Quarter Horses are truly a family affair for
Larry and Linda Whitaker, owners of Whitaker Farms and Last Detail. The Whitaker
family has been riding and showing Quarter Horses for more than two decades.
These days Larry and Linda divide their time between their log home in the
mountains of Wyoming and their home in Northwest Arkansas, the site of their
broodmare and foal operation. Larry devotes much of his time to overseeing the
horse operation when he and Linda are not off in the mountains enjoying their
other passion…fly fishing! No stranger to the show ring, Linda was the High
Point Amateur Pleasure Driving Champion twice with Diamonds Fame.
Both of the Whitaker’s daughters, Amy and Emily, enjoyed
extensive and successful careers in AQHYA. Amy’s youth career included Congress
Championships and Reserves, as well as top five finishes at the AQHYA World
Championship Show. She and her husband, Ben Merryman, assist at the Arkansas
farm where the foals grow up in large, tree-shaded bermuda grass pastures where
the babies are free to play and mature. Ben and Amy are in charge of the foals’
early education until, as two year olds, they are sent to Ron Horn and June
Warren for their advanced education. The Whitakers’ youngest daughter, Emily was
the Hunt Seat Equitation Champion at the 2000 AQHYA World Show. She is currently
in college, but still manages to show Last Detail’s babies when she can.
Linda’s brother, Steve McCaulley, manages the broodmare band in
Arkansas. The Whitakers own a dozen mares that have been carefully chosen based
on their disposition, conformation, movement, bloodline, and produce record.
These select mares have crossed well with Last Detail. The 1998 All American
Congress Two Year Old Hunter Under Saddle Champion, The Detail Man, was a
product of the very first foal crop from Last Detail. Several other foals the
Whitakers raised have gone on to win at major events and enjoy great show
careers, including Cool Details, Downtowndetailbrown, Ima Delicate Detail,
Details In Silver, Tellatalldetail, and AQHA World Champion Ask Me For Details,
to name just a few. The Whitakers take great care that these foals get the right
start, find loving homes, and develop to their full potential. They enjoy
getting to meet breeders and owners, and love to hear all the “details” about
each of Last Detail’s offspring.
Whitaker Farms is committed to the promotion of the hunter under
saddle industry and sponsors several classes and futurities throughout the year
for that purpose. They believe that the hunt seat division is experiencing great
expansion, and they are excited to be involved in this growth. The Whitakers
plan to pursue their goals of promoting Last Detail and raising high quality
foals. These foals have the look, movement and temperament that will assure
success in the show arena.
The Farm