Soon after acquiring her first mini , Shari was hooked . She and Phil started their farm with a handful of beautiful horses they purchased from the Brewer family . It was soon after this that Shari laid eyes on a beautiful , tiny seventeen-year-old bay pinto stallion , Prince Tennessee of Monashee . Tennessee had a presence about him , well into his twenties , prancing around his paddock , staking his claim on his ranch . He was as graceful and elegant as any miniature ever was , all in a twenty-nine-inch package .
The Tennessee bloodline became a cornerstone not only of the Celebration breeding program , but the miniature horse industry , producing some of the most refined Arabian-type miniatures that had ever been seen . Not only were these beautiful , refined horses fit for the halter arena , but they could move ! Horses such as Celebration ’ s Tennessee Talent , Celebration ’ s Tennessee Tribute , and Lowery ’ s NFC Nashville , of whom Tennessee is the grandsire , won multiple world and national championships in driving . The Tennessee line continues to be a coveted line today , especially for performance horses .
There are not enough pages to write about all the beautiful things that made up Shari Washburn . She loved her family , her friends , and her animals fiercely . If you had the privilege to know Shari , you know exactly what I mean . She was an exceptional human being , and I wanted to give some other people the opportunity to share about their love for Shari and her impact on our beloved miniature horse breed . So , as you read the stories that follow , I hope it brings you joy and laughter , because that is exactly what Shari would have wanted .
MEMORIES OF SHARI
Shari Washburn will always be one of the most vibrant and beautiful women our family has ever known . She had that “ it ” factor , as my dad , Vern Brewer , would have said about her . It was a term that he would have used to describe a beautiful , refined and animated show horse … And I know that Shari would have loved the comparison .
Our family met the Washburns in the late 1980 ’ s . My father and our family had established our place in the miniature horse industry . When Shari and Phil came on the scene , in search of refined top quality show horses and breeding stock , our family ’ s friendship was immediate and fast growing . Mom and Dad thought the world of “ Judge Washington ” ( as Dad called him ) and Shari . They quickly became friends traveling to many of the same shows and eventually spent quality time together at each other ’ s ranches . There were many Brewer trips to
Vern and Betty Brewer , Barbara Charles , Shari and Phil
Oregon and Washburn trips to Texas just because we enjoyed time together so much .
Dad ’ s knowledge and Shari ’ s love for the breed and
April 2017 Miniature Horse World 23