At the end of 1997 (his two year old year) "Calvin" showed at Region VI, which he won.  Plans were to give him some time off and then take him to Scottsdale in February of 1998, in preparation for the futurity classes at U.S. and Canada. Those plans suffered a dramatic change in October when Calvin managed to get a hold of a neighbor's neck wrap.  He pulled it into his stall and ate it.  The material passed through 30 feet of small intestine and impacted in his colon.  Surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital with Donna Hentges next to her colt throughout the long surgery.  The operation saved his life, but his recovery was very slow.  To insure a complete recovery, Donna was determined not to overuse her colt.  He bred no mares as a three year old and was not shown until the very end of the 1998 show season when he competed at Region 6.  Hoping that he could handle competition that soon, we were delighted with a unanimous Regional win.  Without the benefit of a major campaign, First Cyte went on to to win the title of Canadian National Champion Futurity Colt (Unanimous) and U.S. National Reserve Champion Futurity Colt.  In 1999, First Cyte opened the year as Scottsdale Champion Stallion, won the Canadian National Championship and was Reserve National Champion at
U.S. Nationals.

The decision to take First Cyte back to U.S. Nationals in 2000 was not made overnight. He had already earned an impressive set of credentials. He was in Minnesota and had just started performance training.  Donna remembers, "I made my decision one afternoon when I was watching him work. Calvin threw himself into being ridden just as hard as he threw himself into halter competition. He was clearly not stressed at all- having a good time. He is such a hard "tryer" at anything new. I decided that he needed to go back one more time and "go for the gold".

You know the rest. On a beautiful night in Louisville, Kentucky an incredible bay stallion wrote his name in the Arabian history books and made an owner’s dreams come true!

"Under Saddle" Training...

First Cyte was started under saddle by Kevin Price of Cedar Ridge Arabians. In these pictures (taken after only 60 days of training) he is wearing just a snaffle and is barefoot behind.  We think the potential, however, is there for all to see.   He lived up to our expectations by being athletic, balanced and sensible

We are not surprised, however, at how well First Cyte did in such a short time.  Although he excelled in the Halter Arena, he is not “just another pretty face”.  Kevin Price summed it up; “ I have had the true pleasure of working with First Cyte towards his performance career.  His beauty, type and conformation have already been proven through his extremely successful halter career.  I am excited about his athletic ability and conformation that is conducive to becoming a great performance horse.  He has a great neck and throatlatch that allows him to wear the bridle with ease.  He trots square and true, both front and back.  On top of all of this he is very pleasant to get along with.  He is always trying to please and loves to be praised with a pat on the neck or a treat.  Although I’ve only had the chance to work with First Cyte a short time, I feel he has great potential".

First Cyte dazzled all of us by his introduction to performance.  He has proven to us that he has the ability to wear a bridle and to move both powerfully and beautifully.  His current DVD presents him under saddle.  For some time the issue of campaigning him under saddle was a "hot topic" on the farm.  Donna decided that he is permanently retired.  She says, "We are a one stallion farm.  First Cyte is too valuable to be traveling all over the country in competition.  He loves it here where he is The Big Guy.  He was shown at halter for over five years and has earned the right to kick back and enjoy life, here on the farm with his mares and foals."

FIRST CYTE VIDEO
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