Page 9 - Appaloosas Now October/November 2020

LEGENDARY LEADING SIRES
AGay Bars Silver
gainst all odds, Gay Bars Silver made it. The first Silver should be entered into the Appaloosa Cutting two years of his life were a roller coaster; of course, Horse Association cutting futurity. Most people would
he never got the memo so he just kept moving forward day-by-day. Here are some of the hurdles Gay Bars Silver, “Silver” had to muddle through, just to be born:
1. His sire: Gay Bars Jess was 24; sperm was rated poor. “Silver” was his very last foal.
2. His dam: Silver Roxie was 18; had skipped a year and slipped her last pregnancy.
3. Vet determined only a 50/50 chance of conception.
4. His dam needed daily “progesterone” in order for her to stay in foal.
5. Gay Bars Silver was born at 319 days, dam was void of any milk.
Despite these hurdles Gay Bars Silver foaled on Mother’s Day May 14, 2000. A mere year later was when Mr. Kincaid decided he didn’t want his wife or kids and abandoned his family. Those were desperate times. There was not enough money for food much less taking care of horses, so Liz sold some horses then tried to
give away the rest. Mrs. Kincaid tried to GIVE yearling Silver away.... Then another miracle happened, Melissa Powell graciously took Gay Bars Silver into her care and Liz was able to keep him. Melissa kept Silver for over a year, but in her care he grew into a lovely two-year-old ready for training. Melissa was brilliant with horses; they came away confidant and with an easy handle to them. Silver was first sent to a reining trainer, but was highly encouraged to try cutting. Mrs. Kincaid knew nothing about cutting.
Silver landed with Mike Combs, a cutting trainer who worked with Silver for several months and marveled at his ability to “get” things and understand what was asked of him. You didn’t need to show him more than once; he had a ‘want to’ mentality to please. Silver was sent to Mike in July, by this time the rest of the two year olds had been in training working the flag and/or on cattle for many months. Silver was no less than six months behind in
any kind of cattle work. One year later Mike mentioned
find it a fool’s errand to put a three-year-old stallion, with a total of sixteen months training on cattle, into a Cutting Futurity. With “realistically” low expectations, Gay Bars Silver competed in the Futurity anyway—and won. His total score was 429 with his highest score being a 73!!
There were still mountains to climb and some difficulties actually came from other stallion owners. One told Liz to geld Silver (that figures doesn’t it?) Foreign interests called about Silver, as it turns out, they were told to call by American stallion owners that had to compete against Silver (were they scared?) But, Gay Bars Silver was never gelded and he was never sold, he stayed with Liz Kincaid his entire life. Liz saw to it first hand that he had a great life. Silver deserved it, he earned it and his pedigree demanded it.
Liz endlessly asked Silver to prove that his Futurity Championship wasn’t a one-time wonder and he did with ease. Silver’s show wins are as follows: These do not
Appaloosas Now - October/November 9