FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
SIDELINES JANUARY 2014 141
MS Malachai (Lamarque–She Can Dance by First Prize): 2012
First Premium BWP colt, handled by Sarah Owen, at the BWP
Keuring at Spy Coast Farm.
Photo courtesy of Laurie Haddon
Shakira Do Jacare provides an excellent example of how good
Christine and Sarah are at “reading” their horses. The mare was
notorious for not wanting to go into a practice area, but settled in
and started cooperating soon after she moved to Muny Sunk. A
lot of patience and consistent flatwork was involved to persuade
Shakira to jump in the schooling ring. Their approach involves
getting to know the individual equine and figuring out how to
unlock the talent and work cooperatively toward the same goals.
Therefore, Christine and Sarah focus on breeding only top-level
jumpers from Shakira.
One of their other broodmares did amateur jumpers, but has
the movement and is quiet enough to produce hunter prospects.
Another mare they have was bred for dressage and Sarah said,
“she did really well with me in the children’s jumpers and she
produces offspring for everything, depending on the sire and his
attributes. Her 2012 foal has superb movement, is very elastic
and athletic, and with her bloodlines we think she will be a good
prospect for dressage and eventing.”
Depending on what you want, you can probably find a young
horse whose attributes, genetics and training satisfy most of your
wish list. One thing you can count on is absolute integrity from the
Muny Sunk ladies about their Born in the U.S.A. horses. Moreover,
if they don’t have what you want, they will suggest other breeding
farms that might.
“We make a point of being completely up front and honest with
our clients,” emphasized Sarah. “For many years I have made
mental notes on how a certain horse rides and goes around the
ring, how well they jump and move, all pertaining to their sire or
dam – and I think the mare line is even more important than the
sire! When you learn what bloodlines produce certain qualities,
you can get into the key points of finding the one stallion that
will cross best with your mare. My mother and I have talked with
trainers and other breeders about the quality of said horse – this is
knowledge you will never stop using. The most important lesson I
have learned is that you never stop learning – go through life and
absorb as much information as you can. That’s what we share
with our clients and prospective buyers – information about our
young stock, about their breeding, about why we think this might
be the horse that can help you to ride closer to your goals.”
For more information, visit
About the writer: Sidelines’ Lauren R. Giannini is an award-winning “wordsmith”
specializing in stories and photos about the equestrian world. Crazy about horses her
entire life, she lives in the horse and hunt country of Virginia. Lauren’s motto is “write,
ride - not necessarily in that order!”
