 April
2008
F.S. Sugar Bar Joe & Andrew Burger
When FS Sugar Bar Joe won the Small Stallion Stake in
2006 I knew I could take him to the top the next time
around. 2007 was the first year Joe had ever been
campaigned by anyone. In halter, Joe was unmatched,
winning Grands from New York to Virginia, and at sixteen,
he had been a National High Point Stallion for the sixth
time. This puts him at six-time National small
stallion champion, two-time Small Stallion Stake winner,
International Small Stallion Champion, and Supreme Champion. I
quickly realize that riding a small horse against all
the big ones out there takes skill, determination, and
most of all, patience. Joe wasn’t first all
the time but it was worth it to show that big isn’t
always better.
Along side Joe, I got the chance to campaign
his 2006 colt FS Starry Knight, the only colt to beat
Joe in halter, here in the northeast during the regular
season. ‘Duke’ was shown in Halter, Color and Lead-in Trail
and is truly one in a million. He was the representative for the POA Breed
at the Equine Affair in October and he drew quite a crowd. Duke will probably
be breed to a select few mares this spring, and then he’ll be gelded to
become my next junior pony thereafter.
Along side the dynamic father son duo, the 2007 colt FS Chief Gold Bar was shown
in New York during the second half of the season. As the late Joe son, ‘Chief
has continued the series of great Joe babies. Chief will be shown much
like what Duke did as a yearling, Halter, Color, and Lead-In Trail.
We are very anxious for the 2008 season, and look forward
to all the possibilities for our farm. Many of our new broodmares will be bred to good ‘ol
Joe. We are expecting to breed a total of four mares from our farm, as
well as some possible outside stock. Duke’s Quarter Horse dam Celestial
Tradition stands 14.3 hands, and is out of The Star Tradition and Sonnys Bright
Bow. Chief’s dam JLC Miss Sweet Cream is sired by Future Gold and
out of the Quarter Horse Handsome Goldie. These two as well as Santee Gay
Lea (out of Santee Spanish Nick and Driftwoods Gay Lea) and Little Debby (out
of Santee Cortez and Mini Crusader) will be bred this spring. As for the
foal crop for 2008 itself, we are expecting just one foal for the third year
in a row, this time out of Tough Choice. ‘Tara’ was bred to
Joe for an early-April foal, and we expect that it will be another great addition
to the line of great Joe foals. Tara as many know
was my last junior pony, and is out of Santee Skip N
Accent and Santee Super Queen.
Personally, I am very
exited about POA breeding, thanks to those like Mr. Gene
Carr and Mr. Kent Rorick who offer very knowledgeable
articles about the history and application of POA bloodlines
and genetics. I am looking forward
to the coming year, and my future in POAs.
PS. I’m
really sad that I’ll be missing the 2008 International
due to an American Music Abroad tour in Europe, but I’m
sure I’ll see all of you soon.
Andy |
Pony Of The Americas Club, Inc.