The American Saddlebred: July 2020

Back around a hundred years ago, there were two full sisters, well bred and beautiful. It's a rarity to have pictures from this era, but both were good show mares, so we lucked out! Sired by Rex Peavine, and out of the mare Liberty Lady by Montgomery Chief, they combined the favored bloodlines of the day since Montgomery Chief was a full brother to Bourbon King. These sisters got their talent from both sides, their beautiful gray color from their dam and were bred to be winners. Liberty Girl, foaled in 1914, was World's Grand Champion in the Five Gaited division in 1919. Her sister, Liberty Princess, foaled in 1920, was Reserve World's Grand Champion in the same division in 1925.

Liberty Girl had three show entries listed on her ASHA webpage, and she was a three time winner at the Kentucky State Fair. She won her 3 year old class and the Mare Stake and Grand Championship when she was five. That was it for Liberty Girl, and unfortunately, she never produced any colts.

Liberty Princess showed more often at the Kentucky State Fair, but not with quite as much success as her older sister. She was Reserve as a 4 year old in the Junior Five Gaited class, and the following year in 1925, she was Reserve in both the Mare Stake and the Championship Class to Nola Minton's great mare, Vendetta. The next year, 1926, Liberty Princess won the Five Gaited Mare Stake to win the title World's Champion, but she was out gunned in the Championship, placing 5th behind the winner Edna May's King.

Unlike her older sister, Liberty Princess went on to produce seven colts, and at least three inherited her beautiful gray coat. Here is her production record:

Princess Barrymore by King Barrymore, mare, 1931 no colts
Liberty Laurie by Kingston's Choice, mare, 1935 no colts
Major Domo by Kingstons Choice, stallion, 1937, gray, no colts
Liberty Alert by Reveler, stallion, 1936, gray, no colts
American Liberty by American Born, stallion, 1934 He sired Sweetheart of Plainview BHF
Sheer Genius by King's Genius, mare 1940 She was the dam of Secret Society
Odessa Mae by King's Genius, mare 1941, gray. She was the dam of Dynasty and Wing's Dynasty

WGC Plainview's Julia BHF
Genius of Kentucky X Sweetheart of Plainview BHF by American Liberty
she produced two well known stallions, Pride of Plainview and Plainvew's Commander