BY JADE
Behind the Scenes of J&J’s 2026 Foal Crop
One of my favorite days is foal crop media day. There’s something pretty cool about seeing pedigrees you’ve been adding to a website suddenly standing on four legs in the pasture. J&J’s 2026 foal crop is packed with color, athleticism, and performance bloodlines.
This year's crew includes:
Chex The Word, a bay roan stallion by Metallic Word 16 and out of Benito Bar Chex, bringing together Metallic Cat influence and proven working-horse genetics.
Blumoon N Roses, aka Dallas, a bay filly by Dualin Blu Moon and out of Playguns Iron Rose. Her pedigree combines Once In A Blu Boon and Playgun bloodlines.
Ima Boonfull Of Chex, aka Reno, a flashy sorrel filly by ER Hot Chex and out of So SwoonPepto Playgn, with Nu Chex To Cash and Playgun influence throughout her pedigree.
Fantastic Gun Styles, aka Styles, a dun stallion by Dualin Blu Moon and out of So Swetlovn Playgal, bringing together Once In A Blu Boon, Peptoboonsmal, and Playgun.
Hollywood Dunit, aka Priya, a buckskin filly by Metallic Word 16 and out of MT Jose In Hollywood. She combines plenty of color and chrome with Metallic Cat and versatile working-horse genetics.
And Chex A Raddle N, better known as Moose, is a bay roan stallion by Shake Raddle N Roan and out of AK Double Tuff Shay. His pedigree adds Cat Smart Boonsmal, CTR Peptolena, and Double Tuf Chex influence to this year's lineup.
When I started offering equine promotional work, this was exactly the kind of relationship I wanted to build with breeders. Instead of taking photos once and disappearing, I get to understand the program itself.
I know the horses. I learn the pedigrees. I photograph the new foal crop. I update the website.
The photos taken in the pasture aren't just photographs. They become website images, sale advertisements, social media content, pedigree features, and a visual record of the horses J&J has raised.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned working in agricultural and equine marketing is that you don't have to wait until you're actively selling something to market your program. In fact, some of the best marketing happens before the horse is ever for sale. Showing your foal crop each year gives people an opportunity to become familiar with your program. They can see the crosses you're making, follow individual horses as they mature, and understand what you're working toward as a breeder. By the time a prospect becomes available, people may already recognize the horse. That's the power of consistently documenting what you're building.
As a photographer, I love creating the images. As a website designer, I love seeing everything come together in one place. I especially love getting to take all of those individual pieces and turn them into a bigger story about their program. The 2026 foal crop media day is officially in the books, the website has some fresh faces to showcase, and another year of J&J's breeding program has been documented.
Now we get to watch these babies grow and see where they end up.
