A name can make the difference between greatness and mediocrity for a stallion, and some of the greatest horses have the simplest names. That’s why Dial Bright Three became The Executive after Lew Eklund of Carlin, Nevada, purchased the stallion. Lew and his trainer George Minic of Fresno, California, felt the stallion needed to create a name for himself rather relying on the reputation of his breeding (Dial Bright Too x Dial Right Time). So they borrowed from the model name of the Eklund family RV and gave it to the young stallion. With a new, powerful title,The Executive thrived in halter and, later, as a breeding stallion.
Born May 8, 1973, at C.T. Hall’s Loveland, Colorado, ranch, The Executive passed hands three times before Lew purchased him in 1975.
That year, with George at the lead, The Executive won every class he entered except one and gained the title of champion 2-year-old stallion at the National Show. Lew then retired The Executive from the ring and started a selective breeding program. The stallion stood for only a limited amount of outside mares. Lew concentrated on crossing The Executive with Quarter Horse mares of the Skipa Star, Doc Bar and Impressive lines. In 1990, Goose and Jeri Ballard of Vale, North Carolina, leased The Executive and continued with Lew’s proven breeding success.
The Executive sired 301 registered foals. His get collected 2,381.5 performance points, 3,029.5 halter points, seven halter superior event titles, three performance superior event titles, seven club championships, four versatility championships, 54 bronze medallions, one silver medallion and 10 superior achievement certificates. Two of The Executive’s foals made racing starts, and one earned a racing register of merit.
In his last years The Executive dwelled in a large paddock with the constant company of young colts or the old mare Miss Marg. The Executive peacefully died in his sleep April 6, 1998.
