Page 45 - 28 December 2012
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LiL Bit Rusty
The Making of a Modern Blue Hen Mare
by Larry Thornton
The early breeders termed the successful broodmare as a “blue hen.” These mares got this title because of their ability to influence the breed as a prolific producer of outstand- ing offspring. Mares that earn the title blue hen are the female foundation of our breeding industry. A blue hen mare becomes more than just a good producer with the success of her offspring. She becomes a blue hen by forming a family of successful horses.
In the case of her daughters she becomes
the taproot mare. The great mare Flicka became the taproot mare in a line of horses that accounts for such champions as Black Easter Bunny, Bunny’s Bar Maid, Lord Winsalot, Jet
View, Black Sable, Come Six, Power Train and Be A Bono. The great mare Della Moore, who was the dam of the great stallions Joe Reed P-3 and Joe Moore, both very influential stallions, became an influence on the breed through her sons. So it can work different ways for a blue hen mare to influence the breed. Where do these blue hen mares come from? Let’s take a look at one and see what we can find. Lil Bit Rusty will be our subject mare.
LIL BIT RUSTY
Lil Bit Rusty was bred by Henry Shaw, of Midland, Texas, and foaled in 1985. She had a number of owners through the years but
her last owners were breeders Bob and Jerry Gaston, of Seguin, Texas.
A recent conversation with Bob Gaston brought us up to date on Lil Bit Rusty. The Gastons bought Lil Bit Rusty in 20ll. But when they got her home and off the trailer she was sick. Sadly, she lost her battle to regain her health and passed away. As you will see, she
left a great legacy as a producer. But first, more about the mare herself.
Lil Bit Rusty is sired by Easily Smashed, the 1981 AQHA Racing Champion 3-Year- Old Colt. He won such races as the 1980 Sun Country Futurity-G1 and the 1981 Kansas Derby. Easily Smashed is sired by
The late Lil Bit Rusty has earned blue-hen mare status as her legacy lives on through her descendents.
SPEEDHORSE, December 28, 2012 43
