Elmview Pioneer's Flossie & Her Offspring
by Jim Emmons
published in The Draft Horse Journal, Spring 2000

One of the most consistently successful breeders of the last twenty years has been Bob Robertson, Listowel, Ontario, Canada. A top horseman for over thirty years, he started his own stable of Clydes in 1979 with two half-sisters–Holly of Double Tree and Double Tree Flossie. He purchased them from James St. Vincent, Spencer, Ohio, for whom Bob worked that year.

St. Vincent went to the National Clydesdale Sale at Waverly, Iowa, in the spring of 1976 to add to his small stable of mares. The mare that took his eye was 11 year old Elmview Pioneer’s Flossie, #C65302 #US 10294, consigned by Anheuser-Busch. She stood a little over 17 hands and was a thick, drafty type with excellent feet. Moreover, she was vet checked in foal to the great Bardrill Glenord, who had captured his fifth championship at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) the winter before. Elmview Pioneer’s Flossie was foaled May 20, 1965, the property of Robert Storey, Elmvale, Ontario. Her sire was the good breeding horse, Riverview Pioneer’s Flash, a son of Scotland’s Pioneer, grand champion at the RAWF in 1953 and ‘54. Flossie’s dam was Surmount’s Lassie, by Craigie Surmount, grand champion stallion at the 1952 RAWF, while her maternal granddam, Craigie Joan, was a daughter of Craigie Diplomat, who was the grand champion stallion at the 1948 RAWF.

Surmount’s Lassie was the first foal by Craigie Surmount. She showed well for Storey, her personal best was winning the brood mare class at the RAWF in 1958 and standing 2nd in the same class in 1965.

Royal Candy Floss was Double Tree Flossie's first foal. She is by Doura Royal Scot.

Flossie won the filly foal class at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in 1965 and stood 4th in the foal class at the Royal the same year. In those days, the two foal classes were combined into one. She always was near the top of the class as a youngster. She was what might be called the “old-fashioned type.” Flossie passed from Robert Storey to his daughter, Judy Hall, then to Archie Taylor, Grand Valley, Ontario. In the summer of 1972, she was sold to Anheuser-Busch.

That fall, Elmview Pioneer’s Flossie placed 4th in a very good aged mare class at the National Clyde Show, held in Waterloo, Iowa. The peak of her show ring career, however, occurred at the 1972 RAWF. She stood 2nd in the yeld mare class to the great Kirklandhill Queen O’Carrick and was then, reserve Sr. champion mare. She was then retired to the breeding herd at Grant’s Farm, St. Louis, Missouri. Unfortunately, no offspring were produced by her in the next three years, so off to the National Sale she went again. St. Vincent bought Flossie for $4,800, the second highest price of the sale. The top price was another mare from Anheuser-Busch, for $5,700.

On January 21, 1977, Flossie gave birth to her first recorded offspring–Holly of Double Tree. Holly was a bay filly with the best of feet and pasterns. She wasn’t huge, but she was certainly big enough. That year, she won the filly foal class at the Royal for St. Vincent. She was the first U.S.-bred Clyde to win a foal class at the Royal since Hayfield Kaye, by Langwater Fashion won for J.N. Congygham in 1924.

The next summer, Flossie produced another bay filly foal. This one was sired by Meadowview Favorite Baron, who would be grand champion stallion that year at the Indiana State Fair and the Michigan Great Lakes International, as well as reserve grand at the CNE. The foal was Double Tree Flossie. A late foal, she showed well winning at Indiana and placing 3rd at the CNE.

Holly was not shown that summer due to an injury. By November, she had recovered enough to make the trip back to Toronto where she topped a large yearling class.

In 1979, Bob Robertson went to Double Tree Farms. That year, Double Tree Flossie won the yearling mare class at Ohio and placed 2nd in a big class at the National Show in Milwaukee. Holly was grand champion at Ohio and, together, the two fillies won the produce class. Shortly following the Ohio State Fair, St. Vincent decided to disperse most of his Clydes. Bob took Holly and Double Tree Flossie to Ontario with him. Bob heard that Elmview Pioneer’s Flossie went to a man by Cleveland, but that she died shortly thereafter. That fall, Bob took the fillies to the Royal, where Flossie placed 2nd in a very tough yearling class.

In 1981, Bob took Holly and Flossie to Wreford Hewson’s place and got them in foal to Doura Royal Scot. Scot was one of the best sons of the great Doura Excelsior. He was grand champion stallion at the RAWF in 1978, ‘80 and ‘82 and reserve grand in 1977, ‘79 and ‘83.

In 1982, both mares raised filly foals. Double Tree Flossie had Royal Candy Floss and Holly produced Lady Elegance.

Lady Elegance was a bay-roan mare with great bottoms and who could really move. She showed well as a young mare, almost always near the top of the class. Besides her stablemate, there were three more half-sisters the same age, by Doura Royal Scot in the neighborhood. Together, they made competition very tough. Broke to harness, Lady Elegance performed well, placing 2nd in a class of sixteen ladies’ carts at the RAWF as a four year old, as well as leading Robertsons’ winning mare unicorn at the MGLI that year. As a 5 year old, she raised a colt by Benedictine Senator, named Elegant Jay J. They won the mare and foal class at Markham and the MGLI, where Lady Elegance was the grand champion mare and led Bob’s mare four to victory. In 1988, she raised a filly, May Elegance, by Scot’s Ideal Valentine, a son of Doura Royal Scot. That year, Lady Elegance traveled to the Ohio State Fair, where she won the brood mare class. Closer to home, she was grand champion mare at Lindsay and the CNE.

May Elegance was bred to Bob’s herd sire, Ayton Final Command and sold to Janet and Bruce Gould of New Jersey, in the summer of 1993. Ayton Final Command was grand champion stallion at the Royal for the Robertsons in 1990, ‘91 and ‘92. For more about the good son of Ayton Perfection, consult last year’s Annual Stallion Issue of The Draft Horse Journal. The result of this mating was a filly registered as New Dawn of Bear’s Meadow. The Goulds showed her with some success and then sold her to Dave Carson, Listowel, Ontario. In October, 1997, New Dawn and her mate were sold to 2S Clydesdales, Charles and Pat McMahen, Houston, Texas, for $28,500 apiece (in Candaian funds). A month later, she placed 3rd in a great class of 3 year olds at the Royal. In 1998, this mare as a 4 year old, was grand champion at Indiana and grand and supreme champion of the show at the Keystone show. New Dawn then became the All-American 4, 5 & 6 year old mare of 1998.

In 1989, Lady Elegance produced a colt by Inspector Floss (more about him later), registered as One Elegant Lad. He won the stud foal class at Carp and Lindsay.

Holly of Double Tree produced Glorious Lady, by Scot’s Ideal Valentine in 1985. That year, Lady was the 1st place filly foal at the MGLI, while as a yearling, she led her class at Carp and Markham. As a 2 year old, she was the Jr. champion at the CNE.

Holly had a colt foal in 1988 and a filly in 1989 by Scot’s Ideal Valentine. The colt–SS Legend–won his class at Carp as a foal. The filly, Queen of the Ladies, was sold to Don Montgomery, Tottenham, Ontario. In 1995, she had a colt by Ayton Final Command that Don named Ayton’s Final Ace. Steve Gregg, Paisley, Ontario, bought him as a yearling. That year, he was grand champion at Simcoe and Lindsay, reserve grand at the CNE and 1st at the Keystone. He was also named the All-Canadian and All-American yearling. The next spring, he was consigned to the National Sale at Springfield, Illinois, where he was purchased by Andrew and Linda Bentley, Goodrich, Michigan. In their hands, Ayton’s Final Ace was again All-American as he was reserve grand at the National Sale Show, reserve grand at the National Show and reserve Jr. at the MGLI.

Double Tree Flossie raised another filly by Doura Royal Scot in 1984, named Royal Fancy Floss. As a foal, she won her class at the CNE and as a yearling, she won at Markham and she was first and reserve Jr. champion at the CNE.

In 1985, Double Tree Floss produced her third filly by Doura Royal Scot. This one was named Royal Harmony Floss. As a foal, she was 1st at the CNE, while as a 3 year old she was 2nd at Ohio and the MGLI. Harmony Floss produced West Edge Dan, by Ayton Final Command in 1993. Dan placed 4th at the RAWF that year. As a yearling, he was 1st and reserve Jr. champion at the Royal, as well as Reserve All-Canadian yearling. Bob still owns Royal Harmony Floss.

Double Tree Flossie produced several more foals including West Edge April Floss, by Scot’s Ideal Valentine, who won at Lindsay as a 3 year old in 1993 and West Edge Bonnie Floss, by Ayton Final Command, foaled in 1991. Bonnie Floss raised West Edge Heidi, by Korona Gallant Boy in 1997. As a foal, Heidi was 1st at Navan and 2nd at Carp.

Inspector's Floss, another daughter of Double Tree Flossie. She is by Benedictine.

In 1986, Double Tree Flossie stood 2nd in the brood mare class at the Royal, as a 9 year old. That year she produced Inspector Floss, by Benedictine, a double grandson of the great breeding horse Bardrill Castle. As a yearling, he was 1st and reserve Jr. champion at the MGLI and reserve grand at Carp while, as a 2 year old, he was reserve Jr. at Ohio and Jr. champion at the CNE. Purchased by Allen Gregg, Paisley, Ontario, Inspector Floss developed into a good, thick draft horse with the best of feet and legs. He stood reserve grand at the RAWF in 1991, ‘92 and ‘93. Although he has black on both front legs, he has left hardly any dark legs on his foals. Some of his foals include: Cornergrove Inspector Charlie, 1st colt foal, 1994 CNE; Whiskey Inspector, 1st colt foal, Simcoe and 3rd at CNE and RAWF and 1994 Reserve All-Canadian. At the World Clydesdale Show in 1999, the World Champion gelding, owned by Lynden Manor, Glen Smith and Caroline Armstrong, Troy, Ontario, was Baron, a son of Inspector Floss. He repeated his win at the Royal where he had stood reserve grand in 1998.

At the 1999 National Clydesdale Sale, an Inspector Floss mare, Barclays Classic Pearl, was grand champion and topped the sale at $21,000 for Steve Gregg. Purchased by Thomas Miller, Milan, Illinois, she has been successfully shown since.

Double Tree Flossie’s first foal was Royal Candy Floss, by Doura Royal Scot. Foaled in 1982, Candy is worth a story all by herself. As a yearling and 2 year old, she was Jr. champion and stood reserve grand to the great Kirklandhill Queen of Carrick at the CNE. At the Royal as a 2 year old, she received the Canadian Shield as Best Canadian Bred Mare. This could be considered Canada’s version of the Cawdor Cup. First presented at the Royal in 1938 as the Mark Duff Memorial Shield, it was won by Peggy Footprint by Caradoc Footprint owned by A.M. Brownridge, from Manitoba. Since then, some of the greatest Canadian-bred mares in history have received this prestigious award.

Candy won many awards as a young mare including supreme champion at Carp as a 5 year old, reserve grand at the CNE that year, and grand champion at Ohio and the MGLI in 1988.

In 1989, Candy produced her first foal–Gallant’s Candy Rose. She was sired by Korona Gallant Boy, a son of Johnston Aristocrat and out of a Doura Excelsior mother. Gallant Boy was owned by Ross and Hugh Love, Atwood, Ontario.

That year, Candy Rose did well in the foal classes (1st at Lindsay) while Candy Floss won the brood mare class at the Royal. As a yearling, Candy Rose won again at Lindsay, while her mother was grand champion that day. In 1991, Gallant’s Candy Rose received the Canadian Shield at the Royal. Like her mother, she won it as a 2 year old. As a 3 year old, she was reserve grand at Carp and 2nd at the MGLI and RAWF, while as a 4 year old, she was grand champion at Lindsay, 1st at the MGLI and 2nd again at the Royal. In 1994, she raised West Edge Eddy, by Ayton Final Command. That year Eddy won his class at Carp, Lindsay and the MGLI. Eddy was eventually gelded and is now owned by Highland Farms, Paris, Kentucky. Candy Rose is now owned by Jeff Gower, Springfield, Missouri.

Candy Floss produced another filly by Korona Gallant Boy in 1990. Bob named this one West Edge Gallant Amy. While maybe not the show mare her sister Candy Rose was, Amy is a good, useful type. She is the dam of West Edge Commander’s Frank, a black son of Ayton Final Command, foaled in 1995. As a yearling, Frank won his class at the Royal and was reserve All-Canadian yearling, behind Ayton’s Final Ace. Frank was sold to Martin and Jennifer English, Tipp City, Ohio and is now owned by Polly Thomas, Dayton, Ohio. The Robertsons still have Amy in their herd.

Candy had her first colt foal in 1992. He was a son of Ayton Final Command, named West Edge Commander. That year, Candy won the brood mare class at the Royal as a 10 year old.

Commander was sold to Gene and Maureen Emswiler, Hagerstown, Maryland. As a yearling, he was reserve grand at the Keystone and grand champion as a 2 year old. He is the sire of Liberty Knolls Lucy. As a foal in 1997, she was 1st and reserve Jr. champion at both the Keystone show and MGLI. That year, she was the All-American filly foal. She was then sold for export to the U.K. West Edge Commander is currently owned by Linden Bateman in Idaho.

Candy Floss produced West Edge Delight by Ayton Final Command in 1993. Delight won the filly foal class at Carp and stood 2d at Simcoe. Candy Floss stood 1st at Carp and Lindsay and 2nd at MGLI that year. Delight was sold to Jeff Gower in Missouri.

In 1994, Candy Floss dropped another foal by Ayton Final Command, a colt named West Edge Exquisite Command. As a yearling, he was 2nd and reserve Jr. champion at the RAWF and named Reserve All-Canadian yearling stallion. Bob kept this horse to use until just recently when he was sold to Jack Moore in South Carolina.

Royal Candy Floss had her last foal by Ayton Final Command in 1995 and she might have been the best of the whole bunch! Bob called her West Edge Flicka. Flicka is a chestnut with a light mane and tail. As a yearling, she won at Simcoe and stood 2nd at Carp and the Royal. She repeated the success of her dam and her sister (Candy Rose) by winning the Canadian Shield as a 2 year old. She was also Jr. and reserve grand champion mare at the Royal that day. Following that win, Flicka was sold to the McMahens in Texas. Brought out to the shows as a 3 year old in 1998, Flicka again won her class at the Royal as well as reserve grand to New Dawn of Bears Meadow at Indiana and grand champion at both the Can-Am and MGLI.

Royal Candy Floss still resides at West Edge Acres, Listowel, Ontario. This past year, she raised a colt by Live Oak Omega, grand champion at the World Show and the Royal for Chester Weber. Bob said the colt should make a real hitch horse someday. Candy Floss is open for 2000, but Bob is looking forward to getting her bred early for a 2001 foal.

Elmview Pioneer’s Flossie has been gone for twenty years now. Looking at the breeding success of her daughters and granddaughters, it is a real shame that for whatever reason, she didn’t produce more in her lifetime. However, in her two offspring, she has succeeded in making her mark. It is a legacy that is far from its conclusion.