In the second of our series of AQHA.UK Legends, council Member Anna Burns writes about perhaps the most versatile quarter horse in the history of the breed in the UK.

MISS STAR FREIGHT

Black Mare 1977 -

Miss Star Freight (I/68) was originally owned by Ann Frith, whose husband, the late Bill Frith, had been one of the founder members of the British Quarter Horse Association and was among the group of twelve who in January 1975 set the ball rolling for the founding and affiliation of the BQHA.

Bill and Ann’s son, Trevor, had been over to the US and had spotted the attractive foundation mare, Lady Star Cody. She was put in foal to Air Freight and brought back as his 21st birthday present. Air Freight had an impressive racing pedigree with the TB Top Deck and Vandy as his grandsires. Miss Star Freight emerged in the Spring of 1977, a lovely filly with a definite bluish colour so she was immediately given the nickname ‘Blue’. The ‘Miss’ was associated with ‘Lady,’ the star because she had a star in the middle of her forehead and the ‘Freight’ after her sire. Ann liked to give due consideration to naming her foals.

When Miss Star Freight lost her foal coat she turned a wonderful true, ebony black with a beautiful sheen, but her nickname remained. She was a sensible and easy going foal who was always well behaved in the weanling classes and, in the years that followed, under the expert training of Bill Frith, she grew to her final, relatively small, stature of 14.3 hh and her dominant character started to emerge. She decided that her stable was definitely her territory – she simply liked her own ‘space’ - and she would put her ears back like ‘little knobbles’ in Ann’s words, strongly suggesting that visitors were not welcome and, as she grew older, she would use the same tactics on intruders in her field. Be they dogs or chickens, they would unceremoniously be herded out.

Jane Wallace became involved with the Friths and Miss Star Freight in 1979, when she showed her as a two year old at the Breed Show, held at Northwood in London, where she won her class and became Reserve Grand Champion Mare. Jane continued to ride her and clocked up successes, competing every year at the annual Breed Show in English and Halter classes, many of which she won. However, Blue had a real talent for show jumping and with Jane worked her way through unaffiliated jumping ranks and was eventually registered with the BSJA and competed in the Foxhunter level. According to Ann, the mare took to jumping “like a duck to water”. Jane also comments that Blue was a fantastic cross country horse, very fast and did very well in hunter trials. In those days it was the fastest clear round that won the class.

In 1985, the Hon. Mallowry Spens, talented eventer, huntswoman, Pony Club enthusiast and racing jockey, took over riding Blue and took her to grade B level in show jumping, winning many Open and Grade B and C classes. Ann is convinced that it was only her small stature that prevented her from rising to Grade A. She can remember watching Blue’s little ears approaching the big triples – the rest of her obscured by the enormous jumps, which she nearly always cleared. Mallowry feels that her one hangup, a dislike of water jumps, was the only thing that stood in the way of her winning the South of England Grade C Championships. She remembers managing to surprise her with the water jump, which she cleared the first time. However, the second time she remembered what was coming and she successfully ducked out.

She recalls how this amazingly versatile little mare would complete Dressage Tests on a Saturday and Quarter Horse racing on a Sunday. At one time, when Mallowry was training her to the flag, the bridle broke at the bit. Blue was storming away but, after 200 yards, realising that there was a problem, she calmly pulled up, and trotted back to the start. She practically swept the board in her racing career, winning 14 out of her 15 starts and she held the UK record for two furlongs. On the Dressage side, she was also shown in Affiliated classes up to and including Intermediate level.

Mallowry often used to take Blue hunting where she was ‘brilliant,” whipping in and at other times taking Pony Club riders hunting with one, or even two, on lead reins alongside her. However, despite all this activity, the Western side of her career was not ignored. During the four years that Mallowry rode her, she still competed her at the annual Breed Show and she finally collected enough points in 1988 to gain her Performance Register of Merit, the first horse to do so with points won in the UK, again a special achievement when there was only one AQHA show each year. Twenty years ago, this year, Blue won Open All Around at the 1987 Breed Show. Whatever tack the mare was put in, she would adapt to that particular discipline – the sign of a true champion.

As a partnership, Ann says that Blue and Mallowry made a great pair. Blue needed a strong rider and understanding both in the saddle and in the stable. This partnership came to an end in 1989, when Miss Star Freight had won everything she could on the racetrack and was retired to stud with Georgina Pearson. Here she bred four foals, Ima Cracker Dude,Sox by Colonel Yo Yo (sadly died) One Star Two Sox Blue by Professors Gold (believed to be playing polo) and Professors Freight, by Professors Gold. perhaps her best know progeny by Sovereign Hobby Doc, Colonel Hot

In 1996, Miss Star Freight was back in the ownership of Jane Wallace, picking up her show jumping career and winning many small open classes. She also showed her at AQHA shows and she carried on winning in the English classes, qualifying for the World Show in Hunter Hack in 2000. Samantha Spencer also competed her in dressage classes. Jane continued to ride and compete on Blue up to the age of 27, then she went into a thoroughly deserved retirement.

Miss Star Freight has to be, perhaps, the most successful, and versatile Quarter Horse ever in this country, she was a true ambassador for her breed over many years, hence becoming our second AQHA.UK Legend. Everyone who knows her and her record has the greatest admiration for her achievements. However, the best part about his particular Legend is that Miss Star Freight is still with us at the grand old age of 30 – a genetic wonder. She happily grazes the paddocks at Jane’s home, alongside her equally long lived friend, part bred Ober Dancing Duster, Jane’s “two old mates together”, still guarding her personal space, repelling all intruders into her territory and it is hoped that she will continue to do so for a long time to come.

My thanks to Ann Frith, Mallowry Spens and Jane Wallace for their help with this article. Photographs loaned by Sheila Fitzpatrick and Jane Wallace.

Achievements

• Performance Register of Merit
• Won 14 out of 15 Races
• Intermediate Dressage Horse
• Awarded Premium Mare Status
• Grade B Show Jumper
• Qualified World Show Hunter Hack