Truly A Gem: Miss Bluegun Turns Heads As A Genuinely Versatile Horse

Truly A Gem:  Miss Bluegun, aka Sapphire, Turns Heads As A Genuinely Versatile Horse

By Delores Kuhlwein

In today’s specialized world of the horse industry, it’s common to hear people share nostalgia over horses who can switch gears from one event to another.

Then one learns of an extraordinary horse like Miss Bluegun, aka Sapphire, a 2013 AQHA grey mare who is able to complete her over fence work beautifully with English tack, and when her western saddle is on, transition right to her job competing in team roping, heading, and breakaway roping.  And she does it all remarkably well.

Crowned as Reserve World Champion in Open Jumping at the 2021 AQHA World Show with her owner, Marisa French of Tularosa, New Mexico, Sapphire shines in four events with Marisa: jumping, team roping heading, and breakaway.  But she doesn’t stop there, says Marisa. “My oldest son, Jaret, age 10, competes in heading, breakaway, steer stopping, barrels, pole, flag race, and goat tying on her.  One of her favorite jobs is as a PRCA pick-up horse for my husband, J.T. French,” she says.

Marisa explains she and her husband and her father-in-law bred Miss Bluegun in Ruidoso, where they raise Quarter Horses, and they own her sire and dam.  “She is by Playgun Shadow by PG Gunpowder and out of TP Blue Valentine by Blue Crusader. We also ride four full brothers and several half and three quarter siblings,” she says.

But after Marisa had her sons, her heart longed to return her roots from her days as a Junior rider in the Hunter discipline.

“I watched the AQHA World Shows every year and decided I wanted to try to make one of our horses into a jumper.  I started riding Sapphire when she was three years old and she took right to the sport.  She is very trainable and wants to work.  She really wants to help you,” she says.  “People looked at us with a funny look when I took this stocky quarter horse with a long flowing mane to the warmblood shows.  Imagine that at a horse show where all the other horses have tight braids!  Once they see her jump, though, they are smitten.”

When Sapphire won her Reserve World title in 2021, Marisa says their jump-off time was fractions of a second behind the Champion, Hilary Carrel.  “She is one of my role models and a Grand Prix level jumper rider.  It was very special to be in the competition ring beside her,” Marisa reveals.  “Sapphire really put in a terrific effort and pulled out all the stops for me.”

What’s most exceptional about Sapphire is her ability to be a family horse in true AQHA style, says Marisa.  “She loves people; not just on the ground, but when you are on her back, too,” she explains.  “She feels like a Ferrari when you ride her, and she looks for what you want her to do.  J.T. says she is the most fun pick up bareback broncs from.  You think, ‘go,” and she is there.”

At the same time, she explains that Sapphire’s “go” isn’t out-of-control either.  “J.T. has picked up a bronc rider from a thundering gallop and stopped like a reiner to put the rider down smoothly,” she says.

Marisa is also starting Miss Bluegun’s two sisters in ranch work, roping, and over fence training.  “Miss Bluegun is the unicorn people talk about,” she says, “kind to the eye and in heart.  Truly a gem as her barn name implies.”