Diamond View Moves To Kentucky
Friday, March 9, 2007
After having spent five successful years in Hurricane, W.Va., Matt and Kristen Shiflet have moved their Diamond View Farm to the heart of the Bluegrass with their purchase of Rigby’s Green in Versailles, Ky. The farm has a rich Saddle Horse history as William Shatner’s Belle Reve Farm and Donna Moore previously occupied the Shannon Run Road training and breeding facility.
“We did great in West Virginia. We had a good business, but we needed more space,” said Matt Shiflet, a third generation horseman. “There’s no place like it [Kentucky]. It’s been a dream of mine to live in Kentucky and run a business and fortunately I have the opportunity to give it a try.”
Before getting married and opening their Diamond View Farm in West Virginia, Matt grew up working with his father, Harrison Shiflet, and grandfather, Claude Shiflet. Kristen [Bagdasarian] was an extremely successful junior exhibitor showing such world’s champions as CH Dixie Jewel and King’s High Spirit with Peter and Kim Cowart’s West Wind Stables.
As a professional couple, the Shiflets have done extremely well. Their world’s champions have included Freaky Links, CH Peppermint Sonburst, CH Glider’s Star, Manhattan’s Irish Cream and Cosmical. Reserve world’s champions have included Lady Hawke, Wild Wonderful and Lexie Flint.
They are currently working approximately 40 head at their Versailles, Ky., facility where Shane Mullins is the assistant trainer and Wesley Hall just joined the staff after graduating from Clemson University.
The added space has also allowed the Shiflets to concentrate on a breeding program. They are expecting five babies this year. Two of the broodmares are the former great show mares CH Glider’s Star and CH I’m An Angel.
Two of the foals expected this year will be by Leatherwood’s Encore, a full brother to reserve world’s champion Leatherwood’s Starlight. Leatherwood’s Encore (CH Starlike Sultan x Super Fantasy by Super Supreme) is owned by and stands at Diamond View Farm.
While they are just getting settled in, so far the Shiflets are enjoying their new Kentucky home.
“We’ve been showing horses far more than we’re used to,” said Matt. “It’s just so convenient for people to come to Kentucky and be able to go shop at several barns in a short amount of time.”
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