"Exite Me "

Back in the 60's when I worked for The Cattleman Magazine and American Hereford Association, I made frequent trips to New Mexico. I met Warren Shoemaker while visiting the Sellman Brothers at Watrous, who were Warren's neighbors.

Warren's son-in-law, Howard Driggers, was part of the Driggers Ranch at Santa Rosa and at that time they were using Sailor Cue (a branded Shoemaker stallion), on their Greyhound daughters.

On my way home, I went by the Driggers Ranch. Their older daughters of Sailor Cue were being bred to Bar Y Sandy, a son of Silver Cash out of Bar Y Viv, the best of the Greyhound mares. While there they showed me Bar Y Viv's unregistered yearling filly by Sailor Cue which I thought was an outstanding prospect. She had somewhat of a club foot in front and according to Don Driggers it was caused by running on rocky ground and lack of trimming. I bought her that day for $350.

On her application for registration I sent two names, Excite Me and Exite Me. The first being taken, I got Exite Me.

Over the next 13 years this proved to the best investment I have ever made in the horse business. She was not only an outstanding broodmare, but a gorgeous individual.

When she was old enough to breed, we owned Handy Nugget, a full brother to Sailor Cue. I hesitated breeding her to Handy Nugget so I sent her to Lads Image, a son of Skippers Lad, standing in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. While there and before she was in foal, Lads Image died. I brought her home and bred her to Handy Nugget.

Over the next ten years she was bred to Handy Nugget, Tee McCue, Skipster, Skippers Carbon, Sheik's Mount, Skipsters Lucky and Skip N Chant, and produced over $100,000 worth of foals. Three of her daughters sold to Greg and Jodie Sullivan in Ohio for $50,000.

One of those mares was bred to Mr. Conclusion, and produced three-time world champion Causin Confusion. One of my good friends at that time once said to me, Exite Me had never been bred to a good horse like Impressive. I've often wondered what she might have had if bred to Impressive or one of his sons.

Leon Freeze