Crowe Stables of Decatur, GA

March 1975 Saddle & Bridle
Marine's Golden Promise
f. 1961  Marine Ace by Spring's Serenade by Anacacho Shamrock
owned by James Roberson of Washington, NC

All American Starlet
no horse registered by this name
trained by Danny Daniels of Rancho Sante Fe, CA
and shown in equitation by Steven Ewing

March 1975 Saddle & Bridle
Stonewall's Main Event
f. 1963  Starheart Stonewall x Katie Boone by Ace O'Goshen
owned by Dr. Alan Raun of Cumming, IA

Contract's Quaint Design
f. 1977 Contract's Srar's Mac x Stanton's Lady Belle by The Painted Chief
owned by Calvert Ray of Fayettesville, NC

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