A once in a lifetime horse. This phrase can be heard often from owners praising their equine loved ones, but what does it really mean? Is it a horse who wins year after year, earning accolade after accolade? Or is it a horse who is kind and cares for its rider and owner?

Perhaps it’s a horse who is able to pass its legacy on to its offspring. John FK’s Pusher is all of these things and more. Looking at his pedigree, one shouldn’t be too surprise that John FK’s Pusher has done well in the show ring.

By JFK and out of Pusher’s Payoff, by The Pusher C.G., John FK is bred to be a blueblooded show horse. Bruce and Robin MacDonald have been longtime members of the walking horse community. They have bought and sold many horses, so when they sold the world champion sire The Titleist to Bill Johnson of Waterfall Farms in 2003, they didn’t think much about the five-year-old stallion they got in return. He had been successful in the show ring as a four-year-old, in amateur and open divisions. He already claimed five blues to his resume, including a third place ribbon at the Celebration with Bill Johnson in the saddle.

Little did they know the journey this chocolate colored stallion would take them on and where they would end up five years later. The MacDonalds decided to keep John FK’s Pusher with his trainer, Dick Peebles. According to Bruce, it took his wife, Robin, about a year to get acclimated with her new equine partner. Yet, 2003 was not without its successes. Peebles kicked the year off with a Stake win in Starkville, Miss. From there Robin took over the reins. During their year of learning, Robin and John FK earned 11 blues as well as a third place ribbon at the Celebration.

Needless to say, Robin and John FK’s Pusher figured each other out fairly quickly. In 2004, the team went undefeated, earning titles from the Trainers’ Show, South Carolina Ladies Auxiliary Show, Gulf Coast Charity, Gallatin Lions Club, Spring Fun Show, Bethesda and Southern Championships. Robin also captured John FK’s first set of world grand championship roses by winning the Elite Owner Amateur World Grand Championship as well as the Elite Owner Amateur Ladies Stallions World Championship.

2005 to 2007 played out the same with the pair suffering only two defeats in the three-year span. They added three more world championships and world grand championships to their resume. The duo was unstoppable.

2008 started out the same as in years past. Robin continued to handle the winning rides on her big striding stallion. They claimed the top honors at the Trainers’ Show and then went on to collect blues from the Gulf Coast Charity, Spring Fun Show, Woodbury Lions Club, Alabama Jubilee and Southern Championships. At the Celebration, they earned a pair of reserves in the Elite Owner Amateur division.

“He has been a wonderful horse to own,” said Bruce. “He is always full of himself and puts his best out there every time. He’s game and exciting and just loves to show.”

To preserve the legacy of their beloved stallion, the MacDonalds have lightly bred John FK over the past few
years. His first crop of two-year-olds has already hit the ring this year. The one the MacDonalds are most excited about is She’s John FK’s Pusher. Out of Phantom’s Silver Lady, who is by Generator’s Silver Lady, She’s John FK’s Pusher has already amassed her own blue ribbon tally. Robin handled the rides once again, collecting top ribbons from the Kiwanis/WHOA Charity, Spring Fun Show and Alabama Jubilee along with a sixth place ribbon at the Celebration.

“We are real proud of her [She’s John FK’s Pusher] and the other colts coming up by him,” Bruce said of their stallion. Connie Mack is another prominent youngster who is adding to her sire’s breeding reputation. Owned by Brett Akridge and shown by Carla Hurley, Connie Mack has earned top ribbons around the Southeast in the Weanling division. John FK’s RBI and John FK’s Extra Inning are two others who have gotten their start this year with much success.

“We will more than likely keep showing him for another year; not real hard, but for fun,” said Bruce of their plans for John FK in the upcoming season. “And we will keep breeding him, of course.

“He’s a part of the family. He likes peppermints, and whenever Robin walks into the barn, he will whinny for her. We have been in the business for over 20 years; he is one of the best.”

A true once in a lifetime horse. From his athleticism to his energy pack show appearances to the thrill he brings his fans and family as well as an encouraging up and coming breeding career, The Year In Walking Horses is proud to dedicated its performance horse section to John FK’s Pusher.