ROMANTIC HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE PART 4
The first man to define the Quarter Horse as a distinct breed, was the England born William Anson, a polo player who grew up around fine horses. Coming to America at age 21, he established a ranch near Christoval, Texas. Anson was attracted to the quick, smart cow horses he was introduced to, and sold many horses to the British government for use in the Boer War in South Africa. This exposed him to many fine horses all over Texas, and enabled him to accumulate a group of excellent mares for his own stud.
Samuel Watkins, a racehorse man of the Little Grove Stock Farm in Illinois, was also instrumental in the development of the breed. Many Texas breeders got their foundation stock from Watkins. Famous horses, such as Harmon Baker, Hickory Bill and the celebrated Peter McCue, all came from Little Grove Stock Farm.
Coke T. Roberds, a Texas cowboy who grew up in Calorado, began breeding horses in Western Oklahoma about 1848. He started with a fine group of Steel Dust mares, and bred them to his stallion, Old Fred, which traced back to Steel Dust and Shiloh. Roberts stated that Old Fred produced a race horse, even if you bred him to a box car. Roberds was also the last owner of the great Peter McClue.
Blake Casement, Adams, Anson, Clegg, Watkins and Roberds, as well as a few like minded men, knew the breed inside out. They had an almost supernatural knowledge of the inherent attributes of the best horses. They had a faith in and commitment to the “Stardusts”, which led to the forming of the American Quarter Horse Association.
YOU CAN READ THE COMPLETE SERIES ON THE ROMANTIC HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ON
No comments:
Post a Comment