The one who started it all

From the Appaloosa Journal, September 2004:
Miss Mitzie Trim was euthanized on June 19, 2004, at the age of 25.  Lisa Wilson Blake of Fort Smith, Arkansas, owned the mare by Cotrim-a son of ApHC Hall of Fame Inductee Colida-and out of Flying Starlette G., for 23 years.  “Hominy” taught Lisa, her sister and many of their friends how to ride. Lisa took the mare to college and boarded her close to the school.  Many times the two went on memorable trail rides to Lake Degray in Arkansas. Even after loosing her sight at age 16, Hominy was a dependable mount for anyone who wanted to ride.  Although bred several times, Hominy never produced a foal, but she inspired Lisa to become an Appaloosa breeder. Lisa says “Hominy was a member of my family and is greatly missed."

"Buck" sadly died while in training early in his career.  He was so talented and were so excited about showing him under saddle.  He had already accomplished so much in his short show career as a weanling and yearling.

1991-2008

CJS Classy Lady was euthanized in 2008 due to complications from colic.  She was such a sweet mare and passed her exceptional disposition on to all her foals.  She gave us 7 beautiful foals, several were champions in the show pen and all of them are champions in their owners' lives. What a lucky turn of events when she came through a county sale ring in 1998 and I happened to be in the audience.  I loved "Lady", she was one in a million.

BA Enchantress
1984-2010

From the Appaloosa Journal, October 2010:
BA Enchantress was humanely euthanized August 23, 2010 at 26 years of age. She was a special mare to several previous owners, but especially to me. She came into my life in 1998 when I purchased her at age 14 as I was developing a breeding program. Even though she had a bit of age on her when I bought her, she was the epitome of the Appaloosa I was hoping to breed. She had a great disposition and had performed various duties in her life, one of which was serving as a mounted sheriff’s horse. She produced five foals for me, all of which were sired by Private Collection. All five foals possessed Appaloosa coloring and were not only pretty to look at, but were quiet in disposition and were athletic performers.  Her most notable offspring is her only son, Private Emerald, a 2001 gelding.  I am still showing Private Emerald and will be competing with him at the 2010 World Show.  BA Enchantress also produced Emerald Collection, who was also shown successfully and is now a producing broodmare for me and Enchanted Collection, who placed in the Top 10 in 2-year-old Western Pleasure at the 2004 National Show.  BA Enchantress was bred by Buster Barton of Russellville, Arkansas and was sired by the Quarter Horse stallion First War Dance and out of Jo San Plaudit. My heart is heavy. I will miss this mare tremendously, however, every time I look at one of her grand babies, I will think of her.  She helped me get started in the breeding business and I will ever be so grateful that I got so lucky to own a mare like her.
 

2005-2018

Five Time World/Reserve Champion
My heart horse

2000-2021

Emerald Collection was euthanized due to colic complications on June 27, 2021 at the age of 21. She was the daughter of Multiple World Champion Private Collection and out of the champion producing mare, BA Enchantress. She was my first homebred show horse. We competed for many years on the ApHC breed show circuit and then later in the open show circuits, winning many awards. I owned Emmy her entire life. It's always difficult to lose one, but it's particularly difficult when you were the breeder and were in attendance at their birth.

After her show career, Emmy raised 5 foals. Her most notable is Art Collection, a son of Hall of Fame stallion, Artful Move. Art Collection competed successfully at the ApHC World level for several years. I miss Emmy every morning when I go out to the pasture to feed the broodmares. She was always at the fence to greet me.