Bloodline Magazine - SUMMER 2020

EYE CANDY OF COURSE YOUR STALLION IS TOTAL

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Table of Contents

8

COVER STORY

Northwestern Gunman

16

NUTRITION SERIES

22

WEANING METHODOLOGY

32

SUCCESS ON THE

40

MARES WHO CHANGED THE INDUSTRY:

44

50,000 REASONS KISSIN THE GIRLS

FEEDING FOR GROWTH THE GREAT DIVIDE

LONGE LINE SKYS STRAWBERRY

ADVERTISING CONTACT

Brenna Weaver, Founder & Editor E-mail: info@bloodlinemagazine.com

pg.8

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COVID-19 has shaken the very foundation of our realities in the last few months. While we continue to get back on our feet and find a new normal, lets celebrate ingenuity, craftiness, and community.

Here’s to survival. Enjoy the issue!

COVER STORY

NORTHWESTERN GUNMAN

Madison Barkley had always dreamt of

owning a striking leopard appaloosa. After years of searching, the opportunity to own the one came available. “In 2017, I was set to be married in July, and ‘Spot’ came for sale in May. He was my wedding gift and my honeymoon,” Madison said. That gift has now grown in to Northwestern Gunman, one of the most prominent young appaloosa stallions on the market.

IMPRESSIVE ORIGINS

His sire is US National Champion, Canadian

National Champion, and Canadian National Reserve Champion, Sacred Dream, who was laid to rest in 2018. Sacred Dream was the sire of multiple World and National champions, a force in the appaloosa industry.

Northwestern Gunman’s mother, Artful, is

by Indian Artifacts and out of an Artful Move daughter.

A WORLD OF PROMISE

While Madison saw potential right away, it

was not her intention to promote Spot as a stallion, “I had planned to geld him and make him a non pro show horse from the beginning. We started showing him in longe line as a yearling, and he started winning like crazy and had a wicked front leg. Shortly after, his sire passed away and the decision was made to promote him as a stallion.” Northwestern Gunman amassed noteable titles, including Canadian Appaloosa Jackpot Most Colorful Champion 2017, Territory 1 NSBA Open 2yo Western Pleasure Champion, and 2018 Canadian Amateur AAA High Point Halter Horse 2019. Versatility is his star point of intrigue, as Madison points out, “He is smart. From changing leads to the breeding shed, everything is easy for him and he gets it right the first try. My favorite physical thing about him is how correctly and heavily made he is. He does well in the halter and still is nice legged enough to win the pleasure. That is what sets him apart is his versatility.”

WHAT’S IN STORE

Madison is excited about Spots future as a

sire, where that versatility should serve him well. “I would like to see him bred to some HUS style mares, with the size in his pedigree and his movement, that should be a sure shot,” she says. She continues, “There is a leopard appaloosa halter mare by Colormeimpressive x Mr. Conclusion daughter bred to him that I’m anxiously awaiting a foal from. Classy, Colorful and Correct!”

2020 was Northwestern Gunman’s first year at stud, and the reception to his freshman campaign was excellent, “People love him and he has a worldwide fan base from Brazil to Canada. The youth at the shows love him and started referring to him as a ‘unicorn.’ The term ‘Spoticorn’ was derived from that and they even made him his own hashtag in 2019,” she says. Mare owners are fans, too, with his semen having excellent quality. “He has consistently been over 80% progressive motility and has gotten his mares bred on the first breeding, fresh or frozen,” Madison says. “Spot is a show off. He knows he’s pretty and he acts like it! Also, if you’re not careful, he will steal a can of Pepsi in 2 seconds flat. He loves Pepsi and popcans!”

A DREAM TEAM

No stallion can do it alone, and the team

behind Northwestern Gunman has worked especially hard to get this young stallion’s career of to a fabulous start. Madison says, “The first thing I did was assemble a power pack of industry leading women to advise and guide me, from breeding to showing, training and advertising, I have surrounded myself with more experienced people to help.” She’d like to extend thanks to the people that keep Spot in great shape and who’ve believed in him, “Matt Fawcett shoes him and does the best work. Dr. Brittany Wise is my repro vet who makes the magic happen and I’m lucky to have her.

I’d also like to thank Lindsay Soderberg-Geiger and Laura McAllister for being great trainers and offering support and guidance on all aspects of the industry.”

NUTRITION SERIES

! y l e f a S

Feeding for Growth Written by Brenna Weaver

The first year is a benchmark year for growth

(OCD), physitis, cervical vertebral malformation, angular

in young horses. They’re going to grow, and they’re

limb deformities, flexural limb deformities, and club feet all

going to grow fast. Breeding them for decades for

fall into this category. While nutrition is certainly not the

peak performance in their futurity years has seen an

only factor in whether or not a foal will develop any of these

even more expedited process to maturity, and as such,

issues, proper nutrition can certainly help.

it’s imperative to feed consciously and responsibly for

healthy growth. Young horses, especially those whose

stresses the importance of feeding correctly, “Getting the

genetics predispose them to this speedy maturation,

nutrition just right for the growing foal is a bit of a goldilocks

are often more prone to developmental orthopedic

situation. Too many calories, particularly if they come from

disesases (DOD).

starch and sugar, and horses grow too fast and are at

Dr. Nicole Rambo with Tribute Equine Nutrition

greater risk of developmental orthopedic disorders (DOD).

WHAT’S A DOD?

Too few nutrients, particularly certain trace minerals, and horses are also at greater risk of DOD. We are looking to find that balance of feeding enough calories to maintain

“Developmental orthopedic disease,” or

DOD, is a general term for a variety of conditions that plague the growing bones, joints, and growth plates in young horses as they mature. Osteochondrosis

a steady growth rate while providing all of the necessary non-energy nutrients to support growth.”

Foals’ first experiences with non-milk food sources

are undertaken while still at their mothers’ side. With their inherent curiosity, it’s not too long after birth that their noses are down in the feed bucket right alongside mom’s, exploring new textures and tastes.

Creep feeding is perhaps the most effective way

to really introduce concentrate to foals and prepare them, from a nutritional standpoint, for the weaning process.

Once weaned, it is recommended to feed a high quality concentrate designed for growing horses at a rate at or above the manufacturers minimum recommendation for your weanlings size and age.

NOW IT’S ON YOU

Once weaned, you’re at the wheel entirely. The

American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends feeding weanlings a concentrate with 14-16% protein and should be consuming 1-3% of its total body weight in combined feed and forage each day. A quality grass hay is the most frequently recommended source of all important dietary fiber, or free choice forage in the form of pasture.

It is at this stage in their lives that foals are perhaps most likely to encounter issues with developmental orthopedic disorders. It is a common fallacy that high protein diets

contribute to the appearance of these disorders in foals, but in actuality, the culprit is an excessively high calorie diet lush with non-structural carbohydrates.

What to AVOID: An excessively high calorie diet with too many carbohydrates

ADDRESSING THE ISSUE

How do we address the problem? Dr. Rambo

Properly fed minerals play a leading role in the

offers insight, “It is a common misconception that

prevention and management of DODs as well.

dramatically cutting back concentrate feed (grain) and

believe that low copper and zinc levels are a major

feeding a low-quality hay will promote DOD recovery,”

contributor to D.O.D. and must be addressed from the 1st

she says. “While we may look to cut some calories

trimester of pregnancy until the resultant foal has ceased

from these foals’ diets, we will look to increase the total

growing,” Dr. Rambo says. “The requirements for crude

nutrient density of the diet through a ration balancer.”

protein, lysine, calcium and phosphorous increase faster

Ration balancers are commercially available and quite

than the energy requirement. There is evidence that copper

cost effective in comparison to expensive surgeries and

levels 3-4 times higher and zinc levels 2-3 times higher

permanent damage to bone structure if these conditions

than the current Nutrient Requirements of Horses (NRC,

are left unaddressed.

“We

2007) recommendations may help alleviate the incidence of D.O.D in many situations, especially programs with faster-growing horses. Phosphorous is another key player in the mineral equation that is not to be underestimated.

Dr. Rambo says, “The ideal calcium to phosphorous ratio in the total diet of growing horses is between 1:1 and 2:1.

Growing horses consuming forage sources composed of 50% or greater alfalfa or other legumes should be fed a concentrate specifically designed to balance the nutrient profile of legumes.”

Keep in mind that each foal is an individual with

individual needs in a nutrition program. Dr. Rambo stresses that, “It is important to feed the horse’s physiological growth rate, not necessarily its chronological age.” Checking on your weanling field and finding a developing growth disorder can be alarming, but good management can reduce the time your foals spend on the mend or prevent these disorders from cropping up in the first place. Always consult with your veterinarian if you notice your foals are playing less than usual, are displaying stiffness or soreness in their gaits, or you notice any puffiness or swelling at their joints, as these are all indications that a problem is arising.

STAND OUT IN A SEA OF STALLIONS, DOES YOURS

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WEANING METHODOLOGY

The Great Divide Written by Brenna Weaver

WHEN TO WEAN

The end of infancy is marked in a majority of

species by some act of weaning – mammals come by it naturally as the maternal drive to protect and nurture concludes at an age when offspring are matured and capable of independence. In wild settings, foals are weaned through a gradual process wherein mares slowly deny milk to their young and demand that independence by forcing foals to acquaint themselves with new sources of food. Domestication, however, brought about new timelines for weaning, and in today’s breeding programs, there are a variety of weaning methods utilized with success.

How do we define a successful weaning?

If we have taken mom away from foal, have we satisfactorily accomplished the goal? Perhaps. The single largest concern among breeders when it comes to determining whether a weaning is a success or not is the stress of the foal throughout and after the process and their development shortly after weaning and beyond.

It seems that the largest stress response in foals

during the weaning process is in those weaned early on, at three to four months of age. An Egyptian study on Arabian foals found that foals weaned at three months experienced substantially higher cortisol levels (more physiological stress) and negative abnormal behaviors than their counterparts which were weaned at five months. A Chinese study published in 2015 found that weaning foals at 6 months or older yielded significantly less stress indicators like pacing, less frequent drinking, and far fewer aggressive behaviors.

The science implores that we wait to wean, if possible, until five to six months when foals are physically more mature and a bit more independent of their mothers to start with prior to enacting the stresses of the artificial weaning process.

HOW TO WEAN

Generally speaking, weaning methodologies

The Gradual Weaning

fall into one of two primary categories: abrupt

There are multiple adaptations of the gradual

and gradual.

It is well documented, though with

weaning process – but generally speaking, the gradual

some varying results, that foals experience different

weaning process refers to a methodology wherein

physiological responses to the two categories.

mare and foal are allowed to experience separation in small quantities or perhaps through a barrier prior

The Abrupt Weaning

to her complete removal.

In most abrupt weaning scenarios, a foal is

kept behind in a stall or small turnout while the mare is removed quickly, most preferably to an area where neither can hear the calls of the other, and after a day or two, moms and babies have completed weaning and move on with their lives.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Breeders have been using both varieties of

weaning for years, and both methods can work in the

longrun. When it comes to making a decision as to

Individual Needs

which method is best for your program, a few things

can come up in consideration:

easy to wean – these independent spirits may take to

Breeders know that some foals are pretty

an abrupt weaning like a duck to water, where their Health & Safety

needier counterparts may benefit from a more gradual

process.

A mare and foal’s health and safety is always

paramount. Always be sure to never compromise in this regard when it comes to getting foals weaned.

IT’S IN THE MANAGEMENT

Practicality

If you’re a larger breeder and have several

most stressful events in a young horse’s life, but good

mares and babies to wean, it can be substantially

management practicies and an effective weaning

easier to get the weaning process over and done with

technique that is suitable to your individual program

quickly, rather than waiting several weeks to let the

can make this time more bearable for all parties.

gradual process work. You might not have a barn big enough or enough paddocks to effectively implement a gradual process and so a well-executed abrupt weaning may suit your needs best.

Weaning can undoubtedly be one of the

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Success on

THE LINE Longe Line events offer breeders a unique opportunity to show off the fruits of their labors.

Yearlings are oftentimes where a breeder can truly shine when it comes to the representation of your program, before those horses go on to their riding careers. It’s a time of development, of learning, and a time to create good habits for young show horses.

Anthony Leier of Leier Performance Horses is no stranger to the ins and outs of yearling preparation, and has experienced an abundance of success at the highest levels of competition in the last few years, making him one of the most sought after trainers in the business for yearling sale prep and in-hand events.

CAREFUL SELECTION

The selection of a prospect for longe line is of

potential as a riding horse. Anthony shares that his focus

utmost importance. To be able to see their potential can

in his program is primarily on identifying a talented mover

make all the difference. “What I try looking for in a longe

and allowing them to show off their natural ability, “I’m a

line prospect is not just something I think will win on the

huge believer in judging a prospect on their legs, behavior

line but that could make a great 2 or 3 futurity horse,”

and maturity, not the topline! That’s one thing I wish the

Anthony says. “You want maturity, size, strength and of

judges would keep in mind when judging this class. So

course ‘pretty!’ A prospect that can carry itself with ease

when training a longe liner in my program, I let them find

and lope down the fence with cadence and softness. To

their comfort spot and leave their topline where they are

me, a head set isn’t something I need to see. As long as

most comfortable,” he says. “Keep their shoulders up and

they can point that toe and fire through with their hocks,

head set above level until you start riding them! That’s

I’m in!”

where we will see longe liners succeed more as riders in

Most association rule books deem that a longe

line class be judged with respect given to a longe liner’s

my opinion.”

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

As our breeding becomes more selective, longe-

sights and sounds of a horse show is instrumental to their

line is becoming increasingly competitive, with higher

longe line career. Anthony shares, “I like to take my

quality performances and training. While rule books

yearlings to about 2 weekend shows before a big show

detail that a yearling not be penalized over zealously for

like NSBA. So usually end of May, beginning of June, they

playing a bit on the line, in heavy competition, it can still

are ready to longe around off the farm and start to see

cost you. “In the pen it’s pretty hard to recover from a

the sights!” Once at the show, he stresses that in the show

mistake, with all eyes on you and so many clean goes, all

environment, food is key to managing stress. “Well, what

you can do is finish the best you can, go home, and work

makes us all happy is food! I like to keep hay in front of

harder to fix what went wrong,” Anthony says. “Theres

them so they have less to stand and worry about in a stall.”

always another class, another horse show, so don’t get

frustrated, just fuel your mistakes with more practice and

to DIY their longe liners is to get to a show and pay

you will succeed.”

attention to the class. “See what it takes to be the winner,

watch how they show, their bloodlines, the show shape

Setting up a horse for success on the line may

begin at home, but getting a yearling exposed to the

The biggest tip Anthony has for breeders looking

they are in. Those things you can control yourself.”

ON THE FARM with

Anthony Leier

The

Stallion Issue IS COMING SEPTEMBER 2020

Possibly our most anticipated issue of the year, the 2020 STALLION ISSUE will showcase a plethora of AQHA, APHA, and ApHC stallions available for your breeding consideration in 2021, and will feature relevant articles on stallion behavior, management, and fertility. It’s an issue you certainly won’t want to miss!

Advertising deadline: SEPT 10 Reserve your ad space at

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MARES WHO CHANGED THE INDUSTRY

Skys Strawberry Written by Brenna Weaver

The Six Figure club is truly a milestone for

to me and turned her butt to kick me. I just wanted

any broodmare – it marks the point of excellence that

that filly and I never forgot about her,” Sandra said.

years of hard work and dedication to the breeding

“She was so soft and pretty and I seem to like horses

of exemplary stock yields. Some mares though, go

with attitude! Later, Rick Warne ended up owning her

well above and beyond that mark, and few have done

and I bought her from him over the phone as a three

a more impressive job of producing outstanding hunt

year old. I can remember driving home from a show

seat horses than the great Skys Strawberry.

where I had shown another Skys Blue Boy mare and was so excited because he was delivering her as soon

BIG THINGS COMING

as I got home. We just connected. I didn’t even really have a plan for her when I bought her.

I just wanted her.”

“Marty” was born in 2000, and she makes the

perfect case for the way genetics oftentimes overlook show pen performance. She was never shown, and when Sandra Butler met her in the weanling pasture at Barb Rawlings twenty years ago, it was a day that would set in motion one of the best broodmare careers of our current era. “Barb used to live down the road from me and she would buy some really nice babies.

It was love at first sight, even though she walked up

The sassy filly Sandra fell in love with has,

as of today, produced eleven AQHA foals, who’ve earned a whopping $163,504. Her highest money earner and her most illustrious progeny is none other than the great Not Just Anyhoo, whose winnings alone were over $81,000. His unprecedented career yielded a plethora of AQHA World and Congress Championships, NSBA World and Reserve World Championships, Futurity winnings, and four Superiors.

A SUREFIRE BET

Captivating In Blue, by The Last Captive,

producer,” Sandra says. She continues, “To date,

is another of Marty’s most noteable progeny. Her

Marty has had 11 foals. I’ve bred them all. I have a

earnings exceed $33,000 and her show record boasts

yearling full sister to Not Just Anyhoo and this year I

Reichert Celebration wins and Reserves, Congress

have a colt by Good Better Best. Every one of them is

Championships and Reserve Championships, and

pretty, has a great profile and they’ve all been correct

AQHYA World Show Reserve World Championship,

and great movers.”

and Multiple NSBA World Championships and

Futurity Championships.

Sandra believes it was luck, but mostly Marty

that made this great adventure all come together,

Red Carpet Rita, Designed With Detail, Al

“Her foals have put themselves in good homes. I live

Right Already, and Her Name Escapes Me all share

in New York and it’s just not the place to raise and sell

Marty’s impeccable genetics. “She has produced

horses. I usually only have one foal a year. No one

winners from Artful Investment, The Only Escape,

wants to come to New York to look at one foal. For

Iron Enterprise, Last Detail, and most resent 2019

me, what works is taking them to the Congress for the

Congress winner by Allocate Your Assets. Champions

longe line or even just walking them around to get them

by different stallions really make her a blue hen

exposed to all the sights. I hate trying to take a video.

I try but it’s usually just me lunging, chasing and videoing with the free hand.” Sandra’s advice to other small breeders who may have a mare with Blue Hen potential is to take a practical approach, “Really like what you breed to! There are so many nice studs out there. I have trouble picking just one every year.

An antique collector told me one

time buy what you like and can live with don’t buy it for resale. It kind of applies to breeding and raising. Look really good at your mare and the foals she has had. What would you change about them or her? Where does she need even a little improvement? If you’re a small breeder like me get them out at the bigger futurities for people to see.”

With more exellent foals sure to come

from this Leading Dam, there’s no question that she has cemented her spot in history as one of the all-time great producers.

50,000 REASONS TO RIDE A

Kissin The Girls

Since famed AQHA stallion, Kissin The Girls,

above and beyond futurity money… And A LOT of it!

first stepped back onto US soil a few years ago, owners John and Susan Carpenter have refused to

Q: How has the response been from your mare

mess around when it comes to his promotion. When

owners and buyers? How do you believe it has

they announced that the first AQHA World Champion

helped the marketability of his foals?

by “Kisses” was to be awarded a $50,000 bonus

A: For the “average” and “good” ones, the

paycheck, the incentive was met with immediate

marketability is probably not affected. For the “great

fanfare. Naturally, we had some questions, so we

ones,” it definitely has!

decided to ask John and Susan all about it.

Q: What sparked the idea to create your own incentive on top of the great programs Kisses is already a part of?

A: We knew we would have to do something new and bold. A nice stallion can get a lot of babies on the ground. Getting people to go the extra mile and show them? That takes something extra. There are a lot of nice horses out there, by an array of stallions. Money is the universal language!

Q: What advantages do you think these types of incentives have over traditional futurity programs? Any disadvantages?

A: The advantage is that nobody else is doing it.

We are saying, “Take these babies and show them successfully, and we will pay you!” That’s money

Q: Standing a stallion is obviously not for the faint of heart –what kind of a personal investment does it take to do this right?

A: It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. Frankly, some stallion owners are not a “welcoming group.”

You have to have thick skin and believe in your horse 1,000,000%. If you mind 10-12 hour days, you cannot make it. You have to be just as cheerful at 10:00pm when the phone rings as you are at 10:00am. You must believe in your stallion and actually enjoy what you do. We do a lot of different marketing ideas. In today’s world, you must appeal to the mare owners, trainers, judges, and keep it interesting! That is why we have also offered 5 days/5 nights in the Florida Keys to the first five trainers to complete a Superior in AQHA Open Western Pleasure competition on a Kissin The Girls offspring. Cole and Elizabeth baker are just a few points away from claiming the first trainer incentive!

Kissin The Girls is a 2010 red roan AQHA stallion by Openrange and out of BC Truly Impressive. Visit him online at http://kissinthegirls.com/.