|
Anna Clare Chesebrough, matriarch of the Chesebrough family and well known breeder and promoter of the Appaloosa, passed away on June 3, 1998 following surgery. For more than ten years, from the early ‘70s and into the mid-‘80s, the Chesebrough name was synonymous with top performance and youth horses. The names of many of the world and national champions they produced can be found in the pedigrees of today’s western riding, reining, and games horses. Born near Edmeston, NY in 1933, Anna Clare lived her entire life in the same rural upstate New York community. She married childhood sweetheart, John A. Chesebrough, in 1951. The couple had five children, all of whom went on to ride numerous World and National Champion Appaloosas. Betty Ann, born in 1953 rode Prince’s Diamond M (owned by Dick Malone) to National Champion Junior English Pleasure - Saddle Seat in 1976. Tommy John, born in 1956, rode Spanish Eyes to National Champion Youth Western Riding 15-17 in 1973. P. Kay also born in 1956 rode Spanish Eyes to National Champion Stake Race 15-17 and Reserve Champion in Stump Race 15-17 in 1974. Prudy born in 1958 rode Spanish Eyes and Absarokee Wise Guy to National Over All High Point Youth in 1976. Johnny Barrett, born in 1962, rode Ima Booger Too to National Champion Stake Race in 1975. Ima Booger Too was also Reserve National Champion Performance Horse that same year. These were just a few of the many successes the Chesebrough children enjoyed. Anna Clare had a great love for children - her own and others. She spent many years in the administration of a unique school for Downs Syndrome children founded by John’s mother Florence Chesebrough. The Otsego School, Inc. provided special care and instruction for more than 50 children with special needs. Under Anna Clare’s supervision, the school became world-renowned for its excellence and innovation in teaching. Ponies became part of the school physical therapy program. The family chose POAs (Ponies Of The Americas) for their size and good disposition. These spotted ponies, which the family also showed on a national level, eventually led the Chesebroughs into Appaloosas. With the family now hitting the show circuit, the farm was expanded to include a new indoor arena and a resident trainer. Soon after, Anna Clare heard of a successful young trainer from Illinois who had already ridden three different horses to World Champion titles. She persuaded 24 year old Terry Thompson, his wife, Bonnie, and their young daughter, Terri Lynn, to move to New York in 1972. With Anna Clare’s dreams driving them, Terry and Anna Clare had soon put together one of the most influential performance horse breeding and training programs in the country, Rustler Charger and Absarokee bloodlines were used as a foundation to the Chesbrough breeding program. In 1973, six Rustler Charger horses were purchased from William Sanders of Glory Bee Ranch, Florence, TX. One of these horses, Chuck-A-Luck Charge became herd sire for the fledgling breeding program. Also purchased were Skip A Charge, Lotta Charge, Rocket Charge, Bendi Charge and Charger’s Charmer. Charger’s Charmer was Champion Stock Horse at the 1977 National show and won the Senior Reining at the 1977 World Show. She went on to be the first Appaloosa to win the open reining at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 1977. Rocket Charge won the Hackamore Reining at the 1976 National Show. Bendi Charge produced such great horses as Absarokee Charger 1992 and 1996 World Champion Western Riding and 1991 Res. World Champion Trail Horse and Sudden Death a multiple National Champion game horse still competing today. Chuck-A-Luck Charge turned out to be a wise investment producing World and National titlists, Charge A Booger, World Champion Junior Reining in 1979; Charge It Wisely, Reserve World Champion Western Riding in 1980; Eyes In Charge, National Champion Nez Perce Stake Race in 1981; and Chuck’s Queen A, World Champion Junior Reining in 1983. Anna Clare found a particularly successful niche when she crossed Chuck-A-Luck Charge with Absarokee mares. Each year a trailer load of Absarokee horses was purchased from Dr. R. H. Dunham, Kansas City , MO. Some of these horses were Absarokee Wise Guy, a multiple World and National Champion in halter and performance; Absarokee Wise Buy, 1979 World Champion Western Riding; |
|
Anna Clare Chesebrough |
