Valley View Supreme (April 23, 1952
- November 28, 1967) was a
chestnut
The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.
The unrelat ...
American Saddlebred
The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed is referred to as the "Horse America Made". Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Nar ...
by
Genius Bourbon King, out of Diana Gay. He has proven in both America, and South Africa, that he is the greatest son of Genius Bourbon King.
Life and career
Valley View Supreme was born in April 1952. He was by Genius Bourbon King, out of Diana Gay. About a year before he was born, his owner, W.P. Rogovsky fell ill.
Another horse owner, Everette Ledbetter, wanted to buy some of his horse trailers, but Rogovsky wouldn't give unless Ledbetter bought a few of his horses too. Ledbetter later bought two colts, one that would later be named, Valley View Supreme.
After the future Valley View Supreme was bought, Ledbetter found that he had no room for him or the other colt. He sought to his friend Tom Moore to buy them from him.
Moore bought both, even though Valley View Supreme was petite and out of shape. Moore kept Valley View Supreme for a bit, and fed him until he looked better. He was then sold to Ray Schafer for Valley View Farm.
Valley View Supreme started his training in 1954. He was first showed in
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat and largest city of Sangamon County. The city's population was 114,394 at the 2020 census, which makes it the state's seventh most-populous city, the second largest o ...
, at the Midwest Horse Show, becoming a Two-Year-Old Fine Harness Champion. After, he showed at the Junior Stakes in
Wisconsin, and
American Royal in
Indiana. He became the Junior Fine Harness Champion, soon after though, Valley View's status became worse. He won third at the
Ohio State Fair, and fourth at
Louisville. Tom Moore tried to
gait
Gait is the pattern of movement of the limbs of animals, including humans, during locomotion over a solid substrate. Most animals use a variety of gaits, selecting gait based on speed, terrain, the need to maneuver, and energetic efficiency. Di ...
Valley View, but it didn't work out.
In hope to win more shows, Valley View Supreme was shipped to
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...
. He was in the Royal Winter Fair in
Toronto. Carl Webster was to be his trainer, after his win at the fair. Valley View's last show was at Louisville.
Valley View Supreme's life got the "Ruxer twist" when he was sold to Alvin Ruxer for $25,000. He was moved to Ruxer Farms in
Jasper, Indiana, the next year. In four years, Valley View made history in the Saddlebred breeding industry.
Valley View Supreme died on November 28, 1967, because of a heart attack.
On his grave, are the following words:
Under this sod lies a great one;
The King of show horses, the Star of the show,
To sire tomorrow's champions was his role,
If there's a horse Heaven, please God, rest his soul.
References
{{Reflist
Individual American Saddlebreds