The Guhles: Small Breeders with a Big Impact

In just a few short years, Dawson Guhle and his family have managed to have considerable success within the Alberta thoroughbred breeding industry.

The Guhle family can lay the blame for their involvement in the industry on the shoulders of 23-year-old Dawson who tempted them into his new fascination with thoroughbreds. Dawson notes that long-time industry horseman and family friend, Merv Lansing, was a big influence and prompted his infatuation with researching horse pedigrees. Dawson had long hours available as he traveled extensively playing hockey for the Regina Pats, Red Deer Rebels and Dauphin Kings from 2009 through 2012. “Playing junior hockey, I had tons of time on bus trips to research pedigrees and learn as much as I could about horse racing.”

With the help of a bloodstock agent, the Guhles purchased their very first two mares, Mayday Maria and Lemel, from the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic Winter Sale in the fall of 2012. As consignors and breeders, the Guhles had considerable success at their first sale, the 2014 Alberta Thoroughbred Sale. A colt by the black type winner Friesan Fire out of the Maria’s Mon mare, Mayday Maria, sold for $37,000 to Red Diamond Stable. The first foal for this dam and from the first yearling crop for the sire, Ripple went on to become a stakes-placed runner earning $28,986 to date. The colt named Northernlocomotive out of the Point Given mare, Lemel, by the leading sire Alphabet Soup, sold for $28,000 to Joan Petrowski. This colt was the only Alberta-bred runner to be a final entry in the Canadian Derby.

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Now captivated by the industry, the Guhles have since purchased two more mares, Harlican and Seattle Splash, from the Keeneland Sale and have pin-hooked a weanling. Heading into their third sale this year, Dawson Guhle and Bruce Ternan consigned three yearlings; two by B.C. leading sire Gottcha Gold and one by Old Fashoned. The Gottcha Gold filly is out of Mayday Maria and the Gottcha Gold gelding is out of Seattle Splash, dam of stakes placed Peggy Jane ($102,050). The filly by top 10 third crop sire Old Fashioned is the first foal for the mare, Harlican, a half-sister to stakes winner Boston Express.

Based in Daysland, AB, the Guhles foal out the mares at their own farm and the foals “are here until sale day.” Dawson said they initially had doubts about sales prepping the yearlings by themselves, but with some encouragement from Shirley Matier, they did so successfully, although, “Even going into our third sale, it is still terrifying and new to us,” Dawson said.

The support of the other breeders has been instrumental in helping the Guhles learn about the industry.

“We can’t thank all the breeders at the sale enough for being very helpful. All the advice that we have received from them has allowed us to continue on our path within the industry. We are always learning so we continue to ask lots of questions and take bits and pieces from everyone and someday hopefully we can have some of the success other breeders have,” Dawson said.

He said he believes in a thoroughbred breeding philosophy that focuses on a strong female family. He notes that high earnings in a family pedigree often leads to prohibitively high-priced horses so then the focus needs to be on strong conformation qualities.

“If you take a quality individual to the sale or races hopefully everything else will take care of itself,” Dawson said.

The Guhles also believe in the basics such as good feed and the opportunity to run outdoors and develop into strong horses both mentally and physically. Dawson adds, however, that “it is nice to tuck them into their stalls at night and listen to them munching on their feed, relaxing and getting a little relief from the mosquitoes or the cold.”

The Guhles said they enjoy the excitement of the thoroughbred industry and especially the “amazing and scary” foaling season. They are extremely proud of the horses in their breeding program and “every foal born in our eyes is a champ.”

The Guhles find the toughest part of the industry letting go of the horses at sale time.

“You put so much time, love and commitment into these babies. So, when you turn them over to someone new, you hope and pray they do the same,” Dawson said.

It is very important to the Guhles to be able to follow the journey of their horses after they have been sold and ensure their well-being. Dawson emphasizes that the trainers have all been very helpful in allowing them to continue to be a part of each horse’s journey after a sale. In the future, the Guhles hope to contribute to the aftercare of all the racehorses bred by their operation. Mom, Lori Guhle, adds, “Dawson is so passionate about this and excited about his horses. His positivity and excitement is awesome to see. Not sure what he got us into, but I guess we’ll have fun anyway.”

Dawson said the goal of his family as breeders is to “contribute to the thoroughbred industry by breeding the highest quality athlete we can; to have small numbers but with big results. As a group, we feel very fortunate to be involved with the industry and try to surround ourselves with positive people who believe in the industry like we do.”