rest of the year.

Under Linda’s supervision, Sassy taught an uncounted number of kids how to ride. Those young beginners started with no clue of how privileged they were to be riding such an illustrious lesson horse. Linda would take them to local open shows and they would win blue ribbons when they barely knew how to cue a horse. Riding Sassy also put a bright spot in every week for disabled children who came to Risner’s for the therapeutic riding program.

All but two of Sassy’s eight show-age offspring have excelled in the show ring. Zip to the Topnotch, Sassy’s first-born son, never showed due to injury, but stands as a sire and has produced a number of show winners.

The six who have been shown have cumulatively earned almost 800 points in all divisions. Topnotch Terms placed seventh at Congress as a four-year-old in Hunter Under

This past year, Missouri Quarter Horse Association (MQHA) members lost a remarkable mare who has contributed much to the breed and to Missouri’s show scene.

Sassy Topnotch, a Sonny Dee Bar granddaughter, died of colic last spring at age 21, saddening owner Linda Risner and her clients. They held a memorial celebration for the mare last fall, and she was honored during a slide presentation at the MQHA Convention in February.

Sassy was a topnotch performer in her own right and consistently produced outstanding offspring. She won several futurities, and by age five, she had two superiors in Western Pleasure – one each in amateur and open.

Then Sassy started a new career, as a mother and a teacher. She would wean her foals in early summer, and then go back to work for the

The most stellar performer to date is five-year-old Fantastic Invitation, twice an AQHA champion, who has already racked up over 330 performance points and over 125 halter points. In 2005, she was tenth at World in Open Junior Trail. Last year, she placed sixth at World in Youth Trail, and for the second year, ended up second in the nation as a Junior All-Around horse.

Sassy’s four remaining foals are three and under. Look for them in the coming years, as they are showing great promise for joining their older siblings the winner’s circle. If they do, Sassy Topnotch’s offspring will be somewhere in the 80 percent range for outstanding performance, which is higher than even many of the hottest stallions can claim.