Chief Of Greystone and Other Illustrious Ancestors

Editorial Hijack:

I was merely going to respond to this recent comment from one of our readers, but I felt it was important enough to share with everyone.

A reader writes:
"Happy Birthday. I thought it might interest you to know that we stood Chief of Greystone at our farm in New Jersey, and his first colt was Attache -- I think that would be the background that is your heritage, William.
There are all kinds of wonderful horses in this world - I believe you just might be one of the gifts."

When I grew up, my grandmother subscribed to Saddle and Bridle, the premier magazine of the Saddlebred industry then and now, back when the cover looked like leather... loved them.  I poured my heart over those pages day in and day out.  Grandma kept them in stacks beneath a great, round, oak coffee table with huge claw and ball feet.  I lived under that table, especially on rainy days. One of my all time favorite photos was that of Chief of Greystone, the headshot in the oval, with the now rare, traditional stallion bit.  Fellow ASB nuts will know the one I mean.

William's dam's sire was Attache', the first son of the great Chief of Greystone.  That eye is William's eye.  That muzzle so familiar.

Attache'

Camilla Fox

William's grand dam Camilla Fox and Attache' also produced Champion Unattached, 

Finally Attached and Moet

CH Unattached

Finally Attached

Moet

William's dam Attache's Galatea (Attache' x Camilla Fox)

  William is the first foal by his own sire Deep Blue, who is out of Yorkshire Pudding the full sister to the immortal WGC CH Harlem Globetrotter.  His pedigree reads like a who's who of Saddlebred greats.  When non-Saddlebred people come to the barn and say "but what breed is this one?  He doesn't look like the lanky, narrow Saddlebreds we are used to seeing." I find myself defending his bloodlines and saying "This is how they are supposed to be built.  Like Iron.  Deep. Wide.  Well sprung ribs.  Solid bone.  They should last all day."

This is the blood of Attache', Will Shriver and Yorktown.  Of Wing Commander, Grape Tree's Fox, Wing's Fleet Admiral, Mr. Magic Man, The Rambler and the great Stonewall King.  These are the names I memorized as a child.  Come to life in one wonderful package.

William

Congratulations!

Congratulations to my big brother CH Revolver who won the County Fair class Fine Harness horse World's Championship earlier this week. Mama and I are sure proud!

Mom

My sister Cocoa's people suprised me with some photos of my Mom.... Isn't she pretty?

We have a new little baby sister.




Even though I got my gorgeous color from my Mom, Brita still thinks I look just like my Dad. I'm so happy to have pictures of Mom. She's 24 years old, and still looking pretty darn good for her age. Ooops, sorry Mom, I probably shouldn't have told on you.

Meet my little sister: My Cocoa Latte

The most interesting thing about the Internet is the social connection capabilities. Yes, Facebook and the Internet work for horses too! Not too long ago my little sister Cocoa found my blog through a friend of a friend and was able to contact me and reconnect. We have the same mom, Attache's Galatea, but different fathers. Here are some excerpts from our correspondence:

Dear William Pendleton,

Your blog was shared with me by another rider at my barn, as I am your sister! My owner and I live in Florida and I am training to be shown in the Country Pleasure class with my rider an 11-year old girl. You look like our Mom, she has the same coloring as you, she also lives in Florida, about 30 minutes from me. I look like my dad, a Bay.

I was born in TN, but moved to FL when I was young. I lived with my Mom and some other Saddlebreds with a man bought Mom (he is a farrier).He brought me to a nice barn with lots of kids and to be trained. That is where I met my people family. They tell me they fell in love with me the first time they saw me! When the farrier man thought I was ready for a forever family, the lady bought me as a surprise for the girl for her 11th birthday. We have been inseparable ever since! Mom lives at a very nice stable and is pregnant again!

I am so happy to find a sibling of mine and can't wait to hear about all our adventures and will keep up with your blog regularly.

Love you little sister,

Cocoa

Cocoa's people also shared some info with me about her bond with her young owner. It sounds like Cocoa is lucky to have a very kind family as I do, and they have bonded in a special way:

"She is very sweet and loves other animals. She gives kisses to the dogs and the goat that live that the stable. She gently leans into my daughter every time Julia goes into her stall. Her personality is the reason we bought her (we have never owned a horse before) not her pedigree.

She is being trained for ASB Country Pleasure and competed in her first show in March 2011. She can be a bit little lazy, but is VERY smart. Cocoa knows how to get her way and realizes Julia loves her as a pet, not just a show horse. Julia is having to learn many new things in order to keep her on track. The are like two peas in a pod and sometime I think Cocoa is the equine version of Julia (not just in personality, but also in physique). They are both very long-legged and lean, so they look great together in the ring. "

We congratulate Cocoa on finding such a wonderful family and wish her well in her future endeavors and hope to hear from her again. I do so hope she can get me a picture of my Mom Galatea for my scrap book!

Home Movies

Would you like to meet my father? This is a recent video of my sire Deep Blue. I think I look alot like him. I'm working on turning all brown too. It sure is nice to have some family movies.

Showing Horses in the Heat

**Editor Interruption**

Mom said to me yesterday, as we were sitting on tack trucks eating sherbet, "Aren't you glad we aren't at a horse show in this heat?" I reminded her that the Lexington Jr. League Horse Show is this week. Not only am I glad I'm not sitting there in a heat wave (because I've experienced that joy before) but can you imagine hauling this rig all the way from California to Lexington, Kentucky and outfitting it? Even the headers were dressed as clowns! Thank God it didn't rain! Michele McFarlane always goes above and beyond the call of duty, and she has a grand imagination and the budget to back it up.

This is Michele McFarlane's circus wagon which I understand will represent the American Saddlebred breed in exhibitions at the World Equestrian Games. Michele is driving, and that looks like Don Trunk sitting beside her. Yes, I know Michele has a staff to help with these things but WoW! Just....WoW!

More photos of the Concourse D'Elegance can be found on Howie Schatzberg's site. Go to Thursday Evening Class 202 and click on any individual photo to see an enlarged version.

This is my favorite... Awesome! This is 2007 World's Champion Five Gaited horse Casey's Final Countdown who Michele imported from South Africa.

You will probably also enjoy the Four in Hand Coaching class below it.

Now I guess I'll have to check the results to see if any of Grey's brother's or sisters were showing.

** Update** Grey's big brother Preston won the Stallion/Gelding Fine Harness class. Good Luck Preston in the Championship!!

Let's get this show on the road...

Several of my siblings... those who have careers... are in Kentucky this week showing at the Lexington Jr. League Horse Show.

You can click on their names to see pictures from the photographer's website.

Congratulations Foxy Camilla for your third place in the Adult Show Pleasure Driving, and CH Revolover for your third in the Amatuer Fine Harness Stake. I wonder if Paranormal will be showing?

They look like they're having lots of fun. I'm not sure I want to go to a horse show afterall. Brita made me get on the trailer again yesterday, and closed me in. For a looong time. At least it seemed like a long time. I threw a teeny weeny fit. I think she's mad at me. She seems to be plotting and planning.

Under the Spotlight

Check out this new painting of my big brother Preston (CH Revolver) by Jeanne Newton Schoborg. The original will be auctioned at the ASB Museum's Fine Art Auction in July. Prints are available from Jeanne's website. I think everyone needs one!

http://www.jnsfineart.com/

8" x 10" $35.00

13" x 19" $50.00

painting by Jeanne Newton: Copywrite 2009 used with the permission of the artist

Since I'm frumpy, I'm catching up on my reading

I've been catching up on my reading today, flipping through the stack of Saddle Horse Reports in the tack room.

Congratulations to my big brother CH Revolver (Preston) for his Reserve Championship at the Royal this year.
Isn't he handsome? And CLEAN! I don't know if I would want to be a fussy champion show horse. I love rolling in the dirt. Preston doesn't look like he has seen any dirt in years!
I can't believe he is still that darkly dappled. I'm going grey a lot quicker than he is. I know his daddy was black, but he must have been using that grecian formula that he used to be named for. Yeah, that's got to be it.