Page 25 - NMHBA Spring 2022

Activity on the farm is non-stop.
“This is a year-round operation,” says Susan. “We go straight from breeding and foal season right into sales prep and as soon as the sales are over the boys start working with the weanlings and start breaking the yearlings. That goes through December and then we start putting mares under lights and start all over again.”
Exposing broodmares to large lights is done with the idea of triggering the cycling hormones in the mares.
“It makes them think that it’s springtime,” says Susan.
Her farm crew includes manager Jorge Najera, jockey Jesus Chavez and three others, Hedy Gutierrez, Michael Acosta and Raul Najera.
“They all do everything that there is to do on this place, including the breeding,” said Susan. “They are just amazing.”
The farm also has a night watch person, Caitlan Dunkin, who helps Susan deliver
foals born in the middle of the night or early morning hours. Her two regular vets are Kevin Blach, Leonard Blach’s son, and Kate Marley.
THE STUDS
Kentucky Wildcat had a promising career
at the racetrack cut short by injury. As a 2
year old, Kentucky Wildcat defeated Country House at Aqueduct. Country House went on to be declared the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby after first place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified.
Susan purchased Kentucky Wildcat through a private sale in Kentucky after he had been retired.
Kentucky Wildcat was sired by Tapit, whose offspring have earned more than $149 million racing. The dam, Better Lucky, is by Ghostzapper, who ran only 11 times, won nine races and earned just over $3.4 million.
Right Rigger is a son of Unbridled’s Song, who in turn was sired by 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. Susan bought him four years ago from New Mexico horseman Larry Teague.
Right Rigger’s foals include Rig Time,
a New Mexico bred who earned more than $407,000 in his racing career; Ten Penny Cents, winner of more than $275,300; and Tea Light, whose career earnings totaled $220,617.
Rig Time’s dam, Stardust Lady, is one of
the broodmares at HunterCreek. Another of her babies, Dust Alert, ran out over $165,000 at the track. Stardust Lady also produced a filly named Riglet, who was the top seller at the New Mexico breed sale in Ruidoso two years ago.
Artful Run is just starting out as a sire. He is the only son of Artie Schiller standing in the Southwest. Artie Schiller earned more than
$2 million racing and has sired the earners of nearly $57 million.
Artful Run, a 13 year old, is the
sire of Where’s Brayden, the 2-year-old Thoroughbred Horse of the Year in New Mexico last year. Where’s Brayden, who was named after the Yarbar’s grandson, won the New Mexico Juvenile and Steve Prather Stakes last fall at Zia Park.
The Yarbars claimed Artful Run in Florida in 2012. He developed chips in his knees, was retired and never raced in New Mexico.
The Quarter Horse stud Rrelentless stood in Oklahoma last year. The partnership of Bill Medlin, Gregg Sanders and Martin Riley decided to move Rrelentless to HunterCreek and his next crop of babies--they’ll be born in 2023--will be New Mexico breds. Last year was his first as a stud and he was bred to mares in Oklahoma.
“We’re super excited and proud to have him here,” said Susan.
There is a constant air of contentment and confidence in Susan’s personality that’s readily apparent and stretches beyond her daily work on the farm. She’s fond of the phrase, “Cool, huh?”
And why not? Her son Cody, his wife Desiree and their 6-year-old twins, Miles and Martin, live close by.
Adversity, she says, has been a stranger most of her life.
“I’m the most blessed person you’ll ever meet,” says Susan. “Growing up I had the best family life. My daddy bought me everything I needed to rodeo, and my mama was the one who hauled me around everywhere.”
A new chapter in Susan’s life is a work
in progress. Last September, she brought
to Roswell her former band members for a reunion. One of them was J.D. Cox, a retired geophysicist who played steel guitar when the band was together. What was not romantically possible 30 years ago is taking shape.
“We were on the road back then and we were the best of friends,” says Susan. “But you don’t date anyone in the same band you’re in. That’s a hard and fast rule, so we never dated.”
That changed after the reunion last fall. Susan and J.D. plan on performing as a duet from time to time around Roswell and he’s helping out on the farm. One early morning in February, he helped Susan and Caitlan deliver a foal.
So, is marriage a probability?
“We’ve been talking about it,” said Susan.
“I told him that he has to stay here through one foaling season and see what this place is really about. If he can hang through an entire foaling season, then we’ll talk about that.”
It appears that steep learning curve is back in play.
Kentucky Wildcat and Susan Hunter.
Artful Run
SPRING 2022 23
Photo Provided
© Kelly Graphics