Journey to AQHA for Clayboy

Have you ever purchased an older horse and wondered about their life and their history? and the people who shaped that life and history?

Well when I was asked to help get Clayboy registered with AQHA, I embarked on a journey of discovering everything there is to know about Clayboys' past. I had to contact all the owners of Clayboy, his dam Hot Whisky and maternal grandsire, Whisky Talk. I also had to locate the stallion owner of Whisky Talk's sire, Bright Dandy Bar. That is where the crop out occured so that is where i started.

I contacted the lady in Seminole Florida. She owned Bright Dandy Bar (when he was alive) and he bred a mare called Sheiks Mame, who produced Whisky Talk, a bright chesnut overo that was basically all QH but colored the wrong way!

This lady was classy and gracios and despite the years past since she lost her beloved stallion, she still spoke of him with such affection. He was a grullo, and came from a colorful background, being a grandson of the immortal Maddon's Bright Eyes.

The owners of Clayboy's dam, Hot Whisky, didnt need too much information, for they all remembered her, despite years gone by... she was beautiful, they said, "stunning" like you couldnt take your eyes off of her. Black and White but all QH. Despite not being trained, she sold for alot of money because she could produce outstanding babies. She was bred in Texas and sold into New Mexico, Oklahoma and then eventually passed away in Louisiana.

Now when we tracked down the breeder and former owners of Clayboy, that was the funnest part. Because here we were, total strangers calling folks who owned a stallion years ago, and once we said his name, they would all break into a laugh, and say "oh yes, CLAYBOY!!!" lol. That affection was always there in their voices. What did i learn? well I learned that Clayboy was named for his breeders newphew, whos name was Clay, as the young colt was to be for the child. I also learned that a young Mexican boy started Clayboy and spent many hours in the dry rugged terrain of New Mexico riding him. Then one day a man pulled into their yard with a big trailer and offered so much money for him, that his breeder was taken aback and sold him (although never really planning to sell him). I also learnt that Clayboy was owned by a number of competitive team ropers who never did the transfers, they competed off of him in the USTRAs in some of the hardest, most competitive states. He was often referred to as "the best rope horse i ever owned." He was eventually sold to a phenomenal roping trainer in NM and was ready for the big leagues, when a gentle, wise horseman from Ocala Florida bought him to stand as a halter sire. This would begin his career as a halter sire, and despite being bred for halter for 8 years, he continued to produce rodeo calibre horses! also produced horses that excelled in pleasure and dressage.

The thing about Clayboy, is he is one of those horses that was just so good - people couldnt hold onto him for very long, until someone else came along to offer a price they couldnt refuse.

Trina brought him up to Canada, and thank goodness! She flew down to Florida to look at some of his babies and ended up buying Clayboy.

When I called all these people who were apart of Clayboys life, I found myself really enjoying all the stories about him. I discovered that his habit of putting his huge head on your shoulders and always having to be in pictures was something he always did! I found out that he always preferred ladies and took extra care to be gentle with them. And lastly, I discovered that when he was born he had huge ears, and it took a couple years to grow into them! Which makes me feel a whole lot better when I look at my lil Bubba! Because just like his daddy, I know he too, will grow into those big ears....