SFF Maid of Honor
SFF Maid of Honor, who goes by "Rita Mae" is a 2022 Hackney Sporthorse filly bred by Jenifer Sealy of Steadfast Farms outside of Oklahoma City. I chose to name her "Maid of Honor" after the chestnut mare beautifully characterized in many of Rita Mae Brown's foxhunting novels. We are excited for Rita Mae to excel in hunt field, dressage arena, and in horse trials - just like her siblings before her.
Summer 2022
August 2023
August 2023
Located in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Please inquire for price.
Below is the pedigree of her sire, Native Xtraordinary, who stands at Steadfast Farms.
Rita Mae's dam is by Hackney Horse stallion Dalfish Captivator Paradeer and out of the Clydesdale mare, Buffy's El Sir Libby. Both are registered with the Canadian Livestock Registry.
Rita Mae is eligible to be registered with the American Warmblood Society & Sporthorse Registry.
History of the Hackney Horse, by Jenifer Sealy
Hackney Horses are the descendants of the Norfolk Trotter and Yorkshire Roadster, who were the result of the native trotting mares of England being bred to the same 3 foundation stallions and their sons credited with founding the English TB. The TB resulting from these stallions, The Godolphin Arabian, The Darley Arabian and The Byerley Turk and their sons bred to the native galloping mares. These trotting horses were the main means of transportation at the time. First under saddle and then in harness once roads became passable for wheeled carriages/carts. These trotting horses were so important to the country that at one point, by order of the King, landed gentry were required to keep and stand at least 5 trotting stallions. When you consider Hackney Horses hold crazy trotting records like the 17 miles in 53 minutes recorded by the mare Phenomenon (later matched by her daughter) and where routinely raced in 100 mile races which were finished in less than 9 hours -- you can see the reasoning behind the royal decree!
In order to be the main means of transportation, horses needed to be extremely sound and have remarkable stamina. As the above should make clear: the Hackney Horse has both soundness and stamina. Due to these attributes, they were used in the British Cavalry and Hackney Horses stallions stood in remount stations across the globe. This is one of the reasons you will find the influence of the Hackney Horse in many modern breeds.
The Hackney Horse has long been known as the great improver. William Steinkraus in his book, "On Riding and Jumping", mentions adding Hackney Horse to the mix to improve jumping ability back in the golden age of Show Jumping. Back in the day, Hackney Horses and Hackney Horse crosses held high jump records of 8' plus! Mr. Steinkraus definity knew what he was talking about. This is why I decided to advocate for and promote the breed: the Hackney horse is known for soundness, stamina, and jumping ability. Hackneys are also extremely smart and have not had 'learned helplessness' (which I cannot stand) bred into them as have many of today's more popular breeds.