When Mare Owners post on here asking for suggestions of a small pony hunter stallion to breed to, how come no one ever mentions Hillcrest’s Top Hat? I don’t know anything about him, but he looks cute in his photo, comes from a long line of successful pony hunters and seems to be producing the same. He’s only 12.1 HH, so would be a great cross for the larger mares.
Was he the dark dapple grey that was on the VPBA auction? If so, I thought he was really pretty.
Yeah, he was. I also thought he was really pretty.
When was he in the auction?
He’s been mentioned to me off the board and I also wondered why he was never discussed on here
Where is he now??
I know his owner was looking for a lease maybe sale situation for him last year over FB. I’d love to know where he is now and if hes available.
This is in no way a reflection on this nice pony (who I thought was lovely in the photo on the VPBA site), but I think some very nice stallions aren’t recommended because they aren’t owned by the “right” “special” people…
He is owned by Emily Elek - Stonewall Farm in Wisconsin - she is not breeding at the moment so she offered him out on a lease. He is currently being leased by a Mandi Callaway Powers who is currently located in GA I believe. Not sure if she is offering shipped semen. I am sure Emily could provide lots of info about his offspring. You can google her contact info or pm me and I will pass it along. She is a wonderful trainer and super nice person:)
Thanks pony friends! I was just looking up Vida Blue and came across this thread. Was wondering the same thing as Daventry. He has such fantastic hunter lines, I am surprised he isn’t breeding more.
Too bad the extended pedigree isn’t posted.
I agree with Gretchen that if an individual isn’t owned by connections that make the stallion “known”, often they go unnoticed.
Some stallion owners just don’t want to allow outside mares. Some don’t want to go to the expense with shipped semen. And some don’t know what they have!
Wow, really just not used!
I did a google search to see what I came up with. I tried his name and I tried stallions by Gayfields Vida Blue…did not come up with a farm where he stood at stud, nor much information. But, I am not the best googler…LOL
Sandy, as I mentioned, he is owned by Emily Elek, Ixonia, Wisconsin - Stonewall Farm - she has had him for years and bred him a few times - I believe her Mom was the breeder and she passed away - Emily is a trainer and not really breeding - she realizes he is nice and wanted to get him out there and breeding which is why she offered him for lease. If you google Emily, you can get more info about her program. If anyone wants more info about Top Hat, I can pm contact info for Emily. And I was mistaken about his current location. I believe Mandi Powers has him in Mobile, Alabama. She is on FB if anyone wants to contact her.
Thank you everyone for the nice comments about Top Hat! I don’t post here often, but a friend mentioned there was a thread about “Topper”. Melinda is right, he is with Mandi Powers in Mobile, AL. He is available for AI to outside mares. He is a great cross to downsize horse mares, himself only 12.1. We bred to some full size (up to 16.2 h warmblood) mares, and got easy measure large ponies. He is by Vida Blue, and out of one of my favorite pony hunter producers, Helikon Halo. Halo is the dam of Pony Finals Champion Blackberry, Devon Reserve Champion, Hillcrest’s Silver Lining (who just had a lovely foal by Land’s End Adagio 
& Harrisburg class winner Hillcrest Dancing Bear (who just came home to me, his original owner, sound, happy and still winning in the Short Stirrup at age 22!) among others. Topper has great pony hunter breeding top and bottom, throws correct, GREAT cantering and jumping babies (and with limited breeding has had 2 get win model/under saddle ribbons at Pony Finals)…I just never had the time to promote him properly, and most of my mares are related! I would be happy to put anyone in contact with Mandi… my email is Stonewallponies@yahoo.com. Thanks again, I love him and want to see him used more!
