In 1958, Mrs. Anson Bigelow purchased a gray son of Native Dancer for $50,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She later named the colt Mito, which she said meant “happy” in a language of the Pacific Islands as a nod to his grandsire, Polynesian. Bigelow and trainer George P. Odom had campaigned Mito’s half-brother,… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Mito
“I never pictured a horse that could look that good,” said Sid Vail to Ed Ellinger for Western Horseman. “If there was ever a perfect horse, he was it. I couldn’t fault him anywhere.” Three Bars was foaled on April 10th, 1940. He was by Percentage, a chestnut stallion by black-type stakes winner Midway and… Continue reading Three Bars: The Greatest Sire of Quarter Horses
The 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge will take place December 5th-14th at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will showcase the top fifteen Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding. The WNFR will… Continue reading 2024 WNFR Pedigree Analysis
Red was foaled on April 4th, 1994. He was bred by Thomas W. Bachman at Pegasus Ranch in Petaluma, California. Red was by Siyah Kalem, a graded stakes placed chestnut stallion by Mr. Prospector and out of Lady Graustark, by Graustark. Siyah Kalem sired stakes winners Both Ways, J J Wantsthefront and Taurus Forus. Satan’s… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Red
Fame We Will might be one of the most accomplished Thoroughbreds to ever compete in stock horse events. The elegant bay from the bluegrass region of Kentucky competed in western pleasure, reining and cutting at events across California. This is his story. Fame We Will was foaled on April 17th, 1959. He was bred by… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Fame We Will
Pondariel was foaled in 1936. He was by Ariel, winner of the Youthful Stakes and Saratoga Special. Ariel sired earners of over $3 million on the track, including Piggin String, a Thoroughbred that became a two-time AQRA Champion Quarter Running Stallion. Pond Lily, the dam of Pondariel, was a stakes placed mare by Ultimus, a… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Pondariel
Disco Jerry was foaled on May 18th, 1978. He was bred by Marion D. Kirkland and Anatole Bourque in Louisiana. Disco Jerry was by Never Dance, a gray stallion by the 1962 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, Never Bend. Never Dance sired a limited number of foals. His highest earner was Lava, winner of the 1982 Capital… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Disco Jerry
Champsville was foaled on March 17th, 1967. He was bred by the co-star of the sitcom “I Love Lucy,” Desi Arnaz, and his second wife Edith Mack Hirsch, on their Thoroughbred farm in Corona, California. Champsville was by Nashville, a multiple stakes winner and sire of the AQHA Hall of Fame Inductee, Azure Te. General… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Champsville
Shirley’s Champion was foaled on April 13th, 1971. He was bred by Victor Graber in Kentucky. His sire, Noholme II, was the 1959 Australian Horse of the Year. Despite his success as a racehorse, Noholme II did not generate much interest as a stallion prospect. At just 15.2HH, he was considered too short. In 1960,… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Shirley’s Champion
Hysition was foaled in 1942. He was by Hygro, a four-time stakes winner by the French stallion Epinard. Hygro sired numerous Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse sprinters. His most notable Quarter Horse starters were Hy Dale, Hi Maria, Hyglo, Hy Dunn, Hylo and Hy Diamond. Notably, Hygro was the damsire of AQHA Champions King Glo, The… Continue reading The Western Thoroughbred History: Hysition
The Western Thoroughbred 