Gene Parker and Best Dawn Yet Win Two-Year-Old Mares For Suzanne Kiser
Suzanne Kiser gives “Little Dawn” a kiss for a job well done.
By: Brittany Bevis
It was clear by the touching scene in the center of the pen during the awards ceremony for the Two-Year-Old Mares class that Suzanne Kiser has a special connection with her mare Best Dawn Yet.
“It’s never about the sparkle or the trophies for us; it’s about the horse,” Kiser says. “I raised her. I’ve got her mother, A Nu Dawn, and she is bred back for a full sister… hopefully that will come about. Buddy Laney showed her mother six times at the World, and she’s always been in the top five. She is a superior halter horse and a great, great mare. [Best Dawn Yet’s] sire is Kid Coolsified.”
When Kiser returns home to Bessemer City, North Carolina, she plans to give “Big Dawn” a big kiss for playing such a big part in creating the mare she fondly refers to as “Little Dawn.”
“We actually call her Little Dawn, because we call her mother Big Dawn,” Kiser says. “But, now she’s as big as her mother, so I don’t know what we’re going to do! Her mother is by Mazeratti, and he puts a lot of nice muscle on a horse. She’s stayed very sound, and we are proud of that.”
In addition to Little Dawn’s impressive muscling, Kiser praises the mare’s sweet disposition, soundness, and femininity.
“She’s just a super nice mare to be around,” Kiser says. “She’s not coming at you in her stall. We love her so much.”
Gene Parker was at the lead of Little Dawn to claim the World Champion title this afternoon. In charge of fitting the currently undefeated mare since her show career first began is Mitch Leonarski.
“Mitch has had her ever since she’s been showing, and she’s never been defeated. She won the Breeders’ Halter Futurity as a yearling, and she went on to win the World last year as a yearling. We took her to the Congress this year, and she won that as a two-year-old. Then, she’s won this. We’re very proud of her. Maybe she’ll be able to come back next year. We’ll give them a run for it, if it is possible.”
Two-Year-Old Mares-
1-Best Dawn Yet/Gene Parker
2-BPF Over The Top/Ross Roark
3-Miss Kittee/Luke Castle
4-Dream Big Dreams/Ted Turner
5- Ladys Love Jewels/Buddy Laney
