How the Late Carlyle Command Lives On and On

“What did he contribute toour breeding program? Justabout everything. One of ourfirst foals was by him, and he’sout here in my backyard, WSGOvation Command (CarlyleCommand x Black GoldMariah). Nearly all of our stockis based on him and Napaley’sObssession, both by CarlyleCommand. We bred three worldchampions out of Napaley’sObssession. Carlyle Commandimparts intelligence; they’revery sensitive horses and theywant to please.”Bill Givens, WSG MorgansDuring the height of his show career,“Carlyle” became a hot commodity in thebreeding shed. He sired his first foal in1986, sired 12 in 1987, an incredible 27 in1988, and 33 foals in 1989. At the time ofpress, his twenty-four year breeding careerhas produced 177 foals.Among his most famous get is thewinner of this year’s Show Horse SireRating, Futurity French Command, theoriginal ‘Cowboy Dressage’ stallionHoliday Compadre, the great producerand dam of Kim’s Bellegante: Napaley’sObssession, the multi-titled CharlestownFirecracker, the impeccable western mareFrench Design, the producer of worldchampions Star Lake Ellisa, the park saddlestar NBN At Your Command, andcountless other world, Grand National andregional champions.His daughters went on to be some ofthe greatest producers of their generation,creating such memorable Morgans asRampaige (by Tug Hill Commando),Festival Calypso (Immortal Command),Pacific Rim Take Aim (Tug HillWhamunition), Kim’s Bellegante (HVKBell Flaire), WSG Shady Lady (HVK ManAbout Town), MEM Playboy (FuturityFrench Command), MEM Twisted Sister(Cedar CreekHarlequin), Kosta BodaPhoto © Avis Girdler“I had heard about this young promising stallion, CarlyleCommand from my good friend and trainer Cheryl McLain. Shewas star struck by him and said I should breed my Nocturne/Beamington mare to him. Later that show season we were inMonterey, California for a Morgan horse show. It was early in themorning and stallions were about to be shown in the in-hand classes.Back then the classes were quite large. I kept waiting to seeCarlyle come through the gate and asking Cheryl, “is that him?” Asthe last of the horses were coming in the gate I heard hoof beats, avery powerful and cadenced footfall. The sound came from behinda hedge, I could hear the last horse coming in but I could not seehim. I did not have to see him, greatness is something you can heartoo. He came through the gate and I, too, was in love with thisproud, big, bay horse. As Simon Cowell would say, “he had the ‘it’factor.” This horse had an aura of charisma around him. That yearwas his first in-hand World Championship. The following spring Ibred my mare to him. I wanted a bay filly. I got a chestnut colt. Hewas beautiful, very proud and self-assured like his sire. He possessedcomplimentary qualities of both sire and dam. I named himHoliday Compadre. This horse led me to my husband, Eitan.Compadre changed both our lives. He made it better. If there wasever a horse who had a huge heart it was Compadre. The apple does”not fall far from the tree.Debbie Beth-Halachmy, Wolf Creek Ranch68 January 2010