Heyl Pony Farm

This article was originally written for the April 2003 edition of the WHS newsletter the “Washington Heritage Herald” by Ralph and Wilma Lee Woolard.

George A. Heyl, the son of Christian and Sarah Heyl, was born and grew up on a farm near Manito in Mason County.  Christian Heyl was a breeder and exhibitor of purebred livestock and was well known for his Percheron horses, a breed known for its large muscular build and ability to pull heavy loads.  Raising and breeding Hampshire hogs was also a part of the business endeavor.  George Heyl followed his father’s footsteps.  He developed a keen eye for quality livestock at an early age.

In 1891 George Heyl married Sarah Blumenshine, the daughter of Phillip and Barbara Blumenshine.  Two sons, Harley and Wellington, and three daughters, Florence, Iona, and Mildred, were born to the couple.  Following marriage, George moved his livestock business to the Cress property with large barns on North Main Street in Washington.  In 1893 they moved to the Yale property at 811 N. Main Street and continued a business of buying and selling Percheron horses and Hampshire hogs.  In 1896 fancy poultry was added to their livestock enterprise.

In 1899 George went to Janesville, Wisconsin to buy Percheron horses.  In order to get the horses he wanted, the seller insisted that George also take ten Shetland ponies or there would be no deal.  Although reluctant, George finally agreed.  Returning home, he found that the ponies sold better than horses.  He went back to Wisconsin and bought more ponies.  This was the start of the Heyl Pony Farm that became known not only for raising and training prize winning ponies, but also for its modern and well-equipped barns and workshops.

In 1907 the famed pony, King Larigo was foaled at Washington, a date important not only to the Heyl Pony Farm, but to the entire Shetland business in America.  This established the famous Larigo dynasty and bloodline.  Any story or writing that concerns the Heyl Pony Farm would not be complete without mentioning this great show pony, for the deeds of the “King” are legendary.  There is good reason for his fabled reputation for he won championships at every state fair and exposition from coast to coast and Canada during his show career from the age of 2 to 16 when he was retired.  He won in every category of competition.  At the Panama Pacific Exposition in 1915 he won or aided in winning 72 blue ribbons.  As a sire King Larigo fathered 144 sons and daughters from Heyl mares.  It was from this group of animals that the Larigo name became represented in breeding herds all over the country.

At the same time the pony business was doing well the poultry business was also prospering.  The Heyl daughters were kept busy packing eggs and selling them.  Iona Heyl was given the task of naming all the newborn colts, a task she continued until her death.  Harley Heyl started showing ponies at a young age and won many blue ribbons all over the country with a six-pony hitch.  He later sold the ponies with wagon and harness to the Curtiss Candy Company.  They traveled the country for years giving exhibitions.  The hog business was discontinued in 1913 and the poultry business in the 1920s.

In 1915 George Heyl took King Larigo to the World’s Fair in San Francisco.  King Larigo was named “World’s Grand Champion Shetland Stallion.”  Over the years George Heyl had many opportunities to sell King Larigo but refused until James Brady, better known as “Diamond Jim Brady” made him an offer in 1917 he couldn’t refuse.  He later repurchased the “King” in 1921 after Jim Brady died.

In 1925 Heyl purchased a barn for ponies on the acreage he bought on West Jefferson Street. (This property is now the location of the Washington High School athletic field.)  Other pastures were located throughout the Washington area.

In 1929 King Larigo died at the age of 22 leaving an unequaled record of 896 first place awards and championships.  Heyl then turned his interest to Hackney horses and by 1930 was showing more of them than Shetland ponies.  The unexpected death of George Heyl in 1932 shocked the family and the horse show world.

Harley and Iona were well qualified to take over the family business and continued to operate the farm and attend horse shows over much of the country, showing both Shetland and Hackney ponies.  Business remained brisk.  Some older barns were replaced with newer structures.  Business was further stimulated when a Hackney stallion of the Heyl farm named Creation’s King was declared “Grand Champion Stallion” in 1947 at the National Stallion Show in Iowa.  The Heyl family were very fortunate in having bred and raised two of the top sires in pony history.  A steady stream of visitors continued to visit Washington as a result of the farm’s operation.

In 1957 Harley Heyl died, leaving Iona with the decision as to whether to continue with the business.  She decided to continue on but chose to sell all the Hackney stock including the prize stallion.

In 1958 all Shetland ponies were moved to the homestead on North Main Street.  The demand for them remained strong.  At times colts were sold a year or two in advance of birth.  A great-grandson of King Larigo sold at public auction for $65,000.

Iona Heyl decided in 1965 that she was ready to retire and sell the entire herd at public auction.  On Saturday, October 23, 1965, a large tent was erected and bleacher seats were installed.  A white sale ring fence was put in place, flower boxes placed on the auctioneer’s stand, fresh sawdust on the sale ring floor and floodlights installed.  A small tent served food.  With the civil defense unit directing traffic and a small band to entertain the crowd, the auction opened with 1,500 people in attendance.  The sale was well organized and the bidding was spirited.  When the last pony was sold the auctioneers gavel came down for the last time, ending an era -- 65 years of breeding and showing the best.

Iona continued to live on the homestead where she was born until her death at the age of 92 in 1986.  Driving or walking along North Main Street today one sees a remaining barn, a silent reminder of the impact of one family on the history of Washington, Illinois.

Epilogue

In 2024 the Washington Historical Society along with generous members John & Sharon Amdall commissioned a bronze sculpture to be created and placed in Washington Park as a further reminder of the Heyl legacy.  The sculpture, titled "The Act of Giving," was dedicated September 8, 2024.  

For more information about the Heyl Pony Farm, see Lyle Hartman’s 1993 book, digitized by the Washington Historical Society at THIS link.