Wednesday, March 30, 2005
News
Horseplay
Argus-Press Photo/Carol Matteucci Morgan and John Beilfuss are shown at their home in Owosso with one of the many ribbons their Hackney horses have earned. Since 1999, the Beilfusses have become one of the most recognized names in Hackney horse breeding, boasting GTF Hallmark, an 8-year-old stallion who has sired more than 50 Hackneys in North America and won two back-to-back world championship titles.
By SARAH BAZZETTA Argus-Press Managing Editor
Even if they weren't one of the most recognizable names in Hackney horse breeding in the nation, the Beilfusses of Owosso would still probably do it anyway.
"They are just a beautiful, beautiful animal," said John Beilfuss, admiring the horse's high-stepping gait on a video. "We weren't sure we were going to like the horse, but seeing Hallmark changed all that."
Involved in showing horses since she was a little girl, John's wife, Morgan, became interested in the rare, high-stepping horse when she witnessed the crowd's reaction to the breed at shows in the late 1990s.
"It was unlike anything we had ever seen," said Beilfuss, who also owns Home Office Realty in Owosso and Durand with his wife. "It's mind-boggling, the reaction these horses get. Morgan had only shown Arabians (horses) up until that point, so we had never seen an animal with such a breathtaking, natural gait. To cross it with an Arabian, we knew we would be able to create the highest-stepping half-Arabian horse in the world. And years later, we've done that."
After peaking in popularity in the early 1900s, the Hackney horse was all but extinct when the Beilfusses set their sights on breeding the animal. According to Beilfuss, the horse was originally meant to serve as a bridge between the aristocratic horse-and-buggy crowd who admired its high-stepping trot, and farmers, who could use the sturdy animal not just to parade to church, but also for labor.
"They really are the aristocrat of the show ring," Beilfuss said with a smile. "It's all about the motion of the gait for these horses - how high that knee comes up is the key to a perfect Hackney."
Following the emergence of the automobile during the early 1900s, it was clear such a fanciful horse would be unnecessary, and by 1996, there were only 14 breeding Hackney stallions in the world.
According to Beilfuss, there were only 2,000 Hackney horses left in the world when the couple began searching for their stallion in 2000, making it difficult to pick the perfect horse.
"To be fair, the Hackney can be an ugly breed," said Beilfuss. "We were seeing horses from all over the country with very large, very Romanesque noses. We knew we weren't interested in something like that. We were just about to give up. And then we found Hallmark."
Beilfuss said the pair soon fell in love with GTF Hallmark's classic features and natural gait, knowing he would cross perfectly with a strong Arabian. Soon after, the Beilfusses formed Equi-Legends and began selling Hallmark's offspring all over the world.
To date, 8-year-old Hallmark has won back-to-back world champion titles for breeding stallions at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 2001 and 2002 and, since beginning his breeding career in 1999, has sired more than 50 purebred Hackney and Hackney/Arab crosses in North America, more than any other Hackney horse.
"We are definitely one of the more well-known names in the Hackney business," Beilfuss said. "The quality of our horses, combined with an intense marketing program, gained near-instant recognition. There's not too many names or faces associated with our breed, but Hallmark has helped put our name and Owosso on the map."
Beilfuss said he has received inquiries into Hallmark and his other Hackneys from as far away as the Netherlands and Australia.
"We never expected to love this breed," said Beilfuss. "We thought it was just another way to get involved in showing. Now we can't imagine doing anything else."
Currently, the Beilfusses have 20 horses altogether, with 10 being Hackney. Hallmark and the Beilfusses' other horses, including Louie, who John Beilfuss said is considered "one to watch" among horse circles, are currently taking part in preseason training in Wisconsin. Morgan Beilfuss also is set to return to the show ring this year, after a brief hiatus.
"It's just a gorgeous animal," Beilfuss said as he looked over a scrapbook containing photos of their Hackneys. "We just couldn't see it die out. I think we've done OK in our project."
"They are just a beautiful, beautiful animal," said John Beilfuss, admiring the horse's high-stepping gait on a video. "We weren't sure we were going to like the horse, but seeing Hallmark changed all that."
Involved in showing horses since she was a little girl, John's wife, Morgan, became interested in the rare, high-stepping horse when she witnessed the crowd's reaction to the breed at shows in the late 1990s.
"It was unlike anything we had ever seen," said Beilfuss, who also owns Home Office Realty in Owosso and Durand with his wife. "It's mind-boggling, the reaction these horses get. Morgan had only shown Arabians (horses) up until that point, so we had never seen an animal with such a breathtaking, natural gait. To cross it with an Arabian, we knew we would be able to create the highest-stepping half-Arabian horse in the world. And years later, we've done that."
After peaking in popularity in the early 1900s, the Hackney horse was all but extinct when the Beilfusses set their sights on breeding the animal. According to Beilfuss, the horse was originally meant to serve as a bridge between the aristocratic horse-and-buggy crowd who admired its high-stepping trot, and farmers, who could use the sturdy animal not just to parade to church, but also for labor.
"They really are the aristocrat of the show ring," Beilfuss said with a smile. "It's all about the motion of the gait for these horses - how high that knee comes up is the key to a perfect Hackney."
Following the emergence of the automobile during the early 1900s, it was clear such a fanciful horse would be unnecessary, and by 1996, there were only 14 breeding Hackney stallions in the world.
According to Beilfuss, there were only 2,000 Hackney horses left in the world when the couple began searching for their stallion in 2000, making it difficult to pick the perfect horse.
"To be fair, the Hackney can be an ugly breed," said Beilfuss. "We were seeing horses from all over the country with very large, very Romanesque noses. We knew we weren't interested in something like that. We were just about to give up. And then we found Hallmark."
Beilfuss said the pair soon fell in love with GTF Hallmark's classic features and natural gait, knowing he would cross perfectly with a strong Arabian. Soon after, the Beilfusses formed Equi-Legends and began selling Hallmark's offspring all over the world.
To date, 8-year-old Hallmark has won back-to-back world champion titles for breeding stallions at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 2001 and 2002 and, since beginning his breeding career in 1999, has sired more than 50 purebred Hackney and Hackney/Arab crosses in North America, more than any other Hackney horse.
"We are definitely one of the more well-known names in the Hackney business," Beilfuss said. "The quality of our horses, combined with an intense marketing program, gained near-instant recognition. There's not too many names or faces associated with our breed, but Hallmark has helped put our name and Owosso on the map."
Beilfuss said he has received inquiries into Hallmark and his other Hackneys from as far away as the Netherlands and Australia.
"We never expected to love this breed," said Beilfuss. "We thought it was just another way to get involved in showing. Now we can't imagine doing anything else."
Currently, the Beilfusses have 20 horses altogether, with 10 being Hackney. Hallmark and the Beilfusses' other horses, including Louie, who John Beilfuss said is considered "one to watch" among horse circles, are currently taking part in preseason training in Wisconsin. Morgan Beilfuss also is set to return to the show ring this year, after a brief hiatus.
"It's just a gorgeous animal," Beilfuss said as he looked over a scrapbook containing photos of their Hackneys. "We just couldn't see it die out. I think we've done OK in our project."