DeGraff Stables regretfully advises of the passing of AQHA World Champion Indian Artifacts on February 19, 2014. Owner, Robin DeGraff commented, “When I think of our journey together, I can hardly believe all that Indian Artifacts has accomplished since I found him as a yearling. In a blink of the eye, 19 years have passed since I purchased him from Scott Myers. At this time of reflection I am amazed to realize that Indian Artifacts is the only AQHA breeding stallion today that…
- Is an AQHA World Champion, an AQHA Superior Earner, a Congress 2X Reserve Champion and an AWR Inspection Champion
- Has sired AQHA, APHA, PtHA, Appaloosa and/or NSBA World or Reserve World Champions
- Has sired multiple AQHA Year End Award High Point Champions, Reserve Champions, Top 5 and 10 Champions
- Has sired USEF, USHJA and USDF Year End Award High Point Champions in the United States and in Canada
- Has sired multiple AWR; American Warmblood Registry Inspection Champions and Reserve Champions
- EVERY foal by Indian Artifacts that has been submitted for AWR Inspection has outscored their dam
- As a maternal grandsire, he has multiple breed World, Reserve World or National Champions.
“It has truly been an honor to have owned, raised and promoted this horse” Robin says. “In fact, my sister Chris, knowing of my love for the horse, came up with the perfect name for me for his website: WhatiWork4.com! My many thanks to all that have played such a big role in our many successes with Indian Artifacts, beginning with breeder Tammy Denlinger-Lickliter, both Rick and Heidi Cecil whom managed his World Championship show career and first breeding year, Missy Thyfault who has shown so many of our prospects to Futurity wins and to my parents; “Chief’s” biggest cheerleaders.
A special thanks to our staff at DeGraff Stables from over the years and to Farm Manager, James Skipper, our Young Horse Specialist, Jenna McGrath, and of course my husband, David; your love, care and attention to detail have provided Indian Artifacts with the exceptional quality of life he earned and we all know he so appreciated each and EVERY carrot he got from us!”
Robin continues, “I am heartbroken with his passing, but am proud of the offspring he has left behind. In business since 1985, we have stayed true to breeding and to the preservation of the classic hunter type style of appendix quarter horse thanks to Indian Artifacts as the cornerstone of our program. The foals as a result of consistent conformation passed along permit them to maintain a balanced, cadenced stride that has allowed them to become so successful in so many venues and across so many different breeds and disciplines.”
“Looking back, I know that we could not have begun to be as successful as we were without the many mare owners that bred to him or without the riders that owned an Indian Artifacts offspring. At DeGraff Stables, we sincerely thank you all for the opportunity to work with you and to all of those that have stayed in touch with us over the years we thank you too! We love each and every accomplishment and have so appreciated the fact that you gave us the chance to be a part of your lives.”
“Having said all that…” Robin continues, “the passing of Indian Artifacts does not mean we are done yet! For several years we have been preparing ourselves for the inevitability of the need to pass the torch as a stallion ages. In 2009, a gorgeous gray colt was born out of our most productive mare to cross on Indian Artifacts; Viva Valentina. I have kept all her fillies by Chief, for breeding purposes,” Robin states, “because, each of Valentina’s foals that had been shown have earned major accomplishments: Infactuation; shown by Robin Gollehon were NSBA High Point Champions and Congress Reserve Champion and Relic Hunter; shown by Kathie Kennedy were NSBA High Point Champions and Congress Top 5, In Dee Extreme; shown by Lynn Palm were 2012 AQHA and USDF High Point Champions and now, Indian Artifacts’ namesake; DGS Replicated, that big gray colt born in 2009, has also been managed and shown by Lynn Palm. DGS Replicated with Lynn repeated as AQHA High Point Champions in 2013. Our plans include continuing to show in 2014 and then sending DGS Replicated to the breeding shed in 2015. Replicated, “Billy”, has been special since the day he arrived,” Robin said. “I remember him looking at me over the fence… and I thought… ah! there’s that eye! That looks just like Chief looking at me! I’m excited for Billy. He as that look and most importantly, he has Chief’s lope and stride that has provided Replicated so many successes in the showring”, Robin states.
“I hope if you read this, and are a fan or friend of Indian Artifacts, have personally met Chief up on Stallion Avenue during Congress, at our farm, or have bred to him or own one of his foals… that you will come visit the Facebook page for Indian Artifacts and post a comment or a story about your experience with Indian Artifacts or one of his offspring. I look forward to hearing from each and everyone now and for years to come… anytime a story pops into mind… it will help keep him ‘alive’ in our (my) memories… and I will certainly thank you for it! … You all know I will never forget Indian Artifacts …down the road, it will be comforting to know someone else still cares!”
