A New President
By March of 1975, Mary Manley was somewhat frustrated with the disinterest among members and began pushing for member input in the form of member news and articles. Mary states "Our advertising campaign in the Appaloosa News is getting good results. Many members report that their customers tell them they have decided to invest in the Sundance F-500 bloodline because of Sundance 500 International, and the organization's promotion of the Sundance line. Many persons who have sent inquiries to Sundance 500 International have done so because of our advertising, and many of these persons have become members of our Sundance 500 organization."
The first by-laws were printed in September of that year and large versions of the logo were made available to the membership. During this same timeframe, members asked that newsletter ads be opened to non-Sundance F-500 horses as long as that fact was clearly stated. Lee Warne reported that Bambi E, son of Woodrow Sheik, had died in the spring of 1975 during a blizzard.
On the second anniversary in October 1975, the organization published an article in the October issue of Appaloosa News on Sundance F-500. Mary reported later that the article generated a lot of interest in the organization. The November 1975 newsletter ran an article on Mary and George Manley and their farm. [See sidebar] As of November 22, 1975, there were 196 members of Sundance 500 International, 165 of which were active. The November issue was sent to all past and present members in an effort to renew interest.
The organization elected a new president, Charlotte "Chardy" Shealy, in 1976. Chardy had been introduced to Sundance 500 International when she bought some Sundance related horses from Ralph and Joyce Cannon. Active members grew during that year from 119 to 172. Mary wrote to Ralph on May 6, 1976 thanking him for some information she could use in the newsletter: "Thank you so much for all the Sundance goodies you sent. I know that you are wholeheartedly behind the organization, and don't feel in the least disheartened because you haven't had the time to contribute as you would like. I think you have already contributed "above and beyond the call of duty." Of course don't let that stop you from doing more when the chance arises! The organization can always use all participation. To tell you the truth though, it kind of amazes me that there is as much participation from so many members as there is. Lots of them must be truly interested. I still can't believe we also now have 160 active members. Sure is too bad we couldn't have kept all 229 active. At least we are gaining more than we're losing each year." In June, the membership was surveyed to determine if there was interest in a Sundance F-500 bloodline certificate and the Board voted to initiate the certificate in August. By September, 1976, 31 members donated stallion services for an auction to be held in 1977.
During this time, Rodney Ligon was a regular contributor to the newsletter, submitting articles on training, judging and other issues in a column called "Ask Rodney." In June 1977, a reader sent this question to Rodney: "Why are you so involved with Sundance 500 when none of these horses [Sundance 500 bred] have ever been [a] National Champion?" His response is still relevant:
"Well, I have never taken much stock in the 'National Champion' concept. Too much depends on the 'one' Championship show. Sometimes it's very difficult for a person to get a horse ready for one show, or to arrange their time to attend, or perhaps the horse has sustained a small injury and can't be shown in that one show. So chances are good that there are better horses still at home."
"Now let us consider the judges used at the National. Only 8% of the judges listed on the list of Qualified Judges have ever judged the National. Some have judged two or more, so in effect you are getting the same judgments year after year. I don't say the other 92% of the judges on the list would judge the horses any differently, but I do say that we are entitled to the use of the entire judges list. It just might shift interest to different bloodlines."
"Unfortunately, too many people go to bloodlines that are National Champions feeling that they will have a better chance of competing in the National concept of horse showing, despite their own judgment of what it good."
"I got involved with the Sundance horses because of Ralph and Joyce Cannon (Charter members #1 of SD 500 Int). They were living in Colorado at the time and answered an ad I ran seeking to buy a horse. I didn't buy a horse from them at that time, but we began to write letters back and forth, and in the process became real good friends even before we met. In 1970 Mr. Cannon made it possible for me to breed a mare to the late Mr. Sunspot, a bay leopard son of Sunspot Revel. I had watched Red Sun and Me Sunspot excel in everything the two Sundance bloodline horses undertook, and this impressed me. The result of the breeding was my stallion Sir Rodney's Sun Pocket, a red leopard. "I have never apologized for the 'best I can do' - so I make no apologies for wanting Sundance horses. They have served my purposes and served them well. Next year a Sundance bloodlines horse may stand as National Champion, but whether one does or does not - one will always stand champion at Roan Meadows Stable."
"When the Sundance 500 Association reformed in 1973 I was the 7th Charter member to join, and I have maintained that membership since. Probably the greatest things Sundance F-500 ever did was just being born, because through him people have gotten together - exchanged views - given purpose to owning horses, particularly Sundance bloodline horses. Even those that don't like Sundance horses would surely like the fellowship of all these Sundance people."
