CH SKY WATCH (1977 - 2001)

Kentucky-bred Saddlebred stallion CH Sky Watch won 12 world titles, including four World's Grand Championships. Among other accomplishments, CH Sky Watch is known for his numerous show ring duels with the great CH Imperator who is also a former resident of the Hall of Champions. Their competitive drive thrilled audiences as they faced each other four times in the Five-Gaited World's Grand Championship. CH Sky Watch resided at the Kentucky Horse Park for three years and is buried behind the Hall of Champions, as is CH Imperator.

CH SKY WATCH (1977 - 2001)
Sky Watch was foaled on June 14, 1977 at Earl Teeter and Sons Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was bred by Della Large of Chicago. Sired by Flight Time, a son of the immortal Wing Commander out of Aries Golden Gift by Genius Bourbon King.

Sky Watch began his early training with Mitch Clark and initial plans were to show Sky Watch pulling a cart rather than under saddle. The horse did not take to being harnessed and it was decided he should be trained under saddle instead. Sky Watch made his show ring debut in Louisville, Kentucky in 1979, winning the World's Champion Two-Year-Old Five-Gaited Stake.

Michelle MacFarlane saw Sky Watch show as a two-year-old, purchasing him for $50,000 and sending him to California to be trained by Rob Tanner. As a three-year-old Sky Watch finished fourth in both the World's Championships and the National Futurity. As a four-year-old Sky Watch returned to trainer Mitch Clark and went on to win the World's Champion Junior Five-Gaited Horse title in 1981.

In 1982, the infamous Imperator -- Sky Watch duels began. Sky Watch won every World's Champion Five-Gaited Stallion Stake at Louisville from 1982 through 1985 and again in 1988. Imperator was a gelding and won every World's Champion Five-Gaited Gelding Stake in Louisville from 1979 through 1988 except for two. Beginning in 1982 these two horses would face off in the World's Grand Champion Five-Gaited Stake four times. In their final battle in 1988, Michelle MacFarlane rode Sky Watch in the World's Grand Champion Five Gaited Stake for the first time. Sky Watch would eventually win the class and Michelle would become the only woman amateur in history to win the coveted title.

CH Sky Watch ended his career with four World's Grand Championships (1982, 1983, 1984, and 1988), and twelve World titles in all. He stood stud in 1989 at MacFarlane's Scripps Miramar Ranch in California. In 1998, Sky Watch became a resident at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions while still an active breeding stallion. He was euthanized on April 22, 2001 due to infirmities at the age of 24. He is buried at the Hall of Champions.

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"Sky"

American Saddlebred
16 hands
Chestnut Stallion (foaled, June 14, 1977 )
by Flight Time - Aries Golden Gift by Genuis Boubon King
Owner: Michele Macfarlane
Breeder: Mrs. Judson (Della) Large
Trainer: Mitchell Clark

Accomplishments
World's Grand Champion Five-Gaited Horse
1982, 1983, 1984, 1988
World's Grand Champion Five-Gaited Stallion Stake
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988
World's Junior Champion Five-Gaited Horse, 1981
World's Champion Two Year Old Five-Gaited Stake, 1979
First horse ever to carry a woman amateur to victory in the
World's Grand Champion Five-Gaited Stake, 1988
Voted the #1 Five-Gaited American Saddlebred of the Century by Horseworld Magazine
Sire of Champions, Amberwood's Sky Fox, Billy Bob, De Niro, Elegant Sky, Harvest Commander, Pagan Prince

In 1998, CH Sky Watch became a resident at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions while still an active breeding stallion. He was euthanized on April 22, 2001 due to infirmities at the age of 24. He is buried at the Hall of Champions.

Pedigree

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