Hagons Equine
Manilla NSW 2340
Tel: 0429 821 315
Todd McMillan
Emerald Park
Tamworth NSW 2340
Mob: 0432 644 251
E: breedings@brothertuffwood.com.au
Registration: # US AQHA 5585431
Registration: # AUS AQHA Q-97311
Foaling date: 12/04/2012
Colour: Sorrel
Height: 14.3hh
Breeder: Crumpler Brothers
Current Owner: Brother Tuff Wood Pty Ltd
5 Panel Negative
VIEW FULL INTERACTIVE PEDIGREE CHART ON ALL BREED DATABASE >>
| Sire: NITAS WOOD | ZACK T WOOD | DOC TARI |
| LINTONS LADY DOC | ||
| NITAS QUIXOTE | DOC QUIXOTE | |
| CHICKASHA ANITA | ||
| Dam: TUFFS JUNIE | TUFF LENA | DOC OLENA |
| MISTY POP | ||
| CANDY QUIXOTE | DOC QUIXOTE | |
| BATTLE DUE | ||
Just a few years ago, if you asked Todd McMillan of Tamworth NSW, if he would ever own a stallion, he would have laughed and told you his intention was to continue to bring great genetics into the country through mares. Todd had already imported several mares from the USA, focusing on mares because he felt that the stallion market in Australia was saturated.
However, Todd also recognised that there is an ever-increasing need for outcross sires in Australia. This would ultimately be the driving force behind his decision to adapt his plan and become a stallion owner after all.
In 2020, Todd was looking to import semen from Woody Be Tuff, as he knew there was infinite potential for his genetics as an outcross sire in Australia. However, there were feasibility issues outside of the control of anyone in Australia that made this impossible. He kept researching Woody Be Tuff’s genetics and family, and came across his full brother, Brother Tuff Wood.
Todd set about trying to acquire semen to ship to Australia. The owners were not prepared to ship frozen semen, but they told Todd he was for sale. This presented an almost irresistible opportunity.
Further research revealed that Brother Tuff Woods semen was high quality. He has excellent confirmation, good bone and is striking looking. In Todd’s words, ‘everything lined up’.
Brother Tuff Woods breeder Craig Crumpler had extremely high praise for the young stallion. While Todd admits it was a risky manoeuvre, he chose to trust the word of a seller he had never met; and decided to follow his gut instincts. Although a lot of research went into his decision.
His sire, Nitas Wood, passed away in 2018. He was a $6 million dollar sire. Among his progeny is the sire of a US NCHA Open Futurity Co-Champion CR Tuff Hearted Cat (out of CR Cats Meow, by High Brow Cat). The sire of CR Tuff Hearted Cat is none other than Brother Tuff Woods full brother, Woody Be Tuff. Woody Be Tuff himself is a $5.7 million dollar sire and his own earnings total $351,063.
Brother Tuff Wood’s dam, Tuffs Junie (Tuff Lena x Candy Quixote x Doc Quixote), passed away in 2020 at the ripe old age of 31. She proved herself in the cutting pen, but was most highly regarded as a broodmare, even though she didn’t start breeding until she was around 10 years old. She produced 14 money-earners with total earnings of over $1.2 million.
Brother Tuff Wood fractured his hock as a yearling but had a good recovery. He was broken in and trained by Craig Crumpler. He was a very athletic individual and was putting a lot of pressure on himself, purely by the way he stopped and his huge dynamic moves.
At 5yo his owners feared that he was susceptible to re-injuring that previous fracture and didn’t want to compromise his genetics. The strategic decision was made to stand him at stud as this is where they believed his true value lay. This was not an easy decision for Craig Crumpler, describing the horse as a super athlete.
In 2023 everything changed when Tuff was sent to Nathan Wilson Training Stables to prepare him for the Nutrien Classic Sale. It had been 7 years since he had been under saddle and there were no expectations at all. Whether he would hold up to the workload or how trained he actually was they had to wait and see.
He had 8 weeks in their program and not only surpassed all expectations, but he also won over all of their hearts. They described him as a true athlete with a lovely temperament. He still had an enormous stop, both on a cow and in the dry work field.
Todd McMillan had it in his heart from the get-go that he would one day return to competition, it just took that leap of faith to make it happen.
Tuff’s next chapter is beyond exciting. At the Nutrien Classic he was the top selling Stallion, fetching $300,000 and now owned by The Tuff Syndicate he will continue to be trained/campaigned by Nathan Wilson Training Stables.
Nathan describes him as, “A true cowhorse with agility, speed, wait & grit. He undoubtedly will go on to make a very tough Open Challenge/Cowhorse Competitor and will win his first draft in no time. We have no doubt he would also be competitive in the cutting pen.”
Prior to 2023 Brother Tuff Wood never showed due to injury. (See story)
Brother Tuff Wood fractured his hock as a 2yo playing in the paddock but had a good recovery. At 5yo he was brought back in and although fully trained the decision was made not to risk further injury, so he was retired to the breeding barn.
In 2023 everything changed when Tuff was sent to Nathan Wilson Training Stables to prepare him for the Nutrien Classic Sale. Under new ownership and following a clean bill of health, at 11yo he began his competition career and is going from strength to strength.
First Start EVER!
Ridden by Nathan Wilson.
Tuff could not have done his connections any prouder:
Brother Tuff Wood was sold at the Nutrien Classic for $300,000 the top priced stallion of the sale.
Purchaser was The Tuff Syndicate.
2024 Progeny
2024
2 fillies & colt owned by Mathews Performance Horses & Livestock
Brother Tuff Wood’s progeny debuted in the US cutting scene at the NCHA Futurity in December 2021.
Lot 527 – Tuff Skipper
Sold: $10,000
Dam: Kingstar Peptomintpatty
Vendor: Lara Brownhall
Buyer: JA McGregor Livestock & Property
Lot 230 – NEAT AS WOOD
Sold $6,000
Vendor: Emerald Park Performance Horses
Purchaser: Dan & Pia Steers
Top Seller:
Lot 567 – TUFF TILLY
Sold $27,500.
Vendor: Fairbrother Training
Purchaser: L A Cameron
The first of Tuff’s progeny to be sold at auction:
Lot 157 – BROTHERWOOD (colt).
Sold: $21,000.
Purchaser: Eileen Simpson & Bradley Jeffrey
Lot 246 – SHEZ PRETTY TUFF (filly).
Sold: $11,000
Purchaser: Narley Performance Horses
Nitas Wood’s impact on the sport of cutting has continued beyond what his sons and daughters have done in the show pen, subsequent generations proving themselves as producers of Champions.
Find out more in this article posted on October 4, 2018 by Molly Montag for the American Quarter Horse News:
Tuffs Junie was humanely euthanised in 2020 aged 31 years. The American Quarter Horse News said, “The Western performance horse world has lost another of its great performers and producers.“
Junie proved herself as a performer, but she is best known for her offspring. She produced 14 money-earners with total Equi-Stat earnings of US$1,250,409. Her high-dollar winner is Junie Wood followed by Woody Be Tuff & Wood She B Tuff.
“Junie” was bred by Boyd Summerhays and purchased by owner Craig Crumpler as a 4yo. Craig’s wife said “She was the sweetest, best individual we’ve ever been around. She had the style, she just had everything.”
Find out more in this article, posted on March 29, 2020 by Teri Lee for the American Quarter Horse News:
Brother Tuff Wood is full brother to:
2025
2024
2024 Early Bird Special
2023
Expired Early Bird Special
2025 Horse of the North Novice with Ashleigh Fairbrother. 92 (24 64 4).
2024
2023
2017 Promo video. [View Video on Youtube]
SR JAZZY SISTER WOOD
Sire: Nitas Wood
Full sister: Junie Wood
2015 NCHA Super Stakes Open Champion with John Mitchell. They dominated at the Open finals, marking a 226 for the win.