Classic Performance Horses is a family owned and operated business located approximately 30 minutes west of Edmonton, AB, north of the Yellowhead highway.
Primarily a training facility, as Loren trains and shows cutting and cow horses, the Christianson’s stallions are another source of income for the family. Leaving the breeders to own and raise the babies, and hoping for a chance to ride the offspring one day is what seems to work for this farm.
Six years ago, Loren came home from a buying trip for a client only to inform the family that he had found a horse for them.
The family had owned stallions for many years, but had been without for a year or so, after selling their last one, a Paint cow horse, to a fellow in Austria.
Loren and Lisa had come to the conclusion that when – and if – they owned another stallion it would have to be one that had a bottom side as good as the top side. Then, along came My Own League.
My Own League is by the leading cutting horse sire, Smart Little Lena, and out of the great Peppy San Badger daughter, Peppys From Heaven. Peppys From Heaven is out of yet another legend in the cutting horse world, Royal Blue Boon. Royal Blue Boon is the lifetime leading dam in the NCHA. She has produced earners of over $2.5 million dollars, including Peptoboonsmal, who himself is fast becoming a legendary sire.
Peppys From Heaven was a very successful performer earning over $130,000 in the cutting pen, and has now produced money earners of over $250,000. A royal pedigree, to say the least.
“Cash,” as he is known at home, has earned many titles, including the 2003 Canadian Open Cutting Horse Champion, as well as earning the $3000 Novice Horse Championship that same year, tying a record that Bill Collins had set many years ago, on none other than the stallion, Peponita, and also on a wonderful little mare, Pretty Pam San.
In 2003 at the NCHA Western Nationals, in Ogden, Utah, Cash won the first go-round (with over 80 entries) and went onto win the championship in the $3000 Novice Horse.
My Own League’s career as a sire is just starting. His first foal crop to show was in 2005, and there were money earners of over $12,000 in the cutting as well as the cow horse pen.
One advantage to being in both the stallion owning business as well as the training business is the opportunity to ride a lot of Cash’s colts, and so far he shows promise as a sire of very athletic and cow-smart horses.
In 2004, an opportunity came along that just could not be passed up. Bob and Eleanor Butz of Westview Acres approached the Christianson’s to stand their great Peptoboonsmal son, Mr Roan Freckles.
“Boon,” as he is known at the farm, is a bay roan son of Peptoboonsmal, and out of the mare Ms Roan Freckles, a granddaughter of Colonel Freckles. She has earnings of over $29,000.
With NCHA earnings nearing $50,000, Boon has proven himself time and time again in the show pen. Now his career in the breeding shed starts.
His first foal crop will be shown this year, and having three of them in the training barn right now, the future looks promising for Mr Roan Freckles. As an added bonus to colour lovers, Boon has sired 100 per cent roans in three foal crops.
While Loren and Lisa don’t consider themselves a stallion station, they do find themselves with many stallions coming and going through the barn, due to the training business. These include: Majors Dapper Dan, Bob Acre Venture, High Limit, and for last two years, Nic Olena Badger, who highlighted his cow horse career last fall with a win at the Northlands Derby. Another great stallion that came to Classic Performance Horses’ training barn last year was Annies Cat.
Annies Cat is sired by Highbrow Cat and out of the mare Georgia Kitty. Dr. Denton Moffat very successfully showed Annies Cat through most of his aged event career. In 2006, Loren was asked to show Annies Cat for a Canadian title. Annies Cat is the 2006 Open Canadian Cutting Horse Champion as well as the $10,000 Novice Horse Champion.
Owned by Darcy Geherman, Annies Cat is off to the NCHA World Finals in February of this year, in Amarillo, Texas, with Loren and upon return he will stand for the breeding season with Dr. Deb. Steele at Equistar Veterinary Services in Spruce Grove, Alberta.
Both My Own League and Mr Roan Freckles will stand this year with the Christianson’s again, at $1,750 for My Own League, and $2,000 for Mr Roan Freckles.
The stallions are nominated to the Canadian Cow Horse Supreme, with Mr Roan Freckles also being nominated to the Canadian Super Stakes Program. Plans to nominate My Own League to the Canadian Super Stakes are also in consideration.
Shipped semen is available on both stallions, and a live foal guarantee applies to their services. The advertised breeding fees on the stallions include chute fees, and new for this year, those using shipped semen will see a set cost, so there are no surprises at the end of the day.
If you would like more information on My Own League or Mr Roan Freckles, you’re invited to give the Christianson’s a call at (780) 968-2051, or email: cphorse @telusplanet.net.
As mentioned, there are offspring of these two stallions at Classic Performance Horses, in the training program, so you can see them at work!
