The American Saddlebred: 11/29/2020 CH Nancy Highland, champion from a bygone era

CH Nancy Highland and CH Jonquil

at Anacacho Ranch in 1935

Nancy Highland and her 1935 foal

Nancy Highland's Chief

Lately I have been having a broodmare bonanza with lots of great photos in some old, old magazines. A photo in the September 1935 issue of The Kentucky Horseman had a photo that I've seen before, but without the identifiers listed in this magazine. A short two page article/advertisement for Anacacho Ranch and it's head sire Edna May's King also had two broodmare pictures. One of Jane Black BHF, and the other of Jonquil and Nancy Highland with their respective foals. Both these mare had earned their CHampion status, and Jonquil was a four time World's Grand Champion from 1926 through 1929. Although Nancy Highland was never a World's Champion, she was held in very high esteem in the show world and according to Susanne in Famous Saddle Horses, she was undefeated. Another great three gaited mare from the same era, Bohemian Actress, was both a World's Grand Champion in 1925 and Reserve World's Grand Champion in 1919, and had defeated all other competitors with the exception of Nancy Highland.

Nancy Highland

Nancy Highland foaled in 1915 and was sired by Highland Artist, a grandson of Highland Denmark. Her dam was a granddaughter of Harrison Chief. In checking Nancy Highland's production record, she didn't have her first foal until age 19, and in total, she produced three breeding stallions. Her first, Nancy Highland's King foaled in 1934 was sired by a son of Edna May's King named Anacacho Sun. He sired quite a number of colts, but it was her next two sons who really made their mark.

Foaled in 1935, and the colt pictured with his dam in the above picture, Nancy Highland Chief was sired by Herion Chief by Marshall McDonald, he by McDonald Chief who was sired by Rex McDonald. He was bred by Adohr Stock Farms from California, but his first owner was listed as Anacacho Ranch. He was sold to Wildwood Farms in 1936, then to Magnolia Farm in 1942. From there he changed hands several more times and produced over 200 foals in a breeding career that spanned more than 20 years. Among his offspring were WC Magnolia's Dark Secret, Irish Dream and Miss Voodoo. His daughter Double Edna produced breeding stallions Crafty Coe and Coe's Heir, both by King Coe. The best known of Nancy Highland Chief's get was the Hall of Fame Broodmare, Highland's Sylvia. She produced RWC The Rambler, Valley View's Drummer Boy and Lord Star Bourbon when bred to Genius Bourbon King,

Nancy Highland's Chief

Nancy Highland's Chief and Garland Bradshaw

while owned by Wildwood Farm

The Rambler was out of Highland's Sylvia

and she was sired by Nancy Highland's Chief

Valley View's Drummer Boy was out of Highland's Sylvia

Lord Star Bourbon was another son of

Highland's Sylvia BHF X Genius Bourbon King

Nancy Highland's final foal was born in 1936 and was sired by Edna May's King. He underwent several name changes from Anacacho Nanhigh to Nawbeek's Highland King and Hickory Highland King, but finally reverted back to Nawbeek's Highland King. Likewise, his change in ownership paralleled his name changes, being bred by Anacacho Ranch, then purchased by William MM Robinson's Nawbeek Farm, and on to Minton Hickory Farm. OT Fowler later purchased him from Nola Minton on the condition that he remained by Minton Hickory Farm and they received several free breedings to him annually. His final sale was to Oscar Smith's Carolanne Farm in 1947 and his last foal was born in 1949. He had a relatively short breeding career and only sired around 100 foals, but he made the most of it.

Nawbeek's Highland King

Among his offspring were RWCC Caroland out of WGC American Beautiful, WC King of Roses, Vztop Realization, full brothers WCC CH The Encore and RWGC CH The Replica, Hickory Highland Croft who sired Croft's Star and Mountain Highland Dawn BHF.

Caroland was sired by Nawbeek's Highland King

and out of America Beautiful, bred by Carolanne Farm.

WC King of Roses was sired by Nawbeek's Highland King

Vztop Realization was sired by Nawbeek's Highland King

WC CH The Encore

RWGC CH The Replica

Hickory Highland Croft was sired by Nawbeek's Highland King

Croft's Star was sired by Hickory Highland Croft

and shown as Scarlet Ribbons

Mountain Highland Dawn BHF was the dam of Ginni Dawn who produced CH Mister Dawn. Mountain Highland Dawn's son, Genius Mountain Bourbon by Genius Better Bourbon sired 1979 five gaited WGC CH Mountain Highland Encore. He was also the sire of CH Mountain Highland Voodoo. This fine harness show mare was out of Miss Voodoo, so she had Nancy Highland appear twice on her registration papers. Nancy Highland may have been a mare from the past, but she holds an important place in Saddlebred history.