10/7/2023 0 Comments Blueharvest colliesKeSa Quarter Horses - Fort Collins, Coloradoģ. Merritt Quarter Horses - Fort Collins, ColoradoĢ. There are 4 breeding operations in Colorado and Wyoming that carry on this sought after bloodline.ġ. AQHA does plan to induct Blue Valentine into the Hall of Fame as recognition to this is remarkable horse. He is one of the greatest foundation ranch and performance sires to this day. Their names are Leo Hancock Hayes and Blues King Fisher.īlue Valentine possessed strong genes and passed his amazing traits onto 210 AQHA foals. ![]() Today there are only 2 sons remaining of Blue Valentine. Their son, Chip, spent many years rebuilding the Blue Valentine legacy and kept the bloodline alive. Thankfully, Hyde's wife and son were able to keep a few mares and two stallions. His family had to sell his ranch too and most of his horses that he spent his life time acquiring. In 1983, only 3 years later, Hyde Merritt was also killed in an accident. Financially, the family could not take on the expense of the ranch. In the same month, Buster Hayes was in an accident and sadly passed away as well. When Blue passed, all of the families had some major hardships come their way. He was 24 years old and died on Hyde Merritt's Ranch. Sadly, in 1980, Blue Valentine passed away due to colic complications. Each family loved him and had such an amazing bond with this stallion. ![]() King Merritt and Hyde Merritt ended up purchase Blue Valentine completely and everyone continued to compete on him. He was very versatile and was used in all sorts of disciplines like ranch work, ranch rodeos, trail riding, pleasure/show, barrel racing, and speed events. No matter the task, Blue would get it done. He had speed, good bones, a gentle disposition, longevity, and cow sense. Over the years, the whole Haverty, Hayes, and Merritt family took turns competing on Blue in rodeos. He had never even seen a barrel before and still placed 3rd at the Annual Casper Wyoming Pro Rodeo, an all girl competition. In 1968, Haverty's daughter ran barrels on him for the first time. He excelled at everything they put him in, but he was the best at roping. They also hauled him to other Wyoming rodeos and roped off of him.īlue was used for roping, ranch work, and steer tripping. It was said that Blue was the nicest horse there that year. They then hauled him back to the Hayes Ranch in Wyoming for late breeding season and to rope at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The Hayes/Haverty/Merritt partnership began with them hauling Blue down south to compete at Fall/Winter rodeos and to partake in the early breeding season in Arizona. Little did they know, this new stallion would becoming a legendary horse. This horse had loads of potential and the whole family quickly fell in love with him. Hyde Merritt, who was Buster Haye's Son In Law, was also a co-owner of Blue Valentine. The Merritt family was also involved with the deal. Haverty sold 1/2 interest of Blue Valentine to the Hayes Brothers Ranch. Both families owned ranches and had a pretty successful horse operation going. Haverty's wife was a daughter of Buster Hayes from Wyoming. Dell Haverty bought the sharp looking stallion and this was the beginning of a great family affair. Blue Valentine was foaled in Benson, Arizona on Kenny Gunter's Ranch. Red Man was a top ranch horse and a son of Joe Hancock. He was sired by another legendary horse, Red Man, and his mother was a mare by the name of Beauty's Dream. He was a beautiful blue roan stallion, born in 1956. Blue Valentine is a legendary stallion who was the perfect blend of arena horse and working horse.
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