BY CHRISTINE HAMILTON, FIELD EDITOR
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| James Kifer of Hartselle, Alabama, wins the Bayer Select world championship in weanling stallions with homebred JMK Endangered. |
James Melvin Kifer of Hartselle, Alabama, and his homebred colt, JMK Endangered, took home the world championship in weanling stallions, the first gold trophy to be awarded at the 2007 Bayer Select World Championship Show.
“I’m surprised,” James said. “It feels good because these are my first Enlightened babies. I was anxious to get them out.”
James bought the stallion, Enlightened, to replace Mr Yella Fella, whom he sold last year. Enlightened is a son of Sierra Te, out of a Mr Conclusion mare.
James has been a leading breeder of halter ROM-earners several years in a row, raising them at the farm he owns with his wife, Rita. What does he like about this colt?
“I’m really critical about (babies’) necks and heads and a pretty look from the side, and he has that look I like,” James said. “He’s refined and pretty. He’ll grow up and make a good-sized horse. I like that look in a baby.
“I see (raising halter horses) just as art,” he added. “I enjoy, not just looking at my horses, but everyone else’s. To me, it’s almost like looking at a famous painter’s painting, to see what other people are doing and the horses that I really like. For me, it’s like walking through an art gallery.”
The Kifers are involved in the Big Money Select Halter Breeders Sale at Tunica, Mississippi, September 8-9.
“It’s a new concept,” James explained. “We’re going to take 10 percent of the sale price of all the horses, add it to a purse, and we’re going to have a show at the end of the sale – line them up by age group and give away $10,000 a class. We hope people enjoy it, and the concept catches on and we all have fun.”
“It seems like there is not as many people buying horses and going to the shows,” James added, specifically regarding halter horses.
“To encourage that, if you get an ROM with something that I’ve bred, we’re going to pay $2,500 to the owner at the time of the ROM,” he said. “It’s just another way to help the industry get people excited and out showing horses.”
As always, James took the opportunity to thank his wife, “who puts up with this crazy habit,” and his trainer, Jerri Harmon – “I appreciate both of them and what they do.”
Horse name: JMK Endangered
Pedigree: 2007 stallion by Enlightened and out of Ladys Got Style by Kids Classic Style
Exhibitor: James Melvin Kifer
Owner: James Melvin Kifer
Trainer: Jerri Harmon
Total class entries: 13
Purse: $6,500
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle with 14K gold overlay, Tex Tan product, Cripple Creek Outerwear logo jacket, neck wreath. |
