The Renaissance of COUNTRY HEIR
Written by Marci de la Torre 7/8/02
Updated 3/14/2015
I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of the stallion, Country Heir
(*Bask x Country Belle). You may remember that he is the sire of my Phynesse (Now deceased) that I
got back after 17 years. At that same time I had been speaking with Dr. Dean Tolbert, Country Heir's
owner, about breeding back to him and even went to Scottsdale to see him.
That never materialized since all my efforts were re-directed bringing Gemini and LaQuinta from
Michigan. 2 weeks ago I received a call from Dr. Tolbert offering me the horse. Country Heir arrived
today and is as beautiful at 25 as I remembered - some 20 years ago.
This is a horse that grew up in the lap of luxury, the heir apparent to a dynasty created by his two full
sisters, Basquelle++ and Basquelta++ and 6 other County Belle foals all sired by Kimfa. Country Heir was
"destined for greatness" according to early ads. He sired 52 foals by the time he was 4 many of them
becoming champions.
He and his full sisters were put into the 1982 Bask Classic Sale in Scottsdale, but before the sale his
destiny took a sharp turn. First, he foundered - badly. He was pulled from the sale & It took a full year
to re-grow the hoof they had had to cut mostly off. Then, there was the story that he was sterile from
the amounts of steroids he had been given during that year. I remember Mr. Bevan telling me that he
had given Country Heir to Dr.Tolbert, his attending veterinarian and founding board member of the
National Show Horse Registry.
From there, Country Heir seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. We know now that he was
found out to be a SCID carrier. It was such taboo in those days that they wouldn't admit it to a soul they just let the rumor persist that he was sterile. Dr. Tolbert donated him to Washington State
University to use for testing to find the SCID marker gene. That research resulted in the carrier test we
have today. The proviso was that when Washington State no longer needed him, he would come home.
And 13 years later that is what happened.
For me to end up with him is a joy. It is also a joy that I will end up with more of his foals while providing
him with that farm life and special care he grew up with. It is so special that we can use Country Heir in
our breeding program today due to a test that he helped create.
On March 24, 2004, I went out to feed him his breakfast, only to find him deceased – watching & waiting
for me to come out of the front door.
From a March 4, 2004, e-mail
“It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of the beautiful
*Bask++/CMK stallion Country Heir.
He was so special to me. I knew him as a very young horse, bred and owned by
Bevan's Arabians, along with his two full sisters, Basquelle and Basquelita..
I also bred to him as a young horse and my mare, Phynesse (now deceased) now 21 years old and heavy in foal to FV Sharabba, is a prized daughter.
Through nearly a lifetime of being lost to the Arabian world and a lot of
twists and turns of fate, Country Heir became mine in June of 2002. I
pinched myself for months, having a hard time believing that he was actually
mine. I remember Deborah Mingst coming to see him; running her hands over his
body and crying. We had all looked for him so long.
Yesterday, a day seemingly like many others, Country Heir played and showed
off for visitors - having a grand time. I said goodnight, never dreaming
that anything was wrong. After discussions with several medical folks, we
feel that Country Heir probably had a fatal heart attack. It appears that he
did not suffer.
I will always remember him as a strong, vital, beautiful, charismatic
personality. I will also be happy that I was able to give him a home and a
family for the last 2 years of his life. My beautiful boy, he was such a
presence and I will miss him so.
Country Heir leaves two very special mares in foal for 2004: CJA Mary Kate
(The Winning Guess x Kalimba by Kimfa) is due within 2-3 weeks. Tami
Martin's, Troys Encore (Troy x Haania by Halin) is due in June.
RIP – my sweet prince
Marci de la Torre
PEGASUS PARK ARABIANS