Happy Friday! Here is your First Friday Flashback, so generously researched and written just for you all by historian Betsy Curler:
“Rose of Sutton” 02232
Rose of Sutton, foaled 17 June 1904, was a very dark chestnut mare bred by L.H. Pond of Sutton, Vermont. She was purchased by A.F. Phillips when he was located in Barton, Vermont. Phillips purchased the mare as he felt she possessed those characteristics that he was “… very anxious to perpetuate.”
He felt that she was a “…wonderful individual, possessing the characteristic finish in a marked degree.” George Church noted that she had “great action.” Because of this action, he did not feel that she could withstand long travel as well as her driving mate Bridget. He nevertheless felt that she was a “great mare” and she was able to travel at a brisk 16 miles per hour with Bridget. Church also noted that she had a body that was smooth and of “great frame” although she stood just 14.2 hands.
Her sire was Bob Morgan 4549 and her dam was a chestnut mare sired by a two-year-old son of Streeter Horse Jr. 675. The dam of this two-year-old was considered to be “… a most remarkable animal, whose sire was Royal Morgan, and her owner had refused a $1,000 offer for her at a time when $100 was a high price for a horse.” Her second dam was by Caledonia 1382; third dam by the Streeter Horse 674; fourth dam a “white” mare sired by Billy Root 9. The result was a mare with a high concentration of Billy Root blood obtained by linebreeding.
Rose of Sutton was shown successfully at the Vermont State Fair in 1915, 1916, and 1919. In 1915 she placed fourth in Pairs in Harness (paired with Nellie Gray) and third in Mare or Gelding in Harness not exceeding 14.2 Hands. The following year she moved up to second in Pairs in Harness, this time paired with Hippolyta. In the Mare or Gelding in Harness not to exceed 14.2 Hands she was placed first. The last recorded show placing was in 1919 when she won the cup in the competition between the blue ribbon winners of the East and West sides of Vermont.
Although Rose of Sutton won at the Vermont State Fair, her primary role for many years was as one of the pair serving as Phillips’ driving horses (generally being paired with Bridget). Phillips noted that rarely had he “….. seen her equal for endurance and cheerful disposition.” He claimed that he had driven her with Bridget on one occasion sixteen miles in one hour and that she showed no signs of fatigue.
Rose of Sutton came by her strength of endurance from her dam. Her dam was said to have been driven over 400 miles in four consecutive days over the hilly roads of Vermont without showing any sign of fatigue. In addition to that, Phillips saw her with a foal at side at 31 years of age. At that time, she had not lost any of her “fire and life” and was sound and showed little sign of her advanced age. She died two years later at 33 years.
(Note from Facebook page admin – Rose of Sutton is one of the foundation mares chosen for the Lippitt Morgan.)
