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Curtiss-Frisco Pete "King of the Shetlands" ASPC# 30634 Black Stallion Foaled June 9, 1950 |
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Show Accomplishments 1954-1956 Congress Champion Stallion 1957-1959 Congress Champion Stallion Over 1957 Congress Champion Harness Over |
Breeding Accomplishments 1963, '64, '68, '69 #1 sire of halter ponies. 1962, '66-'70 #1 sire of harness and performance ponies. 1962-'64 '67-'69 #1 sire combined ratings of both divisions. The All-Time Top sire in the Registry of Merit. |
The following article was taken from the book "Our Shetland Heritage, The History of the Original American Shetland Pony", by Scott Uzzel.
On June 9, 1950, a black stallion was foaled at Exline, Iowa, who would come to be known as the "King of The Shetlands," His name: Curtiss-Frisco Pete.
Curtiss-Frisco Pete 30634, by X-Dapples 22922, was out of the Heyl-bred mare, King's X Donna 22924, a black daughter of Silver King X, out of Donna Supreme 21284, she by King's Dappled Supreme.
"Pete just happened to be the only black colt foaled on Ted Welch's X-Line Pony Farm that season. And it was his color that was, for the most part, to determine his destiny. In the early 1950's silver dapple and sorrel ponies were the rage and black ponies, regardless of quality, were difficult to sell at a respectable figure. But Welch had a buyer for Pete! He and Harry Cooper of Bourbannais, Illinois, ...had standing agreements with Curtiss Candy Company of Chicago to sell all of their black ponies to the 'Baby Ruth' candy bar firm for hitch ponies.
"Welch shipped Frisco Pete to Dickfield Farm, Gurnee, Illinois (the A.B. Dick estate, leased by Curtiss) in the fall of 1951. He remained there with other hitch 'hopefuls' until December 1952, when he was taken to Miami, Florida with the hitch that was to perform in the Orange Bowl parade. It was a Curtiss practice to ship a couple of two-year-olds with a hitch, in order to acquaint them with the trucking routine, and also to expose them to 'shipping fever" so that this unpleasant experience would be over and done with before they actually became active hitch ponies.
"Pete and another two-year-old made the Miami trip with Oley Johnson's hitch.
"The 'breaking to ride in a truck' trip proved to be just a bit more than that! The day before the parade, Johnson called Hank Meyer (the Curtiss hitch manager) in Chicago to report that two ponies were sick, and not the two that were supposed to be! Two of the regulars were running high temperatures and could not perform.
"Meyer said, 'You can use the two-year-olds, can't you? 'I don't see how, 'Johnson replied, 'they aren't even broke. 'Well you have all afternoon to break them,' was Meyer's order, and that ended the conversation.
"The next day, having some second thoughts about using two green ponies in a large, noisy parade, Meyer caught a plane to Miami to see how things were going. When he arrived, the hitch was just finishing the parade route, a distance of some seven miles. Pete had been put in the lead team with Stormy Weather, who himself went on to a great career in the stud. In Meyer's words, 'Pete and Stormy looked great. I swear Pete looked like he'd been in harness forever!' ...
"This of course, was just the first of many, many always surprising and thrilling performances by the 'little black wonder!
But not even Johnson or Meyer recognized his potential at the time. That revelation came some time later, following what might be termed Pete's only 'put down' in his long and illustrious career.
"In the spring of 1953, the hitch drivers, as was the practice, picked out the ponies they wanted to use that season. Pete didn't make the varsity! None of the drivers wanted him because he did not 'match up' with the other ponies. He was just a bit too animated and showy to be a hitch pony." 1
Pete spent the summer at the home farm in Gary, Illinois, and returned to Gurnee in the fall, while the hitches were still on the road. "When Pete arrived, there were no other ponies there, and just two men-Harold Jenkinson and Armon Hetzel. Naturally, the trio became very well acquainted!
"In December 1953, Harold Jenkinson...asked Meyer if he wanted to own the next National Champion Shetland. Meyer agreed that it surly wouldn't hurt the Curtiss reputation, and if Harold had such a prospect, he'd best proceed. Jenkinson asked, 'Do you want to see him?' Meyer said, 'No, if you say he's that caliber, it's good enough for me.'
"In planning Pete's debut, Meyer suggested that perhaps they had better try him first at the Kane County Fair at St. Charles, Illinois, at that time, a very fine, large horse show. Jenkinson asked, 'Just what shows does the little man have to win?' 'The Illinois State Fair and the Congress,' was Meyer's answer. "Then let's go there, 'said Jenkinson.
"Five days before the Illinois show, Meyer stopped in at the farm to make sure everything and everybody was ready to go. Jenkinson was not in the best spirits. He thought Pete was not acting like he should, and he wasn't moving just the way Jenkinson wanted him to. In fact, farrier Tommy Wilkinson had made five sets of shoes in five days in an effort to get Pete on the right track. When Meyer left for Springfield, he wasn't sure if the pony would be shown or not. He told Jenkinson that he made hotel reservations for Harold and his wife at Lincoln, Illinois. If they checked in, he would know Pete was going to show.
"The Jenkinsons did register at Lincoln, and Pete did indeed make his show ring debut at Springfield, on Thursday, August 19, 1954. The" following is taken from the JOURNAL'S account of that memorable day, as told by Editor Jim Roberts"
"Most electrifying moment of the many came with the crowning of the grand champion stallion, Curtiss-Frisco Pete, a four-year-old owned and shown by Curtiss Candy Company of Gary, Illinois. The halter classes, shown in the coliseum during the day, attracted a capacity audience, and Frisco Pete captured the crowd's imagination, and even the veterans said they'd never seen anything like him! His every trip was greeted with applause and every eye was on him.'...
"Ten days later, the Curtiss contingent moved on to Des Moines for the Congress. The news of Pete's tremendous showing at Springfield had, of course, preceded him. The traffic past his stall was constant, everyone hoping to get a glimpse of this pony. Exhibitors inquired about the bit Jenkinson used. Someone tried to steal Pete's shoes! One lady was apprehended sneaking into his stall to get a strand of hair from his tail. If there was such a term as 'super star' in 1954, Pete was surely one, and he achieved this status almost overnight.
"The 1954 Congress, the largest in its eight-year history, was a real challenge for Pete. Over fifty Stallions were entered in the halter division, which made up perhaps a stronger field than he met in Illinois.
"But the result was the same-a sweeping triumph for the hottest new Shetland to come along in many-a-season. (Judge) Dr. W.L. Munson of Cambridge, Illinois, tried him first in his age class; named him Senior Champion; and finally, the Grand Championship was Pete's. Jenkinson was right-Curtiss did have the next National Champion Shetland! ' 2
Pete duplicated his 1955 performance, again winning the Grand Championship at Illinois and the Congress. It was during this time that Otto Schnering, founder of Curtiss Candy Company, passed away, and Curtiss began to disperse some of its hitches and ponies. Meyer and Jenkinson formed a partnership, and on January 17, 1956, Frisco Pete was transferred to them. They planned to exhibit Pete again at Illinois and the Congress, and if successful there, consign him to the National Breed Promotion Sale in the fall.
Meanwhile, A.C. Buehler of Fernwood Farm, Barrington, Illinois, bought out Jenkinson's interest and in July of '56, bought out Meyer's share.
1956 saw Pete take his third straight Congress crown and at an American Shetland Pony Club directors meeting, "one dour soul proposed that the club bar Frisco Pete from further competition at the Shetland Congress, after his third straight grand championship.
"(ASPC President Harry) Kilkelly had suffered the defeat of his own leading show stallion in that victory by "Pete; but he instantly rejected such chicanery. 'You don't legislate a champion off his throne; he stated to the 'cry baby! You try to beat him the next time!' " 3
They did try, but 1957 was again, all Frisco Pete, as Fernwood expanded his schedule...to include seven shows, which gained him the National Shetland All-Star Ch. Aged Stallion, Gr. Ch. Stallion, and Ch. Combination Pony, 42"-46" awards: He also swept his fourth consecutive National Championship in halter at the Congress, where he also won the harness stake, marking only the second time that a pony had won dual Congress titles.
1957 also saw Pete's son, Curtiss Frisco's Kid 38913, a black, take Ch. Two Year Old Stallion and the Junior Championship at the Congress.
By 1958, Frisco Pete was being used heavily in the stud, and competed only in halter for most of the year, but he was undefeated, rating the All-Star Ch. Aged Stallion and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 42"-46", awards, as well as Ch. Ladies Harness pony, with four late-season victories. He was again, for the fifth consecutive time, Gr. Ch. Stallion, 42"-46", at the Congress.
Two of Pete's sons, Curtiss Frisco's Kid and the black Fernwood Frisco Pete 47324, also scored wins at the '58 Congress. Frisco's Kid was Ch. Three Year Old Stallion and won the Junior Harness event, while f'ernwood Pete, who was bred by Hank Meyer, was Jr. Ch. Stallion, 42" and Under.
In 1959, Frisco Pete recorded his sixth, and final, Congress Grand Championship, a record which still stands twenty-five years later! Pete was, again, undefeated and took his third All-Star Ch. Aged and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 42"-45", awards.
"At Des Moines, in 1959, Pete experienced possibly the toughest competition in his six-year career. The field was filled with talent, including the T.P. Parker's Frisco Kid. Pete was able to defeat his son in all three classes, but not before some anxious moment that resulted in one of the most exciting halter shows in history. Never before had a father and son reached the 'finals' for a National Championship, and it was a dan, dan, dandy!
"At the same show, ... Frisco's Kid, in addition to his fine showing in hand, claimed a pair of firsts in harness, winning the open class and ladies stake, (Frisco Pete was also represented in the winning Get of Sire entry for the T.P. Parkers of Valley View, Texas. ...
"This concluded the show career of 'Mr. Shetland.' In six years, he suffered just four defeats-three in hand, one in harness." 4
In addition to his Congress winnings, Frisco's Kid was also All-Star Ch. Single Harness pony and Ch. Combination Pony, 42"-46".
The get of Frisco Pete dominated the nation's show rings like that of no other stallion before or since, establishing their illustrious sire in the AMERICAN SHETLAND PONY JOURNAL'S Annual Sire-Ratings as the number one sire of halter ponies in 1963, '64, "68 and '69; number one sire of harness and performance ponies in 1962, and 1966-'70; number one in the combined ratings of both divisions, 1962-'64 and '67-'69. He became the all-time leading sire (from 1953 °n) in the Registry of Merit in 1964, and never relinquished his lead, becoming the first (and only) pony to surpass 100,000 points in 1968; and in 1970, the last year sire ratings were maintained, Pete had a grand total of 129,607 points, 33,695 more than his nearest competitor!
In addition to his aforementioned laurels, Curtiss Frisco's Kid was also Ail-Star Ch. Aged and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 42"-46", in I960, when he also teamed with another black son of Pete, Fernwood Frisco Oriflame 55389, to win the tandem class at the Congress, where Oriflame also captured the Junior Harness event. "The Kid" came back in 1962, to finally capture the Congress Grand Championship, after being named Ch. Aged and Senior Ch. Stallion. In the '62 All-Stars, he captured the Ch. Aged and Gr. Ch. Stallion, and Ch. Combination Pony, 42"-46", titles. In 1964, he was Ch. Aged Stallion, 43" and Under, and '65 Ch. Aged Stallion, 43" and Under, at the Congress.
Fernwood Frisco Pete continued his winning ways, com bining with Fernwood Frisco Little Girl 55388, a brown daughter of Curtiss-Frisco Pete, to win All-Star honors in the 42" and Under Pairs in I960. Fernwood Frisco Pete was also All-Star Ch. Roadster, 42" and Under, in '62.
Other Frisco Pete get to gain notoriety included Frisco's King 42727, a black stallion bred by Hank Meyer, who was All-Star Ch. Roadster, 42"-46", in 1961; won back-to-back Congress fine harness stakes in the 42"-46" division in 1962 and '63, as well as the open fine harness, 42"-46", class there in '62. In 1964, King was Congress Ch. Aged, Sr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 43"-46".
The great brown mare, Fernwood Frisco Donna Lee II 76187, out of the famed Silver White's Donna Lee 24371, was Ch. Two Year Old Mare, 4l 1/2"-44 1/2", and went on to Jr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Mare, 42"-46", at the Congress, in 1962, while scoring All-Star championships in the same divisions. Her full brother, Fernwood Frisco Lee 69724, a black, was All-Star Ch. Yearling Stallion, 40"-43", in I960; won the ladies stake at the Congress and was All-Star Jr. Fine Harness champ in '62; and Congress Ch. Amateur and Ladies Fine Harness pony, and Ch. All-Star Junior Fine Harness pony in '63. "The Frisco Pete-Silver White's Donna Lee family will no doubt go down as one of the breed's most outstanding." 5
Burnt Hill's Frisco Jim 86447, a bay bred by J. Roger Smith, Sherburne Falls, Massachusetts, was All-Star Ch. Yearling Stallion, 40"-43", in 1962; Ch. Three Year Old Stallion, 43"-46", at the '64 Congress; and All-Star Ch. in the Jr. Exhibitor Roadster division in 1977 at the age of sixteen. Jim's full sister, Burnt Hill's Frisco Miss 101-190, a Smith-bred chestnut, was the 1966 All-Star Ch. Aged and Gr. Ch. Mare, 43"-46".
The black stallion, Fernwood Frisco Larigo II 73513, was Jr. Harness champ at the '62 Congress; while Van Duesen's Frisco Baroque 80490, a bay bred by Warren J. Van Duesen, Chittenango, New York, was All-Star and Congress Ch. Two Year Old Mare, 4l 1/2"-44 1/2", as well as Jr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Mare, 42"-46", at the Congress in 1963.
The great Silver Mane's Frisco Cody 101346, a bay bred by Harry Kilkelly, Cuba City, Wisconsin, had a particularly successful career. In 1963, he was All-Star Ch. Two Year Old Stallion, 4l 1/2"-44 1/2". '64 saw Frisco Cody gain Ch. Three Year Old, Sr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 43" and Under, honors at the Congress and in the All-Stars, enroot to being named "Pony of the Year". In 1971, Frisco Cody returned to the Congress, where he was Sr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Stallion, 43" and Under; and swept through the All-Stars, taking championships for 43" and Under Sr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Stallion, Single Fine Harness and Combination Pony. This impressive record again gave him coveted "Pony of the Year" honors.
Another Kilkelly-bred pony by Frisco Pete was the brown mare, Silver Mane's Frisco Lady 80800, out of the great Helen C. Frisco Lady was Jr. Fine Harness Champion at the Congress in 1963 and '64, when she was also All-Star champion in the same division. The '64 Congress saw her gain Ch. Aged Mare, 43"-46", honors.
Another pair of 1964 stars were Pony Vista's Phantom Lady 86969, a brown mare bred by Floyd E. Diemer, Pekin, Illinois; and Frisco Pete's Grand Bette of Clover Hill 79089, a bay bred by Mr. and Mrs. John Mold, Harris, Minnesota. Phantom Lady was All-Star and Congress Ch. Three Year Old Mare, 43"-46", and Sr. Ch. and Gr. Ch. Mare, 43"-46", at the Congress. Bette was All-Star Ch. Three Year Old Mare in the 43" and Under division.
Fernwood Frisco Lancer 89514, a bay stallion, was another All-Star champ by Pete, taking Aged Stallion, 43"-46", honors in 1965; while Fernwood Frisco Vickie 97252, a dap ple with a silver mane and tail, was All-Star Ch. Aged Mare, 43" and Under, 1968-'70, as well as Gr. Ch. and Ch. Amateur Mare in '69.
A
great harness campaigner, Fernwood Frisco Bandit 112721, a bay stallion, was
All-Star Ch. Jr. Harness pony in 1968, Single Fine Harness champ, 43"-46", in
'69 and '70; Ch. Amateur Harness pony, *69-'74; Ch. Combination Pony, 43"-46",
in '69; and Ch. Ladies and Ch. Childs Harness pony in '73 and '74. His full
brother, Fernwood Frisco Bandit II 112481, another bay, was All-Star Ch. Jr.
Roadster pony in '71 and '72, as well as the 1973 Ch. Amateur and Ch. Ladies
Roadster.
Other All-Star champions by Frisco Pete were Fernwood Frisco Tom II 116436, Jr.
Harness champion '69; Fernwood Frisco Kate the 5th, 1970 Ch. 43" and Under
Single Harness pony; and Fernwood Frisco Caroline III 127723, Ch. Two Year Old
Mare, 42"-44 1/2", in '73.
Pete sired two other Congress champions, as well. Fern-wood Frisco Holiday the 4th won the 43"-46" Roadster stake at the 1970 Congress, the first held in Columbus, Ohio; and Fernwood Frisco Reporter 122482, was Ch. Amateur Roadster there in '72.
Seven of Frisco Pete's offspring achieved Shetland Hall of Fame status.
Fernwood Frisco Lee in 1968 (Roadster)
Fernwood Frisco Bandit in 1970 (Harness)
Fernwood Frisco Vickie in 1970(Halter)
Silver Mane's Frisco Cody also made it in '70, in Harness, then came back in '71 in Halter.
Fernwood Frisco Commander 89513 (Roadster) in '72.
Fernwood Frisco Bandit II (Roadster) and Fernwood Frisco Donna Lee the IV 105366 (Roadster) in 1978.
"The life of Frisco Pete came to an end at Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Buehler's Fernwood Farm on April 25, 1971, a day that marked the conclusion of a dynasty that can certainly be termed the most significant and influential reign in modern Shetland history. The King is dead, but memories of this stately, bold moving stallion will live forever in the minds of those who were privileged to see him. ...
"The King is dead, long live the King.' " 6
Footnotes
1-The Legend of Frisco Pete, ASPJ, May 1971, p. 12
2-The Legend of Frisco Pete, ASPJ, May 1971, pp. 12-ik
3-Silver Mane Dispersal Catalog (Foreward), Jim Roberts, ASPJ, June 196?, p. W>
4-The.Legend of Frisco Fete, ASPJ, May 1971, p. 15
5-The Legend of Frisco Pete. ASPJ, May 1971, p. 16
6-The Legend of Frisco Pete, ASPJ, May 1971, PP. 11-16