By Suzanne Phillips Additional research by Arlene Magid
Mercury Farms
All Rights Reserved
e-mail SUZIENP@aol.com(Suzanne Phillips) or Arabbits@aol.com(Arlene Magid)
HUCKLEBERRY BEY++ was born March 19, 1976 at Varian Arabians in Arroyo Grande, California. His sire was BAY-EL-BEY++ (Bay-Abi++ x *Naganka ), a well-known Varian stallion of strong Kuhailan type. His dam was TAFFONA, a small but pretty RAFFON++ daughter who was out of a good domestic-bred mare by the name of WANETA.
Sheila Varian was one of the early importers of Arabian stock straight from Poland. Her blending of domestic-bred Arabians with the athletic strength of the Polish horses was highly successful, creating a whole new sub-breedóthe Varian Arabian. These horses are well-known for being pretty as well as super performance horses, with each new generation out-performing the previous one.
And so it goes with Huckleberry Bey++. His grandsire, Bay-Abi++, whom Sheila Varian paid $1,200 for in 1959, was 1962 U.S. National Champion Stallion as well as having National Top Ten titles in English and Western Pleasure in 1964. The following generation brought Bay-El-Bey++, another powerhouse in the show ring, winning both a Canadian National Champion and two U.S. National Reserve Championships in halter.
By the time Huckleberry Bey++ arrived on the Varian farm in 1976, the Varian name was already well-established, but this horse made it just that more well-known. This tall, leggy colt with the shiny black-bay coat was just about the best thing to come along in years. His shoulder was free and easy, his neck upright and of good length, while his strong hindquarters proved to be the driving force behind his powerful, balanced trot.
Starting with the Cal-bred Futurity, where Huckleberry Bey++ was the 1979 Three-year-old Champion colt, he moved on to the Nationals, where he was awarded the 1979 U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Colt. Over the next several years, this horse would be campaigned, and campaigned hard, but he never faltered and he never gave up. His wins included a Reserve National Championship and multiple Top Tenís in English Pleasure at the National level, plus a Championship in English Pleasure at Scottsdale.
His trainers and the people that were privileged to work and ride this great horse were awed by his ability. He was known to bridle-up well, had light, airy motion, an even, trainable temperament, was a beauty at all times, plus possessed a charming charisma. Not only was he a truly awesome individual, but he had the ability to pass these traits on to his offspring.
Huckleberry Bey++ was also known as quite a clown in the barn. He loved visitors and was a gentle, friendly sort, with large, kind eyes that had a certain sparkle to them.
Huckleberry Bey++ died of a pituitary tumor in December 1992. He was only 16 years old. He left a wonderful legacy in his many offspring. He has been missed by a great many faithful and loving friends.
HUCKLEBERRY BEY++ FAST FACTS:
Born March 19, 1976 at Varian Arabians
Dark Bay, with star, three fetlocks and a blaze
Registered in United States as #144007
Height: 15.1 hands
1979 Cal-bred Futurity Champion Stallion
1979 U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Stallion
1980 U.S. National Top-Ten English Pleasure
1981 U.S. National Top-Ten Stallion
1982 Legion of Merit
1982 Scottsdale Champion English Pleasure
1982 U.S. National Top-Ten English Pleasure
1983 U.S. National Top-Ten English Pleasure
1984 US National Reserve Champion English Pleasure
1988 Scottsdale Get-of-Sire (unanimous)
Died 1992
Sire of 634 purebred foals in the United States/Canada
Sire of 48 ìregistered as blackî purebred foals
Sire line to *Mirage 1919 desertbred stallion
Dam line to Rodania, desertbred mare imported to England by Blunts 1881
Strain: Kuhaylan-Ajuz (Rodan)
Sire of 198 known champions and 81 National winners through the end of the 1996 show season, including Canadian National Champion Mare Keepsake V, U.S. National Champion Formal Driving Bey Aperitif V, three times U.S. National English Pleasure Champion Hucklebey Berry+, U.S. Top Ten Park Afire Bey V, twice U.S. National Champion Pleasure Driving AOTD Finnigan, Canadian National Champion Native Costume HA Huckster+, three times U.S. Reserve National Champion Park AA Apollo Bey, U.S. National Champion Pleasure Driving and Informal Combination Bucharest V, U.S. Reserve National Champion Informal Combination Autumn Blaze V, U.S. National Champion Country Pleasure Driving and Top Ten Mare Rhapsody Bey V, and Canadian Reserve National Champion Pleasure Driving AOTD Express Male+ to name just a few of his National winners.
