Machine Made is a striking 2007 bay stallion who is owned and loved by Dr. Candice Hall and Dr. Cory Seebach of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. One of the last sons by the late, A Good Machine, and out of the late, great show mare, Gypsys Little Image, the 2014 Congress Champion has been making his mark in the show arena as well as in the breeding barn.
At the 2015 AQHA World Show, this talented stallion and his owner, Candice Hall, made the finals of the Amateur Western Riding Level 3 and Hall’s western riding trainer, Kristy McCann, placed in the Top 10 in the Level 2 Senior Western Riding.
While Machine Made has been learning the ropes in the western riding, his offspring have been doing well in the western pleasure futurities. In a short amount of time, Machine Made has become one of the leading western pleasure sires in the industry.
We spoke with Dr. Candice Hall and his breeding manager, Cindy Stephens-McGraw, to find out more about this lovable stallion.
Candice, it’s well documented how much you adore Machine Made and you have a bunch of cute nicknames for him. Can you tell us some of his nicknames?
We call him Hershel, Squishy, The Squishy Bug and M&M.
If you could describe him in one word what would it be?
Lovebug.
What did you think when you first set sight on him in the show arena?
When I first saw him at the Southern Belle Futurity as a three year-old with Carl Yamber aboard, I absolutely lost my breath. I got goose bumps and the hair stood up on the back of my neck and my eyes filled with tears. It was such a profound moment. I said, “That’s him! That’s the one.” Thankfully, I have a husband who believes in my dreams and fell in love with him too.
Can you tell us some of his funny habits?
He likes to stand
in the sprinkler in hot weather. He enjoys having a “soother” in his mouth. This can be his lead rope or a rein or the hood of your jacket – whatever he can get his naughty lips on and suck. Also, he loves to gaze adoringly or even talks or nickers to yellow (palomino, buckskin) or gray horses. He loves them, especially if they have a long mane.
What are some of his favorite treats?
His favorite treats are apples and carrots. He will make apple juice with an apple. He just cant eat it in a few bites like a normal horse. He has to chew and chew it, savor every juicy bit of goodness, until it’s dripping and all over everything. No apples for Hershel when I’m in my show clothes. It is a disaster. When he’s in his paddock at Cindy’s, she tosses carrots into the paddock and he trots around grabbing them and gobbling them up, then looks to see where she will throw the next one. It makes me so happy to know he is getting treats when he is off breeding and doing his “other job”. He also enjoys The Sweet Shop horse cookies with the peppermint in the middle!
Cindy (breeding manager, Cindy Stephens-McGraw), can you tell us about his daily routine?
“The Squish” gets groomed from head to toe every single day by me. I like to rubber curry him until his upper lip wiggles and I make sure that he has a glossy shine. I love Cowboy Magic Detangler and Shine and love to shine up his face and tail with that just a little every day. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it is serious business in the morning for Hershel. He gets to snack on his breakfast for an hour or so and then I take him out for longing. We want to make sure that Hershel does not just sit around and get chubby. Hershel is the mellowest stallion I have ever seen in my life. The remaining four days of the week are days off and play time. After his grooming, he gets to spend half the day, depending on the weather, loose in his pen. In the summer time, I set the hose up on his fence and let it spray into his pen and he proceeds to stick his nose directly into the spray. He thinks he is eating the water and this cools the big boy down. I just love this horse!
Candice, can you tell us any funny memories with Hershel?
We took him to a show in Wenatchee, Washington on Easter weekend. It was straight out of the breeding barn to get my last qualifying point. Wenatchee is pretty western and there were long maned yellow horses everywhere. He thought he had been transported to the Promised Land or been sent directly to Heaven. It was hilarious. Another funny memory was this year at Sun Circuit. My mom (pictured left) joined us at the show, and she is terrified of horses. Well, Hershel took it upon himself to give her a big wet sloppy kiss on the cheek. I thought she was going to faint. I almost fell over laughing.
If he could say one thing, what would it be?
“Who put the log in the western riding pattern?” He might also say, “Hey, anybody around here got any apples?”, or “I’m a looooooove sponge.”
Why do you think he has had so much success as a sire so far in his breeding career?
Machine Made has had the good fortune to have breeders and trainers believe in him from the very start, breeding many great mares. He passes on many of his own positive attributes; short back, strong hock, great cadenced movement, straight legs, good feet, sweet personality and gorgeous head with a big kind eye.
Who are his most famous offspring?
His most famous offspring in four foal crops include: Made by J (pictured right), Justa Machine, Chum Machine, Sleep Machine, Sucha Machine and Lemonmade. Just a Machine and Lemonmade are full brothers. He has sired a Congress Champion, Reserve World Champion, NSBA World Champions, a Hylton Maiden Champion, Tom Powers Champions and many other point earners and futurity winners. His babies are winning in the trail and western riding arenas too, as well as carrying youth exhibitors to the Winner’s Circle.
What is the strongest trait that Machine Made has passed on to his offspring?
His trainability and his desire to please. This is what makes them such fantastic horses for non pros, amateurs and youths. It is the most common description used by trainers all over the country after riding their first Machine Made baby.
Please tell us something we might not know about you?
My original intent when I bought him was to geld him and have my show horse of a lifetime. I never had a wish or desire to own a stud. But life is about adventure and rolling with the punches. Machine Made has sure kept things interesting for my husband, Cory, and me.
What sets him apart from any other horse you’ve own?
You just need to look in his big, dopey, kind eye to see how special he is; he will steal your heart. He is absolutely my horse of a lifetime.
Thank you, Candice.
You’re welcome.
Machine Made’s Breeding Information
Machine Made is currently standing at Riverside Ranch in Sultan Washington. His breeding fee is $1,600 with return customers having the opportunity to breed for half price. There are also discounted fees available for proven mares or produce proven mares. For more breeding information, please contact Cindy Stephens-McGraw at 817-304-0800 or visit Machine Made’s website by clicking here.
CLICK HERE to view his ad in the February issue of GoMag
