I wasn’t quite sure how to entitle this, but the “Lost Boys” seems to fit. It’s a story about 3 boys that are quite valued at Red Rock, but no one has really heard much about them. Two of them were never shown and one of them was only shown once as a junior. Two of them were up for sale at one point in time, then I decided to hold them back for our breeding program. So, perhaps they were “lost in the shuffle” and I have never really talked about them to anyone and they were never taken to shows (minus one occurrence), so no one has really ever seen them. So who are they?
Lost Boy # 1 – Red Rock Gilmore
Sired by RR Giles (resident of the Netherlands); grandson of RR Gilligan and thereby, gr-grandson of RR Gilbert. He was shown once last fall at an Ontario Cavy Club show not far from home. He was Best Junior of Breed with excellent comments. As I have his full sister, “Manitutshu” – I had posted him for sale (privately) to 3 different overseas shipments (he was available to the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark/Norway). Whether he was too old, or not attractive enough – no one was ever interested in him. As he matured (the Gilbert line is notorious for being late bloomers), he began to fill out and that dense coat (which Gilbert was so famed for) began to pour on in. Gilmore at the age of 5 months – was taken off the sales list. It is good fortune for me that fate had it, that no one was interested in him. He is now in breeding – where he should have been along to carry forth the amazing sire power of the Gilbert line.
Lost Boy # 2 – Red Rock Love in a Mist – “Liam”
Liam was profiled for a short time on my web site (prior to its restructuring) and he did grab attention for a short while. He is a pretty boy – sired by RR Bill Bobstay (now known as Tom Bombadil in the Netherlands) and he is out of RR HMS Grace Dieu. Therefore, he is line bred to my great champion – RR Little Buttercup (Bill and Grace being half-siblings, sharing the same dam). Liam turned out to be a very substantial boar with a thick coat. I never pursued showing him as he has only a small amount of white and red (mostly agouti). Although he had enough to be shown, I am a realist and knew that judges would ding him on distribution of markings. With Coronet competition intensifying and markings could make or break a win, I decided to place him in his most valued position – with a harem of sows. GOOD decision and I am sticking with it 
Again, similar to Gilmore’s story – he was almost sold. Someone had expressed interest and I was tempted at the sale – but great fate had it that the potential buyer didn’t pursue. I took that as a sign and Liam was here to stay. His size, coat, and beautiful pin-point crest are wonderful attributes to keep – as well as his laid back personable attitude. What a great lost boy!
Lost Boy # 3 – Red Rock Madness
RR Madness is a boar that I never advertised, never posted photos of and never talked about. He is just a boy that has been growing up in my caviary without any spotlights on him. Saying that, I am now bringing him out and will cast light upon him. He is simply put, amazing. A son of Prince Hilarion and out of Mad Margaret – he is a very tightly line-bred boar. Fantastic, really. Firm, solid build body and a coat that doesn’t stop (again, descending from the Gilbert sire power line). Mad Margaret (one of my best producers) was second to none – to have a great son from her is a great honour. Hopefully, I will take photos of Madness soon – he is a “eye candy” to the discerning Coronet lover. His sister, “Mayhem” has recently moved to Denmark to reside at “My Little Stars” Caviary. I wish Lone the best with her – she has produced one lovely litter to date and I hope she produces many more for “My Little Stars”.
Well – that is a story of 3 lost boys who have found a home at Red Rock. Just goes to show you, you do not need a 5 time BIS winner to be a valued addition in a breeding program – sometimes the best ones, are ones that are never advertised
Heather of Red Rock
After a long absence from Red Rock, the Tortis are back! we had the tort gene in our herd many years ago – but through intensive breedings of black/whites and agouti/whites, the tort gene became lost in the shuffle of genetics and we only had very few torts and/or carriers left.
