Camden's Sandtree Stables provides horsepower for FFA, 4-H judging at state fair
By Glenn RolfeHARRINGTON — His registered name is Keeping Dreams Alive.
But in the stable or show arena, Deuce will do.
Jazz Petersen’s prized trotting bred pony that is half Appaloosa, Deuce was among the horses small and large showcased Wednesday before students during the FFA and 4-H Horse Evaluation event at the Delaware State Fair.
“Deuce never got tall enough to be a horse. So he is still my big pony,” said Ms. Petersen. “Deuce is my real good boy. I’ve been bringing him to fair for many years. He’s done all the things.”
Deuce hails from Camden-based Sandtree Stables, which provided an assortment of horses for the evaluation and judging.
Ms. Petersen, 22 and a 2020 graduate of Caesar Rodney High School, credits her godmother Sandra Tucker for making all this possible.
“We are family owned for like 25 to 30 years. Sandy has been coming to the fair for a long, long time. She is a pillar of the community. She has made all of this happen,” Ms. Petersen said.
“I’ve been at the Delaware State Fair for almost 40 years. I showed my first horse at the fair in 1979. I’ve had horses my whole life,” said Ms. Tucker. “I moved to Delaware and Sandtree Stables has been my stable since I was 13. My father gave me a brand for my birthday when I was 13 … a registered brand, for like branding cattle. I don’t brand but I have a brand. And it was my initials, ST. So I thought, ‘Sand is adaptive, and trees are longstanding.’”
That is how Sandtree Stables got its name.
At the fair, Ms. Tucker helps to organize several classes and coordinate the judging.
“To have 4-H and FFA judging, they are being judged on how well they judge a class of horses,” said Ms. Tucker. “I am the person who organizes several classes. I try to make sure they are prepared.”
Ms. Tucker likes the aspect that horses are housed at the fair the entire week.
“That is very different from the bigger fairs. The bigger fairs are much more commercial, even on the livestock side,” said Ms. Tucker.
“I really like the Delaware State Fair because it celebrates the rural aspect of the Eastern Shore. And my crew is taught that we are here for the spectators. So, if you have time, you stop, you talk and you explain things about the horse. You let them (spectators) pet the horse. It has gotten kind of sad that there is a growing trend that people are afraid of horses.”
“We come every year. We circle it, prepare and prep all of July to come and show out and show our horses, and inform the public about our types of horses and horse breeds like the Appaloosa,” said Ms. Petersen, adding that Sandtree Stables is the last stable actively breeding Appaloosa horses in Delaware.
“And it’s a Delaware tradition that I love to keep bringing back and having people see it and be a part of,” Ms. Petersen said. “It feels really good to be a part of the fair and have it continue. We’re trying to do what we can with keeping the dreams alive.”
Ms. Tucker cherishes the time in the barn at the state fair.
“Beau Biden and his family came through the barn one time. We opened the doors and let the kids pet the mini,” said Ms. Tucker. “We’ve had the entertainment artists come through. Some of my best moments have been in this barn.”
