H. BIG JOHN #89 Brown 1963 -1984

Big John (*H. Honpolgar 4 x H. Lulu) was bred and raised by Steve and Wanda Cooksley. He was their chief stallion and is found in most of their pedigrees. He was also used by the Bitteroot Stock Farm. Big John was a tall, large boned, friendly horse with Honpolgars long, lovely strides. Many trainers and riders asked to show him but he could not be spared. He was greatly needed as a ranch stallion. Big John was the sire of over 85 registered Hungarian get including the stallions H. Epic (an FEI Dressage Horse) H. Copper King, and H. Gyemant.

Brado (Brazado x *M. Dore) was a Hungarian Stallion bred by Countess Judith Gyurky. Countess Bessenyey hired Linda Tellington to train, ride and show her horses. Linda took Brado to California, where he had an illustrious show career. He won the Best Conditioned Horse Award in the Colorado 100 Mile Endurance Ride in 1968. Only five weeks later he was both Champion Hunter and Jumper at the Concord Hunter and Jumper Trial. He won the Open Jumping Gamblers Stakes in the Oakland International Horse Show two years in a row. One week later, he placed in the top ten at the Tevis Cup 100 Mile One Day Ride. On this occasion he drew position 127 in a field of 127 and had to pass more horses than any other horse in the history of the ride to achieve his final position. He was an Intermediate 3-Day Event Champion countless times.

Csardas (H. Pallo x *Formas 9) was bred and raised by Countess Margit Bessenyey. Although he was never shown, nor were many of his offspring, he is found in the pedigrees of many of the Hungarian Stallions standing today. He is the sire of the stallions Tancos ( the sire of Hadur) and Shagya Fia and the mares Coloratura ( the granddam of Epic) and Ekszer ( the dam of Gyemant).

H. Hadur (H. Tancos x H. Szeged) bred by Margit Bessenyey was born in 1974. He was a beautiful grey stallion, so smooth made him look smaller until you approached him and realized how big he was. He came to Cooksley Ranch when Big John went to Montana. Margit Bessenyey and Steve Cooksley traded stallions, didn't buy and sell. He left many performance off-spring including H. Pajkos, H. Nicolaus, Ron Palmer's Four-in-hand driving team. Cooksley Ranch purchased him for Anne Cowles of Maryland from the Bessenyey Estate in 1988. HS Vitez was bred at Cowles. Alix Coleman of Philadelphia bought him in 1995. He stood at Carole Scarito's farm until he died.

Honpolgar 4 (Honpolgar x 153 Maxim II) was bred by the Kisber Royal Hungarian Stud. He was imported to the U. S. with the Remount Service after World War II. At the remount they were very impressed with the Hungarian stallions. Honpolgar was trained at Fort Robinson and assigned to Jim Edwards of Butte, Montana as a Remount Stallion, then purchased by Jim when the horses were sold. At the Edwards Ranch he became a very special friend and pet. The Edwards named him Humphrey after the cartoon character Humphrey Pennyworth who was always hungry. He was located by Countess Margit Sigray (later Baroness Bessenyey) and was used at stud by both Bitterroot Stock Farm and Cooksleys where he lived out his final days.

Kallo (*H. Honpolgar 4 x *158 Fokas) or "Bill" was the first colt by Honpolgar 4 born at the Bitteroot Stock Farm. Kallo went to Nebraska as a two year old and then returned to Montana when Honpolgar 4 went to Nebraska. He had 35 registered Hungarian offspring including the stallions: Kismiklos, Nicsak, Fontos(Warrior), Keszthely, and Berzencze. Kallo was never shown due to his importance as a breeding stallion, but his get are champions in Hunters, Jumpers, Eventing, Dressage, Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding. His son, Taszilo, was an Intermediate Event, 4th Level Dressage, and Open Hunter Champion.

Keszthely (H. Kallo x H. Blanka) was bred by Countess Margit Bessenyey. Although he is the sire of less than 10 registered Hungarian offspring, they were significant producers. His stallion son Marcius is the grandsire of the stallions H.Ramius and HS Alaric. His daughter H. Lenke is the dam of the stallion H.Kiraly.Keszthely’s daughter H.Nagyaszony is the dam of the stallion HS Kivalo and the mare H Aldas and is the granddam of the stallion HS Vidaz and HS Randevu.

Sobricska (* M. Sobri x * M. Csusza) was bred and raised by Judith Gyurky. He is found in the majority of Gyurky’s bloodlines and was also used extensively by Margit Bessenyey. He has over 50 registered Hungarian offspring, including the stallion Januar and the mares H. Kora the dam of the stallion H Epic, M Csunya II the dam of the stallion M. Bandi, M. Jay the granddam of the stallion M. Dare Me Not, H.Surke Nota the granddam of the stallion HS Kivalo, M. Siska the great granddam of the stallion H. Daruesh, M. Dobbin (Duna) an unbeaten steeplechase mare, and M. Witch (Tunda) an Intermediate Event Champion.

Gazal VII was born in 1944 in Babolna, Hungary during the evacuation of the Stud to Bergstetten. He is one of the most significant sons of the outstanding stallion Gazal II. Although he did not go to Germany until he was 23 years old, he had a decisive influence on the Shagya breed there. He had an imposing frame and crest of neck, very marked withers, a long croup with smooth and dry coupling and joints. He had great self confidence and calmness and stood 15.31/2 hands. Gazal VII has been called the “Stallion of the Century” - the embodiment of the breeding goal of the modern Shagya Arabian. Although a Shagya Arabian, Gazal VII's blood is found in some Hungarian lines.

H. Taltos (Magyar Brado x H. Nora) was a bright bay 16.1hh stallion with excellent conformation and a kind disposition. In 2001 he was listed in the USDF sires who have produced two or more Horse of the Year offspring. H. Taltos was bred by the Countess Bessenyey and is out of H. Nora by H. Kallo,*H. Honpolgar 4’s first foal for Margit Bessenyey and out of her imported Fuiroso II-3 mare purchased from the U.S. Remount Service. H. Taltos came to the Cooksley Ranch in 1983 and remained until his sudden death in 1994 at the age of 21. Unfortunately his death was just before he was scheduled for collection and the shipment of frozen semen in the exchange with Hungary. H. Taltos produced 74 foals in the HHAA registry during his lifetime including champions in dressage, jumping and influential broodmares carrying on his legacy.