The Legacy of Callaway's Blue Norther

If I was asked which blood line was my favorite in the Saddlebred gene pool, I’d answer without a doubt with WC Callaway’s Blue Norther. Blue, as he was called, sired many great performance horses and left behind some great studs to carry on his legacy. He was honored with titles such as the 2004 World’s Champion Sire and 2013 Five Gaited World’s Champion Sire from The Saddle Horse Report along with Overall Five Gaited High Point Sire from 2007-2011 by The Breeder’s Report.

Part of Blue’s success can be attributed to his bloodlines. His sire is the Five Gaited World Grand Champion, CH Will Shriver, shown by the infamous and late Redd Crabtree. Will Shriver also came from royal breeding. He was by Callaway’s Johnny Gillen, a son of the six time Five Gaited World Grand Champion, CH Wing Commander, and out of the three time World Grand Champion Fine Harness mare, CH Kate Shriver. Blue was out of the mare Royally Blue.

Callaway's Blue Norther

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Blue was owned and bred by Callaway Hills Stables in New Bloomfield, Missouri, which was established in 1944. Other horses owned by Callaway Hills Stable include both his parents, CH Will Shriver and Royally Blue, and both grand dams, CH Kate Shriver and Fascinating Blue. Blue was born March 7, 1981. He made his first show ring appearance August 16, 1984 with Saddlebred legend, Tom Moore, at the Kentucky State Fair in the Five Gaited Three Year Old Stallion/Gelding Stake. The pair came out of the ring with the blue, giving Blue his world champion title. Blue went on to earn wins at Rock Creek, Lexington Junior League, and the All American Horse Classic.

The stud was good in the show ring, always earning top ribbons, but he seemed to be even better in the breeding shed. Callaway Hills was able to continue their success and build their reputation even more thanks to the offspring Blue produced.

In 1992, CH Callaway’s Forecaster was born. The gelding went on to win the Five Gaited World’s Grand Championship and later won the World’s Champion of Champions title in the Five Gaited Amateur division. He was ridden by owner Nancy Leigh Fischer.

The year 1993 brought about the birth of CH Callaway’s Born to Win, who became winner of the Five Gaited Ladies Championship at the World’s Championship Horse Show. He was owned and shown by William Woods equine professor, Gayle Lampe. Before being gelded, he produced world champions such as CH According to Lynn, CH Callaway’s Winning Number, and CH Callaway’s Born For This. CH According to Lynn took the world title in the Five Gaited mare stake 3 times and garnered a couple world titles in her junior years as well. She was shown by owner Mary Gaylord McLean, from the family who started Gaylord Hotels. The latter two have made names for themselves in the junior exhibitor divisions. CH Callaway’s Winning Number won multiple times at the Kentucky State Fair in Country Pleasure with both Alice Rowland and her younger brother Will. CH Callaway’s Born to Win earned her first world championship as a three year old in the Five Gaited division, racked into the winner’s circle with two amateur riders, and is now well known with her young rider, Sallie Mason Wheeler, for dominating the Five Gaited division amongst junior exhibitors.

Redd Crabtree rode again for Callaway Hills when he stepped aboard the black stallion, Callaway’s Bluesman. This team won the Five Gaited Stallion Stake at the World’s Championship Horse Show. Callaway’s Bluesman was foaled in 2004 to Callaway Hills and stands at stud there today.

Other sons of Callaway’s Blue Norther with little or no show records include Deep Blue, Callaway’s Northern Kiss, and Blue O’Shea, just to name a few.

Deep Blue entered the world in 1998. Owned and bred by Fox Grape Farms, he has sired top performing horses such as CH Mr. Center Stage and CH-EQ Imagine My Surprise. CH Mr. Center Stage took the Ladies Three Gaited division by storm. He has won multiple world titles and showcased many victories throughout the top Kentucky shows. His rounded poll and ability to march down the rail has allowed him to win over and over again. CH-EQ Imagine My Surprise is no doubt the top equitation horse in the country. This horse has carried a couple different equitation riders to world titles and shares the same nice qualities in his head set and movement.

Callaway’s Northern Kiss, foaled 2001, tends to throw horses with long beautiful headsets that can tuck their nose in to create that nice hook behind the top of their head. One thing that really stands out is their beautiful extended stride. They may not always be the highest trotting in the show ring, but all of the great qualities these horses have allow them to out-class the competition. A three time world champion in the Five Gaited Amateur Stallion/Gelding stake, Fort Chiswell’s Royal Kiss showcased the uniqueness of the Callaway’s Northern Kiss blood line. The movement is more poetic and pretty than you would see in most five gaited horses today. Heir To A Kiss, a world champion in the Three Gaited Ladies Amateur Over 15.2 division, shows off the same class of this bloodline. The mare’s long arched neck gives her an advantage over her competitors. Personally, I believe a good headset on a horse is more important than having tons of motion.

Other world champion Three Gaited horses, such as CH Juliette’s Deja Blue and Kalarama’s Blue Mac, were sired by Blue O’Shea, foaled 1998. CH Juliette’s Deja Blue first showed success the Three Gaited division, winning world titles along the way, and did the same in the Park division this past year. She has been shown mostly by amateur rider, Andrea Athanasuleas. Kalarama’s Blue Mac also won his world championship with amateur rand saddle seat World Cup rider, Nick Maupin. The gelding continued to earn top ribbons throughout Kentucky in the amateur division last year with newest owner, Candi Aversenti. Both are big horses with a lot of expression.

It is often hard for sons of top stallions to live up to the same level, but the sons of Callaway’s Blue Norther seem to be doing a pretty great job. Blue produced a strong line of horses that carry on his superior traits. These horses are strong bodied, have great headsets, and make a flashy appearance in the show ring. I hope that these blood lines continue for a long time to positively affect the breed of the American Saddlebred.