Daughtry Stables Hosts Holiday Party and Hollybrook Indian Brave Retirement
Monday, December 17, 2007
Submitted by Mary Daughtry
Mary and Harry Daughtry held their annual holiday party on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 at Daughtry Stables in Goldsboro, N.C. The trees were still resplendent in their fall colors and pumpkins, gourds and mums carried the fall theme through the barn and house. The fare was an Eastern North Carolina specialty—a pig pickin’ with all the fixings. The numerous home-baked desserts were served in the house.
(l to r) Martha Perry and Emory Sykes
enjoyed the festivities with Mary Daughtry.
Daughtry Stables hosted a large contingent
of North Carolina’s show horse faithful
including (l to r) Bill Whitley, Alex Innis,
Heather Boodey and Rick Booze.
Family members, friends and local horseman all attended to honor Hollybrook Indian Brave’s retirement from the show ring, as well as Harry’s 66th birthday. John Coppley of Hollybrook Farm read the following speech as Harry led “Cochise” out. Next Harry worked the two newest members of the show string, Graywood’s Lennox and Graywood’s Lear, two four-year-old Morgan geldings. There was also a heartfelt tribute to the many veterans in attendance for their service to this country and its freedoms (five World War II, three Vietnam and two Gulf War).
Breeder Joyce Metters posed with Hollybrook
Indian Brave at his retirement ceremony
while Harry Daughtry celebrated his birthday.
Read by John Coppley:
Hollybrook Indian Brave was foaled 16 years ago at Joyce Metters’s Hollybrook Farm, the product of Hollybrook Wham Bam and TEF Delightful Time. Metters first showed him in hand at the Dixie Cup where he won the three-year-old gelding class. As a four-year-old he won the Junior Pleasure Driving Championship at Mid-A. With his next trainer, Midge Hunt, his most notable win was the Morgan English Pleasure Jackpot at the Blue Ridge Classic.
In July 1999, Mary Daughtry bought him, and Cochise became her driving horse. Together they have shown for the past nine years and what a partnership it has been. Some of this gelding’s accomplishments include: three-times USEF National Horse of the Year in Amateur Morgan Pleasure Driving; 10 Regional USEF Championships in Open and Amateur Morgan Pleasure Driving; 2005 Saddle Horse Report High Point Open Morgan Pleasure Driving; six Saddle Horse Report Top Ten Awards in Open and Amateur Morgan Pleasure Driving; Champion Pleasure Driving Horse in the Virginia/Carolinas Morgan Club’s High Point Standings six times, retiring the Eaton’s Top Hat Challenge Trophy as well as the Hollybrook Indian Brave Challenge Trophy; 12 North Carolina State Championship titles; 14 blues and championships at the NC State Fair. In his last victory pass he achieved his 100th first place finish, a feat very few horses attain, showing only in USEF Class A shows.
Dr. Richard Cochrane (left) with his patient,
Hollybrook Indian Brave, who enjoyed the
ceremony and all of the attention under
the lead of Harry Daughtry.
Records are only a part of this horse, however. As some know, this summer Cochise began to have problems with intermittent bouts of colic. He has spent some time at “Camp Cochrane” off and on getting well with the expert help of Dr. Richard Cochrane and the Apex Veterinary Hospital. At first it was thought he might have ulcers, but with continued treatment it was feared that he might have a more serious problem. The decision to retire him was made two months before the State Fair. After each bout he would immediately be back on his game and made one great show after another. In his last class, the Open Pleasure Driving Championship at the State Fair, some thought he looked as good as he ever had. But the next morning he was in obvious distress once again. This time it was Dr. Katy Carruthers of the Neuse Animal Clinic on call at the fair who attended him. She did a rectal examination and removed an enterolith approximately 12-18 inches. This softball-sized stone had passed completely through his digestive tract.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is not only an elegant and dynamic show horse, but a very brave horse. As gentle and kind-hearted as he is game and brilliant, Cochise has never given less than 100 percent. Today he is retired at the Daughtry Stables where he will continue to be cherished for his lifetime—in the tradition of Mr. Golddigger, Peacock’s Leading Man, CH Rich-Mar’s Eagle and Canterbury Capri.
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