in-the-blood-heza-diamond-spark-pedigree

In the Blood: Heza Diamond Spark

in-the-blood-heza-diamond-spark-pedigree

The World’s Greatest Horseman competition wrapped up on Feb. 18 with Canadian John Swales earning the Championship on Heza Diamond Spark. Swales and Heza Diamond Spark worked their way to a composite score of 874, which included the top score of 222.5 in the rein work and the top score of 226.5 in the fence work. Swales was rewarded with the $35,000 winner’s check.

Heza Diamond Spark (Diamond J Star x Sheza Shinette x Shining Spark) was bred by Holy Cow Performance Horses and foaled in California. He was purchased in 2007 by Michael Garver, of Montana. He went to Canada in 2014 when purchased by JEM Ventures and in 2016, his ownership was transferred to the 7P Ranch, of High River, Alberta, Canada.

in-the-blood-heza-diamond-sparkHeza Diamond Spark and John Swales • Photo by Primo MoralesHeza Diamond Spark has an Equi-Stat record of $122,224. In addition to Swales, he has been shown by Sandy Collier, Justin Warneke, Zane Davis, Jesse Thomson and Colter Schlosser. Collier started the stallion’s career at the 2008 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, making the Open finals and earning a Co-Reserve Championship in the Limited Open. Warneke had the most time in Heza Diamond Spark’s saddle, and their record together shows a win in the 2011 NRCHA Stakes Open Bridle Spectacular.

Sire Line

in-the-blood-diamond-j-starDiamond J Star & Tyler Albrecht in 2016 • Photo by Just Enjoy PhotographyDiamond J Star was the 2001 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Co-Reserve Champion with Sandy Collier aboard. Following the 2002 show season, Diamond J Star took a break from the arena, but came back in 2007 with Jon Roeser. They won the Open Bridle horse show class at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity and made the finals of the 2007 NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman, where they finished seventh. Diamond J Star has an Equi-Stat record of $103,807 in reined cow horse and cutting.

in-the-blood-sheza-dancingdiamondHeza Diamond Spark’s full sister, Sheza Dancingdiamond, pictured with Jake Telford • Photo by Primo MoralesAccording to Equi-Stat, Diamond J Star has an offspring record of $295,724 with 26 money-earners. Heza Diamond Spark is his leading money-winner and is a full brother to the second-leading money-winner, Sheza Dancingdiamond ($51,146). The third-leading money-winner is Diamond J Starlite ($46,570), who has earned 155 American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) points in the Amateur, Open and Novice divisions. She was the 2016 AQHA Reserve High-Point Amateur Working Cow Horse.

Diamond J Star is sired by Grays Starlight, a son of Peppy San Badger (Mr San Peppy x Sugar Badger x Grey Badger III). The dam of Grays Starlight is Doc’s Starlight (Doc Bar x Tasa Tivio x Poco Tivio). Doc’s Starlight is a National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Hall of Fame mare who was shown by John Carter, Jim Lee and Charlie Ward. She is also the dam of Equi-Stat Elite $1 Million Sires Gallo Del Cielo (Rooster) and Paddys Irish Whiskey.

Diamond J Star is out of Diamond J Playgirl, an unshown daughter of Freckles Playboy (Jewel’s Leo Bar x Gay Jay x Rey Jay) out of Lemac’s Harriet (Doc Bar x Gold’s Harriett x Hollywood Gold). Lemac’s Harriet is the dam of foals that have earned $431,757, according to Equi-Stat. Her leading money-winner is Power Player ($281,972), who is a full brother to Diamond J Playgirl. He was a noted competitor in the Open and Non-Pro, carrying Ken Smith to the top 10 in the 1990 and 1991 NCHA Non-Pro.

Lemac’s Harriet is out of Gold’s Harriett, a Burnett Ranch-bred mare. She is out of Miss Buggins 99 (Buggins x Miss Tommy 99 x Tom [Scooter]). The “99” family of the Burnett’s 6666 Ranch is the female family that produced Sixes Pick, the 2008 AQHA World Champion Versatility Ranch Horse.

Dam Line

Sheza Shinette ($53,738) started her show career with a win in the 2001 Santa Ynez Valley Snaffle Bit Classic with Sandy Collier. They went to the 2001 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, where they made the finals and were the Ladies Champions. The next stop for the pair was the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity, where they also made the Open finals. Sheza Shinette was the 2002 AQHA Junior Reining World Champion.

Sheza Shinette’s 15 money-earning foals have combined Equi-Stat records of $638,754. Her leading money-earner is Hes Shinette CD, who is a multiple World’s Greatest Horseman finalist and competed this year with Jake Telford. Her other foals include Heza Shiney Kodo ($88,200), Once A Von A Time ($76,925) and Sheza Roo ($57,642).

The sire of Sheza Shinette is Shining Spark (Genuine Doc x Diamonds Sparkle x Mr Diamond Dude), the all-time leading sire and maternal grandsire of reined cow horse money-earners. One of his leading offspring is Lil Miss Shiney Chex ($107,305). She, in turn, is the dam of Blind Sided ($165,590), one of the leading money-winners for Shining Spark as a maternal grandsire. Blind Sided finished third in this year’s World’s Greatest Horseman under Jay McLaughlin.

Sheza Shinette is the leading money-winner out of Chicks And Chex ($4,312). In addition to Sheza Shinette, Chicks And Chex has produced horses like Sheza Smart Wimpy ($44,953) and Shine Big Time ($32,181), who have added to her total offspring earnings of $165,702.

Chicks And Chex is sired by Smart Chic Olena, the No. 2 all-time leading sire of reined cow horse money-earners and the No. 2 all-time leading maternal grandsire of reining money-winners. The dam of Chicks And Chex is Skipit Chex, by King Fritz. Skipit Chex is a full sister to Skip A Chex, the second dam of NRHA Triple Crown winner Not Ruf At All ($456,530). The full sisters are out of Super Maid, by Sure Cash.

An Interesting Cross

Heza Diamond Spark and his sister Sheza Dancingdiamond represent the cross of a son of Grays Starlight on a Shining Spark/Smart Chic Olena mare. Starlight Kisses, the 2016 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Champion, was sired by Shady Lil Starlight, by Grays Starlight, and out of Kiss My Shiny Lips, a Shining Spark/Smart Chic Olena-bred mare. Heza Diamond Spark, Sheza Dancingdiamond and Starlight Kisses were all bred by Holy Cow Performance Horses.

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