Two Siblings, Born Amidst Tragedy, Compete At APHA World In Memory of Their Late Dam

By: Brittany Bevis

When Blake Weis and Line Up For Candy loped to the center of the arena at the APHA World Show to be named the Champion in the 3-Year-Old Novice Horse Limited Rider Sweepstakes, it was an emotional moment for many in the stands. For the mare’s owner, Susan Juroe, it marked the culmination of a five year journey, during which she has experienced happiness, heartache, and the hopeful promise for the future.

Line Up For Candy is by VS Flatline and out of Too Sleepy For Candy, a multiple APHA World Champion mare, who belonged first to Erica Greathouse, then Susan Juroe, and who ultimately passed away entirely before her time. In 2014, at the age of five, Too Sleepy For Candy, aka “Mandy,” suddenly and shockingly died during a routine veterinary procedure. “It was very traumatic,” Susan says.

After winning Novice Amateur Western Pleasure at their first World Show together, and numerous World titles in the years’ since, Susan was confident she and Mandy would have a long and successful career together. Sadly, fate had other plans. However, before Mandy passed, she produced two embryos by VS Flatline that would eventually become two, red roan foals, one colt and one filly, named Adam and Eve. “Adam and Eve were out of the first embryo crop that we did when Mandy was just four years old,” Susan says. “They were just born when Mandy passed.”

“It’s really special, because it takes seeing a horizon of five years to buy the horse from Erica; to do the embryos; to have the recipient mares on my property; to take them to Royal Vista to have them foaled out; to make sure they have a white spot; and to keep them healthy before sending them down here to the World Show. It was a long journey of hope.”

Fast forward three years, and the two siblings have blossomed and matured. Adam is now known as Kid In A Candy Store, and Eve has been named Line Up For Candy. Incredibly, they are both competing in 3-year-old Western Pleasure classes here at the APHA World Show. That’s where Blake Weis joins this tale.

“I was in Missouri last night, and Tim [Gillespie] called me and asked if I wanted to show Eve in the 3-Year-Old Novice Horse Limited Rider Sweepstakes,” Blake says. “I was already planning on coming down to show a couple of other horses for Tim in Trail and Western Riding, so I packed my bags at ten o’clock that night, got in the truck at 6 o’clock in the morning, and drove down here.”

Although he’d only ridden the mare for 20 minutes prior to competing on Sunday evening, Blake became a big fan almost instantly. “She feels very much like the other Vital Signs descendants. She holds her neck out there and puts her ears forward. I love how she carries her neck and her ears, and then she has this kind of rocking chair feel. Also, I think she will switch leads amazing. I think Trail and Western Riding go back to the Western Pleasure, and the best Trail and Western Riding horses are pleasure horses.”

Despite being full siblings and looking very similar in appearance, Adam and Eve are completely different animals. “He’s a totally different horse,” Susan says. “He has an enormous frame, and he’s beautiful in his own right. I think, as a breeding mare, there is nothing I’ve seen that’s prettier than Eve or bigger, stronger, and nicer. Some people immediately take to him, and some people immediately take to her. It’s very strange.”

“Eve locks into a rhythm, which will be great for Western Riding and Trail, and she’s super amateur-friendly. If you can get her in her spot, she’s really easy to ride.”

“Adam won the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure Futurity at the Silver Dollar circuit with all the Quarter Horses, and Eve went to Iowa and was Reserve with the Quarter Horses, so we’ve been trying to incorporate both breeds. They will both be showing in 3-year-old futurities at the All American Quarter Horse Congress.”

Just last night, in the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure, Adam and Eve competed in the same class together. Aaron Moses rode Kid In A Candy Store to a fourth place finish and Shannon Gillespie rode Line Up For Candy to place fifth.

Watching this sweet sibling story unfold alongside a very proud Susan was Erica Greathouse, the former owner of the siblings’ mother, Too Sleepy For Candy. “I always knew that Mandy would leave her mark on the industry since the day she was born,” Erica says. “Losing her at such a young age, when she was at the peak of her career, was absolutely devastating. To see her babies out in the arena with the same happy expression brings tears to my eyes. I know Mandy is watching down on them, and she’s proud. Her legacy lives on and that makes my heart so happy.”

We look forward to watching these talented youngsters compete side by side at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, under the guidance of Tim and Shannon Gillespie, in a few weeks!

Who’s going to show who? Only time will tell… “It will be a battle of the siblings and the spouses!” Susan laughs.