In the Percheron breed, it is hard to pronounce any one mare or stallion as holding the title of the “winningest of all time”, because no standard measurement or point system exists in our breed. However, over the better part of the past 30 years, there have been three mares whom have each amassed a total of 6 All-American titles to their credit. These mares are Windsong’s Jasmine (1992,1993,1994,1995,1996, & 1997 All American), Windermere’s Deidra (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 All American), and YF Hillary’s Isabel (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018 All American). Windermere’s Deidra was also Reserve All American in 2013 and 1st Honorable Mention in 2014. YF Hillary’s Isabel has two Reserve All American finishes to her credit, earning them in 2011 and 2016.
Interestingly enough, each of these mares has also been National Champion three times in their career- Windsong’s Jasmine being crowned in 1995, 1996 & 1997; Windermere’s Deidra in 2007, 2008 & 2009; and YF Hillary’s Isabel in 2012, 2013 & 2015. Windsong’s Jasmine was also Reserve National Champion from the Junior division in 1994, and YF Hillary’s Isabel has two Reserve National Champion titles to her credit; coming from the 2016 and 2017 show seasons. If that record is not enough, add to the tally that each of these mares has been named World Champion during their time on the tanbark. Windsong’s Jasmine earned her crown in 1995 at the Kansas City, Missouri World Percheron Congress; Windermere’s Deidra was not only crowned Supreme World Champion in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2008, but also Jr. World Champion two years prior in Lexington, Virginia at the 2006 World Percheron Congress, as well as Reserve World Champion in Des Moines, Iowa in 2010. YF Hillary’s Isabel is the only mare in North America to be crowned Supreme World Champion in back-to-back Congresses, earning those honors in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2014 and then again when the Congress returned to Des Moines, in 2018.
The quality these mares possess(ed) is by no accident, as they carry the lineage of many champions that came before them. Windsong’s Jasmine was just the second offspring of the four-time All American and two-time National Champion son of Blackhome Duke, Windsong’s Gambler. Her mother, Colebrook Acre’s Pride’s April, (a granddaughter of the Canadian-bred son of Justamere Showtime named Foremark Forest Pride) , was a multiple All American and National Champion, herself; spending much of her show career trading places at the head of the line with the great show mare, Daleview Cheri. Jasmine was covered to the National Champion, Ironwood Beauregard, a total of four times, with her most notable offspring from this cross being the twice All American Windsong’s Jasmine’s Jade (2004 Res. Junior Champion at the National); the two-time Reserve All American, Windsong’s Beau’s Lady (2000 Res. Junior Champion at the National); and two time Reserve All American, Windsong’s Jasmine Jewell. Jewel would later be taken to the Michigan-bred stallion, Chevron, owned by Aaron and Gail Rice. From this cross came Windsong’s Ruby, the 2007 All American Two Year Old Mare. The following year, Ruby would add on to her resume, where judge Robert Detweiler crowned her the 2008 Res. World Champion at the Toronto congress behind, (ironically enough), Windermere’s Deidra. Windsong’s Jasmine would also be covered to Chevron, and it was from this cross that she produced the two-time National Champion and All American stallion, Windsong’s Grant. In 2006, Grant followed closely in his mother’s footsteps when he was named Jr. and Res. Grand Champion at the World Percheron Congress under judge Randy Robertson.
Windermere’s Deidra is a daughter of the Premier Percheron Stallion, All Star’s Prince Rocket (he a son of the well-known M.G.’s Prince.) Her mother, Wapsi View Fantasy, is a National Champion and All American daughter of the Premier Sire, Windermere King Cong. King Cong was a two-time All American winner and National Champion during his show career, as well. In her first two foalings, Deidra produced a pair of daughters by the Supreme World Champion, Windermere’s North American Maid, named Windermere’s Carry On and Windermere’s Turn The Page. These mares earned Reserve All American and 1st Honorable Mention accolades during their time in the ring, respectively. Like the two World Champion mares before her, YF Hillary’s Isabel descends from a long list of accomplished show horses. Her sire, G.T.’s Hallmark, was All American as a yearling, and then was exhibited to Res. Junior & Res. Grand Champion honors at the National Percheron Show in 2006. In October of that same year, Hallmark was named the Res. Junior Champion Stallion at the World Percheron Congress in Lexington, Virginia in 2006. At both shows, Hallmark stood behind the aforementioned son of Windsong’s Jasmine, Windsong’s Grant. Hallmark is sired by the Highview Dragano son, Blackhome Granduer Lyn, and out of perhaps one of the very best daughters of World Champion stallion, Pleasant View King; a mare named Sterling’s Holly. Holly’s mother was the All-American mare named Janet of Glynlea, who was exhibited by Sterling Farms of Gladwin Michigan, and is best known for cementing her place in Percheron history as the dam to the 1995 World Champion, Sterling’s Thunderstik. On the bottom side of YF Hillary’s Isabel’s pedigree is the mare, G.T.’s Hillary. Hillary is a daughter of M.G.’s Prince, off the mare G.T.’s Mariah’s Babe, (a past Gordyville bell-ringer and All American daughter of the World Champion, Blue Ribbon Farms Hercules). Hillary’s second dam is the All American full-sister to the World Champion stallion, Pleasant View King, a mare named Pleasant View Mariah. In 2006, as a two year old, G.T.’s Hillary continued the winning ways of her lineage when she was named Res. Junior Champion at the National Percheron Show. She concluded the show season as the 2006 Reserve All American Two Year Old Mare, placing behind the eventual World Champion, Windermere’s Deidra. In 2016, YF Hillary’s Isabel was bred to the 2005 All American, 2005 National Champion, and multiple-time Premier Percheron Sire, Rocket’s All-Star Flash (an own son of the aforementioned All-Star’s Prince Rocket). Her son from this breeding, a colt that would be named Anderson’s Maverick, was recently crowned Junior and Grand Champion at the 2019 National Percheron Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.
When examining these champion mares, their ancestors, and their descendants, the old adage of “like begets like”, easily can be the first thing to come to mind. However, what is sometimes lost in the mix, is an ongoing story of a collaborative approach to breeding that existed yesterday, and still persists in the Percheron breed, today. Each of one these mares, and their offspring, are, in some way or another, the direct result of the comingling of the very best bloodlines and seedstock coming from many, (if not most), of the premier breeding establishments across the United States and Canada.