Photos Mel Cruden
Q-69670, HERDA N/N
Article Holly Johnson
(IMP)
On the 6th June 2010, Australia
saw the arrival of a yearling red
roan colt, “Smoochin”, a pleasure horse
prospect, imported by Carolyn Johnson at Rockin Horse Ranch,
in Tamworth NSW. Smoochin was bred by Shirley Roth from
Florida USA. Smoochin comes from a family of well bred, and
well performed horses.
His sire “Open Range” was a Tom Powers, Just for Pleasure,
Dixie Nationals, NSBA Champion, Congress Reserve Champion
as well as High Point 2 Year Old Western Pleasure (WP) Horse
in the NSBA.
His Dam: Zipped N Kissed was a Congress Reserve Champion
in the 1998 Yearling Lunge Line Class and dam of Kiss On The
Open Range who was the winner of the Southern Belle Slot
Class worth $200,000.
Smoochin’s first breeding season commenced in 2011. As ten
Breeding Shares were sold, he didn’t stand to the public until
2013. This was an incentive to the investors that he had a
closed book for the first two years.
Everyone involved is so impressed at the result of the quality
of progeny he has sired, and without the shareholders, this
Page 54 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • July • August 2015
venture would not have been possible.
With Holly Johnson and Kane Skopp’s training and
guidance Smoochin went on to win every major Western
Pleasure Futurity as a 3- year old, starting with the Summer
Sizzler $20,000 Slot Futurity, the Australian Halter Show Case
WP Futurity then on to the prestigious $20,000 NPHA 3yo
Western Pleasure Futurity in Sydney.
We couldn’t be happier with Smoochins first two foal crops,
producing several lunge line and ridden champions. 2015 saw
the first of his ridden progeny enter the show arena.
“From Smoochin's first ride he impressed us so much, he was
like nothing we had seen lope around the arena at Rockin Horse
Ranch. He had so much strength, presence and self-carr