The Gift of the Horse
Rich and Blue will be arriving in Denver on Monday, January 12 and available for viewing all day Tuesday, January 13 & Wednesday, January 14. Rich’s cell for contact in Denver is 816.351.8148.
shorter version of the video here
Quarter Horses have always played an integral and special part in the Spader family's day to day lifestyle. Utilized for work and fun, the family has bred, raised and trained more than 200 AQHA horses in the last 30 years. It began in 1972, when Dick, former Executive Vice President of the American Angus Association, presented his new bride Sheri a mare, Bay Jenny Adair, from the historic J A Ranch in Texas. No stranger to Quarter Horses, Dick had grown up horseback and wanted to ensure that his family had the opportunity to do the same.
Through the years Dick and Sheri acquired working horses from reputable breeders across the country, selecting their breeding stock on the fundamentals of disposition, soundness, pedigree and trainability. The breeding program was taken to a new level in 1998 with the purchase of Blue Max Hancock, a blue roan stallion boasting the time-tested bloodlines of Blue Valentine and Joe Hancock. Blue Max Hancock's sire had been a successful steer tripping and ranch horse in Texas, and his dam a proven producer of ranch and arena favorites. “Max” was ridden by Dick and quickly assumed a full book of Spader mares, passing his incredible disposition, soundness and roan color on to his offspring.
Perhaps many of his best colts resulted from his matings to several daughters of McKeag, a blue roan line-bred Leo and Joe Reed stallion. Dick and Sheri found these mares in North Dakota and purchased them at a
production sale as weanlings. Once mature, they were proven under saddle then added to the program, bolstering the already strong collection of foundation and performance bred broodmares the family had amassed. One of these mares, a blue roan named Blue Lady McKeag, was particularly noted to produce exceptional blue roan colts with ability and style.
In the spring of 2006, Blue Lady McKeag foaled a blue roan colt in the south pasture at the Spader Farms home place. He was special-quick to learn, friendly and strikingly blue in color. It was decided to hold him back from the annual production sale to evaluate him further. A year later, family friend Rich Masoner, a noted horseman and trainer, and Sheri pursued the possibility of providing a special gift to the Amercian Angus Auxiliary in memory of Dick's influence on the Angus breed. They settled on the donation of a top-caliber horse, directly from the heart of the program. Rich would train the horse, and long-time friend Jerry Lehmann offered to sell him. The final cog fell in place when Phil Trowbridge offered a venue-before his Trowbridge Family & Friends Invitational Angus Sale at the National Western Stock Show in January. The proceeds would then be donated to the the American Angus Auxiliary scholarship fund, benefiting the young people they support each year. There was no better way to honor Dick's memory, combining the horses that had meant so much to him with the enabling and advancement of the future of the Angus breed. Sheri knew just the horse-the spunky blue roan out of Blue Lady McKeag.
That winter, Rich and his family took possession of the colt and began his training regimen. Rich found him to be talented and intelligent, and quickly began riding him. It was a family effort, with Rich's wife, Chris, son Kahl, and daughter Janae assisting in the care and training. “Blue,” as he was called, was truly a family horse, with the kids often riding him after his training sessions were complete, which is a rare thing for a horse of that age. But Blue was solid and trustworthy, and loved the attention of the kids.
Further training included rigorous trail rides, arena schooling and cattle work. A special field trip was scheduled at the grand entry of the National Junior Angus Show in Des Moines. Blue took it all in stride, each day developing his potential further. He would be more than ready for his new home, to be decided on January 14 in Denver.
Blue will sell at the Brown Palace Hotel, Denver, CO, Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. We invite you to join us as we celebrate Dick Spader's life and support of youth in the Angus breed.
This special project was made possible by the help and support of so many friends, including Rich Masoner & family, Rhonda McCurry, Phil Trowbridge, Jerry Lehmann, Stuart Wilson with American Live Stock Inc. and the entire Angus Auxiliary.
Sheri, Jared, Brett and Alyssa Spader would like to thank you all! The Angus breed has always been a family to the Spaders.
SF Blue Sky McMaxill
| Blue Max Hancock Blue Lady McKeag |
Rowdy Blue Man Wredes Bebop a Lula McKeag Double Rose Miss |
Blue Valentine Hydel Girl 44 Don Wrede Skip a Lula Joe Quincy Baby Snooks Bar Double Eagle Seven Rodeo Rose Miss |
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Mortality insurance proudly provided by American Live Stock Inc.
Questions about Blue or details about the Gift of the Horse?
Contact:
Brett Spader - 785.633.5512
Sheri Spader
Rich Masoner - 816.351-8148
Sandra McCurry
Linda Broast