Happy Friday! Here is your Friday Flashback! From “Remembrances of Lyle F. Horton (1908-1986),” by Mant Horton. LCN Vol. XXXV, #4, p. 15.
“The horse that has brought the most attention and acclaim for Horton Farm is Horton’s Vermont. Lyle saw a copy of John Ethan Ashbrook’s (JEA) pedigree and was enthralled. He saw a picture and was even more impressed. When Clara Hendin took John Ethan to stand at stud at her Randolph Center place, we went to see him. He was terrific! Belle Moro foaled a chestnut stud in 1984 by him (JEA) and he was 2 years old when Lyle died in January 1986.
Lyle had always told me, “If anything happens to me, get rid of every stallion on the place, because you are the poorest hand with a stallion I ever saw. You won’t use a whip, you won’t make one mind! You don’t even speak the language!” (He should hear me sometimes!) Horton’s John Moro had been sold to Ray and Carol Potts when “Pete,” Horton’s Vermont (John Ethan Ashbrook x Horton’s Belle Moro) was born and came along so well. Lyle said he was the best foal we had ever produced and that he was the future sire for Horton Farm. Because of his crosses to Peters Vermont, he was named Vermont and the stable name “Pete.”
Because Lyle thought so highly of him I was determined to place “Pete” in a home where he would have an opportunity at stud. My friend were worried because I insisted on keeping him especially since my knee operation had been unsuccessful and it was difficult for me to get around in the icy yard where Pete spent each day. There were so many booby traps about the shed and fence I didn’t dare leave his halter on so each afternoon I reached up (he was so upheaded!) to get the halter on, occasionally slipping on the ice. At first it startled him, but as the season wore on, he got so used to it he would just stand and wait for me to get up. Even on one occasion standing quietly while I pulled myself up on his leg. This was a spirited coming three stallion. He learned quickly to walk in time to my slow steps.
After several false starts when I thought I had found the right place for him I really found the exact home. Grace Yaglou brought Al Lyon to Vermont to see “Pete” and one or two other stallion prospects. “Pete” and Al took to each other immediately! Al took him out in the yard and played with him just as Lyle had and on Valentine’s Day before his third birthday, “Pete” moved to his new home in Connecticut. It broke my heart to see him go, but I knew it was the very best thing that could happen to him. I have never questioned the move.”
(Photo of Horton’s Vermont and Al Lyon taken by Sally Bradley.)
The photo caption, written by Cathy White:
Before Lyle’s untimely death he made Mant promise to geld Horton’s Vermont. Fortunately, Mant procrastinated until Al Lyon found them. She made Al promise NOT TO GELD the red stallion.
According to Al, he observed the tears in Mant’s eyes as he loaded the beautiful red stallion. He told Mant, to comfort her, that he considered this an “open deal.” That started the unique relationship between Al and the horse he called, “Pete.” Years later, as Mant observed Pete and his daughters winning a “Get of Sire” class, Mant told Al she “considered the deal closed.”
