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HARNESS RACING: SKEWBALD RACING STABLES FEATURE PART 2 |
By Catrina Waltisbuhl06/12/2007 |
Composed by Nathan Brehaut |
.jpg) White Fire is one of Wayne Waltisbuhl favorite horses, and he is seen here scoring at Albion Park.
Now a quick genetics lesson!
99.9% of racehorses (standardbreds and thoroughbreds) have two genes for solid, therefore we have solid bay, brown, chestnut, black. This being with or without normal face and leg markings. But our horses have one solid and one tobiano gene (skewbald, is an old term describing white and any other colour, while piebald is black and white) which allows the expression of body white. The tobiano gene is dominant, so one parent must be coloured to produce a coloured foal, the same principle applies to grey horses. The Standarbred is unique among performance horses as they have all colours, including true roan, palomino, buckskin etc except appaloosa, and most of the white producing genes- these are another story! The skewbald was actually facing extinction several years ago with only approximately twenty or so viable stock on the ground. Wayne was instrumental in saving them with nine coloured broodmares.
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 JJ - 2006 bay skewbald filly. By Medicine Dance out of Blind Justice. The mare is actually blind in one eye as the result of an accident, so JJ is short for Judge Judy!!
The Standardbred
I am yesterday’s founding sire,
Today’s great dam.
The shadow of tomorrow’s,
Famed I am.
I boast the great Messenger,
A clever pony or two.
The Morgan and Arabs all three,
Their blood courses through.
For a century or more,
My breed has been whole.
My book was closed,
With refinement and soul.
I have created new breeds,
This the Saddlebreds don’t regret.
The Tennessee Walkers,
Requirements I’ve met.
Though I’m well known,
In the arena of speed,
Performance under saddle,
Is also my creed.
My gait is not unique,
Though highly refined.
I will travel with ease,
Wether you sit on or behind.
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 GRACE - 2006 bay skew filly. By Medicine Dance from Karamea Tambour. I regard her as the prettiest of the lot!!
With the disabled astride,
I willingly obey.
Or as a dressage mount,
I will exhibit a more disciplined way.
As a first horse,
For the eager and keen,
Or working stock,
I may be seen.
My colour abound,
Though no appaloosa or true black.
I am the chestnuts and brown,
Of the traditional hack.
The grey with dapples,
All smoky and blue.
Roans with bay heads,
Cream and buckskin too.
The warm woody tones of the bay,
And blacks that are near night.
Some of my kind,
God had splashed with white.
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 BILO - 2006 bay skew colt, by Medicine Dance from The Gift Of Life. Both mare and foal have been exported to England.
I carry the brand of distinction,
For all to see.
That signifies I am a horse,
For performance or company.
I’m often misjudged,
Because of my name.
It doesn’t imply we are common,
Just capable of the same.
I do vary in type,
As I’ve been bred for speed.
A horse for all seasons,
Whatever the need.
I may earn money and trophies,
Ribbons galore.
But winning hearts,
Is where I really score.
I am yesterday’s courage,
Today’s gracefully bred.
Tomorrow’s versatility,
I am the Standardbred. |
 BENGAL - Now this is an interesting colt. He is actually a brindle skewbald. This is the rarest horse colour and to be combined with the tobiano gene is a million to one shot. I think he may be another genetic anomaly. He has been sold to England but will qualify here before being exported. By Die Laughing from the skewbald mare Lady Snowflake. I should point out Bengal is his stable name.
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 PHANTOM (2007) - by Medicine Dance from Ultra Chic. |
 DIABLO - 2007 bay skewbald colt by Medicine Dance from Soky's Angel. Interestingly enough he has just one blue eye!
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