In 2008, when Tim and Dana Crager of Flemingsburg, Kentucky saw a big kind-eyed bay mare that was about to head to slaughter, the couple immediately knew they had to save her. Tim had stopped by a barn nearby to purchase some buckets and he rushed home to tell his wife that there was a mare that they needed to go see right now.
“I told him we had enough mares, but he insisted as he had already told them to take her off that slaughter trailer and tie her to it and he would be back,” Dana recalls. “So reluctantly, I went and the minute I saw her with that big soft brown eye, I knew she would be coming home to Cross Creek Farm. This mare truly has a heart of gold–she’s so kind and never has a bad day. Her registered name is Hosan Forties but we call her ‘Miss Amanda.'”
We asked Dana how she came up with her barn name. “She was originally named Amanda Kate when they first registered her with Jockey Club, then they changed it for some reason. So, I picked that name for her since her new name was sort of strange,” Dana says and laughs.
The couple purchased the mare for $750. “She wasn’t in the worst shape I have ever seen when we bought her, but she definitely needed some TLC,” Dana recalls. “There was nothing spectacular about her bloodlines. It was her conformation, disposition and that big soft eye that made us decide to add her to the Cross Creek family.” (Amanda pictured right)
And their gut feeling and small investment paid off.
Dana tells us that Amanda has been a great mom. The mare has had four foals for the Cragers by their World Champion sire, AQHA/APHA stallion, The Ultimate Fancy. Of the four foals are a set of twins born in 2012. Multiple ultrasounds missed it and she carried them to term and delivered two fillies. (pictured below left)
Unfortunately, one did not survive, but the other one, Too Tuf To Be Fancy, is currently showing on the AQHA and APHA circuits. Amanda’s 2010 filly, Tuf Turnin Trix is showing on the hunter jumper circuit while her 2014 gelding, Stealing the Show was just sold to Lynn Pelton who lives in Florida. The 2014 colt was even featured on the cover of the Paint Horse Journal when they did an article on their farm last year.
While, these foals are impressive, Amanda’s 2013 colt, Legs Luther has recently made a name for himself. “Luther was born, a big solid bay colt, and looked identical to his mom,” Dana remembers. “He was huge and all legs. This colt 
was so quiet, he lived with a rectal thermometer inserted almost daily since I kept thinking he must be getting sick. But he wasn’t….it was just him! As the weeks passed, we quickly learned this boy was something special. (Luther pictured right) Not only was he that quiet, but his legs were phenomenal. He loped everywhere he went with that big slow sweepy stride.”
In August of 2014, they sold Luther to Caitlin Dunsmore shortly after the unexpected loss of her other Ultimate Fancy gelding. “She started him very slowly in January and kept us informed on his progress. Caitlin did a wonderful job giving Luther the kind of start every young horse needs,” Dana says. “She didn’t send him to training until May as she wanted to keep him with her as long as she could. Luther is still a baby, and the NSBA World was his very first show.”
Luther did not disappoint.
The double registered AQHA/APHA solid-paint bred gelding won the Green Color Hunter Under Saddle Class at the 2015 NSBA World Championship Show in Tulsa. Trainer Allison Clark rode him to three firsts to win the world championship beating out 17 other horses. What was especially impressive is that he is a two year-old and was competing against much older horses.
“I remember seeing Luther as a weanling and, due to being a world and Congress champion collegiate horse judger, I was able to take my knowledge and apply it to looking for a future prospect,” says Caitlin Dunsmore, Luther’s current owner. “I just knew he was going to be a great horse. He is so pretty underneath and has so much self carriage along with such a willing attitude. We will possibly be taking him to the All American Quarter Horse Congress.”
Crager adds, “To win a world title is truly a dream for all of us. As for Amanda, she will continue to raise great babies for us until retirement where she will live her life out here at Cross Creek Farm.”
