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Inside the Mind - and Heart - of Frank McCartha, Jr.
Horse and Dog Judge Extraordinaire!
Frank McCartha, Jr. is one of America’s most respected dog and horse
show judges.
Owner of Heritage Farms Miniature Horses and Training Center in Chapin,
South Carolina, he and his wife Faye became involved with Appaloosas and
Quarter Horses in 1955 and purchased their first Miniature Horses in
1986.
The small horses fit the tall rancher to a "T" and he quickly became
known for breeding top-quality spotted Miniature Horses, including
Pintos.
It wasn’t easy though. He explains, “Since we bred Appaloosa & Quarter
Horses, naturally, when we got into miniatures we began a search for
Miniature Appaloosas, which were hard to find. After traveling all over
the East and to the Midwest, we were able to find a few good ones as a
foundation stock. They included Shadow Oaks Freckles and Landrys Daddy
Warbuck, purchased from Dixie Blasingame’s daughter after Dixies death.”
 Frank
shares an affinity for spots with Don and Betty Lou Wood who bought
their first Miniature Horses from Heritage Farms. The Woods have enjoyed
great success in both dog and horse show competitions. Mr. McArtha is
pictured with Betty Lou Wood and one of her Harlwood Great Danes, AKC
Champion Rhondo.
Frank says “We also acquired an
English Import mare, Cedarbrooks Toyhorse Candy Spots from Carol Yount
in Connecticut. The mare in the photo, Heritage Safari Warbuck, is a
daughter of Landrys Daddy Warbuck and “Candy Spots” and we still have
both. Safari was 2001 Reserve National Champion Aged Mare. The Great
Dane is Champion Amherst-Harlwood Bubba Rondo, top Dane in US in 1996,
both owned by the Woods.”
Interestingly, the magnificent dog is
taller than the Appaloosa mare, which according to their respective
judging standards, is as it should be.
 We
asked Mr. McCartha to explain the importance of starting out right in
order to be successful in the show ring. “Several other outstanding
winners now owned by the Woods include Silver Meadows Skywalker the
National Champion Weanling Stallion, Reserve Grand National Jr. Champion
and National Champion Multi-color Stallions & Geldings, all from the
Weanling class.” They also own 4 W
 Starkeeper
(2000 and 2001 AMHR Multicolor Stallion and Geldings).
“The Woods have also had a lot of
success with Harlwood Rulers Royal Ballet was the 2003 National Champion
Aged Mare. She’s sired by our Mustardseed Ramundos Princely Ruler X
Heritage Tribal Dancer Silver Meadows Skywalker which is the same
breeding as Heritage Safari Warbuck on Top Side.”
 For
our readers who might not know the terminology, does "Aged Mare" mean
the delightfully diminutive "pinto" was an old horse? Mr. McCartha
laughed and explained “Oh no, it means she’s not a filly but is judged
as an adult, sort of like the Open Class in dogs. Aged mare is three
years and over and Royal Ballet was just three years old at that time.
That was a good win.”
McCartha, now retired, formerly judged
for AMHA (American Miniature Horse Association), AMHR, and ASPC
(American Shetland Pony Club) and is All Breeds Certified by Clemson
State University and the University of Georgia. He still judges all AKC
Hounds, Working, and Herding breeds, plus several Sporting breeds.
Unfazed by fame, McCartha is known for finding the best exhibits,
whether they are handled by professionals or awkwardly presented by a
novice.
When asked about his reputation for
fairness, Frank became serious.
"Everyone started out as a novice.
We’re judging the exhibit, not the skills of the trainer or handler. As
long as the animal is clean and the breed type and movement can be seen,
it can win under me."
The McCarthas run about 100 head of
show horses, herd sires and brood mares centered on the nation’s leading
bloodlines. Heritage Farms competes in Halter and Driving classes. His
4-Horse Hitch comprised of all Halter Champions, bred and trained by
McCartha, is always a popular parade exhibit.
 Frank
smiles and tells us the photo is “… my 4-Horse Hitch with my friend Bill
Turner (now deceased) and Diane McCartha.” We asked what inspired him to
put together the stunning sorrel hitch of Bronco Billy daughters.
“After the death of Bar B Bronco Billy
in 1993, just 10 days before the National, I was devastated as he was
one of the winningest and nicest horses I ever owned. His had a record
of 339 points; 27 Grands and Reserves and 5 Supreme Champion Halter
Horse (same as Best in Shows) with many wins in Youth & Open Single
Pleasure Driving; Solid Color Stallions & Geldings. In Liberty Classes,
I had the only 4 daughters he ever sired, two being full sisters and the
other two were half sisters; so I felt they would make a perfect matched
4 horse hitch; all I had to do was
 get
the 2 half sisters broke to drive; so I got them “green broke” single
then with some help hitched all 4 up and started driving in the pasture
until I felt safe to get them on the road. They are pictured in the
Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity Parade in January 1995. The picture of
Billy is in Florida 1992.”
Frank and Faye support all Youth
Exhibitors, including
 of
course, their lovely Granddaughters Britanni McCartha and Amber Williams
(7) who is always at the top of her class in Pleasure Driving and Youth
Showmanship. Frank says “Both were always top contenders and usually one
was first and the other would be second. This photo is of Brittani
McCartha and Lazy Acres Little Toy taken at the Augusta Parade and the
next one is Amber Williams and Landry’s Daddy Warbuck at the National in
1997.””
Successful horse breeding is a challenge compared to dogs or cats which
have multiple offspring in a litter. A mare has only one foal per year,
thus getting the genetic combination just right is crucial or there’s a
long wait before the breeder can try again.
 The
debate over which is most important when selecting a breeding pair,
pedigree (genotype) or physical characteristics (phenotype) may never be
resolved but Mr. McCartha says “Horses are like dogs to this extent; we
select from pedigree on the basis of type, balance, soundness, movement,
and disposition. If we don’t get the results we strive for we, do not
repeat that breeding but will use a different Stallion with that mare on
the next breeding but many repeat breedings have been highly successful
for us.”
Kids, horses, dogs; they all come
together at Heritage Farms where “seeing spots” is synonymous with
quality and devotion. They welcome visitors to the farm in Chapin, SC so
go to the website at
http://heritagefarms.itgo.com/menu.html or email
FMcCartha@aol.com
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