Have you seen a Sugarbush Harlequin?

As I come from a rodeo family, I’ve always owned and ridden American Quarter Horses, but lately I’ve become fascinated with Draft horse breeds.

While doing research for a new book, a story about American Sugarbush Harlequin Drafts being used as pony horses for the Kentucky Derby popped up.

This is Harley The Magnificent, owned by Monnie Goetz. Harley is a big time pony horse and even worked the Kentucky Derby this year as a five year old. He's so popular, he has his own fan club.

Harley The Magnificent

Breyer Company even made a model of Harley The Magnificent. If that isn't making it as a horse, I don't know what is.

After World War II, many farms switched to tractors, but drafts were still used for logging and small farming operations. Carriage companies bought many of the remaining horses. There was a lot of competition between these companies for customers, and Everett Smith, owner of the Sugarbush Hitch Company in Ohio, thought louder-colored teams would draw attention to his business.

He’d started his business with Percherons, but became enamored with Mike Muir’s Stonewall Sport horses, a cross with racing Appaloosas and registered Percherons.

His colts had the loud colored coats of Appaloosas with the body type and calmer temperaments of the Draft horses.

With the popularity of his horses rising, Everett knew he needed a registry to record the lineage of both his Sugarbush horses and the Stonewall breed, so he started the Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse and Stonewall Sport Horse Association.

Sugarbush Classic O

In 1999, the first Sugarbush was born, the legendary Sugarbush Harley Quinn. Wow, what a beauty!

Sugarbush Harley Quinn

In 2003, the last stallion to come out of the Sugarbush Hitch program, Sugarbush Harley’s Classic O was born. 

Sugarbush Harley's Classic O

After Everett retired in 2008, the breed fell on hard times. In 2013, Rebecca Buck, the owner of Sugarbush Harley’s Classic O, and Tracy Meisenbach, an owner of one of the Stonewall stallions, got together and started the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Association to better the breed and save the remaining horses.

According to the website, the ASHDA bred horses and suitable for dressage, driving, eventing, and trail riding. Their calm personalities make excellent for use as therapy horses.
So what do you think of the ASHDA equines? Is this a breed of horse you'd like to own?
I know I would.

I don't have any of the Sugarbush horses in my books yet, but I guarantee one will show up soon. In the first book of my Rodeo Road series, Changing A Cowboy's Tune, I feature a friend's barrel horse, Tuneful. She was a delightful mare and talented. Also, as you can see from the picture, she was a beauty.

Love and trust—sometimes they hide in the least expected person.

She left behind her true love to pursue her dream. He held on too tight, and she slipped through his fingers.

Now, years later, their desire burns more fiercely than ever. Can they see past their own dreams to find a future together?

If you like Western Romances with strong women and determined cowboys, you’ll love Changing A Cowboy’s Tune.

Check out Tuneful and the first Rodeo Road book here!