A Sweet Stallion That Has The Moves To Win: Diesel Only
From May issue of Show Horse Today magazine
By Gabrielle Sasse
There is just something about a dark, handsome man that drives ladies wild, and the same can be said for Diesel Only! This 2005 bay AQHA stallion has been stamping his babies with the same great looks and movement that first impressed Gail when she saw him as a foal.
“The first time I saw ‘Diesel,’ he was two months old and standing in a pasture with his mommy,” Gail begins. “I turned to my friend and said ‘that is, without a doubt, the prettiest baby I have ever seen.’ He was breathtaking even then, and I bought him as a yearling.” Diesel is by Gucci Only (by Invitation Only) and out of No Way By Me (by Good Version).
Gail has had a lifelong love affair with horses, sparked by her father. “We shared that love,” Gail says. “My first horse was a one-eyed Barrel horse named KoKoMo, when I was four years old. I rode every day the weather allowed, and my dad and I rode together at every opportunity. Sometimes I sat in the saddle with Dad, and other times I was behind. We must’ve ridden a million miles. One time, we were riding and it started raining really hard, so Dad took off his shirt and covered me against the pouring rain. These memories are dear to me, since my dad died a year ago. I’m forever grateful to him for sharing his love of horses.”
Gail’s love of horses grew, leading her to show over the years and continue to expand her breeding program. She says her biggest personal accomplishments were placing Top Ten at the Quarter Horse Congress twice in Amateur Western Pleasure, Top Ten at the AQHA World, winning an NSBA Championship, and numerous other titles with a little bay roan gelding named Vinnys Uno.
Diesel proved that he is more than just a pretty face in the pasture, winning a show record of 18 Halter points, 38.5 Performance points, an Open Performance ROM, and Lifetime Earnings of over $14,000. In 2007, he was 6th in the Congress Two Year Old Open Masters Western Pleasure. “After Congress, he stood at stud as a three year old,” Gail explains. “After his stint in the breeding shed, I wanted to go back to the show pen with him. That is, if he wanted to go back to the show pen! The decision to go back would be his, but I was hopeful, and always believed in him.”
Gail called Shane Young, who she had trained with over the years. “I talked with Shane at length about my horse. He said we’d try and see where Diesel took us. He went to Shane in August, and in October 2009 Shane and Diesel won the Congress in Junior Western Pleasure. It was a moment that I’ll never forget, and I’ll be grateful to Cindy and Shane Young forever!” Diesel continued his great streak, going to take 3rd in the 2010 Congress Open Performance Halter Stallions and 4th in World Show Junior Western Pleasure.
“He amazes me how incredibly slow-legged he is, and yet maintains his legs and rhythm,” Gail exclaims. “He has so much lift in his shoulders, and his jog is soft and wonderful to ride.” It is clear to anyone who talks to Gail for more than a minute that this bay stallion has stolen her heart. And it is clear that her “D-Man” loves her as well! “When he’s turned out in a pasture, I can sit on the fence and he’ll eat grass around where I’m sitting,” Gail says. “When I move, he’ll move with me.”