From The Publisher
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14 – May/June, 2025
By Tom Grabe
Spring has come and with it the youngsters that are the future stars of our industry. By the time you read this, foaling season will be in full swing. I love this time of year. There’s nothing more enjoyable than watching sucklings dance clumsily with their mothers and weanlings test each others skills of speed and endurance.
This is a special time in their lives. These foals will grow over the next year or two and be graded as to their potential to become the next great one. Some will cut the mustard and others won’t. The ones who show greatness will be applauded wherever they go. Those that don’t will still be loved, just in a different way by a different group of people.
What defines a great one? Is it the muscular good looks of a big, beautiful halter horse or the gentle, flowing motion of an outstanding pleasure horse? Is it the drive and stamina of a top rope horse or the agility and determination of a great cutting or reining horse? Is it the ability to leap tall objects in a single bound, like a hunter-jumper or the speed to outrun the competition, like that of a race or barrel horse? It’s all of these things and more.
