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Silver Mane's Mercury Cody ASPC# 29107 Grey Stallion Foaled April 11, 1951 Breeder: H.P. Kilkelly |
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This awesome grey stallion was also bred by Harry Killkelly of Cuba City, Wisconsin. He was sold in the Silver Mane Dispersal in 1967. Mercury Cody was several times National All-Star and All American Champion, both in hand and harness. He was sired by Colonel Cody and his dam was Helen C., "the wonder mare of the breed!" |
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The information below was taken from the book, "Our Shetland Heritage, The History of the Original American Shetland Pony", by Scott Uzzel.
Silver Mane's Mercury Cody 29107, made his first appearance at the Congress, winning Ch. Stallion Foal and The Mare and Foal Class with his dam, Helen C. At the1952 Congress Mercury Cody was the Ch. Yearling Stallion. In '54, Mercury Cody was the Ch. Three Year Old Stallion and Gr. Ch. Stallion. 1955 saw Mercury winning the Ch. Aged Stallion, Over 42"-46", and Gr. Ch. in the over division of the All-Stars. In 1956, Mercury swept to victories in The Aged Stallion, Over 42"-46", and Single Fine Harness, Over 42"-46", divisions, to be named Ch. Combination Pony. In 1958 Meteor coupled with Mercury, they garnered championships in the Over 42"-46" Pair and 46" and Under Tandem in the All-Stars and at the Congress, where they also combined to win the Produce of Dam class for their mother, Helen C.
A sad day in Shetland history came on June 17, 1967, when Silver Mane Pony Farm bowed out of the pony business. The following is an excerpt from the foreword of the Silver Mane Dispersal catalog, penned by Jim Roberts:
"Sorrowfully we write this preface to the Silver Mane Dispersal Sale Catalog. But one must respect the decision, dictated by the passage of time and the graduation of children into other walks of life. And while Harry can't sell his wit...or his dedication, he does offer a legacy...one of those rare chances for other breeders and owners to acquire some of the best bred individuals in the nation, bar none."
Although the pony market was very depressed in 1967, the fifty-three lots grossed $18,650, for an average of $352, the best of any auction that season. The twelve direct daughters of Colonel Cody, aged eight to fourteen years, that were offered averaged $420. Topping the sale was Silver Mane's Frisco Cody, by Curtiss-Frisco Pete and out of Silver Mane's Unique Cody 34141, a black Colonel Cody daughter, at $3,650; Mercury Cody, at sixteen years of age, was second top at $1,000. Top mare was Silver Mane's Meteora Cody 42423, a grey by Colonel Cody and out of Helen C., she brought $700 with a colt by Mercury at her side. The top ten head averaged $907 and the top twenty, $639. respectively.
"Col. Bill Porter, Monmouth, Illinois, needed only three hours to sell the entire offering. The bidding was active as buyers from ten states paid tribute to Silver Mane Pony Farm and H.P. Kilkelly and Sons, by showing their obvious desire to own one or more ponies from the home of Colonel Cody. Sadly it was the final chapter in the Silver Mane story...but a good one!" 11