Winterset is from Weltmeyer’s first crop. We weren’t acquainted with her dam line directly but the big gaits and good bone of the handsome yearling caught our interest. In size and type she is not so typical of her sire and that suggested some fairly strong influence from the mare side of the pedigree. That has proven to be truer than we could have imagined at the time. Winterset has followed her dam side's example by generally reproducing herself in her foals–no matter who the sire might be. Fortunately, Winterset early proved her quality by earning the elite mare status so reproducing herself has been quite acceptable. The big Weltmeyer gaits also tend to carry in the transmission, and a bonus is the heritage of rideability stemming from an eager work ethic.

Firstborn Petruccio was competed at 3rd Level by Erin Sweeney and helped her earn her USDF Bronze Medal Rider Award in 2003. First daughter Piper, owned by Mo Swanson of Rolling Stone Farm, is dam of Ghabor (by Gold Luck), champion filly at her foal inspection. Ghabor became elite eligible in 2003 when she passed her mare inspection with a score of 7.16. Ghabor will join the Marefield breeding herd in 2004, continuing Winterset’s influence even while skipping a generation.

Daughter Athene Nike was Reserve Champion Filly, NCDCTA, Raleigh 1999. Later that same year she was one of only three mares out of a class of 13 at her testing site to pass the MPT–with an 8 for rideability.

Winterset was on lease to Bettie and Steve Carroll, Sullivan Farm, from 1997 through 2001 during which time she produced two outstanding offspring by Londonderry. Bettie reports that the filly, Laural, exhibits more of the refining influence of grandsire Lauries Crusador XX: "She is modern and elegant in type with nearly flawless conformation and very nice movement." (In July 2003, Laural was champion at her mare inspection site with an overall 8. In early September, she earned the Filly Champion title and was Reserve Young Horse Champion, NCDCTA Sport Horse Breeding Show, Raleigh.) Laural's brother, Legenderry, Bettie continues, "inherited more of Winterset's bone (and size) and possesses three magnificent gaits."

During the lease period, Winterset was also bred to Rienzi and produced the colt Rimer for Marefield. Rimer is now in training with Erin Sweeney who reports he is progressing daily and demonstrating the same quality of mind she found in his older brother Petruccio.

Winterset sold to Chris Rush in the fall of 2003. On March 23 of this year, Winterset produced a large and lovely Dauphin filly for her new owner.