Some horses, especially the “good old gal” broodmares, have the special ability to touch everyone who owns them. Case in point is 25 year-old Romantic Gesture who has amassed quite list of fans throughout her long career. Owned for more than 10 years by breeding manager, Debbi Trubee of Pine View Farm, the now retired broodmare isn’t a World Champion, or even a World Champion producer. However, “Jesse” has effected the lives of many people in our industry in very a positive way. Some of those people include Catherine Jennings, Ellen Jost, The Griffith Family, and Missy Thyfault.
Catherine Jennings of Professional Auction Services bought her as a young horse in one of their auctions in Timonium, Maryland not long after she married her husband, Tim Jennings. Jesse had been consigned by her breeder, AQHA judge Don Coates.
“I
remember the day I bought her. She was young and unbroke and
AMAZING. She was huge and gorgeous and what a mover! Way ahead of her time,” Jennings remembers. “I think she would be as stylish today as she was then. She was a thoroughbred in type, but with substance. Long, sloping shoulder with a big, sweepy stride. She’s been a great gal!”
“She is big as a mountain, a solid 17 hands and is so well made,” Trubee, who has owned the multiple Superior producer for over ten year, says. “She is sound as new made money even today. She is also the sweetest kindest mare I’ve ever been around. She just so wants to please and her babies all had that laid back, kind attitude.”
Romantic Gesture started her career out with Cathy Jennings, then, she went to Rick Skelly before Sid and Leigh Griffith were in charge of getting her for the Longaberger family of the Longaberger Basket fame. Then, Trubee bought her at the Longaberger dispersal. Her most famous offspring are A Burning Romance and Hunting For Romance, who Dakota Griffith now has in her training program for Erica Maletic. Karen Misko also has one of her Art I Sweet daughters in her A-list broodmare band.
Dakota Griffith says that she remembers competing against Huntin for Romance (Toby) when she herself showed in youth, and she says she always admired him.
“Several years later when my client, Erica Maletic, was looking for a competitive horse for her last year of youth, Toby was a perfect fit! The pair earned a win in the very large and deep Region 4 Experience in 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle and qualified for the AQHYA world show in hunter under saddle for Ohio. The icing on the cake was a Top 10 finish at the Congress for the pair and being part of the winning NYATT team last year.” (pictured left)
Dakota recalls showing in the 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle when her parents bought Romantic Gesture for a client, so it’s an ironic twist of fate that she is an important figure in her professional program and inaugural success. “Toby enjoyed a win in Senior Hunter Under Saddle at the Gold Coast for me last week in a formidable field. I would love the chance to ride other foals out of her if the opportunity presented itself,” Dakota says.
Trainer Missy Thyfault also recently bought a two year-old out of Jesse and by Invitation Only that she looks forward to showing in the futurities this year.
“Her name is If Onley (Lucy), and I loved her temperament right away,” Thyfault told GoHorseShow. “She followed Roger (Landis) around like a dog and it was clear that Debbi was attached to her and even got a little teary eyed when I picked her up. She is very quiet and very pretty. As pretty as she is–she is just as sweet. She is great legged and can lope like her daddy. She is riding around and has been very trainable. I am very excited about her and know her potential will go on long after the futurities are over. I once read in article by Cleve Wells that the best investment a horse trainer can make is in their own program, and I think that Lucy is that for me. I want to thank Roger Landis and Debbi Trubee for selling her to me and Debbi for re-breeding Jesse again!”
The big question is if there will be any more Romantic Gesture babies in the future?
“I say she’s retired and Roger and our vet keep saying no….we’ll see who wins this coming year! She truly is a gem and has a home forever here…the new fence behind her in the picture is part of the $60,000 I just spent for her retirement pasture. She really likes it there!”
