Press Release from Happy Valley Farm
Friday, June 21, 2013
Happy Valley Farm, home to an expansive American Saddlebred show horse breeding and training operation, tragically lost 35 of 36 horses stabled in the main barn when fire erupted on Thursday evening shortly before dark. Daniel Jenner, one of the farm’s horse trainers, stated that the structure was completely engulfed within 20 minutes. “We were able to get one horse out of an end stall on the back side of the barn adjacent to the indoor arena. It was too hot and smoky to get anywhere near the main barn aisle.”
Tragically lost in the blaze were four stallions that were the backbone of the breeding operation. Included were the prolific homebred stallion, WC Merchant Prince, who won the Three Year Old Fine Harness National Futurity in 1986 and was sire of many great world's champions, including World's Grand Champion Fine Harness and World's Grand Champion Three-Gaited CH A Sweet Treat, CH Marching Orders, and CH Rejoice among many others. Also perishing were RWC I'm The Prince - sire of twice World's Grand Champion Three-Gaited CH Grande Gil. The black stallion, WC Harlem's Friendly Conversation, sire of World’s Champions Kalarama's Delightful and With A Friend, and finally a stallion son of I’m The Prince, Magical Me.
Show horses that perished included WC With A Friend, RWC So Persuasive, I Insist, as well as a number of promising prospects including two full brothers to WC Grande Gill, I’m Grande and Grande Prince; a Junior prospect by Harlem’s Friendly Conversation, I’ll Just Say, who was being readied for competition at the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship; Such Magic, daughter of Such Sweet Memories and Little Soul, daughter of In My Soul.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by authorities, but foul play is not suspected. The colt barn and broodmare barn were not affected by the blaze. Nearly 25 foals have been born in 2013 and they, together with almost 100 prospects and broodmares, will be the future of Happy Valley.
Marion “Bit” Hutcheson, owner, and the entire Happy Valley staff would like to express their deepest appreciation for your condolences.
|