SPRITE lost the next two winters to maternal duties, but later on we were very glad we had been able to spare her from the teams, as three leaders resulted from her two matings with XPACE OF SEPPALTA. We foolishly sold or gave away all the bitch pups from the first litter except for TONYA; probably two of them would have become leaders had they remained at Seppala Kennels. SPRITE was another of our "Powder people," sired by Carolyn's command leader PETER OF SEPP-ALTA (by Hercules of Sepp-Alta ex Uelen's Ali) out of POWDER OF MARKOVO (by Nutok of Markovo ex S-A Athena of Markovo).
with half-Russian males Zar of Seppala
and Zaki of Seppala
Most of our photos of SPRITE at lead seem to be of small 3-wheeled tricycle rig teams. She was chosen to lead such teams very frequently, due to her strong, steady running style on dryland at shorter distances, her good behaviour and the dependability with which she took directional commands. I am sure that her daughter TONYA's skills as a command leader came from her mother; SPRITE seemed to have and to be able to transmit the perfect "head" for a command leader. Her abilities were also passed on to her daughter KOLYMA OF SEPPALA and from her to Spritely's granddaughter LIZAVETA OF SEPPALA. RIVER VIEW'S SPRITE has been a powerful genetic engine driving leadership qualities in our bloodline.
SPRITE was a devoted "girlfriend" who loved nothing better than to be in the wall tent with Jeffrey; she raised two litters there, both whelped on my bed. SPRITE amazed more than one Siberian-Husky-oriented visitor with her ability to go outside off-leash and to remain within call without running off on a hunt. Her temperament was pure pet with a strong desire to please. I'm happy to say that her sweet nature was strongly inheritable -- today we have a long-coated white, blue-eyed granddaughter of hers, ANASTASIA, who has her granddam's sweet temperament and who looks very much like her. We miss you still, Spritely-Go-Lightly!
