The CHBOA Salutes 2006
Breeder and Owner of the Year:
Ed O'Neill
Ed registered a total of 18
champagnes with the CHBOA in 2006, 16 of which he bred.
Four
O Horse Farm is a third generation horse farm run by Ed O'Neill and
his family. His father introduced him to horses at the tender age of
4 and Ed had his own horse by the age of 9. He started his son,
Eddie, on horses at an even earlier age.
After graduating from High
School in 1960, Ed went on to the University of Tennessee and
graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1966. He then went
to work for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. Ed returned to
Tennessee after a few years and received a MS from Tennessee Tech in
1986 before going on to work for the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conversation as Manger of Drinking Water for West
Tennessee. In 2005, he retired to pursue his interest in horses and
farming full time.
The
entire O'Neill family is involved in the business. Ed's wife,
Camille, manages the foaling barn and nursery. Her keen observation
skills and natural ability with the foals are a real asset. She
spends countless hours with the horses and observing the foaling
cameras installed at the farm. His son, Eddie, is his partner in the
horse business and his trail riding companion (you can see Eddie in
the photos). While Eddie's wife, Leigh, didn't grow up with horses,
she has since learned to ride and help with the horses.
Four O' Horse Farm's first
champagne was purchased by Ed's father in 1967. The "yellow" mare
produced Mellow Yellow, a striking flaxen gold champagne stallion
that remains with the O'Neill family at the age of 27. While at
first they believed Mellow to be a palomino, they later found that
he was actually a gold champagne. The farm now focuses on the
beautiful champagne coloring in addition to the other traits they
prize.
Ed uses the term "performance
pleasure horse" to describe what his farm is producing - a horse
prized for its natural gait, style, and beauty.
"The
kind of horse we are trying to produce, I would call a performance
pleasure horse. My dad would have just called them a good riding
horse. Defining this horse a little better, I like one with his head
up with a good head set. In a flat walk he needs a good head shake.
Then I like for them to come up into a running walk or slow rack. I
think this is a perfect trail horse. A horse that I would really
personally like would then have a faster gait such a good snappy
rack(this is not to be confused with the modern rack. A better name
for the gait now is a single-foot. Years ago the rack and single
foot were the same gate). I also like one that will canter. Of
course they must be pretty and easy to handle, but still present
some challenge for the rider at the riders’ level. These horses can
be shown today in many pleasure classes, or ridden on trails. We do
some showing but prefer to trail ride. I prefer a horse that carries
a ⅜x ¾ shoe. As many of today’s walking horses were bred to pace, I
am ok with a ½ by 1 shoe."
At any given time, around 30
horses call Four O'Horse Farm their home. 10 of whom are the farm's
broodmares. The O'Neills raise their own personal riding horses and
offer foals from their bloodstock for sale (usually with a
warranty).
Coin's Spice of Gold, Ed's flaxen gold
champagne Tennessee Walking Horse stallion came in 2nd place
in the Sire of the Year contest with 7
offspring registered this year: #176 Spice's Gold Chip, #190 Spicey Cappuccino, #201 Spiced Peaches, #202 Spices Sweet
Dream, #203 Spicey Surprise, #208 Spices Gold Chance and #209
Spicey Prize.
Mellow Yellow, his flaxen gold champagne
Racking Horse stallion had 4
offspring registered this year: #180 Mellow's Mary C, #182
Mellows Sassy, #204 Mellows Natural Lite and #207 Mellows Show
Out.
Four
O Horse Farm is a third generation horse farm run by Ed O'Neill and
his family. His father introduced him to horses at the tender age of
4 and Ed had his own horse by the age of 9. He started his son,
Eddie, on horses at an even earlier age.
The
entire O'Neill family is involved in the business. Ed's wife,
Camille, manages the foaling barn and nursery. Her keen observation
skills and natural ability with the foals are a real asset. She
spends countless hours with the horses and observing the foaling
cameras installed at the farm. His son, Eddie, is his partner in the
horse business and his trail riding companion (you can see Eddie in
the photos). While Eddie's wife, Leigh, didn't grow up with horses,
she has since learned to ride and help with the horses.
"The
kind of horse we are trying to produce, I would call a performance
pleasure horse. My dad would have just called them a good riding
horse. Defining this horse a little better, I like one with his head
up with a good head set. In a flat walk he needs a good head shake.
Then I like for them to come up into a running walk or slow rack. I
think this is a perfect trail horse. A horse that I would really
personally like would then have a faster gait such a good snappy
rack(this is not to be confused with the modern rack. A better name
for the gait now is a single-foot. Years ago the rack and single
foot were the same gate). I also like one that will canter. Of
course they must be pretty and easy to handle, but still present
some challenge for the rider at the riders’ level. These horses can
be shown today in many pleasure classes, or ridden on trails. We do
some showing but prefer to trail ride. I prefer a horse that carries
a ⅜x ¾ shoe. As many of today’s walking horses were bred to pace, I
am ok with a ½ by 1 shoe."
