Broadlea Classic Perfection & the Clydes of Armageddon
as told to Jim Emmons by “Doc” Moleski
published in The Draft Horse Journal, Winter 2002 - 2003

Whenever you find an exhibitor dominating the group classes at major shows, you know one of three things is happening. He either has very deep pockets and a good eye, is breeding a lot of outstanding animals or is uncommonly lucky. The second is generally true. Consistency in winning the groups over a stretch of time is usually a measure of a great breeder. This is particularly true of Get of Sire and Produce of Dam. The consistency in these classes of one exhibitor of Clydesdales from Michigan has been pretty hard not to notice in the last fifteen years. They would frequently win the Best Three Mares and Stallion and Three Mares as well–all with homebred horses! And they were not picking their show string out of a large stable of horses at home. I think they must take about as many to the fairs as they leave at home–maybe more. So they aren’t drawing on a big pool of animals. There had to be a good story there.

Jim Emmons, you might say, “owed me one.” Well, truth is, more than one but that is a different story. So I suggested to Jim that he might reduce his indebtedness by getting in touch with Doc and Cheri Moleski about their remarkable success with a relatively small group of horses. I also suggested that he find out why these people give all their horses those Old Testament names and have a prefix calling attention to the last, decisive battle between Good and Evil – just before the Day of Judgment. It would also be nice if he could find out and share with us just when this Day of Judgment is due.– MT

There have been very few mares in the recent history of the Clydesdale horse in the United States that have so influenced the breed as Broadlea Classic Perfection,eat-granddam of 13 award winners! Currently two stallions responsible for large numbers of offspring are still in their prime: Armageddon’s Lord Elijah (breeding for the Cobbs in Indiana) and English Tartan Piper (standing for Budweiser), both sons of her firstborn son, Armageddon’s Lord Jacob. Along the way Bonnie and her produce have dominated the show rings. Showing only homebred horses, Armageddon has claimed the Premier Exhibitor title eleven consecutive years at the National Clydesdale Show. As recently as 1999, they won Best Stallion and Three Mares at the National with all homebred descendants of this fine mare (a feat never before accomplished). Ten times her descendants have been listed among the champions at the National Show. Currently they have won Best Three Mares Bred and Owned at the National for seven consecutive years, again almost exclusively with her produce. –JE

Initially, we had Clydes just for fun before we elected to pursue a serious breeding program. We purchased our first pair from the Paul family of Roanoke, Indiana–a black gelding named King and an aged black mare, Woodland Queen Allyson (see Summer ‘87 Draft Horse Journal “Woodland Farm”)–the year after Lloyd Paul passed away. We spent a couple of years learning to hitch, working them on the farm and in the woods. When we moved to our current home in 1983 we decided to actively pursue a breeding program, and in spite of the relative rarity of blacks at that time we were thoroughly enamored with them. At that time the Clydesdale breed was registering only about 100 animals a year, and about seven percent were black. The draft horse business was, however, in its explosive growth phase and we knew it would be difficult. We spent several months scouring the United States and Canada as far west as Saskatchewan. Along the way we almost gave up finding quality stock. We briefly considered Shires and traveled to the National Shire Show, that year being held at the Ohio State Fair. While there we almost became Percheron breeders. The National Percheron Show was also in progress and while walking through the barn we found an older couple preparing a fabulous mare for the ring. We knew almost nothing about Clydesdales and even less about Percherons, but decided on the spot that if we could buy that mare, that would be our direction. We introduced ourselves, shared pleasantries and made a five figure offer for the mare. The mare turned out to be Monette Laet (featured brood mare, Spring 1997 DHJ), the couple, Art and Hazel Bast, and, of course, they turned us down. Over the years Art became a close friend and advisor, and he singlehandedly kept us out of Percherons.

Eventually we found our way to the home of Bruce and Marg Burrill, Woodstock, Ontario. Bruce is the son of Weldon Burrill, and the Broadlea prefix kept showing up in the pedigrees of the higher quality black Clydesdales we were able to find. We visited and found several prospects that excited us. We knew perfectly well that we were novices and needed an advisor during our search. Our good friend, Cliff Shipley, an exceptional horseman and long time Percheron breeder from Martin, Michigan, was that person. He did not know Clydesdales, but he knew good horses. We showed Cliff the mare we were enamored of–he was not impressed. There was another filly though, a two year old called Bonnie, that was off by herself in another field, mostly because she was sort of goofy and had a tendency to run through fences, and Cliff really liked her looks. Cheri agreed. I was overruled, and we purchased Broadlea Classic Perfection. The rest, as they say, is history. We originally collected nine mares and fillies as the basis for our herd. Of these, only the Bonnie mare lived the rest of her days at Armageddon Farm. Two of the others, ETF Patsy’s Contentment, from Kevin Paul, and Simpsonland Gem, an imported Scottish filly we purchased from Marion Young at the Carson Fall sale, were long term residents. The rest were short timers. Currently there are thirteen head at Armageddon: all but one are daughters and granddaughters and great granddaughters of Bonnie.

Broadlea Classic Perfection was sired by Classic Wallace, a son of Classic Laddie, out of Broadlea Queen Perfection. Wallace was a somewhat unusual stallion–as a matter of fact, he looked almost exactly like his daughter, almost feminine in his appearance. This did not preclude him from being a very effective breeding horse. It was from Wallace that Bonnie got the large white splash on her side, a reflection of the sabino gene which she passed on to many of her offspring. Her dam was a big solid drafty mare. Both were black, which in Clydesdales is a recessive color gene.

Cheri driving Bonnie at the National Show in Milwaukee.

Broadlea Classic Perfection as a coming three year old was a gangly, upheaded skinny mare with a bright eye and a world of style. For a mare to be truly successful for us she would have to breed regularly, halter well and drive in all the hitches. Hitching was our first love, even if it was only at home. We were convinced by a neighbor, long time Clydesdale breeder Dennis Cupp, that we had some stock worth showing. Driving horses was what we knew the most about, so there was no question a hitch was in our future.

Bonnie gave us 13 foals in 14 years, and when she passed away at the age of 17 she was in foal again. The only reason she missed a year was because Cheri decided after ten foals in a row she deserved a year off. She also did what few are able to do–a good mare in her own right, virtually every foal she had was better than she was! I was asked our secret by Dr. John Weber, Live Oak Plantation, when we were showing two Bonnie foals for junior champion stallion at the Royal Winter Fair under judge Hugh Ramsey (Jacob, the second prize two year old stallion and Abraham, the first prize stallion foal). The answer was simple. We were lucky. We had Bonnie, and while the cross to Solomon’s Commander was her best, it really did not matter to whom she was bred. As I told John, there were breeders with better mares, but the key was that our mare improved the cross–and that was good luck.

Back in the 1980s there were few hitch shows that were not mixed breed competition, the National Clydesdale Show in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes International being the exceptions. Additionally, most of the time the mares were NOT separated from the geldings in the hitch classes. We showed at a number of shows where that was the case, including the excellent Centreville (Michigan) Show and the Michigan State Fair. To be competitive was a tall order, but one which Bonnie handled easily. We broke her to drive and bought an older half sister from the Greggs in Ontario to mate her. We put her in front of a pair of geldings and eventually some other young horses we raised and we had a competitive hitch! Bonnie was a natural cart horse and lead horse. Her head was always up and she never missed a thing (not always a good thing). Once when she was winning the Mare Cart class at the MGLI with Cheri driving, I happened to be standing next to Dave Carson. He remarked that he had never known a Clyde mare to drive on like that! Over the years she won the cart class at every show she was exhibited at.

In 1984 the pair of mares led our four horse hitch to four wins at six shows. In 1986 the same pair of mares won the National, the Eastern Regional (KILE) and the Michigan State Fair over all breeds. She also led the winning unicorn and four at the National Show. By 1989 she was hitched with her firstborn, Armageddon’s Mistress Magdalene, and she and her daughter won the Pair of Mares at Wisconsin. She also won the Mare Cart class that year at the National. Her last year hitched competitively was in 1990 when at the age of nine she slipped all the way to second in the Pair of Mares and Mare Cart classes.

Broadlea Classic Perfection was a prolific brood mare: 13 foals in 14 years. She never foaled earlier than mid-March. After ten years with a foal each year she was given a year off, hoping to move her up and give her some rest. The rest she got – when she settled the following year it was again for a March foal.

Armageddon’s Mistress Magda-lene, by Torr’s Black Magic, our first herd sire, was his only foal for us. Born 5/11/85, this black mare had a successful hitch, show and breeding career. Her show highlights included junior champion as a yearling at Michigan State; reserve junior champion as a two year old at the Eastern Regional and at Michigan State and reserve senior and reserve grand champion at the Michigan State Fair as a three year old. As a four year old she won the Brood Mare class at the Great Lakes and the Michigan State Fair, was second at the Eastern Regional and third at the National. She won the Pair of Mares that year at Wisconsin hitched with her dam. She won the Mare & Foal class in 1990 and ‘91 at the National, and was second in that class the next two years. She produced eight foals, three of whom garnered All-American honors (defined as All-American, Reserve All-American, or 1st Honorable Mention). They were Armageddon’s Mistress Moriah, Mistress Etana and Lord Saul. Etana was awarded reserve junior champion at the National Show as a two year old. Both Etana and Moriah remain in our herd.

Armageddon’s Lord Jacob, by the great Solomon’s Commander, our second herd sire, was her second foal. Commander passed away prematurely at the age of nine–his crosses with Bonnie were spectacular. Born 4/8/86, Jacob was a dark bay and was shown through his three year old year with great success. Highlights include junior and reserve grand champion stallion as a two year old at the Great Lakes and Michigan State Fair, junior champion at the Eastern Regional and second at the Royal Winter Fair. As a three year old, he was undefeated in all his United States shows, including senior champion at the National. However, his fame has been achieved as a breeding horse. At Armageddon he sired a number of stallions who have made their mark on the breed. They include Armageddon’s Lord Esau, who bred for the Cobbs and currently for the Mershons of Ohio. Armageddon’s Lord Elijah, an exceptional show stallion and one of the most prolific stallions in the modern breed, is currently standing for the Cobbs; English Tartan Piper, a full brother to Elijah who was bred and sold in utero to the Englishes of Ohio, currently a herd sire at Budweiser; Armageddon’s Lord David, standing at stud for the Atwells of Michigan, and Armageddon’s Lord Daniel, who stood for the Lutes of Indiana. His best daughter, Armageddon’s Mistress Julia, out of the great Ardoch Princess mare, is one of our best brood mares, having produced four All-American award winners.

Doc driving Bonnie and her half sister to victory at the Michigan Great Lakes International in 1984. Bonnie (off horse) was a three year old at the time. One year later, Bonnie wins the brood mare class and senior champion at MGLI.

BROADLEA CLASSIC PERFECTION–A great performer in harness, at halter, and in the foaling box – the latter, always in March.

Jacob was sold as a five year old to Martin and Jennifer English as he ran out of unrelated mares to breed at Armageddon. His get made a habit of standing tall at the National Clydesdale Show: the Yearling Stallion Futurity was won each year save one from 1992 to 1999 by a son or grandson. Four Jacob sons won All-American honors after the inception of this program in 1994. Currently, Tartan Drummer stands in Colorado for the McGilvrays; Tartan Macleod in Oregon for the Andres; and Tartan Saint Andrew is the English herd sire. His last colt foal, Tartan Mackenzie, was just exhibited to supreme champion foal at the Royal Winter Fair for his new owners, the Hansens of Ontario.

Armageddon’s Lord Ahab, by Everlasting’s Image, a son of Bardrill Everlasting, bred two mares for us before he became a gelding. Born 3/29/87, Ahab was an outstanding black roan colt, undefeated at eleven shows as a foal, including the National and the Great Lakes. He was shown once at the Michigan Draft Horse Breeders Show where he was reserve grand champion stallion. The following week at Wisconsin, he contracted a fatal illness before he could be exhibited.

Armageddon’s Lord Abraham, by Solomon’s Commander, was born 3/13/88. A tremendous dark bay roan colt who, as a foal, was first at both the National Clydesdale Show and the Royal Winter Fair. As a yearling he was junior and grand champion over Jacob at the Michigan State Fair and junior champion at the Eastern Regional. He was owned briefly by the Allebachs of Pennsylvania and sold by them to David Carson, who desperately needed a mate for the great Joker gelding. David bred a couple of mares to him, gelded him, then hooked him as a three year old with Joker. They were undefeated, winning the National, the CNE, the Great Lakes and the Royal Winter Fair. At halter, nicknamed Jester, he was Best American Bred gelding at the National Show and was reserve grand champion as well. However, after the fact, David regretted the horse had not remained a stallion. The first foal he produced for David was Doura Princess Charming, who won the Royal Winter Fair and was named All-Canadian Filly Foal.

Armageddon’s Mistress Tabitha was by Bardrill Black Diamond, who came to us on lease from Fred Polinder of Washington in the hopes of producing an outcross stallion. Born 3/22/89, Tabitha was a unique black roan mare with a huge white splash. She had an excellent show record as a weanling foal and yearling and, as a three year old, was senior champion mare at the National and grand champion mare at the Michigan State Fair. In 1993, ‘94 and ‘95 she was second at the National each year, but won the Mare and Foal class the latter two years. She gave us five foals and died prematurely the day her last was born, being put down because of a swallowing disorder.

Armageddon’s Mistress Eve, by Solomon’s Commander, was born 3/10/90. The most renowned of Bonnie’s daughters, a black roan, she was awarded championships at the three premier Clydesdale shows; junior and reserve grand champion mare as a yearling at the 1991 Royal Winter Fair, junior and grand champion mare and supreme champion at the 1992 National Clydesdale Show, junior and reserve grand champion mare at the 1992 Great Lakes International. She continued to be shown successfully thereafter for several years, being named Reserve All-American twice. More importantly, she has passed on her quality to her offspring. Three of her fillies have been awarded championships to date at the National Show: Agnes, reserve junior champion as a yearling, Scheherazade, reserve junior champion as a yearling and Sabrina, junior and reserve grand champion mare in 1999; also being awarded All-American honors that year.

Armageddon’s Mistress Esther, by Solomon’s Commander, was born 3/24/91. A dark bay mare, she was shown very little, being relatively lightly feathered as a youngster. Her best year in the show ring was as a four year old when she won her class at the National Clydesdale Show and was a member of the Best Three Mares Bred and Owned by Exhibitor. She has produced several good foals, including two mares owned by Ryan and Alex Mullen of Ohio, exceptional driving mares. The older filled in for the Owl Creek hitch once when they were short for their six.

Armageddon’s Lord Ishmael, by Armageddon’s Lord Noah, was born 3/14/92. This black colt was purchased at weaning time by Denis Aumond, Maniwaki, Quebec, where he stands at stud for Ferme Deleage, Inc.

Armageddon’s Lord Gideon, by Armageddon’s Lord Noah, was born 4/23/93. A black roan colt, he was purchased at weaning by Denis Benier, Rock Forest, Quebec, where he has also been kept as a stallion.

Armageddon’s Mistress Shoshana, by Armageddon’s Lord Noah, was born 4/17/94. A black filly, she was purchased at weaning by David and Marty Soukup of Denmark, Wisconsin, where she has been shown at halter and hitch and is in their breeding herd.

Armageddon’s Lord Caleb, by Northwest Glenord’s Shea, was born 3/23/96. A black colt who was co-owned with Greg and Kelly Knepper of Indiana for several years, he was shown successfully, including winning the two year old Futurity Cart at the National Show. He also was named Best Indiana Owned Clydesdale at the Mid-American Clydesdale Show. His filly, Armageddon’s Mistress Ilana, won at the Great Lakes International in 2000 and gained an All-American award. She is close to the image of Broadlea Classic Perfection and is double bred that way: granddam on her sire’s side and great-granddam on her mother’s side. He is now the herd sire for the Moss family of Illinois.

Armageddon’s Mistress Aviva, by Armageddon’s Lord Samson, was born 3/29/97. Her sire has since been exported to New Zealand. A black filly purchased at weaning by the Kneppers, she has been shown and hitched by them. She also won Best Indiana Owned Clydesdale at the Mid-American Clydesdale Show.

Armageddon’s Mistress Beulah, by Armageddon’s Lord Samson, was born 3/25/98. The ultimate expression of the sabino gene, she is mostly white with a few patches of dark. She has never been shown, being foaled the same year as Sabrina. She is a permanent resident at Armageddon as the last foal of the great Bonnie mare. It was the quality of this filly that convinced the purchasers of Samson that he was the stallion they wished to import.

Afterword:

There you have it, the story of one of the great draft mares of our time, with a picture of every one of her kids. Just like a family album. Well, not exactly. Those thirteen offspring have seven different dads. And that, in itself, speaks volumes for this mare. She was not dependent on a particular “nick.”

I also think it was very nice of Cheri to elect to give Bonnie a year off. But a change of scenery can often do as much for you as time off. Why didn’t they take her over to Doctor Hunt’s and breed her to his jack? The result would have been the best mule Moleskis ever raised. “Moleski’s Magnificent Mule from Michigan” might have become a legend in his own right.

As for the Armageddon name and the timetable for the final Day of Judgment, Jim struck out on that. Maybe it isn’t even any of our business.–MT

Progeny Record of Broadlea Classic Perfection