We've searched all over the country for a mare like this. We had a tall order to fill: 100% smooth, natural gaits; 16+h; STELLAR disposition; intelligent; willing; good bone and muscle; with a cream and agouti to top it off. After such a long search, I found it amazing that "Kate" had been in my circle of aqaintences and friends her entire life. She was bred by Jim Holmes in Sikeston, Missouri. Her dam is Procelain Rose, a single agouti cremello mare who was part of Jim's herd for many years. Rose was a true head-shaking running-walking mare with a great disposition. She was stunted as a youngster, only reaching 14.3h but she threw big, walky foals consistently. Rose was bred with Gen's Armed and Golden TF, a 17h palomino stallion, to produce Pippi White Stockings. She was purchased by Elsie Darrah as a yearling. Elsie couldn't say enough about the quality of her running walk. She was sold in 2004 to Micki Haendiges of Rise and Shine Walkers. At the time, everyone was looking for buckskins with no white and Kate's "chrome" hurt her chances of producing the foals without markings. Micki traded her to Laura Kidder of Cloud Nine Walkers in Texas. Laura sold her to Rick & Lindsey Payette, who kept her for many years until they decided to move to South America. Their good friend, Lacy Musselman knew I was looking for a mare with her description, so she contacted me and put me in touch wtih Rick and Lindsey. It was absolutely love at first ride. Kate's easy, effortless running walk was just perfect. She strolls like a walking horse should. No shoes...no rider effort...just natural. She has a to-die-for true running walk with a headshake that comes from reach, not gimmicks. She is a lady in the truest sense of the word. She has polite, genteel manners. She is never pushy or rude. Her demeanor is just perfection: pleasant, content and calm. She is a professional when it comes to riding. Even with foals in tow and chaos around her, she stays focused on her rider. Kate is a mixture of solid early modern lines through her sire, the massive Gen's Armed & Golden T.F. He is a palomino directly by the great Gen's Armed and Dangerous (by Pride's Generator and out of an Ebony Masterpiece daughter.) Armed and Golden gets his color from his dam, who goes back to the unusually but sought after Rock and Roll Mason, son of Wilson Strollin Gold. Kate's dam, Porcelain Rose gets her two color lines through Chance's Goldust H. and Bud England. Chance's Goldust H. was a massive palomino stallion by John A's Chance. John A's Chance is considered by some to be the greatest palomino breeding stallion in history. His offspring were consistent competitors at the National Celebration. John A's Chance sired horses with plenty of natural action. He was by Last Chance (by Hunter's Allen and out of the great mare, Merry Legs) and out of Goldust Maid (by Hall Allen and out of Hendrixon Bonnie, a buckskin mare by Roan Allen.) Porcelain Rose was out of White Chapaign, a cremello mare by Bud England.
So far we've retained three of Kate's foals with Gambler: The Tennessee Stud WF, Gambler's Golden Promise, Gambler's Image WF. Only because we've kept so many and Jarred literally said "we can't keep them ALL" did we let Gambler's English Rose WF leave. We also kept Kate's MASSIVE double agouti perlino 2021 filly, Kate's Ivory Rose WF. We decided to retire Kate from breeding in 2023. She would've had a home with us for her entire life because of the contributions that she has made to our farm and our lives, but a dear friend of ours, Susan Montgomery, had mentioned that she was looking to give a home to an older broodmare. She also has Darrah's Cappuccino Girl from us and Susan is the perfect retirement home where Kate can get more consistent use. She left the farm in October of 2023 for Maryland. We will miss her, but love that we will keep in touch with her and she will have the best of care with Susan.
Gambler and Pippi White Stockings. Westwood Farms - Locust Dale, Virginia 22948 - stephanie@westwoodfarms.net - 540-82-1300 |