Leapfrog WT
Owner: Barb Ellison, Wild Turkey Farm, Oregon
Standing at: Wild Turkey Farm, Oregon
We’re delighted to present a special Stallion Story for Leapfrog WT, North American-born and bred. Because Leapfrog was bred by Barb Ellison at Wild Turkey Farm, we are able to create a Stallion Story that is part photo gallery, with images spanning Leapfrog’s life so far.
From baby pics until the present day in competition under Mandy Porter - enjoy the Story of Leapfrog WT!
Barb has owned Leapfrog since “before he was born, so to speak.” He was born on May11, 2011, and of course she was there - and fell in love with him immediately. “I have loved this boy since he came into this world. He was a big colt, but there was that special something about him when he was born.”
That first summer, Barb describes Leapfrog as, “very athletic, knew where his body was. That year I only had two colts, Leapfrog and Captivate (Contefino x Capital x Lys de Darmen) – Cap was out of my world cup mare Summer. These two boys played non-stop, BFFs.”
Barb never planned to sell Leapfrog, but she’s in the business to breed and sell horses. When Leapfrog was a weanling/yearling, “I needed to sell some horses,” and someone was looking for a colt. But she considers it a lucky thing that it didn’t work out. “The person disappeared for about 6 months and then it was too late for them.” Barb had decided by that time that Leapfrog was not one she was going to sell, and today she’s “glad things worked out this way.
“The more he grew up the better he got; he has never had an ugly phase. He was always athletic and always had this look-at-me confidence; he knew he was special.
“He grew up on the farm until he was about three, then went to Colts Unlimited to be started for 6 months (Colts Unlimited begins all of my young horses and has done so for about 15 years) then came back to the farm."
Photos above are of Leapfrog at 2.
Above, Leapfrog at 3 at the Oldenburg Approvals.
“He went to Mandy Porter the fall of his four-year-old year and the rest is history. She has done such an amazing job developing him.”
At the North American Stallion Sport Test, Judge Dieter Stut said, “Although Leapfrog is a big horse, he is very flexible and elastic. At the jump, he had a powerful take-off and his scope seemed to be without limits. He showed nearly perfect style and technique and very good rideability with high consistency. One jump was like the other.”
Above, Leapfrog at 6 during the NA Stallion Sport Test. With his team, with owner Barb Ellison, ridden by Mandy Porter. Trot photo by Patty Wilding Photography.
He scored a 9.28 overall to become the champion. In his write-up of the test, Dr. Ludwig Christmann described Leapfrog as "a spectacular horse" who "excelled in all five judging criteria for the jumping horses," and also noted that he was "superbly ridden" by Mandy Porter.
Says Barb, “It is hard to put into the words my feelings for Leapfrog. To have been there at his birth and to watch him develop and to become the stallion and competition horse that he is becoming is such a thrill – he will be with Mandy until he is ready to retire and then he will come and live out his days on the farm.”
Above, Leapfrog at 6 in competition, ridden by Mandy Porter. Champion photo by Patty Wilding Photography.
And the story will continue. Leapfrog is only 7 years old at the time of this Stallion Story, and his breeding career has just begun.
“His first foal came last year. WT Bouchia is out of a Quidam de Revel mare. At her foal approvals she was awarded Premium foal, Foal of Distinction by the Oldenburg GOV.”
Above, WT Bouchia, Leapfrog's first offspring. Photos by Mary Cornelius.
