The One and Only Coin Maker
The Horse with the Midas Touch

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By Sarah Gee
© Voice, January 2005

Think about it, back before Coin Maker started his run as THE Show Pleasure horse; George W. Bush was still the governor of Texas, September 11th was best known as the day after September 10th, Harry Potter had yet to hit the silver screen, and the Taco Bell Chihuahua was a major cultural icon. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that was way back in the mid 1990s. Coin Maker has absolutely dominated the Show Pleasure division since he won his first world championship at the 1998 Celebration.

Coin Maker was foaled on October 2, 1993. He is by three-time world grand champion Prides Gold Coin and out of ET’s Darling, Darling, 2000 Dam of the Year and one of the top producing mares in our industry. Seven World Grand Champions appear on Coin Maker’s pedigree. His sire’s side includes Midnight Sun and Sun’s Delight D. On his dam’s side are Ebony Masterpiece, GLL’s Carbon Copy, Triple Threat, Rodgers’ Perfection, and Merry Go Boy. Add to all that, Pride Of Midnight and Ebony’s Threat A. and you have one outstanding set of papers. One might say that Coin Maker was destined for greatness.

He was bred by Joe and David Ragan of Springfield, Missouri. In September of 1995, the Paul Bryan family of Thomasville, Georgia bought him and, shortly thereafter, he was placed in training with Knox Blackburn.

Coin Maker began his show career like most other performance horses, competing in the two and three-year-old divisions. He put in a number of well-received performances but it wasn’t until a spur of the moment decision found him in a Show Pleasure class during his four-year-old season that he truly found his niche. Knox relates, “We just decided one night at Perry to put him in Show Pleasure. It was just a very lucky decision.” That may just be the understatement of the year, for Coin Maker did nothing less that flourish in his new found division.

Showing under the direction of Knox in open classes and under the direction of Laney Walthall and Paul Bryan in amateur classes, Coin Maker put together winning records in 1998 and 1999 before completing his first undefeated season in 2000. As stated above, he claimed his first world title in 1998—the Show Pleasure Amateur Lady Riders World Championship with Laney Walthall. The team would repeat the feat in 1999 and 2000 and take the Show Pleasure Amateur Riders World Grand Championship both years as well. In addition, 1999 and 2000 saw Coin Maker and Knox walk away with the Open Show Pleasure World Championship.

At the Gulf Coast Charity Show in 2001, Bud Moore and Suzanne Littell purchased Coin Maker as a birthday present for Suzanne. So began one of the most popular and successful partnerships in the walking horse industry.

The talented stallion stayed in training with Knox Blackburn and under the direction of Knox and Suzanne put together one undefeated season after another and continued his championship ways. Totally undefeated in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Coin Maker’s victories in each of those years included the Show Pleasure Amateur Lady Riders World Championship, the Open Show Pleasure World Championship, and the Show Pleasure Amateur Riders World Grand Championship. At the start of 2005 his record stands as follows: six world grand championships and thirteen world championships. Throughout his entire Show Pleasure career he has appeared in the show ring a total of 80 times, has garnered 69 blue ribbons, and has never placed out of the top three.

A consistent winning record, exciting way of going, and friendly disposition have made Coin Maker a favorite among horse show fans throughout the industry. He simply has a presence about him that catches and holds the eye of anyone that appreciates fine horseflesh. Of course, his biggest fan is Suzanne Littell. As Suzanne says, “He’s been an absolute pleasure, a blessing. He’s one of the main things in my life besides my family and friends. I’ll never ride another one like him. He has such a wonderful disposition.”

In 2003, Coin Maker, following in his sire’s hoof prints, began standing at stud at Harlinsdale Farm. Says Suzanne; “It just made sense to stand him there. His mama lives at Harlinsdale and the Harlins owned his daddy. It’s nice because the people at Harlinsdale appreciate him for where he came from.” As in the show ring, Coin Maker is quickly finding success in the breed shed. The traits that have served him so well in competition are being passed along successfully to his offspring and he is rapidly becoming a popular option among mare owners all over the country. No doubt, in time he will become as well known for his prowess as a breeding stallion as he is for his talent as a show horse.

Coin Maker stands at a fee of $1,000. For more information contact Harlinsdale Farm at 615-794-4414.