Sierra Farm Winds Down Operations With Last Consignment

Longtime farm manager of Sierra Farm, Michael Callanan, sent his last horse under the Sierra Farm name through the ring Jan. 11. The eight-horse consignment was part of a step-by-step approach to reduce the herd for owner Sharon Hudon.

"Yesterday, Sierra Farm sent its last horse to go under the banner at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. As of March 31, Determined Stud—Matt Dorman and Scott Mallory—will take ownership of the farm," Callanan said Jan. 12. "We did this in phases. First, we wanted to sell the farm; second, we needed to get Sharon into a new home (which hasn't happened yet), and lastly the horses."

The remaining Sierra stock of seven broodmares and 15 yearlings will head to Callanan's father-in-law Bruce Gibbs of Greenfield Farm, where Callanan will stay on. Future plans will be reconvened upon with Sharon in August, ahead of the November sales this year. All of the yearlings will sell at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale with Greenfield.

"Trying to reduce the stress for Sharon, we have done this in stages, but there is no pressure on her to sell anything. She is in her 70s," Callanan commented. "Sharon and Ed first got into racing before purchasing mares and boarded with Brooke Royster at what was Chance Farm. The Hudons put a lot of money into the farm."

The Hudons purchased the 206-acre Chance Farm off Mt. Horeb Pike in Lexington from Royster when he moved to Virginia in 2006. Callanan has been on staff since 2008.

Well this is it for the Sierra Farm Consignment @keenelandsales . Hip #350 Stormin Hot was bought by our good friend @patparamount & was the last horse we sell as a farm. We can’t thank everyone enough who has supported us thru the years & we hope it continues in coming years pic.twitter.com/z4SZFo3DwO

— Sierra Farm (@sierrafarmky) January 12, 2022

Ed passed away in 2018. Sharon has carried on in his name, but now in her 70s, this is the next step for the farm.

Callanan added: "We have raised a lot of nice horses off the farm. Sharon is a smart person and loves this business, but a lot is happening in her life, and she has to compartmentalize some of this stuff and reduce the stress on herself a bit."

In 2018 Sierra Farm sent the American Pharoah   colt out of Bsharpsonata , now named Kittansett , through the ring at the Keeneland September sale to great success, with Larry Best's OXO Equine purchasing the yearling for $1.4 million.

"It's a lot easier when you are getting two invoices a month from the vet and the boarding farm versus paying workers' comp, insurance, and wages," Callanan said.

On his position moving forward, "I'm not sure (is the long and short of it); right now my first duty is taking care of Sharon and the horses until March 31 when the farm changes hands. After the horses move to Greenfield, I will still be taking care of them," Callanan commented. "I have offered help to Matt and Scott to ease the transition, we have a fantastic staff at Sierra, and they would all like to stay. Whatever way it goes, we are OK.

"The big thing for Ed was his aluminum factory in California; it's how he got going and made his money. His number one thing was to hire the best people, and you always take care of your staff. He did the same thing with the horses. Our staff, I would compare them to anybody. They have all been there 10 plus years and are great guys, and we want to look after them after this all goes through."